Our goals are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
No poverty
Poverty deprives children of their basic rights to health, protection, education and many other things. Without global action, child poverty is likely to perpetuate social inequality and deprive the most vulnerable girls and boys of the services they need to survive and thrive.
It is estimated that one billion children in the world lack simple necessities such as nutrition or clean water. Of these, more than 350 million children live in extreme poverty. UNICEF invests in improving social services so that all children can meet their basic needs.
No hunger
End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Good nutrition is the foundation of child development. Children who receive good nutrition have a better ability to grow and learn, participate in their communities, and are able to cope with diseases, disasters and other emergency situations.
UNICEF works to reduce barriers to good nutrition, with a focus on preventing all forms of malnutrition. We do this to ensure that all children have the affordable, nutritious diets they need so they can reach their full potential.
Good health and wellness:
Tremendous progress has been made in child and maternal health over the past decades. The number of children living to reach the age of five has increased, while the number of mothers who die during pregnancy and childbirth has decreased. However, millions of deaths continue to occur among women and children from causes that could be prevented through the provision of quality health care.
UNICEF works around the world to keep children safe from disease by strengthening health systems in communities and across countries.
Good education
The right to education means the right to learn, but there are children all over the world who are unable to attend school, or develop basic reading and numeracy skills, for a variety of reasons. Poverty remains among the most difficult barriers to address. Children living in conditions of political instability, conflict or natural disasters are also more likely to be deprived of learning in school – this also applies to children with disabilities and children belonging to ethnic minorities. In some countries, educational opportunities for girls remain severely limited.
UNICEF focuses on equity and inclusion to provide all children with quality education opportunities – regardless of who they are, where they live or how much their family earns – from early childhood through adolescence.
gender equality:
Gender inequality manifests itself in many harmful forms, such as gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and denial of education.
Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a precondition for economic growth and prosperity. UNICEF works around the world to ensure that all children have the same resources, opportunities and protection, regardless of their gender. We focus on programs that empower girls and young women, on positive upbringing for children, and on data analysis to help governments address barriers to gender equality.
Reducing inequalities
Children around the world are denied basic care and services based on their race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, language or religion. Without investments to protect children from the lifelong consequences of discrimination and exclusion, progress towards equality will stall.
UNICEF helps countries build social protection systems that reach the most vulnerable children, helping every child have an equal chance in life.
Establishing partnerships to achieve goals
Strengthening methods for implementing and reviving global partnerships for sustainable development.
Partnerships are critical to achieving results for every child, and everyone has a role to play in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNICEF's ability to support and empower children and their families depends on our partners who provide critical resources that allow us to reach children wherever they are. We work with a diverse group of partners at the global, regional, country and local levels, and across the public and private sectors.