State of Kuwait and UNICEF Hold First High-Level Strategic Dialogue, Strengthening Global Partnership for Children

NEW YORK, 27 October 2025 – The State of Kuwait and UNICEF held today their first High-Level Strategic Dialogue at UNICEF Headquarters in New York, reaffirming their shared commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of children worldwide.

The Dialogue, co-chaired by H.E. Ambassador Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, and Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, brought together senior representatives from Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), and UNICEF leadership. The meeting aimed to strengthen humanitarian and development cooperation, expand global advocacy for children, and set out joint priorities for the next five years.

During the Dialogue, the parties signed a US$5 million contribution agreement between the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and UNICEF, to finance a joint project with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the total amount of $10 million to support UNICEF’s life-saving water, sanitation, and nutrition programmes in Sudan. This initiative will help protect 1.5 million people, including children, from the ongoing cholera outbreak across six states severely affected by conflict and infrastructure damage.

“UNICEF is grateful to the State of Kuwait for its commitment to the rights of children, and for its support of life-saving asistance to children in desperate need in Sudan,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “This Dialogue marks an important step in further strengthening our collaboration and impact for children, today and for generations to come.”  

“Kuwait is proud of its enduring partnership with UNICEF, which reflects our belief in the power of international cooperation to secure a better future for children,” said H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. “Through this Dialogue, we are not only reinforcing our humanitarian role but also charting a joint path with UNICEF to enhance development, innovation, and global advocacy for children in need.”

The High-Level Strategic Dialogue outlined areas of collaboration aligned with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2026–2029) and Kuwait Vision 2035, focusing on advancing humanitarian diplomacy and joint advocacy for children affected by conflict and climate crises. The Dialogue emphasized expanding programme cooperation through South–South and Triangular collaboration, while exploring means of mobilizing resources to support global child priorities; and enhancing national engagement within Kuwait, including youth empowerment, education, and innovation initiatives.

The Dialogue concluded with a renewed commitment to formalize a Strategic Cooperation Framework, building on Kuwait’s humanitarian leadership for children. Kuwait’s strategic partnership with UNICEF since 1969 demonstrates a huge and positive impact in the lives of children and their families.  Kuwait has been a long-standing partner of UNICEF over the years, having provided over US$280 million from 2012 – 2024 to support UNICEF’s activities and projects in the Middle East and beyond.