In 2025, global turmoil and compounding crises pushed children’s needs to record levels while the resources to help them dropped dramatically. Sudden and steep global funding cuts forced agonising choices. Which lives to prioritise? Which services to scale back?

Despite the challenges, UNICEF continued to deliver – in crises and beyond. In 2025, our staff and partners responded to emergencies in more than 100 countries, reaching tens of millions of children with life-saving health care, nutrition, immunisation, education, protection, safe water and sanitation.

UNICEF’s ability to link humanitarian action and development to bridge the gap between life-saving aid and sustainable, long-term recovery remains one of our defining strengths. We draw on years of expertise in supporting countries to protect hard-won progress in health and education, recover from shocks, and build resilience for the future.

That is the foundation of our new five-year Strategic Plan. The Plan is ambitious with a sharpened focus on five proven impact areas: health and nutrition, education, child protection, safe water and sanitation, and social policy that supports children. It aligns with what is needed to deliver on these goals, including financing, digital transformation and strong governance.

UNICEF builds on a proud history of agility, efficiency and innovation in a rapidly changing world. That ability to adapt was put to the test with the drastic budget cuts across the humanitarian and development sectors in 2025. It required painful decisions to protect critical work for children in the countries where we work.

Report by UNICEF