Flexible Funding is funding without restrictions to be used by UNICEF wherever and whenever the need is greatest.

It is UNICEF’s most important, most effective, and most valuable tool to help children worldwide and forms the bedrock of all our work. Flexible Funding provides the foundational funding in all UNICEF country programmes, and funds long-term sustainable investments in the institutions, services, and stakeholders that support children.

Flexible Funding ensures UNICEF’s presence in over 190 countries and territories. They form the backbone of UNICEF’s country office budgets, and enable additional funds to be made available as necessary.  

Flexible Funding is the most equitable and sustainable way to help protect the lives and rights of children everywhere.

Testimonial: UNICEF International Council member Khalil Abou Jaoude shares why he has made a significant investment in UNICEF Flexible Funding. ©UNICEF/UNI435085

Flexible Funding is the most equitable and sustainable way to help UNICEF protect the lives and rights of children everywhere.

Flexible Funding leverages three key elements to achieve the greatest impact:

1. The predictability to plan and implement long-term programmes for children.
2. The flexibility to address complex challenges with interconnected solutions and adapt to rapidly changing contexts.
3. The efficiency that comes from reducing transaction costs and maximising resources that go directly to children.

To help children – wherever they live and whatever they need – supporting UNICEF Flexible Funding today is the best way to make a lasting impact.

First to respond, last to leave in emergencies

When a humanitarian emergency strikes, UNICEF is already there. Flexible funding is what enables our presence on the ground in over 150 programme countries and allows our teams and systems to stay equipped for immediate response when a crisis occurs. Flexible Funding then enables UNICEF to adapt to rapidly changing situations on the ground, and allows UNICEF to stay long after an emergency, helping communities to rebuild and recover.

Expert staff

We are immensely proud of our staff, all of whom have deep expertise, including everyone from technical staff to our most senior representatives who engage with government ministries advocating for child rights. We cherish the hard-earned trust placed in them by donors, governments, partners, and, of course, children and their families. Flexible Funding supports them to deliver again and again. 

For every child 

Right now, Flexible Funding is critical to helping millions of children survive out-of-the-spotlight emergencies, such as food and drought crises, as well as outbreaks of diseases like cholera or measles, that rarely make it into the headlines. In fact, 90 percent of private sector humanitarian donations in 2022 went to fund just 3 emergencies – while UNICEF responded to more than 400.

Leading and pioneering new ideas

Your support allows us to convene, lead, and innovate for children by investing today to achieve change tomorrow, much as the world’s leading companies invest in research and development to drive progress. Our reliable long-term presence in a country and our convening power with governments, civil society, and the private sector gives us the deep insights that are needed to understand the root causes of problems and to find effective solutions.

Meeting children’s needs throughout childhood and adolescence

UNICEF maintains a focus on giving every child, at every age, an equitable chance in life. Flexible funds enable better outcomes for children by providing long-lasting impact and a holistic continuum of support, not just one-time aid in a moment of need.