The paper analyses the status and characteristics of adult literacy campaigns and programmes since 2000. Global trends are analysed in terms of the ten key aspects of the suggested framework for successful literacy campaigns and programmes. Four case studies on major literacy campaigns in Brazil, India, South Africa and Indonesia are used to expand on these global trends in greater depth, particularly with regard to their specific features, challenges, success factors and results. While campaigns have created fresh momentum to mobilize for literacy, most large-scale campaigns have set overly ambitious targets and underestimated the complexity of the task. The continuity of learning processes for newly literates and the integration of short-duration campaigns into national learning systems are major concerns. Future strategy should promote literacy as part of lifelong learning after 2015. Supplemental tables (Progress in adult literacy in countries with major campaigns, 2000-2011 and Progress in terms of gender equity in adult literacy) are appended. [The current study was commissioned by UNESCO in 2014 as a background paper for the 2015 Education for All Global Monitoring Report, specifically to inform the chapter on adult literacy.]