This paper was prepared as a background paper to the 2012 NORRAG workshop on ‘Education and Skills in Post-2015 MDGs and EFA: Actors, Agendas and Architecture, which took place in Geneva. It examines the education and skills options being promoted by different multilateral and bilateral actors, as well as by civil society and think tanks. It also provides a preliminary account of how the post-2015 debates are perceived in the countries which are expected to benefit from or be involved with the next development agenda.