UNICEF Regional Director Visits Korea to Strengthen Partnership for Africa's Children

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa Etleva Kadilli concluded a strategic two-day visit to Seoul (25-26 August), meeting with senior Korean Government officials, parliamentarians, and the Korean Committee for UNICEF to strengthen partnerships in support of the 51 million children across the region who are currently facing multiple crises.

The visit highlighted Korea's emergence as a leading partner for UNICEF's work in Africa. In 2024, Korea became one of UNICEF's top government donors, more than doubling its support from the previous year with significant increases in both core and earmarked funding.

"Korea's remarkable transformation from aid recipient to development leader provides invaluable lessons for countries across Eastern and Southern Africa," said Regional Director Kadilli. "The Republic of Korea's steadily increasing support demonstrates genuine commitment to advancing children's rights and building resilient communities."

During meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), officials discussed scaling up regional collaboration aligned with Korea's ambitious Africa Development Cooperation Strategy, which aims to double Korea's oversees development assistance to Africa by 2030. The strategy’s three pillars – SAFE AFRICA (addressing urgent crises), RISING AFRICA (promoting sustainable growth), and FUTURE AFRICA (building long-term resilience) – reflect a comprehensive understanding of the continent’s diverse challenges and potential.

Key discussions centred on expanding the successful "Republic of Korea-UNICEF Resilience for Children+ Partnership," which includes a $10 million grant to support essential primary health care and safe water in conflict-affected areas of Ethiopia. Officials discussed opportunities to allocate remaining partnership funds to additional Eastern and Southern Africa countries facing humanitarian emergencies.

The visit underscored Korea's commitment to innovative partnerships, including one initiative that is addressing the impact of climate change on children. UNICEF and KOICA's $42 million climate partnership, "Climate Action for the Last Mile: Reaching the Most Vulnerable Children," supports five countries, including Comoros and Zimbabwe in Eastern and Southern Africa, focusing on strengthening climate-smart social services and early warning systems. Climate change emerged as an urgent theme throughout the visit.

At the Korean National Assembly, Regional Director Kadilli addressed members of the Korean Parliamentary Friends of UNICEF and the National Assembly's Africa Forum. She painted a vivid picture of Africa’s future, where nearly a billion children will call the continent home by 2050.

"Korea's unique position as one of the few countries increasing ODA, while others reduce aid budgets, makes Korean parliamentarians crucial advocates for children's rights," said Kadilli. Lawmakers signed a "Call to Action for the Children of Africa," reaffirming their commitment to supporting vulnerable children across the region.

The visit highlighted Korea's growing role in UNICEF’s ACT-A (Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator) partnership, where nearly $10 million has reached seven countries in Eastern and Southern Africa since 2023. These funds have helped to restore health services disrupted by COVID-19 and to strengthen primary health-care systems that serve as lifelines for remote communities.

Discussions with the Korean Committee for UNICEF explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration between Korea and Eastern and Southern Africa. The Korean Committee for UNICEF expressed interest in expanding support for African programmes through field missions and targeted fundraising initiatives.

Regional Director Kadilli also sat down with reporters from Yonhap News Agency, Korea's largest wire service, highlighting the extraordinary challenges facing children in Eastern and Southern Africa as well as the critical role of Korean support in UNICEF's response. Her message reached audiences across Korea’s major media networks, raising awareness about Africa’s development needs and Korea's growing humanitarian role.

"This visit represents a pivotal moment in UNICEF’s collaboration between the Korean Government and the organization’s programmes across Africa," noted Oren Schlein, Head of UNICEF's Seoul Liaison Office. "Korea's expanding development cooperation, combined with UNICEF's field presence and expertise, creates tremendous potential to transform outcomes for millions of children across Eastern and Southern Africa."

As Eastern and Southern Africa faces overlapping crises affecting children's survival, development, and protection, Korea's growing partnership with UNICEF in the region provides crucial support for building resilient communities and advancing children's rights.