Highlights

In 2024, UNICEF achieved a milestone by reaching more children than ever. But what truly set us apart was our strategic approach to the task at hand. 

Rather than fixing problems one at a time, UNICEF focused on something bigger: making sure the systems that children rely on work today, tomorrow and for the future. 

We invested in teachers and health workers, clinics and schools, national policies and social safety nets. Why? Because when systems are strong, help gets to every child, not just some. 

Thematic funding played a pivotal role in our 2024 success. It allowed us to address urgent needs while laying the groundwork for sustainable solutions. This approach ensures that our impact endures long after the initial intervention. 

In 2024, more than half of all thematic funds went into strengthening systems, meaning: 

• Health workers could treat children even in the hardest-to-reach places.
• Teachers had the training – and the tools – to keep kids learning.
• Mental health care could be part of everyday life, not a luxury.
• Clean water didn’t depend on luck, but on reliable infrastructure.
• Social protections could catch families before they fall too far.
• Governments could respond to climate threats with child-centred plans, not panic. 

Across ten vital  areas – from nutrition and HIV prevention to climate action, gender equality, and child protection – this approach worked not just in numbers, but in lives changed.

• 2.8 billion vaccines delivered.
• 26 million children helped back into school.
• 442 million people reached with nutrition support.
• 33 million people gained access to safe water.
• 6.4 million girls equipped with skills to lead.
• 3.6 million families received direct support when they needed it most. 

These results aren’t isolated. They’re interconnected, forming a robust network of change. Because children don’t live in silos – and neither should solutions. We are all part of this impactful mission. 

By building strong systems, we help more children, more fairly, and more reliably. That’s good economics, sound policy and, above all, the right thing to do. 

In a world full of urgent needs, thematic funding helps UNICEF act quickly and think long-term. It’s the most innovative way to create impact that doesn’t disappear.  

Read more about these results in the Thematic Funding Spotlight Reports.