Logo of UNICEF.svg

Overview

The United Nations Children's Fund is a global organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and mothers. It was established by the United Nations on 11 December 1946 to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries devastated by World War II. Its original legal name was United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, a title that was shortened in 1953 to United Nations Children's Fund while keeping the familiar acronym UNICEF.

Purpose and core activities

UNICEF focuses on child survival, development and protection. Its work covers health and immunization, nutrition, safe water and sanitation, early childhood development, education, and protection against violence and exploitation. The agency also coordinates and delivers humanitarian assistance during conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies, often working alongside local governments and non-governmental partners.

Organization and governance

UNICEF is a UN organization headquartered in New York and operates in nearly every country of the world. Its leadership includes an Executive Director, who is appointed by the Secretary-General and reports to a governing board. For matters of policy and programme oversight, UNICEF works with an Executive Board and collaborates with other UN entities, national governments and civil society to set priorities and allocate resources. For information on leadership and governance, see the Executive Director and relevant governing bodies.

Funding and partnerships

UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, private sector donors, foundations and individual supporters. It uses those resources to run country-level programmes, supply medicines and vaccines, support schools, train health workers, and collect data to inform policy. The agency places strong emphasis on partnerships — with national authorities, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and community groups — to scale up what works for children.

History and influence

Since its creation in 1946, UNICEF has evolved from an emergency relief fund into a long-term development and advocacy agency for children. Over decades it has played a significant role in advancing child-focused global agreements and standards, including supporting the adoption and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Its programmes have helped establish routine immunization systems, expand access to basic education, and improve maternal and newborn care in many countries.

Notable features and distinctions

UNICEF combines field operations with policy work: it supplies life-saving commodities and runs programmes on the ground while also collecting data, issuing guidance and advocating for legal and budgetary changes that benefit children. It operates in nearly 190 countries and territories and is recognized for rapid response in humanitarian crises and for long-term engagement in child health, education and protection. Headquartered in New York, within the United States, UNICEF continues to partner with governments and communities worldwide to promote the rights and well‑being of every child.