UNICEF - Core Resources Annual Report 2024 Impact Companion

Core Resources Annual Report 2024

IMPACT

COMPANION

THE POW

ER BEH

IN D TH E PRO M ISE THE POWER BEHI ND T HE PROMISEProgress at scale only happens when partnership becomes the strategy – not just the support. At UNICEF, we are privileged to witness the power of partnership every day. We see it in the rapid deployment of life-saving supplies to crisis zones, the steady rise of national investment in child protection and health, and the growing momentum behind universal child benefits and sustainable water systems. And behind every one of those advances is a partner – a government, a business, a philanthropist, a foundation or an individual – who made the choice to act. At the heart of many of these results are UNICEF’s Core Resources: unrestricted funding which is the most flexible and strategic source of funding, provided by both public and private sector partners. This Impact Companion reflects what that choice makes possible. In a year when global aid contracted and crises intensified, the partnerships we share delivered measurable, systemic results for children. They enabled us not only to respond but also to strengthen national systems, unlock innovation, and lay the groundwork for sustainable change. But today’s challenges demand more than a return to what worked before. They require a shift in how we think about scale, strategy and shared value. The development landscape is changing rapidly. Needs are intersecting in new ways, and resources are under pressure. To meet this moment, we must move beyond transactional funding models and embrace transformational partnerships rooted in trust, powered by unrestricted and flexible funding, and guided by a shared vision of equity and resilience. This is the value of a portfolio approach to impact . Core Resources form the bedrock of UNICEF’s work. Thematic funding adds targeted, flexible support across geographies and sectors, such as health, education, nutrition and WASH. And earmarked resources provide targeted support for specific needs. Together, a portfolio of investment offers children what no single modality can achieve alone: responsiveness, scale and sustainability . This is where UNICEF is uniquely positioned to lead: not just through programmes,

sectors, such as health, education, nutrition and WASH. And earmarked resources provide targeted support for specific needs. Together, a portfolio of investment offers children what no single modality can achieve alone: responsiveness, scale and sustainability . This is where UNICEF is uniquely positioned to lead: not just through programmes, but as a trusted partner to governments and as a platform for coordinated, systemic impact. To every partner who has helped make these results possible, thank you. Your leadership extends far beyond your financial contributions – it is your ideas, influence, and ambition for children that shape what UNICEF can achieve and where we go next. But to meet this moment, and to truly scale up the systemic change children need, we must match ambition with investment. Core Resources are not only the most strategic resource we have; they are the engine that drives everything we do. Let us deepen this partnership. Let us keep moving forward together – with purpose, with trust, and with the flexible resources it takes to deliver lasting results for every child, everywhere. From the Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, UNICEF

© UNICEF/UNI481896/Maged HelalANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024

4 In 2024, partnerships continued to power UNICEF’s mission. At the heart of this effort were Core Resources: unrestricted funding that is our most strategic funding source. Core Resources are allocated where the needs of children are greatest, and allow UNICEF to deliver results across: In this Impact Companion , you will read stories about how Core Resources is accelerating progress and delivering results across 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for children.

Taking the work to scale India : Core Resources continued to play a vital role in the delivery and scaling up of the government’s flagship water and sanitation programmes, providing safely managed water supplies for 59.3 million people and sanitation services for 17.9 million people in 2024. (p. 6)

Taking the work to scale India : Core Resources continued to play a vital role in the delivery and scaling up of the government’s flagship water and sanitation programmes, providing safely managed water supplies for 59.3 million people and sanitation services for 17.9 million people in 2024. (p. 6) Republic of Moldova : Core Resources paved the way for $68 million of government and other investment in the RESTART social protection reform, mitigating a 3.4 per cent rise in child poverty and increasing the value of social benefits for families with children, including Ukrainian refugees, by 42 per cent. (p. 10) Bangladesh : Core Resources helped UNICEF mobilize and sustain government action to transform children’s nutrition outcomes, contributing to a 40 per cent reduction in stunting among children under five and a nearly tenfold increase in domestic investments in nutrition services over a decade. (p. 12) This map is stylized and not to scale. It does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or area or the delimitation of any frontiers.

The yearly allocation of Core Resources to UNICEF offices in lowand middle-income countries is driven by equity.

Funds are allocated as follows: • A fixed minimum amount of $850,000 per year for each country programme. • A variable amount resulting from three indicators which are used to determine the severity of children’s deprivations, demand for social services, and the capacity of the countries to deliver these services to children: 149 countries and territories 7 regions

home to 2.1 billion children Under-five mortality rate Child population Gross national income per capita Core Resources Impact DirectoryANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 5 Meeting the holistic needs of children and adolescents Côte d'Ivoire and Cabo Verde : Core Resources provided instrumental support to the governments to bring universal child registration within reach, with more than 9 in 10 children

5 Meeting the holistic needs of children and adolescents Côte d'Ivoire and Cabo Verde : Core Resources provided instrumental support to the governments to bring universal child registration within reach, with more than 9 in 10 children registered before their first birthdays . (p. 30) Viet Nam : Core Resources supported a more inclusive system for access to learning opportunities for children with disabilities, embedded disability inclusion into national teacher training, and enabled scaling up the Inclusive Education Resource Centres across 14 provinces to prepare children with disabilities to enter mainstream classrooms. (p. 32) Leading, convening and pioneering Horn of Africa : Core Resources scaled up an innovative solution using satellite data to detect groundwater, mapping nearly a million square kilometres of territory in drought-prone countries, with the potential to benefit 10 million people in need . (p. 14) Guatemala : Core Resources positioned UNICEF as a key partner in the transformation of the social protection system, offering the government strategic policy advice and partnerships, which resulted in a $1 billion investment in social protection programmes and mitigation of a three-to-four-fold increase in poverty during the COVID-19 pandemic. (p. 16) Global : Core Resources fast tracked the integration of cross-sectoral mental health services and care into national systems in 13 countries , modelling new solutions, and reaching more than 8.8 million children , adolescents, caregivers and service providers. (p. 18) Before, during and after an emergency Yemen : Core Resources safeguarded continued access and expansion of essential health services, contributing to a 23 per cent drop in under-five mortality over the course of the last decade of conflict. (p. 20) Democratic Republic of the Congo : Core Resources supported more than 1,700 health-care facilities to stay operational , securing lifesaving supplies and treatment for more than 129,000 children facing severe wasting. (p. 22) Madagascar and Mozambique : Core Resources provided the seed funding for UNICEF’s Today and Tomorrow Initiative , an integrated climate and disaster finance solution, supporting more

facilities to stay operational , securing lifesaving supplies and treatment for more than 129,000 children facing severe wasting. (p. 22) Madagascar and Mozambique : Core Resources provided the seed funding for UNICEF’s Today and Tomorrow Initiative , an integrated climate and disaster finance solution, supporting more that more than 120,000 people in Madagascar and Mozambique with life-saving services in the aftermath of cyclones. (p. 24) Rwanda : Core Resources reinforced the government’s response to the Marburg disease outbreak, contributing to more lives being saved and a low fatality rate of 22.7 per cent . (p. 26) Expert staff Jordan : Core Resources funded the first-ever One Stop Centre which offers a proven model for replication across Jordan including Syrian refugee camps, successfully supporting an initial 500 children and women survivors and witnesses of violence, abuse or exploitation with multi-sectoral services. (p. 27) Sierra Leone : Core Resources strengthened the child protection and case management system, accrediting social workers for the first time and facilitating protection services for more than 675,000 children in five years , including those who have faced violence, exploitation, abuse or neglect. (p. 28)ANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 6 In India, a decade-long effort to bring safe sanitation and hygiene to every home has done more than improve toilets – it has helped to save children’s lives. Between 2014 and 2022, India saw a 37 per cent reduction in child mortality. While progress on child health is never the result of a single intervention, improved access to clean water and sanitation played a pivotal role by dramatically reducing incidence of diarrhoeal disease, malnutrition and infection – some of the leading causes of death in young children. Few programmes have had such a far-reaching and systemic impact as India’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) revolution. At the heart of that transformation has been an ambitious government-led movement, backed by UNICEF and enabled by sustained investments of unrestricted funding.

of death in young children. Few programmes have had such a far-reaching and systemic impact as India’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) revolution. At the heart of that transformation has been an ambitious government-led movement, backed by UNICEF and enabled by sustained investments of unrestricted funding. In 2014, the Government of India launched the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission, one of the largest sanitation programmes in the world. Its goal was bold: provide universal access to sanitation and eliminate open defecation by constructing over 110 million toilets for 550 million people across the country. This ambitious target was achieved by 2019. Vani (5) practises good handwashing technique. Yuvoday volunteers also conduct sessions for better hygiene with children in Mohlai village, Durg, Chattisgarh.

A Decade of Progress: How India’s WASH transformation is saving lives In the last 10 years, 550 million people have been reached with at least basic sanitation, and 580 million people with improved drinking water in their homes.

SDG target 6ANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024

7 By 2024, Swachh Bharat had reached nearly every corner of the country. But more importantly, it had catalysed a shift in mindset – from building toilets to strengthening systems for sustainable sanitation services, including solid and liquid waste management and climate-responsive initiatives. From the start, UNICEF has been a trusted partner in the mission’s design, delivery and scaling up, helping ensure that infrastructure was matched with systems-strengthening, community engagement and behaviour change. UNICEF supported this shift by embedding technical advisors in every state, and building the capacity of local governments to improve and monitor services over time. As Ms Vini Mahajan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, said: “UNICEF has been a very valuable partner to us. I have personally seen how

this shift by embedding technical advisors in every state, and building the capacity of local governments to improve and monitor services over time. As Ms Vini Mahajan, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, said: “UNICEF has been a very valuable partner to us. I have personally seen how much engagement has been shown by your team in water and sanitation.” Building on the gains of the sanitation movement, India launched the Jal Jeevan (Water is Life) Mission to achieve universal access to safe and adequate drinking water – a natural and essential next step in improving child health, development and protection. UNICEF’s support expanded accordingly, providing technical expertise, developing equity-focused tools for state and district governments, and helping improve service delivery for the most marginalized children and communities. Over the last five years, more than 115 million rural households have gained piped water connections in their homes for the first time. For UNICEF, as the government’s partner of choice on WASH, this has been a unique opportunity to expand and accelerate services for women and children. Unrestricted Core Resources have been critical to this success. While other resources can be fragmented or time-bound, Core Resources allowed UNICEF to be a consistent, strategic partner, year after year – playing a central role in planning, monitoring and scaling up the programme. That consistency helped ensure not only national reach, but also the strategic and equitable delivery of water and sanitation services to maximize impact for children and communities. One of UNICEF’s most transformative contributions has been improving the way India collects, manages and uses WASH data. Despite massive public investment, fragmented definitions, reporting formats and data systems had made it difficult to measure progress consistently and spotlight inequalities. UNICEF worked closely with government to strengthen these systems, enabling more accurate, timely and actionable data to guide decisions and track progress at every level. "Since the inception of the United Nations, its main objective has been to improve people's lives. The Swachh Bharat Mission has not

UNICEF worked closely with government to strengthen these systems, enabling more accurate, timely and actionable data to guide decisions and track progress at every level. "Since the inception of the United Nations, its main objective has been to improve people's lives. The Swachh Bharat Mission has not only made the lives of crores [tens of millions] of people better , but has also protected their dignity and has also played an important role in achieving the goals of the United Nations." "UNICEF has estimated that every family living in the village who are constructing toilets in their homes is saving at least 50,000 rupees ($650). Another UNICEF study has revealed that the quality of ground water has improved in the last five years, and I believe that Swachh Bharat Mission is also a major contributor to the same." “When a developing country is able to successfully implement the world's biggest sanitation campaign... all its achievements and outcomes are an inspirational message for the entire world.” "Swachh Bharat mission is this century’s biggest and most successful people’s movement with people’s participation and people’s leadership." — Narendra Modi , Prime Minister of IndiaANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 8 The Government of India has backed its commitment with a game-changing investment of over $120 billion in water and sanitation over the past 10 years. The results speak for themselves: achieving 110 million toilets constructed, more than 550 million people using improved sanitation, more than 580 million rural people using improved drinking water, and lasting reductions in waterborne diseases – a major contributor to child mortality and morbidity. This impact was made possible by unrestricted funding, which gave UNICEF the ability to work flexibly across sectors, test and adapt approaches in real time, and remain engaged for the long

reductions in waterborne diseases – a major contributor to child mortality and morbidity. This impact was made possible by unrestricted funding, which gave UNICEF the ability to work flexibly across sectors, test and adapt approaches in real time, and remain engaged for the long haul. Over 10 years, that flexibility has enabled UNICEF to help take the programme from proof of concept to national scale, and from rolling out infrastructure to transformation of systems. UNICEF’s efforts have also sparked lasting behavioural change, particularly in schools, and children are empowered to carry healthy habits back to their families. “Swachh Bharat has created that dialogue,” noted UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey, “children now have the knowledge, talk about it and grow with it.” The programme has also laid the foundation for climate-smart, sustainable solutions. “UNICEF is working through its water and sanitation programmes to add climate change and environmental sustainability – and in this, the youth becomes very important, helping us to live sustainably,” McCaffrey added. This is more than a national success story – it is a global milestone. With sustained support from the Government of India, partners and donors to UNICEF’s Core Resources, India has achieved progress at a scale that is shifting the global dial on water and sanitation. Every Core Resources donor should feel immense pride: your investment has helped transform millions of lives and brought the world closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6. The results are measurable, replicable and, with continued partnership, within reach for every child, everywhere. In 2024, 17.9 million people accessed safely managed sanitation, and 59.3 million people accessed safely managed water in their homes. SDG target 6 AWW helps kids with handwashing and accompanies them to clean toilets in the AW centre. Suka Village, Naramada, Gujarat. Grade 11 student taking sanitary pad

accessed safely managed water in their homes. SDG target 6 AWW helps kids with handwashing and accompanies them to clean toilets in the AW centre. Suka Village, Naramada, Gujarat. Grade 11 student taking sanitary pad from pad bank to give to other studentsSouth Asia East and Southern Africa Latin America and the Caribbean Middle East and North Africa West and Central Africa Europe and Central Asia East Asia and the Pacific Core Resources for G oal A rea 4 across regio WASH, climate and the environment $169.7M regionally Core resources were spent strategically to strengthen India's systems for WASH service delivery at scale With Core Resources, UNICEF continued providing strategic support to the government of India in WASH systems-strengthening and the implementation of its flagship water and sanitation programmes, contributing to the significant expansion in population coverage with services which is accelerating global progress on SDG 6. Core R esources (R R) $952M Direct Programmes 59.3 million people provided with safely managed water supplies 17.9 million people provided with sanitation services 15,600+ schools and nearly 240 healthcare facilities received access to water, sanitation and hygiene services Global Expense by Goal Area/uni00A0 Survive and thrive $327.9M Learning and skills $170.5M Protection from violence and exploitation $168.5M Freedom from poverty $111.3M WASH, climate and the environment $173.8M Core Resources for G oal A rea 4 in India fe and equitable water, WASH, climate and environment $7.2M in India empowerment of communities $5.5M anitation and hygiene services

WASH, climate and the environment $173.8M Core Resources for G oal A rea 4 in India fe and equitable water, WASH, climate and environment $7.2M in India empowerment of communities $5.5M anitation and hygiene services UNICEF’s network of sub-offices leading the efforts to strengthen institutional and technical capacities at the grassroots level. Supplies and equipment rolling-out technical guidance and behaviour change communication materials. On-site field travel supporting partners to plan, monitor, and evaluate WASH programmes and progress on coverage for the population. Expert staff and WASH technical specialists providing high-level advice to the government in: · programme design and guidance for implementation · systems for data collection, monitoring, and reporting · information, education, and communication materials Partnerships with national and decentralized governance structures supporting service delivery and long-term sustainability. nd practices $1.7M Clim ate change, disaster risks and environmental degradation $1.9M Water, sanitation and hygiene system s $34.7M How We Spend Core Resources in Countries: The journey from allocation to results in India The Core Resources journey begins with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan Goal Areas. These are the basis on which we budget and allocate for our Direct Programmes at the global, regional, and country level. This illustration shows how UNICEF strategically used Core Resources under the WASH, Climate and Environment Goal Area to advance access to safe water and sanitation for children in India.ANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 10

The Republic of Moldova: Turning modest funds into monumental reform In a country navigating both promise and pressure, a small, strategic investment of unrestricted funding helped spark one of the boldest social protection reforms in the Republic of Moldova’s recent history.

In 2022, Moldova stood at a crossroads. On one hand, it had just been granted EU candidate status, signalling a new

strategic investment of unrestricted funding helped spark one of the boldest social protection reforms in the Republic of Moldova’s recent history. In 2022, Moldova stood at a crossroads. On one hand, it had just been granted EU candidate status, signalling a new era of opportunity. On the other hand, more than a third of Moldovans were living in poverty. The country was managing overlapping crises: inflation, energy insecurity, a fragile social safety net, and the ongoing responsibility of hosting over 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. Despite the overwhelming need, only a very small portion of impoverished households were receiving government social assistance. For Moldova’s children, the consequences were clear – and unacceptable. That same year, UNICEF deployed just $20,000 in flexible, unrestricted Core Resources (RR). Rather than filling temporary gaps, the country office used this catalytic funding to lay the foundation for something far more ambitious: a nationwide transformation of Moldova’s social protection system. With RR support, UNICEF conducted a deep analysis of Moldova’s fragmented safety net – uncovering weak data systems, inconsistent service availability, and an overstretched workforce. This formed the technical and evidence base for a new national vision: RESTART – a comprehensive, equity-focused reform designed to dramatically expand and modernize social protection , with the bold target of increasing the number of vulnerable families covered by 35 per cent every year between 2023 and 2026. Backed by UNICEF’s technical expertise and evidence, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection presented the case for reform. In late 2023, the government approved a $68 million budget to roll out RESTART , including the establishment of 10 new territorial social assistance agencies, the launch of a new national department for social assistance, and the adoption of a harmonized, nationwide package of essential services. More than 50,000 vulnerable children and their caregivers, including refugees from Ukraine, have accessed services through the new minimum package of care in 2024.

national department for social assistance, and the adoption of a harmonized, nationwide package of essential services. More than 50,000 vulnerable children and their caregivers, including refugees from Ukraine, have accessed services through the new minimum package of care in 2024. SDG target 1.2 UNICEF’s measurements, analysis, and policy advice paved the way for $68 million government and other investments in the RESTART social protection reform, mitigating an increase in child poverty by 3.4 per cent and increasing the value of social benefits for families with children by 42 per cent. SDG target 1.3

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© UNICEF/UNI751023/SauleaANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024

11 The results are already tangible. • Without child benefits, the child poverty rate would have increased by 3.4 percentage points in 2023. • The total value of social benefits for families with children rose by 42 per cent. • Nearly 50,000 vulnerable children and their caregivers, including over 1,215 refugees from Ukraine, have accessed services through the new minimum package of care. UNICEF’s technical support also helped redesign Moldova’s cash transfer systems to include refugees and remove access barriers, reaching tens of thousands of refugee and host population families. The childbirth grant was nearly doubled and is now automatically distributed to eligible families, including refugees with Temporary Protection status. RESTART is doing more than expanding services; it is building resilience . With a stronger, more responsive system in place, Moldova is better equipped to provide equitable and inclusive support to families during times of crisis. Social assistance for children with disabilities and marginalized families is now more adequately financed, more accessible, and aligns more closely with EU standards.

With a stronger, more responsive system in place, Moldova is better equipped to provide equitable and inclusive support to families during times of crisis. Social assistance for children with disabilities and marginalized families is now more adequately financed, more accessible, and aligns more closely with EU standards. A $20,000 RR investment helped unlock over $68 million in national and donor financing within a single year – a remarkable return on investment by any measure. More than a programme, RESTART is a proof point : when UNICEF has the flexibility to act strategically – and when governments are ready to lead boldly – even modest RR contributions can catalyse lasting, system-wide change. This is the power of unrestricted funding. For many families from Ukraine, the dream of a peaceful and prosperous life was shattered by the war that broke out.

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© UNICEF/UNI751880/Nicolae Evidence generation and technical support Leveraging donor and government support Core Resources investment 2022 2023 $20,000 Domestic and donor financing unlocked for RESTART$68 millionANNEX 1: IMPACT COMPANION CORE RESOURCES – FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERYWHERE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 12 How Bangladesh is beating the odds of stunting With long-term investment and system-wide reform, a country is shifting the future for millions of children. Stunting is one of the most devastating forms of malnutrition. It holds children back before they’ve even had a chance to begin. A stunted child may never reach their full height or cognitive potential. They are more likely to fall ill, struggle to learn, earn less later in life and suffer from long term health problems. The damage is often irreversible. In Bangladesh, this silent crisis once affected millions. But that story is changing. For more than two decades, UNICEF has deployed unrestricted Core Resources to support the Government of Bangladesh in transforming nutrition outcomes for children.

problems. The damage is often irreversible. In Bangladesh, this silent crisis once affected millions. But that story is changing. For more than two decades, UNICEF has deployed unrestricted Core Resources to support the Government of Bangladesh in transforming nutrition outcomes for children. That long-term investment has paid off. Stunting in children under five has fallen from 41 per cent in 2011 to 24 per cent in 2022 . Over the same period, government spending on nutrition rose from just $1.83 per child per year to $18. UNICEF’s support has played a transformative role in enabling the Government of Bangladesh to implement priority nutrition actions, strengthen institutional frameworks, and build critical capacity. This collaboration has helped embed nutrition targets across 22 ministries and their affiliated departments, enhancing inter-ministerial coordination and reinforcing accountability at all levels of the government. Primary health care facilities across the country have been equipped to gather and act on real-time data, with the number reporting on children’s nutrition outcomes rising from 15 per cent in 2008 to nearly 78 per cent today. And high-level political commitment has been galvanized, with nutrition enshrined as a constitutional right and the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, driving efforts forward. UNICEF played a central role in formalizing and supporting this body. This is what it means to achieve results at scale. Not a single programme