EU Statement – UNICEF Executive Board: Structured dialogue on financing the results of the UNICEF Strategic Plan

Chair, Madam Executive Director

I am speaking on behalf of the European Union as a donor.

We take note of the update on financing the results of

the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018–2021. We welcome UNICEF’s efforts to harmonize its structured funding dialogue report with those of UNDP, UNFPA and UN-Women. 

We acknowledge that over the 2018–2021 period, UNICEF total income was 22 per cent higher than the original estimates approved in September 2017. We take note of record funding received in 2021, due in particular to the COVID-19 crisis. In this context, we appreciate the important role of UNICEF within ACT-A/COVAX.

The EU continues its strong partnership with UNICEF, being a main donor to the organization with a budget close to USD 600 million. We welcome the growth of 36 per cent in humanitarian funding in 2021. However, we regret to see that humanitarian funding was concentrated only on a few emergencies, leaving many other crises significantly underfunded. We would appreciate information on UNICEF’s plans to draw donors’ attention on these – sometimes forgotten – crises and related possible joint outreach with other aid organizations.

We welcome that in 2021, UNICEF received record private sector funding, with an increase of 29 per cent compared to 2020. We appreciate for instance good results of collaboration with private businesses regarding the COVID-19 response. However, needs for children are rising, due in particular to the impact of COVID-19 and the challenges deriving from the war in Ukraine and the sharp increase in commodity prices. Therefore, we encourage UNICEF to continue actively working on enlarging its donor base, notably to secure core resources, and on innovative financing. In this respect, we support UNICEF’s increased collaboration with International Financial Institutions and efforts to direct their investments to the benefit of children and their families and in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We welcome that in 2021, UNICEF actively engaged internally and with sister agencies and other parts of the UN system to improve joint funding modalities. We strongly encourage UNICEF to continue supporting joint UN interventions in order to maximize programme efficiency.

The update mentions improved recognition and visibility to public sector partners by UNICEF. This is a key element of partnership. While the EU appreciates UNICEF’s efforts, we encourage UNICEF to continue improving and diversifying its actions in order to make populations, including in the affected countries, better aware of EU funding.

Thank you.