Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, an essential complement to investments in roads, dams, clinics and factories. Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.... Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.

Stating it was a "personal priority" Annan proposed a Global AIDS and Health Fund to stimulate the increased international spending needed to help developing countries confront the HIV/AIDS crisis. In the late 1980s Annan returned to work for the UN where he was appointed as an Assistant Secretary-General in three consecutive positions: Human Resources Management and Security Coordinator (1987–1990); Program Planning Budget and Finance and Controller (1990–1992); and Peacekeeping Operations (March 1993 – December 1996).

". Kofi Atta Annan (pron. Annan and the United Nations were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for his founding of the Global AIDS and Health Fund to support developing countries in their struggle to care for their people.