UNICEF procedure for programme implementation partnerships
Guiding principles for the establishment of programme partnerships with civil society organizations.
UNICEF works in partnership with more than 4,000 civil society organizations (three quarters of which are local or national non-governmental organizations) to annually deliver over $1 billion in programming to communities and children around the world.
We offer tools, guides and other resources to partners to share knowledge, strengthen capacity and – crucially – ensure UNICEF's mission and mandate are upheld at every stage of collaboration.
Guiding principles
The guiding principles for UNICEF's establishment of programme partnerships with civil society are:
National capacity: Partnerships with CSOs strengthen capacities of national actors and communities to address development challenges in a sustainable manner.
Accountability: Partnerships with CSOs outline the roles and responsibilities of UNICEF, the responsible CSO and other partners involved in the programme.
Results-based management: Partnerships with CSOs are geared towards achieving results defined in the UNICEF country programme and/or humanitarian response, with due consideration to risks and opportunities in the programming environment.
Complementarity: Partnerships with CSOs are based on the comparative strengths and advantages, and contribution of financial and non-financial resources, of UNICEF and CSOs to achieve jointly planned results.
Cost-effectiveness: Partnerships with CSOs strive to minimize administrative and financial costs without compromising accountability or effectiveness.
Become a UNICEF programme implementation partner
UNICEF is a founding member of the inter-agency United Nations (UN) Partner Portal, a platform for civil society organizations to engage with the UN on partnership opportunities for the benefit of those we serve. The portal is designed to facilitate a harmonized, efficient and easy collaboration between the UN and partners.
For the latest partnership opportunities with UNICEF, check out the UN Civil Society Partner Portal.
For questions on implementing a partnership in a specific country, contact a UNICEF Country Office.