Photo/ UNICEF Kenya
By OMBOKI MONAYO
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted the devastating consequences of global foreign aid reductions, which threaten to undermine decades of progress in child welfare and development.
UNICEF’s funding model relies entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, private sector partners, and individuals.
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These contributions have enabled the organization to deliver life-saving interventions, including vaccination campaigns, nutrition programs, and emergency responses to crises such as droughts and floods, according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, private sector partners, and individuals. This support has helped save millions of children’s lives, helped ensure infectious diseases do not spread across borders, and helped mitigate the risks of instability and violence,” Ms Russell noted in a statement on Wednesday.
The UNICEF boss pointed out that the donations made to the organization had helped to achieve significant global progress in reducing child mortality.
“With our partners, we have made historic progress. Since 2000, global under-5 mortality has dropped by 50 per cent. Millions of children are alive today thanks to this work. Millions more have been protected with improved health and brighter futures.
Announced and anticipated funding cuts, she noted, will severely limit UNICEF’s ability to reach millions of children in dire need across the globe.
“These cuts by numerous donor countries follow two years of aid reductions at a time of unprecedented need. Millions of children are affected by conflict, need to be vaccinated against deadly diseases such as measles and polio, and must be educated and kept healthy,” she said.
“As needs continue to outpace resources, UNICEF has consistently brought efficiencies and innovations to our work, and we have stretched every contribution to reach vulnerable children. But there is no way around it, these new cuts are creating a global funding crisis that will put the lives of millions of additional children at risk,” she said.
Bolster health
The funding reductions come at a time of unprecedented global challenges, with conflicts, disease outbreaks, and economic instability exacerbating the vulnerabilities of the world’s poorest and most marginalized communities, including those in Kenya.
Kenya, a country that has long relied on international aid to bolster its health, education, and social protection systems, is particularly at risk.
It has made significant strides in reducing child mortality, with under-5 deaths dropping by 50% since 2000, largely due to expanded immunization programs and improved access to healthcare.
UNICEF has played a central role in these efforts, providing vaccines, training healthcare workers, and supporting the rollout of maternal and child health services.
The UN body has been instrumental in addressing critical issues such as child mortality, child protection, malnutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and access to education.
The organization has supported the treatment of severe acute malnutrition, promoted breastfeeding, and provided fortified foods to vulnerable families.
In 2023 alone, UNICEF treated 126,900 children for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), achieving an impressive cure rate of 84.1%.
Over 1.06 million children received the pentavalent-1 vaccine, and 3.7 million people were reached through oral cholera vaccine campaigns, significantly reducing the risk of preventable diseases.
As part of its child protection efforts, 98,000 children received essential services, including family reunification and psychosocial support, ensuring their safety and well-being.
Additionally, UNICEF’s efforts in providing WASH services improved access to safe water and sanitation for 632,905 people affected by drought and cholera, providing a lifeline to communities in crisis.
These interventions have not only saved lives but also laid the foundation for long-term development and resilience in Kenya.
Diversified support
UNICEF has supported the construction of schools, provided learning materials, and promoted gender equality in education in Kenya, where thousands of children are often out of school due to poverty, conflict, and cultural barriers.
The organization’s work in Kenya has also focused on child protection, including efforts to combat child labor, early marriage, and gender-based violence.
It has additionally supported the establishment of child protection systems, provided psychosocial support to vulnerable children, and advocated for policies to safeguard children’s rights.
Funding shortages risk scaling back critical services and delaying the implementation of crucial ongoing programs, leaving children exposed to exploitation, abuse, and preventable diseases.
Reduced access to healthcare, education, clean water, and sanitation would further marginalize vulnerable communities, undermining child survival and development.
The Executive Director has implored donors to continue funding critical aid programs, emphasizing that the world cannot afford to fail its children.
This call to action is particularly urgent for Kenya, where the needs of children remain immense, due to challenges including the effects of climate change, economic instability, and increased immigration caused by regional conflicts,.
“UNICEF implores all donors to continue to fund critical aid programs for the world’s children. We cannot fail them now,” said Ms Russell.
