The United Kingdom
UNICEF public-sector partner
UNICEF’s longstanding partnership with the United Kingdom (UK) is invaluable. Together, we support the most vulnerable children – especially girls, persons with disabilities, children on the move, and those affected by emergencies – in some of the most fragile states, focusing on health; education; and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
In 2019, the UK was among the top five contributors to UNICEF’s health, nutrition, WASH and humanitarian programmes. Its support allowed UNICEF to provide nutritious diets and prevent malnutrition for millions of children around the world. In Yemen, for example, UNICEF continued to sustain malnutrition screening for some 2.2 million children under the age of five, and urgent treatment for 70,000 of the most vulnerable. In Lebanon, UK contributions supported non-formal education and child protection. And in support of UNICEF-led global efforts to end child wasting, UNICEF and DFID launched a new five-year partnership to accelerate action across 10 countries in Africa and Asia.
The UK was the second largest overall contributor to UNICEF in 2019, providing US$494 million in critical support for global programming. The UK consistently plays a key advocacy role on issues surrounding disability and gender, and has signed a multi-year core funding agreement with UNICEF from 2018 through 2020.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UK renewed its commitment to implement child rights by aligning to the global voluntary pledge: “For every child, every right.”
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom is a signatory to the global statement Protect Our Children – a response to the UN Secretary-General's call for countries to prioritize children’s education, food, health and safety.
2019 contributions to UNICEF
Regular Resources: US$52 million
Other Resources (regular): US$198 million
Other Resources (emergency): US$244 million
Total: US$494 million
