Thematic Funding
UNICEF relies on voluntary contributions to uphold our mission of reaching every child.
Thematic Funds give partners an opportunity to achieve large-scale results in the UNICEF Strategic Plan through flexible, softly earmarked, multi-year funding. They contribute to the UNICEF mandate to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs, and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
Resource partners can decide to allocate Thematic Funds to health; HIV and AIDS; nutrition; education; child protection; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); climate, environment, and disaster risk reduction; social policy and social protection; gender equality or humanitarian action pools at the global and country levels.
At the regional level, partners stipulate the UNICEF region they wish to support through either development or humanitarian thematic contributions, and the relevant Regional Office determines the best use of the funds for countries in the region, based on priority needs. An additional flexible thematic window has been created at the country level, where partners can support UNICEF’s entire work in a specific country, as set out in the Country Programme Document.
Thematic Funding is one of the best ways to achieve impact for children. It facilitates longer-term planning and sustainability, and reduces transaction costs, leaving more resources to achieve results for children. In countries affected by humanitarian crisis, it also allows for a faster, more agile and cost-effective UNICEF response.
In 2021, our resource partners generously contributed US$756 million in Thematic Funding. Our top three partners were the Governments of Germany (US$157.7 million), the United States Fund for UNICEF (US$130.9 million) and the Danish Committee for UNICEF (US$77.2 million). With their support, and the support of all thematic partners, UNICEF was able to achieve stronger results for more children, including those who are hardest to reach.
Results for children
In 2018-2021, Thematic Funding helped:
Thematic contributions by sector, 2021
Top 10 donors to Thematic Funding, 2021
| Rank | Resource partner | Total US$, millions |
| 1 | Germany | 157.7 |
| 2 | United States Fund for UNICEF | 130.9 |
| 3 | Danish Committee for UNICEF | 77.2 |
| 4 | Sweden | 64.2 |
| 5 | Norway | 53.2 |
| 6 | German Committee for UNICEF | 37.4 |
| 7 | Denmark | 34.4 |
| 8 | Netherlands | 33.9 |
| 9 | United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF | 26.4 |
| 10 | Canadian UNICEF Committee | 13.4 |