UNICEF - Annual Report 2025

UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight Annual Report 2025At a glance  i UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 2025 At a glance In 2025, UNICEF Innocenti delivered evidence that shaped global decisions for children, while building partnerships and engagement for a faster, more resilient response in 2026. Flagship reports reframed action on child poverty and well-being. Global convenings boosted collaboration particularly in continental Africa and new funding strengthened research pipelines. In 2026, the new Office of Strategy and Evidence (OSE) will consolidate these gains to drive scalable impact.

Research and evidence: 55 publications Policy influence: 217 policy documents cited 198 publications across 23 countries in 11 languages Global reach: Referenced by 146 inter-governmental organizations and 30 governments, 9 legislative bodies, 8 non-governmental organizations and 24 think tanks Digital engagement: 365K+ website visits and 120K social media followers Funding mobilized: US$11.5 million in additional donor funding Major reports • The State of the World’s Children 2025: Ending Child Poverty – Our Shared Imperative launched at the G20 Social Summit, The reframed global action on child poverty. • Innocenti Report Card 19: Child Well-Being in an Unpredictable World underscored how instability affects childhood in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/ European Union (EU) countries. • The global outlook report Prospects for Children in 2025: Building Resilient Systems for Children’s Futures informed senior leadership dialogues during major geopolitical changes.At a glance  ii

UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Protecting children • UNICEF Innocenti published 28 studies, including in leading journals. The studies advanced evidence on child marriage, female gentile mutilation, violence prevention, migration, displacement and climate-resilient civil registration systems. • Global evidence synthesis on child marriage informed policy, including scale-up of Bangladesh’s national cash transfer programme and programme design in Sierra Leone.

evidence on child marriage, female gentile mutilation, violence prevention, migration, displacement and climate-resilient civil registration systems. • Global evidence synthesis on child marriage informed policy, including scale-up of Bangladesh’s national cash transfer programme and programme design in Sierra Leone. • The global research agenda for children with disabilities, presented at the Global Disability Summit, included 4 key reports and engaged with 50 youth leaders across 8 countries. Separately, delivered a 5-part Beyond Barriers webinar series. • UNICEF Innocenti provided global support on ethics in evidence activities. • Childhood in a Digital World report, Guidance on Artificial Intelligence and Children 3.0 and Neurotechnology and Children's Rights reports helped policymakers get ahead of risk. • Disrupting Harm data documented children’s experiences of technology-facilitated sexual abuse (12 countries, 24K+ respondents). • First consultations on Children’s Best Interests in a Digital World engaged 208 children and multiple expert groups, with results forthcoming in 2026. Systems strengthening Health The office completed behavioural science and implementation research evidence reviews on healthcare worker motivation, vaccine trust and adolescent reporting of sexual violence; conducted qualitative studies in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan on engagement with religious leaders for polio eradication; convened the Behavioural Horizons 2025 event with the Gates Foundation to explore intersections of behavioural science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Poverty and social protection • Transfer Project Phase 3, supported by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) concluded with 12 studies, 16 reports and 28 journal articles. Training was completed for 271 African researchers (2023–2025). Phase 4 (2025–2027) will continue to examine long-term impacts of cash transfers on adolescents, disability, gender and resilience. • Gender Responsive Age Sensitive Research Programme (GRASSP) – Phase 2 contributed evidence to 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) and informed Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) Phase 6 design. • Joint report with International Labour Organization (ILO) on the Role of Social Protection in the

evidence to 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) and informed Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) Phase 6 design. • Joint report with International Labour Organization (ILO) on the Role of Social Protection in the Elimination of Child Labour collaboration under Ending Child Labour in Supply Chains (CLEAR) advanced efforts to eliminate child labour in Uganda and Honduras.At a glance  iii UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Education • More than 70 research publications were featured on global platforms (e.g., UNESCO Digital Learning Week). • Research conducted in more than 30 countries on strengthening systems in teacher policy, gender equity, digital learning, remedial education and structured pedagogy. • Evidence informed curriculum redesign in Bangladesh, scale-up of structured pedagogy in Sierra Leone and Rwanda’s remedial education model, among other reforms. • Data Must Speak featured in most country programmes and released a global synthesis and more than 20 dissemination videos. • Early childhood and inclusive education research informed policy in Djibouti, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Paraguay and Sierra Leone. Foresight • Established a Foresight Community of Practice within UNICEF, with a SharePoint hub, Viva Engage Community and global sessions drawing strong participation on topics like horizon scanning and the future of learning with UNDP Signal Studio. • Launched EdTech Data Governance Landscape Review and Policy Recommendations and Compendium of Innovations in Data Governance for Children, which were featured at the Global Privacy Assembly (Seoul, Republic of Korea). • Produced papers on issues like Fintech and Children, Armed Conflict, including on Bioweapons, Private Military and Security Companies, and Video Games and Organized Violence. • Released a report with AUDA-NEPAD on AfCFTA’s impact on children and explainers on Civic Education, Trade and Child Well-being, Trade-Climate Nexus and the implications for children, and Global Outlook for Younger Generation. Youth engagement Significantly advanced global youth participation and foresight by co-designing major convenings

Education, Trade and Child Well-being, Trade-Climate Nexus and the implications for children, and Global Outlook for Younger Generation. Youth engagement Significantly advanced global youth participation and foresight by co-designing major convenings such as the Leading Minds Conference, Dubai Future Forum and COP30, while curating innovative platforms like the Future of Childhood exhibit. The team delivered over 40 capacity-building workshops for 15 Youth Foresight Fellows, engaged over 800 young people across 15 countries, and published the Young Visionaries 2025 report, Emerging Breakthroughs on Climate Change and the Future Child Persona Playbook, among other reports. Youth insights shaped UNICEF strategies on education, climate and civic engagement, supported by AI-driven tools like the Climate Education Atlas.At a glance  iv UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Global convenings and partnerships • In 2025, UNICEF Innocenti convened 22 major global and regional events. The convenings underscored the importance of collaboration and co creation, emphasizing the value of partnerships grounded in trust, open communication and a shared commitment to place children at the centre of collective action. • Leading Minds Conference 2025: The Future of Education in Africa is helping shape UNICEF’s Africa education strategy and the Partner Days 2025 strengthened collaboration with 22 partners and youth leaders from 13 countries. • UNICEF Innocenti, together with the Philanthropy Team in Private Fundraising and Partnerships office, organized the first Innocenti Family Day 2025 welcoming 25 philanthropic stakeholders and showcased Innocenti’s work and explored funding opportunities. • Host Country Agreement (HCA) is near finalization. UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFA) exchanged Note Verbales to establish an interim legal framework for colleagues relocating to Rome, while the new HCA and two supplementary agreements applying to Innocenti’s Florence operations and Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)/Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA) in Rome are close to signature.Contents 2025 At a glance i

Verbales to establish an interim legal framework for colleagues relocating to Rome, while the new HCA and two supplementary agreements applying to Innocenti’s Florence operations and Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP)/Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA) in Rome are close to signature.Contents 2025 At a glance i Note from the Director 1 Context and implications for children 3

Leading global discourse: Flagship reports 4

State of the World's Children 4 Innocenti Report Card 5

Prospects for Children: A Global Outlook 5

Research at a glance 6 Social and economic policy 6 Education 7 Gender equality, child rights and protection 8 Research agenda for children with disabilities 11 Foresight and anticipatory policy 13 Youth foresight research 15 Cross-cutting areas of work 15 Ethics in evidence 15 Convening 16 Amplifying youth voices across global convenings 17 Lessons and future directions 18 Insights for enhancing impact 19 Major moments in 2026 19 Finance and partnerships 20 Collaborations 22 Annex 1: UNICEF Innocenti partners 24 Annex 2: UNICEF Innocenti publications 28 About us 29 vUNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025Note from the Director   1 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Note from the Director For many children, the world is becoming more uncertain. Conflict endures. Climate shocks intensify. Inequality deepens. New technologies are reshaping childhood faster than rules, systems and protections can keep up. In 2025, these forces collided with growing fiscal constraints and weakening multilateral cooperation. In this context, the demand for high quality, timely and actionable evidence has never been greater. UNICEF Innocenti exists to help make sense of complexity and turn it into action for children. In 2025, our focus was clear: provide sharp, timely insights that help decision makers see both what is happening now and what is coming next – to act before risks become crises.

actionable evidence has never been greater. UNICEF Innocenti exists to help make sense of complexity and turn it into action for children. In 2025, our focus was clear: provide sharp, timely insights that help decision makers see both what is happening now and what is coming next – to act before risks become crises. Our flagship reports set the tone. The State of the World’s Children 2025 made a simple but powerful point: child poverty is not inevitable. It is the result of choices. By reframing poverty as a policy failure rather than a fact of life, the report helped reset global conversations at a time when fiscal pressure is pushing children down the priority list. Innocenti Report Card 19 delivered another warning signal, showing how gains in child well being are stalling – and in some cases reversing – even in high income countries. Together with the global outlook report Prospects for Children in 2025, these products reinforced a shared message: unless systems adapt, children will pay the price. Alongside global analysis, UNICEF Innocenti deepened its engagement with countries and regions to co create evidence that informs policy and strengthens national systems. Across education, social protection, child protection, health and disability inclusion, our work focused on strengthening national systems – not just piloting solutions, but supporting scale. Implementation research, sustained technical assistance and long term partnerships helped governments and UNICEF teams translate evidence into reforms that last. Africa remained central to this effort. With nearly half of the world’s children expected to live on the continent by mid century, the future of children is inseparable from Africa’s future. In 2025, we expanded research partnerships, invested in local research capacity and amplified African perspectives through convenings such as the Leading Minds Conference. We also pushed foresight from the margins to the mainstream within UNICEF. The risks facing children are increasingly interconnected and fast moving. Through horizon scanning, scenario analysis and anticipatory policy work, UNICEF Innocenti helped teams look beyond immediate pressures to prepare for what lies ahead: digital harms, climate driven displacement, geopolitical instability and widening inequality. Foresight is no longer optional. It is essential.Note from the Director   2

analysis and anticipatory policy work, UNICEF Innocenti helped teams look beyond immediate pressures to prepare for what lies ahead: digital harms, climate driven displacement, geopolitical instability and widening inequality. Foresight is no longer optional. It is essential.Note from the Director   2 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Children and young people were not just participants in this work, they were co creators. Youth led foresight research, global consultations and major convenings ensured that evidence reflected lived experience, not assumptions. Their insights sharpened our analysis and strengthened its legitimacy. At the same time, constraints remain real. Flexible funding is scarce. Volatility makes long term planning harder. Organizational change brings both disruption and opportunity. These realities make collaboration, clarity and focus more important than ever. Looking ahead, the creation of UNICEF’s Office of Strategy and Evidence marks a turning point. By bringing together data, research, foresight and enhanced programme design, UNICEF is strengthening its ability to act early, act at scale and act with confidence. Evidence must do more than inform; it must drive decisions that improve children’s lives. In a world that often reacts too late, UNICEF Innocenti will continue to look ahead, speak clearly and defend children’s best interests. We ask our partners – governments, donors, researchers, practitioners and others – to put children at the centre of policy choices, invest in evidence that enables long term solutions, and listen to children as partners in shaping their futures. What we do next will define the world children inherit. Bo Viktor Nylund DirectorContext and implications  3 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Context and implications for children Children’s rights are under increasing strain in a rapidly evolving and uncertain global context. While important gains have been made over past decades, progress is increasingly fragile, uneven and at risk of reversal. The convergence of geopolitical instability, economic pressures, climate change and technological transformation is reshaping the environment in which children grow, learn, and develop. Conflict remains a defining feature of childhood for a growing number of children worldwide. The

and at risk of reversal. The convergence of geopolitical instability, economic pressures, climate change and technological transformation is reshaping the environment in which children grow, learn, and develop. Conflict remains a defining feature of childhood for a growing number of children worldwide. The percentage of children affected by conflict has almost doubled since the 1990s and is likely to increase further. These contexts are characterized by displacement, disruption of essential services, and heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and deprivation. Children are increasingly exposed to protracted crises that do not follow linear pathways from emergency to recovery, but instead persist over time with overlapping humanitarian, development, and peace challenges. Children face heightened vulnerability due to the intersecting impacts of climate change, displacement and resource scarcity. Social and political dynamics are also affecting children’s rights: in some contexts, rising nationalism and conservatism are contributing to pushbacks on established child rights norms, including gender equality and protection frameworks. Emerging issues such as technology-facilitated violence, online exploitation and digital exclusion are gaining prominence and economic conditions are further constraining the realization of child rights. Rising debt burdens and limited fiscal space are reducing governments’ ability to invest in essential services. At the same time, donor priorities are shifting. There is growing emphasis on funding grassroots and locally led organizations and a relative decline in funding for multilateral institutions. While this shift reflects important commitments to localization, it also presents challenges for organizations operating at scale, particularly in terms of predictable and flexible financing. Increasing polarization and weakening multilateral cooperation limits the ability of the international community to respond effectively. While new forms of cooperation are emerging, they have yet to compensate for the erosion of traditional multilateral structures. These trends risk reversing hardwon gains reducing political and financial commitment to child-focused policies and programmes. Across these intersecting challenges, the role of national systems in delivering sustainable results for children at scale and with sustainability is evident. Demand for high-quality, innovative, and cross-sectoral research and evidence continues to grow. Policymakers and practitionersLeading global discourse  4 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025

Across these intersecting challenges, the role of national systems in delivering sustainable results for children at scale and with sustainability is evident. Demand for high-quality, innovative, and cross-sectoral research and evidence continues to grow. Policymakers and practitionersLeading global discourse  4 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 increasingly require timely and actionable insights to navigate complex and rapidly changing environments. While risks to children’s rights are intensifying, there is also growing recognition of the need for systemic, integrated, and evidence-based approaches. Harnessing this momentum will be key to ensuring that all children not only survive but thrive in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

Leading global discourse: Flagship reports State of the World's Children The State of the World's Children 2025: Ending Child Poverty – Our Shared Imperative (SOWC 2025) launched on World Children's Day (20 November 2025) at the G20 Social Summit in South Africa presented new data and advanced global discourse on child poverty as a solvable policy choice.

A high-profile panel featuring ministers from South Africa and Brazil, UNICEF Innocenti's Director and Youth Foresight Fellow Sampada Tewari drew over 200 in-person and online attendees. The launch included a video message from Executive Director Catherine Russell, who stressed that despite mounting crises, child poverty is not inevitable. SOWC 2025 introduced new multidimensional child poverty estimates: 417 million children in lowand middle-income countries face severe deprivation in two or more of life’s essentials (nutrition, sanitation, water, housing, health, education). Sanitation is the most widespread deprivation, and child poverty is concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. SOWC’s digital and media reach was substantial: 180 million social media impressions, 690,000 page views on unicef.org, and 2,900 report downloads. Between 19–28 November, the report received more than 930 media mentions globally across English, French, Spanish and Arabic markets. Coverage included interviews with CBS News Radio and France24, along with stories in Bloomberg News and major national outlets spanning South Africa, Peru, India and other markets

received more than 930 media mentions globally across English, French, Spanish and Arabic markets. Coverage included interviews with CBS News Radio and France24, along with stories in Bloomberg News and major national outlets spanning South Africa, Peru, India and other markets globally. Human-interest stories from eight countries strengthened local media coverage. It is expected the report will have an enduring impact. In December, UNICEF presented the report's multidimensional data at the Global Coalition to End Child Poverty webinar alongside the World Bank, Save the Children, and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative ensuring continued momentum among research and advocacy networks. UNICEF and partnersLeading global discourse  5 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 continue to amplify the report's findings to shape discourse on child poverty, including among policymakers and donors. Innocenti Report Card Child Well-Being in an Unpredictable World: Innocenti Report Card 19 launched in May 2025 answered three core questions: • How have children fared in the face of a rapidly changing and often unpredictable global environment? • What are the key factors affecting children’s lives? • What can be done to promote child well-being? This report, the 19th in the Innocenti Report Card series, aims to answer these questions in the context of the 43 countries that are members of the EU and/or the OECD. This category includes all members of the Group of Seven (G7) as well as many other high-income countries. Innocenti Report Card 19 analysed trends in child well-being over a five-year period relating to the same six key indicators that were at the core of Innocenti Report Card 16, published in 2020: life satisfaction, adolescent suicide, child mortality, overweight, academic proficiency and social skills. The report sought to understand the reasons for these trends and how actions could be informed to improve child well-being. It also presented a long-term perspective, by looking at trends in key indicators of child well-being since 2000, when the first Innocenti Report Card on child well-being was published. The report, which received substantial media coverage in many countries, presented a mixed

improve child well-being. It also presented a long-term perspective, by looking at trends in key indicators of child well-being since 2000, when the first Innocenti Report Card on child well-being was published. The report, which received substantial media coverage in many countries, presented a mixed picture. Over the past 25 years, there have been notable improvements in child well-being in the group of countries examined in this report: steady decline in child mortality, overall reduction in adolescent suicide and increase in school completion rates. But the last five years have shown warning signs in deteriorating life satisfaction and falling academic skills in most countries. Obesity rates are also rising. This combination of trends presents a major challenge to OECD/ EU countries in providing children with the conditions for a good childhood and a positive future. The report showed that the hard-won progress in child well-being in this group of countries is becoming increasingly vulnerable to global events and shocks.

Prospects for Children: A Global Outlook Prospects for Children in 2025: Building Resilient Systems for Children’s Futures is a part of a series of reports produced each year by UNICEF Innocenti, which investigate the key trends affecting children and young people over the following 12 months and beyond. The global outlook report highlighted the new and intensifying era of crisis for children and the close interconnectednessResearch  6

UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 of these crises – including climate change, conflict and economic instability. The report reflected a world of rising geopolitical tensions and competition among nations, hindering the implementation of solutions. To uphold children’s rights and well-being, the report highlighted actions to rethink and strengthen systems. Systems approaches (i.e., approaches that go beyond mere service delivery) are essential to build resilience into every area of children’s lives, whether it is disaster preparedness frameworks that safeguard schools and communities, education systems that can adapt during emergencies, or inclusive healthcare systems that respond to immediate needs while planning for future risks. These systems must not only address current global challenges but also anticipate and prepare for what lies ahead, including in the thematic areas covered in this report’s ‘Issues to watch’ section.

that can adapt during emergencies, or inclusive healthcare systems that respond to immediate needs while planning for future risks. These systems must not only address current global challenges but also anticipate and prepare for what lies ahead, including in the thematic areas covered in this report’s ‘Issues to watch’ section. Research at a glance Social and economic policy The Transfer Project The Phase 3 of the Transfer Project (2021–2025) was completed in 2025. It included 12 research studies and 11 primary data collections of the design, implementation and impacts of cash transfers and “cash plus” programmes in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia. The project generated 16 research reports, 28 journal articles (including 25 open access), 4 working papers, 14 briefs, 6 blogs, and a guide on methodologies to build an investment case for social protection. With funding from Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the Transfer Project Phase 4 (2025–2027) research continued the effectiveness and operational performance of cash transfers and cash transfer “Plus” programmes in Africa. The research focuses on long-term impacts including adolescents transition to adulthood, gender equality and women’s empowerment, resilience to shocks, disability and financing for children. Twenty-eight African researchers were trained in research and impact evaluation methods in 2025. Disability benefits in Tunisia The first phase of the study on the cost of raising a child with disability in Tunisa was completed. This study will inform the government’s social protection programme on the adequacy of the disability benefits in Tunisia. The initial phase included a workshop with key experts and government officials, followed by qualitative interviews with households that have children with disability. The second phase is now underway and involves a quantitative survey of social protection programme beneficiary households, including those with children with disability.Research  7 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Gender-Responsive Age-Sensitive Social Protection (GRASSP) – 2 To promote dissemination and uptake under the GRASSP – 2, researchers participated in over nine

protection programme beneficiary households, including those with children with disability.Research  7 UNICEF Innocenti Annual Report 2025 Gender-Responsive Age-Sensitive Social Protection (GRASSP) – 2 To promote dissemination and uptake under the GRASSP – 2, researchers participated in over nine events. This included the high-level global event at the United Nation’s Committee on the Status of Women 69 side-event called ‘Years of Her Life: Gender-Responsive Social Protection Across the Life Course’. Other notable events included the Social Protection Inter-Agency Cooperation Board (SPIAC-B) Gender Working Group Immersion Visit to Zambia, dissemination in Viet Nam, joint webinars with the World Bank Africa Gender Innovation Lab, World Bank CoP on Social Protection and Gender, and the Center for Global Development. The team also participated in technical clinics for practitioners from various organizations and development partners including Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) Social Development Advisers and presented at a UNU-WIDER conference. GRASSP evidence influenced policymaking in Ethiopia, particularly providing valuable inputs to key documents prepared by the World Bank and Irish Aid in the design of the sixth phase of the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) and the evidence was reviewed for the National Social Protection reformulation. Public finance Work on Feasibility for Financing Universal Child Benefit in Tunisia and Fiscal Space for Achieving Child Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Tunisia was completed. Guidance note on cost of inaction and investment case for social protection has been reviewed externally and internally and is being finalized. Case studies with Ethiopia and Zambia are ongoing. Work is ongoing in Afghanistan on the cost of inaction on the ban of girls’ education beyond Grade 7. International Labour Organization and UNICEF Innocenti collaboration on eliminating child labour The joint ILO and UNICEF Innocenti work on the role of social protection in eliminating child labour continues. Collaboration is ongoing between UNICEF and ILO under the CLEAR Supply Chains Programme (2024–2027), a joint initiative funded by the European Union to address child labour in coffee supply chains in Uganda and Honduras. The programme is implemented by four partner

continues. Collaboration is ongoing between UNICEF and ILO under the CLEAR Supply Chains Programme (2024–2027), a joint initiative funded by the European Union to address child labour in coffee supply chains in Uganda and Honduras. The programme is implemented by four partner agencies: ILO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF and the International Trade Centre (I