Funding for Core Resources for Results
UNICEF relies on voluntary contributions to uphold our mission of reaching every child.
Core Resources for Results (RR) is funding without restrictions, to be used flexibly for children wherever and whenever the need is greatest. RR enables UNICEF to:
- Achieve the greatest long-term impact for children
- Scale up proven solutions and best practices for children globally
- Lead and pioneer new ideas to respond effectively to complex children’s issues
- Meet children’s needs throughout childhood and adolescence
- Prepare and respond rapidly in emergencies, and rebuild thereafter
In 2020, income1 from RR was US$1.427 billion. UNICEF’s top five contributors were the United States of America, the Japan Committee for UNICEF, Germany, the Korean Committee for UNICEF, and Sweden.
Allocation of Core Resources for Results
Core Resources for Results safeguard the essential core funding of more than 150 UNICEF country offices across seven regions, helping to maintain our global footprint around the world.
The largest proportion of expense supports programme planning, delivery and evaluation at the global, regional and country levels, including in 150 country offices. The remaining portion is used to strategically support UNICEF’s core structure and mission through country-level representation, policy work, and other key deliverables that maximize the success of programmes.
The UNICEF Executive Board has established a clear and transparent way to allocate these valuable resources where they matter most, to ensure that the greatest possible results are achieved for children. Allocation starts with a minimum of US$850,000 for each country office every year until the country achieves ‘high income’ status for two years, based on the World Bank’s country classification. Further funds are allocated across countries based on three key criteria: under-five mortality rate, gross national income per capita, and child population size.
UNICEF 2021 RR allocations can be found here.
Top 10 donors to Core Resources for Results, 2020
| Rank2 | Resource partner | Total US$, millions |
| 1 | United States of America | 154 |
| 2 | Japan Committee for UNICEF | 133 |
| 3 | Germany | 102 |
| 4 | Korean Committee for UNICEF | 82 |
| 5 | Sweden | 70 |
| 6 | Spanish Committee for UNICEF | 65 |
| 7 | German Committee for UNICEF | 57 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 51 |
| 9 | Swedish Committee for UNICEF | 48 |
| 10 | French Committee for UNICEF | 48 |
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1Figures are based on "income," which here represents contributions received from the public sector (see footnote 2) and revenue from the private sector. Revenue is recognized in full, including for multi-year contributions, at the time the agreement is signed with the partner.
2Rankings are by "contributions received," which are cash and contributions in kind received from resource partners within a calendar year.