The Untied Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competency Standards for Teachers (ICT-CST) project aims to improve teachers' practice in all areas of their work, combining ICT skills with innovations in pedagogy, curriculum, and school organization. It is also aimed at teachers' use of ICT skills and resources to improve their teaching, to collaborate with colleagues, and perhaps ultimately to become innovation leaders in their institutions. The overall objective of the project is not only to improve teacher practice but also do it in a way that contributes to a higher quality education system which can advance a country's economic and social development. This paper explains the rationale, the structure, and the approach of the ICT-CST project. It explains how teacher professional development fits into the larger education reform context, as countries review their educational systems in relation to producing 21st century skills in support of social and economic development. It can be used as a guide by those concerned with education decision-making and teacher professional development in preparing their training curriculum and course offering proposals. (Contains 4 figures and 9 footnotes.)