About us
Delivering for children in Sudan since 1952
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In Sudan since 1952, with its first permanent office in Khartoum since 1974, UNICEF is the largest UN agency in Sudan, dedicated to supporting children across the country by providing long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers. We target the most vulnerable children including refugees and internally displaced persons, through lifesaving programmes, especially at the household and community levels; sustain peace and advocate for respect, dignity and the full realization of children’s rights.
In addition to UNICEF Sudan’s Country Programme Document, which covers the development work planning for the period of 2018- 2021, Sudan also has a substantial humanitarian response that is guided by the Multi-Year Humanitarian strategy 2017-2019, the yearly Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs), and also guided by UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action.
The Humanitarian Response Plan 2021 which has identified 13.4 million people in need, takes into consideration the impact of the current events in Sudan related to the economic situation and socio-political instability. High inflation rates, currency depreciation, and steep price rises for food, medicine, and other key commodities have decreased purchasing power and reduced access to food, healthcare, education, water and other key essentials for already vulnerable communities. This is taking place against a backdrop of years of conflict and, for many people, years of displacement.
Mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential, UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF operates in 191 countries through country programmes and National Committees.
Our mission statement
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
Read the full mission statement here
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.
In 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood.
It’s become the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history and has helped transform children’s lives around the world.
Child rights are at the heart of UNICEF’s mandate. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) sets out the rights that must be realized for children to develop to their full potential. The Convention offers a vision of the child as an individual and as a member of a family and community, with rights and responsibilities appropriate to their age and stage of development. By recognizing child rights in this way, the Convention firmly sets the focus on the whole child. The Convention distinguishes between rights holders – in this case the children – and duty bearers. In case children’s parents or caregivers cannot fulfill their child rights, the state, being the primary duty bearer, should do everything in its power to support the child to protect and access its rights.
Sudan ratified the convention in August 1990.
Learn more about the Convention
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Adopted in 1985 by the United Nations, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
In Sudan, UNICEF’s work is structured around five overarching areas of well-being for every child, which are grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
- Every child survives and thrives.
- Every child learns.
- Every child is protected from violence and exploitation.
- Every child lives in a clean and safe environment.
- Every child has a fair chance in life.
