UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Published purpose

This grant represents Canada’s institutional support to UNICEF. UNICEF uses these funds, along with other donors’ funding, to achieve its mandate. Guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF's mandate is to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF works to improve the social and economic conditions of children by seeking to ensure that all the children in the world have access to health care, clean water, food and education, are protected from violence and abuse, and receive relief in disasters. UNICEF works in over 155 countries and territories where it has acquired the respect and confidence of national authorities and partners. UNICEF's 2014-2017 Strategic Plan focuses on seven key priority areas: health; HIV/AIDS; water, sanitation and hygiene; nutrition; education; child protection; and, social inclusion. Cross-cutting themes include results-based management, gender equality, evaluation, human resources, humanitarian capacities and UN reform. UNICEF is a long-standing and trusted partner of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada and is governed by an Executive Board of 36 member states, of which Canada is a rotational member. UNICEF's global presence and its capacity to provide leadership on child-related priorities, including during the sudden onset of emergencies, largely depends on a strong and reliable core income base.