UNICEF integrated budget, 2026–2029 (Second regular session 2025)
E/ICEF/2025/AB/L.6
About
The UNICEF integrated budget, 2026–2029 contains the resources that will contribute to the achievement of the Integrated Results and Resources Framework.
As an integral part of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2026–2029 (E/ICEF/2025/29), the integrated budget and its annex (E/ICEF/2025/AB/L.6 and E/ICEF/2025/AB/L.6/ Add.1) should also be considered in conjunction with the Strategic Plan and its annexes.
The total projected income for 2026–2029 is $26.0 billion, representing a 27 per cent decline over the projected income presented in the Report on the midterm review of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025. The projected income is based on consultations with major donors, including Governments, private sector partners and National Committees for UNICEF. Demonstration of results and value for money, as well as continued investment in resource mobilization and concerted outreach, will help to sustain and drive growth in this projected income, which will be prioritized for use in country programmes of cooperation and contribute to improved results for children.
Of the $25.3 billion available for development and humanitarian activities (including development effectiveness) during 2026–2029, UNICEF is proposing to channel $23.6 billion, or 93 per cent, through country programmes. This is $6.6 billion, or 22 per cent, lower than the 2022–2025 midterm review of the integrated budget. This substantial decrease is attributed to a dramatic shift in global priorities from late 2024 to 2025, driven by political instability and economic downturns, which have affected UNICEF public and private fundraising efforts.
From the resources available for programmes, UNICEF is proposing a budget from regular resources (RR) of $195.6 million, and other resources (OR) of $ 900.0 million, subject to the receipt of contributions to OR, for the Global and Regional Programme during 2026–2029.
UNICEF is proposing an institutional budget of $ 2.5 billion for 2026–2029, with $1.1 billion funding from RR and $1.4 billion from cost recovery from OR. Compared with the original 2022–2025 budget, the proportion of total resources utilized for the proposed institutional budget will decrease from 10.2 per cent to 8.9 per cent.
United Nations Children’s Fund
Executive Board
Second regular session 2025
2–5 September 2025
