(UN Agency)
(1) Overview of activities
For nearly 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 158 countries to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for poor countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, quality basic education for all boys and girls, access to clean water and sanitation, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.
Many people in industrialised countries first hear about UNICEF’s work through the activities of 37 National Committees for UNICEF. These non-governmental organisations promote children’s rights, raise funds, sell UNICEF greeting cards and products, create key partnerships, and provide other invaluable support.
UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of governments, businesses, foundations and individuals. UNICEF's 2004 budget totalled US $1.7 billion.
Learn more about UNICEF.
(2) Role in emergency relief and reconstruction
The central role of UNICEF in humanitarian emergency situations is advocacy, assessment and coordination to ensure the care and protection of vulnerable children. To that end, UNICEF coordinates services to meet the physical, emotional, cognitive, social and nutritional needs of children and women.
UNICEF’s field workers are often among the first on the ground working to relieve the suffering of children and families. UNICEF is also closely involved in long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts to restore a sense of ordinary life in the wake of disaster. Learn more about UNICEF’s role in emergency .
(3) Major opportunities for business support
UNICEF partners with leading corporations around the world to develop long-term alliances that support UNICEF’s mission to ensure the health, education, equality and protection of every child. In addition to bringing funds to support UNICEF’s programmes, corporate partners also enhance UNICEF’s activities on behalf of children by providing in-kind support.
Partners provide research and development assistance, technical knowledge, access to logistics networks and extensive communications channels.
Before contacting UNICEF regarding an in-kind donation, please read the section of this guide entitled “Contributions that cannot be accepted” in “How Can My Company Help?”.
(4) Contribution/Contact information
UNICEF’s Guidelines for Working with the Business Community provide the organisation, its National Committees and Country Offices with guiding principles to help UNICEF identify corporations whose values and missions have the “best fit” with UNICEF, to ensure a World Fit for Children.
For contact information and donation guidance, please visit UNICEF’s website devoted to corporate partnerships.
UNICEF’s Guidelines for Working with the Business Community provide the organisation, its National Committees and Country Offices with guiding principles to help UNICEF identify corporations whose values and missions have the “best fit” with UNICEF, to ensure a World Fit for Children.
Contact information:
Hiba Frankoul
International and Corporate Alliances Officer
Tel:212 824 6977 e-mail: hfrankoul@unicef.org
(5) Examples of engagement with the private sector
Companies provide support and donations to UNICEF during emergencies in myriad ways. For example, in response to the tsunami, corporations provided and/or engaged in the following activities:
Some illustrative examples include:
Pfizer: In addition to making one of the first and largest corporate grants to UNICEF in response to its appeal, Pfizer seconded members of its staff, such as supply chain specialists, for postings in tsunami-affected countries. Dispatched under a joint programme between UNICEF and the WHO, these specialists assisted those governments as they managed the delivery of medicines to health centers and clinics where people were treated who had been injured during the disaster. The company is also matching employee gifts
GE Foundation and GE Business Unit: GE employees donate generously and often in support of UNICEF’s emergency operations. Their response to the tsunami disaster is no exception. In addition to the company’s cash match of employee contributions, the GE Fund also committed an additional corporate grant to be used in the devastated region. Recently, the Foundation made yet another pledge – this time to make a significant grant to UNICEF’s emergency operations for its general use. Employees in the GE Infrastructure, Water, and Process Division also raised additional resources at their Americas sales conference, selling T-shirts and organizing a 5-mile run.
British Airways: In addition to donating flight tickets and cargo space for the delivery of items such as UNICEF’s school-in-a-box and school tents, the Company committed a large corporate grant and designated its Change for Good™ collections for the month of January be used to support relief and recovery efforts in the tsunami-affected region. The Carrier, which has a long association with UNICEF, donated ten weekly 747 freighter flights from Copenhagen to destinations in south-east Asia.
IKEA: The Company made an immediate offer of 250,000 much-needed quilts and bed sheets to UNICEF for use in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. IKEA also mobilized its extensive retail network to engage employees and customers in supporting UNICEF’s efforts in the region. Many IKEA stores worldwide designed store-based promotions. The company has also pledged to assist in the reconstruction phase in areas where it and its suppliers maintain a presence. Additionally, IKEA pledged a cash grant in support of early childhood development and child protection in India, and will consider making additional grants upon review of long-term needs assessments from Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives.
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