About us

UNICEF is a driving force helping to build a world where the rights of every child are realized. We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress.

UNICEF was founded in 1946 to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path. We know that, working together, we can truly advance the chance for children to fulfill their potential.

We advocate for measures to give children – all children – the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for an individual future. To this end, we make special efforts to promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because every child, regardless of gender, has the right to learn. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children, and thus are essential to the advancement of their communities and their countries. We are also the world’s largest agent of child immunization against common childhood diseases, and we work tirelessly to ensure that all children are well nourished, because no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness or malnutrition.

UNICEF in PNG

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), UNICEF’s works effectively both ‘upstream’ (with governments) and ‘downstream’ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government guides our work in the country. In this way, we support the government’s national development priorities, and thus avoid any duplicated or conflicting programmes. As a result, UNICEF is able to maximise the use of its resources for children.

Through its programme of cooperation with the Government of PNG, UNICEF is also able to influence major policy and programme decisions, and the allocation of budget priorities, for the benefit of children. In addition, UNICEF works closely with civil society organizations, the media, and academia to act as ‘pressure points’ to trigger public debates on child rights and development issues.

At the grassroots level UNICEF is turning the most innovative ideas into reality. Working closely with local non-governmental organizations, UNICEF has strengthened the capacity of the often remote districts and communities in the areas of health, justice, and access to education. UNICEF also provides direct assistance to the population in some areas, providing drugs, vaccines, and nutritional supplements.