UNICEF, business associations and CEOs unite to launch advisory board in Ukraine

UNICEF has joined forces with key business associations and CEOs of Ukrainian and international companies to create more opportunities for children, with the launch of the UNICEF Ukraine Business Advisory Board.

The Board brings together the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, the European Business Association, the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs, as well as members of the working groups represented by CEOs of various member companies.

Establishment of the Business Advisory Boards is a global UNICEF approach to create platforms for exchanging ideas and expertise, fostering awareness, developing joint initiatives, and setting the agenda in support of children’s rights within the country. One of the Board’s main goals is to advocate for more responsible business practices and policy changes that in turn will help to address the needs of the most vulnerable children, youth and caregivers in Ukraine. 

UNICEF will play a key role in the work of the Board to ensure that all members can contribute to the realization of the rights of the children, sharing its international expertise and analysis, connecting to relevant stakeholders, collecting best practices and identifying possibilities for cooperation.  

“We believe that business plays a key role in the implementation and advocating for children’s rights,” said Murat Sahin, UNICEF Ukraine Representative. “With the help of their influence, expertise, innovation and outreach, we can co-create a better present and future for children and youth in Ukraine. We have high hopes that the launch of the Business Advisory Board will help UNICEF to leverage the knowledge, innovation and market sharing power of the private sector. Together we can accelerate and scale up results for children and young people in Ukraine,” he added. 

At the Board’s first meeting, on 10 November, UNICEF presented its key findings from the Analysis on Situation of Children and Youth in Ukraine (2021) and shared examples of how business and UNICEF can work together to achieve results. A discussion followed about potential opportunities for cooperation between business and UNICEF in Ukraine. 

The newly-appointed Board members and UNICEF then identified objectives and formed working groups to focus on specific issues for the next year. 

“We are delighted to join the UNICEF Business Advisory Board, together with key industry leaders. The business expects the new platform to serve as a powerful tool for successful partnerships and vital transformations to ensure that rights of children and youth are respected and supported”, Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.

“One of the key roles of the European Business Association is to advocate for more responsible practices that could make Ukraine not just a better place to do business, however, a better place to live in, more sustainable country. Therefore, this year we make a great accent on projects connected to sustainable development. We believe, in order to live in a prosperous country we need to take care of ecology, responsible consumption, human rights, etc. Thus, we are happy to join the UNICEF Advisory Board – to share expertise, knowledge and to make our contribution to the realization of the rights of the children”, - highlighted Anna Derevyanko, EBA Executive Director. 

“The youth, when brought up in safety and security, and provided with all the resources needed, can lay the groundwork for further economic prosperity of our country as well as of the world in general. And business should consider, as their ultimate goal, to provide this and to bear responsibility for the society they operate in”, Kateryna Glazkova, the CEO of the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs.

UNICEF has been working in Ukraine since 1997, where it has cooperated closely with business partners from a wide range of sectors, including education, health, social policy, child protection, and safety, hygiene and sanitation. The business sector plays a crucial role in promoting and protecting children’s rights. It also sets an agenda for all to improve the daily lives of children, families, youth, and employees by cooperating with the government, international organizations and civic society.