(1st plenary meeting) UNICEF Executive Board, 2025 Annual Session

Excellencies, colleagues, may I ask you to take your seats, please? Thank you.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning to you all. It's my pleasure to call to order and welcome you to the annual session of the UNICEF Executive Board for 2025. We will begin this morning with Agenda Item 1, which is the adoption of the agenda. The provisional annotated agenda, timetable, and organization of work can be found in document E/ICEF/2025/11/rev1, which is available on the documents page of the Executive Board website. I invite the Secretary of the Executive Board, Mr. Andres Franco to introduce the agenda and the conduct of business for the session. You have the floor, Andres.

Gracias, señor presidente. Thank you very much, Mr. President. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the details of the agenda have been published on the Executive Board's website, presented during the pre-session on 27 May 2025, and published in the Journal of the United Nations. I am pleased to inform you that today, Tuesday, 10 June, and tomorrow, Wednesday, 11 June, There will be morning meetings from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and afternoon meetings running from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. On Thursday, the 12th of June, and Friday, the 13th of June, we hope— expect rather that there will be morning-only meetings running from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Should there be any changes to the timetable, we will announce them periodically during the session. An updated agenda for each day will be available in the Daily UN Journal. Please be reminded that the President will use the following priority order in according the right to speak. First, members of the Bureau of the UNICEF Executive Board who may wish to take the floor, and they'll be organized by rank. Second, representatives of the regional groups of the United Nations speaking on behalf of their groups also organized by rank. Third, permanent missions to the United Nations that had sent in, in advance and on time, written requests to the Office of the Secretary to take the floor, with priority being given to members of the Executive Board, followed by observers. And fourth and finally, advance written requests received after the deadline, followed by those requests received from the floor through the electronic system on a first-come, first-served basis. Microphones will start blinking to alert speakers 1 minute before the end of their allotted time, and speakers will be muted within 1 minute after their time has ended. The time limits as well as the muting of the microphones of speakers will be applied throughout the session. We had kindly asked that requests to take the floor be shared with Ms. Tian Ruby Lu by email. The email address is tilu@unicef.org with a copy to the mailbox of the Office of the Secretary. That's oseb@unicef.org by 11:59 PM on Thursday, 5 June 2025 Eastern Daylight Time. All requests received by that deadline were included in the list of speakers that was published on the Executive Board website yesterday, Monday, 9 June 2025. Moving forward, the updated list of speakers will be posted on the wall of this conference room before the start of each day's meetings. In order for this arrangement to be effective, we need your collaboration. We therefore encourage those delegations that have not yet shared their requests to speak to do so as soon as possible. Delegations presenting statements at this session are kindly requested to submit electronic versions to my colleague, Mr. Nogel Saret V. NSVR by email, nsvr@unicef.org, ahead of time and no later than 2 hours before delivery if possible. Please indicate the title of the agenda item in the subject line of the email and in the heading of the statement. Once provided to the Secretariat, statements will remain embargoed until delivered by delegations. The minutes will be taken after which they will be posted on the Executive Board website and published in the UN Journal. We kindly encourage delegates to keep their oral statements within the time limits. The longer versions of their statements, as shared with the Executive Board Secretariat, will be made available on the Executive Board website. Delegates, who wish only to view the session rather than actively participate in it are encouraged to follow the proceedings via UN Web TV. We look forward to engaging discussions with you over the coming days and look forward to a productive 2025 Annual Session. Thank you, President.

I thank the Secretary for his remarks. Would any delegation like to comment on the provisional agenda? I see none. If no one wishes to take the floor at this time, I take it the Executive Board wishes to adopt the annotated agenda, timetable, and organization of work contained in document E/ICEF/2025/11/REF1. If there is no objection, it is so decided. Distinguished delegates, in accordance with Rule 50 and the Annex to the Rules of Procedure, I now ask the Secretary of the Board to inform us of the observer delegations that have communicated to the Secretariat their wish to participate in the session.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Thank you, Mr. President. Delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the Secretariat has so far received credentials for 28 observer delegations, 1 intergovernmental organization, 6 non-governmental organizations, and 1 national committee for UNICEF. The delegations that have not yet submitted their credentials are requested to share them with us as soon as possible by completing the online credentials accreditation form, as well as informing Ms. Tian Ruby Lu by email when this has been done so that we can take timely action. The accreditation form is linked in the information note which has been published on the documents page for the annual session of the Executive Board. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank Secretary for his remarks. We have now concluded our discussions Under agenda— under this agenda item. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of myself and my fellow Bureau members, Her Excellency Ms. Sophia Tesfamariam, Permanent Representative of Eritrea, His Excellency Mr. Reintam Saar, Permanent Representative of Estonia, His Excellency, Mr. Thomas-Peter Zahn-Haaschen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany, and Mr. Diego Pacheco Balanza, Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim of Plurinational State of Bolivia, it's my honor to welcome you to the UNICEF Executive Board's Annual Session of 2025. I would like also to acknowledge the presence of Executive Director, Ms. Catherine Russell, and her senior management team with us today. Executive Director Russell, we are grateful for your stewardship of UNICEF, particularly over the past few months as the organization has navigated the decline in its overall 2024 income, including sharp drops in flexible and thematic funding. You navigate the grave context of shrinking official development assistance that had resulted in a projected reduction in UNICEF income of at least 20% from 2024 levels starting in 2026, at a time when the needs of children are not diminishing but growing more urgent by the hour. Your recent visit to my country, Tajikistan, served not only as a testament to UNICEF's field presence, but as a reaffirmation reaffirmation of its enduring compact with the world's most vulnerable. You met not with statistics, but with people— governments, mothers, educators, children. Your presence gave life and purpose to our shared vision. It reminded us that the true power of UNICEF lies not in plans and pledges, but in people and partnership. in courage and commitment. To the staff of UNICEF in every corner of the world, in every hardship, in every hour, we owe a debt of gratitude. You do not simply carry out the mission of this organization, you embody it. Your dedication is the backbone of UNICEF's credibility and the heart of its impact. I also acknowledge The diligent efforts being made by UNICEF management to take tough and timely decisions to preserve country programs and ensure the organization is future-ready, while maintaining continuous and transparent communication with its staff as it seeks to minimize the impact of these severe cuts to its income. I thank the United Nations Conference Officers and the technical teams whose tireless work in the lead-up to and during our Board sessions has consistently contributed to the success of our meetings. A special note of appreciation goes to Andres Franco, Secretary of the Executive Board, and his able team. Small in number, immense in energy, they are quite the engine that drives our work. Distinguished delegates, we have a full agenda to cover over over the next few days. 21 agenda items, 11 draft decisions, and one clear goal: to honour our responsibility to children— not with words alone, but with action. Through the Annual Report of the Executive Director, we will learn of the results achieved in 2024. Despite the challenging environment marked by violent conflicts, climate crises, and a constrained resource environment. Of note in the report was the fact that UNICEF reached or came close to reaching milestones for 14 out of the 18 result areas in its Strategic Plan 2022-2025, and some 70% of the Plan's output milestones were met or nearly met. In concrete terms, these results included, among many others, the millions of children reached with services for early detection and treatment of severe wasting and acute malnutrition, millions of households receiving UNICEF-supported humanitarian cash transfers, and the millions of out-of-school children and adolescents who gained access to education. This week, UNICEF will present its draft Strategic Plan 2026, 2029 for our review. The plan is being crafted at a critical moment for the organization and for the wider international community. Informed by robust evidence and the consultative process, we understand that it is aiming to strike a balance between the level of ambition needed by UNICEF to meet the burgeoning needs of children and the realities of global physical landscape. I strongly encourage UNICEF, with the support from this Board, to leave no stone unturned as it further fine-tunes the draft plan, leverages and expands the needed partnerships and resources, and scales up innovation and enhanced efficiency to ensure its implementation. I encourage the Boards to reach consensus on endorsement of the new Plan when it is presented to us for adoption this September. Such endorsement will propel UNICEF towards the achievement of the child-related SDGs and lay the groundwork for the post-2030 framework for children. The annual reports of the independent oversight offices— ethics, evaluation, internal audit and investigations— will also be presented this week. As President, I am grateful for the assurance that the independent Office reports provide to the Board as we execute our governance and oversight functions. I welcome the statements that will complement the information provided in the session documentation and allow us the opportunity to further engage with these critical oversight bodies. Also on the agenda is additional reporting that will update us on UNICEF's commitment to identify and mitigate critical risks, strengthen its organizational culture, address racism and racial discrimination, and prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. Annual reporting on humanitarian actions and the Gender Action Plan, the presentation of the 2024 Financial Report of the Private Fundraising and Partnership Division, the extension of ongoing country programs, and an update on repositioning of the United Nations Development System will round out the agenda for this— for the week. Distinguished delegates, I invite you all to maintain a spirit of engagement. And inclusive participation as we begin our consideration on the items on the agenda. Let us remember who we serve. Let us remember why we are here. Let us keep politics out and put children first. In every decision, in every line of every report, let us ask ourselves, does this serve the child? Let us— let our debates be honest. Let our cooperation be earnest. Let our work be worthy of the mission before us. I look forward to an interesting and productive week ahead, and I sincerely thank you all. Thank you, Mr. President. I now invite Ms. Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, to make some opening remarks.

Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, really fantastic to see you all here today and to welcome you to the 2025 Annual Session of the UNICEF Executive Board. I want to start by really extending a heartfelt thanks to you, Ambassador Hikmet. First of all, The trip was fantastic, so thank you very much. It was great to see the work that we're doing with the government there. I really appreciated it. I ate more food than any one person should eat in the course of a couple of days, but it was really a fantastic trip, so thank you for that. Thank you also for your leadership as President of the Executive Board, and indeed to the entire Bureau, who are really fantastic supporters and helpers to us in this process. We deeply appreciate appreciate your guidance and your steadfast support to UNICEF. As you said, Mr. President, this session comes at a pivotal time. We're midway through a year of extraordinary challenge and significant transition for the world, for our organization, and above all, for children. In the coming days, you will review our 2024 results and strategic direction through several important documents and updates. These include the annual report of the Executive Director, the draft strategic plan for 2026-2029, and critical reports on humanitarian action, risk management, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, among others. I'm also pleased that we will hear directly from the chair of the Global Staff Association. I would say the association's advocacy and work on behalf of UNICEF's most— excuse me— important resource, which is the of course, our people continues to be essential as we navigate a very difficult time. And I think the funding environment is challenging, the profound organizational challenges are difficult, and the Staff Association has done just a fantastic job, and I'm very grateful to them for that. Excellencies, the world continues to confront deepening instability and inequality. Children are bearing the brunt of cascading crisis, from conflict and climate shocks to economic turmoil. More than 460 million children are now living in or fleeing from conflict, and nearly a billion children live in poverty. UNICEF remains resolute in our mission to uphold the rights and well-being of every child everywhere. Last year alone, we responded to hundreds of emergencies in over 100 countries, reaching tens of millions of children with life-saving healthcare, nutrition, education protection, and water and sanitation services. Our staff continue to serve with extraordinary dedication, often in some of the most challenging environments. I want to take this opportunity to thank them. It is their tireless efforts that drive our impact and uphold the values we all share. Thanks to their work, UNICEF achieved important progress in 2024. We delivered over 1.5 billion polio vaccine doses to 87 countries, contributing to a 25% reduction in global polio cases. We provided early detection services of wasting to 251 million children under the age of 5 and treatment for 9.3 million children with severe acute malnutrition. We delivered education support for 26 million out-of-school children and adolescents, including 9 million in humanitarian crises and 3.7 million children on the move. And nearly 33 million people gained access to safe water through the work of UNICEF and our partners, with impressive gains in Latin America and the Caribbean and Middle East and North Africa. In humanitarian action, 2024 was another year of profound need and wide-scale response. we reached more than 56 million people, including 31— excuse me— 31 million children with essential humanitarian assistance across the globe. This included responses to crises in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, Haiti, the Horn of Africa, Sudan, and Ukraine. As needs grow and funding tightens, we are sharpening our humanitarian focus, prioritizing life-saving saving interventions for the most vulnerable in the hardest-to-reach areas, while strengthening the protection of children and communities and continuing to build resilience. Our humanitarian action is guided by international humanitarian and human rights law and grounded in a commitment to accountability and principled delivery. Looking ahead, we will continue to localize our efforts, support national systems, and strengthen our ability to anticipate anticipate and prepare for emergencies. We are also helping lead efforts to simplify the humanitarian response architecture, including the cluster system, which UNICEF leads in WASH, nutrition, and education, in line with the broader humanitarian reset and the UNAID reform agenda. These steps aim to ensure we remain agile, fit for purpose, and able to deliver effectively for children in crisis. UNICEF is a central part of this change to better serve the growing number of children who are living through crises. Faced with resource constraints across the system, both the resident and humanitarian coordination systems must recalibrate to optimize and align efforts. Coordination is most critical in large, complex crises, often in lower-income countries, and especially in fragile and conflict settings. It is in these contexts that we we need a more agile and integrated coordination model to deliver better impact together. Excellencies, as you'll hear in more detail over the course of the week, we delivered real results for children in 2024, results that built on decades of progress in child rights and survival. We must protect this progress, but the sudden and sharp global funding crisis puts our critical work at tremendous risk. In 2026, UNICEF projects at least a 20% reduction in total income from 2024 levels, with a 26% drop from the public sector. This decline is not just a UNICEF crisis. It is impacting the entire humanitarian and development ecosystem with grave implications for children worldwide. In 2026, UNICEF is expecting only $250 million from the public sector in regular resources. This is the lowest figure in more than a decade. These regular resources contribute to our institutional budget, which underpins our country programs and critical oversight functions. Millions of children risk losing essential services due to funding cuts. This includes up to 15 million children who could lose access to life-saving nutrition services, more than 20 million children and families at risk of missing out on essential healthcare, over 11 million who could lose access to safe water and sanitation services, and nearly 2 million children who could face disrupted access to education. In response, UNICEF continues to implement bold changes to enhance our agility, efficiency, and readiness for the future, and to be better equipped to deliver at scale, a process which began even before the recent sharp decline in funding support. Under our Future Focus initiative, we are further realigning structures and resources to sharpen programmatic focus and reduce operating costs. This includes consolidating several headquarters and regional offices, relocating functions to lower-cost duty stations, building on our HQ efficiencies initiative, and establishing centers of programmatic excellence to support country offices in locations closer to the people we deserve. We know these changes are difficult, as they will directly impact staff, including many tremendously talented members of our team, but we are committed to supporting the entire UNICEF family throughout the transition, and we are determined to continue to meet the needs of the millions of children who rely on us. We must come out of this process leaner but more effective. More broadly, UNICEF continues to be leader across the UN in ensuring the integrity and oversight of our operations. As part of this commitment, last month we introduced a revised and robust anti-fraud policy, along with a new mechanism to sanction implementing partners found to have engaged in fraud or other misconduct. As part of our ongoing effort to maintain the confidence of our donors, we have adopted a new policy that will ensure all donors are given timely timely notification of integrity issues. These internal reforms are designed to support the ambitious vision laid out in our new Strategic Plan 2026-2029, which you will review during this session. The plan will guide UNICEF's final push to help achieve the child-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. It reflects our commitment to sharpen focus, strengthen systems, scale proven solutions and build impactful relationships and partnerships. The plan identifies 5 key impact results to achieve by 2029: save 10 million children's lives and ensure 500 million children are healthy, well-nourished, and developmentally on track; enable 350 million children and young people to learn and gain skills; lift 100 million children out of poverty; protect 350 children from violence, and shield 500 million children from disasters, climate, and environmental risks. To deliver these goals, the plan integrates evidence-based strategies, emphasizes meaningful engagement with children and adolescents, and prioritizes scale, equity, and resilience, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The plan also commits UNICEF to supporting and reinforcing national systems, systems, promoting inclusive governance, and ensuring our work is rooted in the rights of children as articulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We will align these strategic shifts with the broader UN reform agenda. This includes the UN80 initiative led by the Secretary-General. The UN must be fit for the 21st century. That means a UN that is bold, effective, and efficient. UNICEF fully supports practical, results-driven reforms that deliver better outcomes for children. Excellencies, in a time of tremendous change and upheaval in which children face deepening challenges, UNICEF's mandate is more relevant than ever. But relevance is not enough. We must also be effective, efficient, principled, and trusted. This demands flexibility in how we are funded. Nearly half of all humanitarian funding received by UNICEF last year went to just 5 emergencies, a pattern driven by earmarked contributions. We must reverse this trend. Flexible funding is not a luxury. It's a lifeline. It is what allows us to reach children quickly and at scale wherever the need is greatest, quickly, equitably, and with impact. As we look ahead, we cannot ignore the fact that the future of traditional development assistance is increasingly uncertain. Shifting donor priorities and constrained fiscal environments are leading to development assistance being repurposed. For UNICEF, the implications for children and our organizations are profound— and our organization are profound. This is why UNICEF has adopted a conservative financial planning scenario projecting a minimum 20% drop in income between now and 2026-2027.

Thank you.

2029. These projections are sobering, and they underscore the need to future-proof our business model, both in terms of income generation and programmatic delivery. We are pursuing new partnerships across the multilateral system, including with development banks, to help governments access and invest concessional financing for children, and we are deepening relationships with both traditional and emerging donors. At the same time, we continue to advocate for donor governments to deliver on their commitments to core resources. As signatories of the Funding Compact, we urge all partners to meet those obligations and to consider thematic contributions as a preferred option for earmarked funding. Now, only a handful of signatories to the Funding Compact do so. UNICEF is being held accountable to deliver on our commitments, and we will continue to uphold our end of the agreement. We are especially grateful to program countries that continue to support UNICEF's work through core contributions. We hope we can continue to count on your incredibly important support. Beyond public sector contributions, UNICEF's private sector engagement continues to play an increasingly vital role in sustaining our global programs. In 2024, UNICEF's private fundraising and partnerships operations mobilized over $1.9 billion in revenue, the highest ever recorded. This includes nearly $950 million in regular resources, accounting for the majority of regular resources raised across the organization. These funds, largely driven by individual giving, by our fantastic national committees, and by corporate partners, provide UNICEF with the flexibility and predictability needed to act quickly and equitably. They also reflect the trust placed in us by millions of individual supporters, many of them among your national constituents who believe in our mission. But let me be clear, increasing support from individuals and the private sector will not offset shrinking public sector contributions. Government funding for UNICEF remains essential to ensuring that our lifesaving work for children continues, and we are grateful for the steadfast support of our public sector partners. In 2024, total public sector contributions to UNICEF were $6.7 billion— $6.07 billion, including regular resource contributions of $513 million. I want to sincerely thank all of you who continue to champion flexible, unearmarked resources and support for our regular programs. We simply cannot deliver without it. Here I must reiterate, our economic outlook is grim, with public sector funding down by 26% and regular resources cut by 50%, which is critically insufficient to support our life-saving work for children. We all must do better. In closing, let me return to the reason we are all here: children. Today UNICEF is present in countries and territories across the globe, working with governments, partners, and communities to give every child a fair chance, no matter who they are or where they live. Despite the challenges, I do remain hopeful. I see the difference we are making because I believe in the dedication of our staff, the power of our partnerships, and the strength and commitment of our board. Together, we can continue to be a force for good and a source source of hope for the world's children. So thank you all very much for your participation and for your commitment. I look forward to a productive board session. Thanks very much.

I thank the Executive Director for her very comprehensive remarks and for her strong leadership. Distinguished delegates, we will now move to our first substantive item of the day, the Annual Report for 2024 of the Executive Director of UNICEF, item 3 of the agenda. The report is contained in document E/ICEF/2025/12. It covers 2024, the 3rd year of the implementation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025, and takes stock of progress towards the aims of the Plan, presenting and analyzing progress against key indicators. The report is accompanied by the following documents: Report on the Implementation of the Integrated Results and Resource Framework of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025; Report on the Implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system, description of the independent oversight functions bodies in UNICEF, and the data companion and scorecard. In addition, the Executive Board has before it for its information the UNICEF report on the recommendation of the Joint Inspection Unit contained in document E/ICEF/2024-2025/14. The report summarizes the UNICEF response to recommendations addressed to the organization contained in reports and notes issued by the Joint Inspection Unit from January through December 2024. Ms. Carolina Fernández Oparzo, Chair and Inspector, of the Joint Inspection Unit, is with us this morning and will make a statement on the UNICEF report on the recommendation of the Joint Inspection Unit. But I will first invite Ms. Vidya Ganesh, Director, Division of Data Analytics, Planning and Monitoring, to present the annual report for 2024 of the Executive Director of UNICEF. Following will be The statement by Ms. Fernández Opazo and then presentation of the GIU report by Mr. Nazim Hizat, Deputy Director, Division of Financial and Administrative Management. The floor will be open for comments on Agenda Item 3 in its entirety after the 3 speakers have made their interventions. I now give the floor to Ms. Vidya Ganesh. Madam, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to present the Executive Director's Annual Report for 2024, which he just did very eloquently. This will be a double dose, and hopefully you will then have a chance to deepen the appreciation of the work that has been delivered by all our staff around the world. Let me start again by saying that 2024 was not an easy year for a child, or a child to be anywhere in the world, not just in one or two parts of the world, but across the globe. Over the past year, as you have heard already, children have continued to face immense challenges, not only from conflicts in many parts— Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan— but also continuing to face barriers to development opportunities like essential education, healthcare, and protection. These struggles are happening in an environment of rising debt concerns, shrinking resources, and UNICEF has yet maintained its delivery on the ground with life-saving support where needed and continuing to fine-tune the way we engage with the governments to be able to provide the evidence and the technical assistance and policies and programs so that we can continue to have impact in cost-efficient ways aiming at scale. Again, let me start with always, you know, while we know that as 2030 approaches, two-thirds of our countries are off track, but there has been impressive also progress during this SP period, and it continues to be so, even though acceleration is going to be needed. But where the acceleration is needed and how it needs to be done is is becoming clearer because of the progress that's been made, and we know what kind of adjustments to make. So, for example, let me cite 3 examples that are heartwarming and helps us propel towards the future. First of all, the under-5 mortality has declined significantly from 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 37 in 2024. This is no mean effort, but there is distance to be covered to reach the 2030 goal of 25. per 1,000 live births, and we believe it is doable, and it's— that's our— one of the first impact results in the new strategic plan. In education, the primary school completion has risen nearly 88% from 83% in 2020, yet achieving the full completion, especially in mid-school and higher secondary, will require accelerated efforts, and the learning poverty has also unfortunately continues to remain challenge as the quality. We've also seen gains in child protection, particularly impressive gains in births registration, which has risen from 63% to 77%. If progress accelerates, we could actually reach 93% by 2030. This is just to make sure that we can remain on track and address the challenges. This is progress that's been achieved during the SP period with the support report delivered and results achieved by the national governments. Looking at UNICEF's performance, as you already heard already from our chair, that 14 of the 18 results achieved progress of 90% or higher, which is an improvement from 12 at the start of the strategic plan and on the result areas. I'll come back to the gaps that we face in a moment. But let me first move to talk about some of the results that have also been mentioned, particularly, you know, 250 million under 5 receiving early detection and treatment of severe— this has been quoted both by the Chair and the ED, because this is really one of the most impressive results and being achieved in very complex development settings and humanitarian settings. And also an increase in the number of countries, 87 countries who have integrated early childhood development into their primary health systems. This is no mean effort either. These are not straightforward programmatic scale-up. In the field of education, 26 million out of school across have been able to access education. And again, this is a big proportion of the 215 that are still out of school, and 18 million have benefited from digital learning. 17 million have been able to receive gender-based violence prevention, 33 million with safe water sanitation, and 18 with sanitation, and 26— 21 million with hygiene services. And more importantly, as we move to the more policy-oriented scale-up approach, 43 countries with measurements and analysis and policy advice have contributed to reducing child poverty. But where we have still work to do is really in HIV. There was a stagnation in terms of the adolescents and in education in the service delivery, and we can— and more details are there. So as I start to close up, you've already heard that the revenue of UNICEF was $86 billion, a decrease by 3% in humanitarian funding, total at $3 billion. As we near the final year of the strategic plan, our result performance offers valuable support, and we continue to learn and adjust programming for development outcomes in resource-limited environments with data and evidence. Thank you, Chair.

I think Thank you, Ms. Ganesh, for your remarks. I now invite Ms. Fernández Opaso to deliver the statement on the UNICEF report on the recommendation of the Joint Inspection Unit. Madam, you have the floor.

She's not here.

She's not here. Ms. Apaso, apparently she's not in the room and we'll give her a chance once she comes back. I now invite Ms. Mr. Hizbullah, to present the UNICEF report on the recommendation of the Joint Inspection Unit. And I understand you will be speaking from the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, distinguished members of the Executive Board, and colleagues. I am pleased to present to you the UNICEF report on the recommendations of the Joint Inspection Unit as contained in document E/ICEF/2025/14. Let me begin by sincerely appreciating the continued interest and engagement of the Executive Board in overseeing our response to GIU recommendations. We recognize the value of the GIU's work in enhancing system-wide coherence efficiency, and accountability, and we remain fully committed to supporting its efforts. In 2024, GIU issued 5 system-wide and 1 multi-agency report directly relevant to UNICEF. These reports contained 32 recommendations for our action. 15 recommendations were addressed to the Executive Board and 17 recommendations were addressed to the Executive Director. In terms of our actions, of the 32 recommendations, UNICEF accepted 12 recommendations, of which 10 were implemented in the same year. 2 recommendations are in progress. 8 recommendations were not relevant as they were related to procedures and mechanisms that are already in place in UNICEF, and one recommendation was outside the sole remit of UNICEF. UNICEF did not accept one recommendation. We appreciate the ability to express partial support for recommendations for the purposes of the note by the SG, as these represent preliminary collective views of the member organizations. 10 recommendations are under consideration by the board. These relate to the GIU report and governance and oversight of the executive boards. In terms of our status for the prior year recommendations, we had 11 recommendations open at the beginning of the year. UNICEF has now implemented 5 recommendations of those prior year recommendations. 6 recommendations are currently in progress, 5 from 2023. and one from 2022. These recommendations are expected to be completed within this year. In closing, I would like to highlight, Mr. President, that UNICEF is the second-largest contributor to the GIU budget in 2024, and as per the GIU annual report to the General Assembly, UNICEF's implementation rate was as high as 94%. 4.9% for the period 2016 to 2023. This demonstrates management's commitment and strong appreciation of GIU's work. And with that, Mr. President, I hand over back to you.

I thank Mr. Hizar for his presentation. Distinguished delegates, I now open the floor for statements on this agenda item, item number 3, and for the general national statements. Delegations are kindly reminded that their statements should remain within the agreed time limit: 3 minutes for individual delegations speaking in their national capacity and 5 minutes for the delegation speaking on behalf of the United Nations regional groups or for the joint statements of 2 or more member states. Microphones will start blinking to alert speakers 1 minute before the end of the allotted time, and the speakers will be muted within 1 minute after their time has ended. I now give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Eritrea. You have the floor, our Vice President.

Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Executive Director, distinguished delegates, from the onset, let me thank you, Mr.

President, for your opening remarks to advance the agenda of children everywhere. My delegation fully aligns with the statement delivered on behalf of the Bureau by my distinguished—

by my distinguished colleagues to the United Nations.

Mr. President, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the African states that are members of the Executive Board of UNICEF: Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, United Republic of Tanzania, and my own country, Eritrea. The Executive Director, Ms. Catherine Russell, in her presentation, gave us an overview view of where we are and where we would like to be through the important work of UNICEF.

UNICEF is carrying out its mandate amidst multitudes of challenges and ever-increasing demands, including in conflict zones, many of them in the African region, wherein keeping up with the humanitarian crisis affecting and impacting children is no small task.

In this regard, I wish to salute the stellar leadership demonstrated by the Executive Director and her dedicated staff, both in the headquarters and in field operations.

We're particularly grateful for the regular briefings and updates provided by the Executive Director and her senior staff, which are very important platforms for exchange of views on a number of issues, including on the ever-changing ODA financial landscape. For us, As program countries, we would like to stress the continuation of the good work of UNICEF in the interest of children, effectively managing the uncertainties we all face through some adjustments and changes that UNICEF has initiated in earnest. The adjustments, we understand, are not going to be easy exercises, as they also impact the careers and lives of many of the dedicated staff that work in the promotion and protection of children everywhere.

Mr.

President, following the adoption of the work program this morning, we shall be considering many issues from program and policy matters to humanitarian action and extension of country programs.

We shall engage on the agenda items of the Annual Session, including on many other important reports and updates from the UNICEF team. The dire humanitarian needs in Sudan and a number of other countries and regions remains of concern.

We support UNICEF's approach to humanitarian action grounded on the basic principles of international humanitarian law to ensure that no child is left behind. One that is of deeper and wider concern of ours is that we are severely off track in our collective efforts efforts to implement the SDGs.

We have several tools that we should employ to accelerate implementation of Agenda 2030 and 2063 to fully address the underlying causes of poverty, widening of inequalities within and between countries, unsustainable debt burdens, as well as climate and disaster-related problems, which are all contributing to the vulnerabilities of children. Moreover, current geopolitical tensions are further undermining the agenda for peace and development. Rising up above all the challenges is what we aspire to do so that children everywhere can grow up in dignity. In conclusion, we would like to thank and congratulate Tunisia for hosting the upcoming field visit of UNICEF.

We look forward to a very successful annual session of the Board under your able leadership.

I thank you, sir. I thank distinguished Permanent Representative of Eritrea. I now invite distinguished Representative of Germany. You have the floor, our Vice President.

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, distinguished members of the Executive Board, esteemed UNICEF staff. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 5 Bureau Members: Bolivia, Eritrea, Estonia, Tajikistan, and my own country, Germany. We would like to start by expressing our sincere gratitude to you, Madam Executive Director, to the UNICEF management, and to the entire UNICEF staff for the exceptional work accomplished. 2024 was yet another challenging year for UNICEF, a year which in which the situation for children around the world has become increasingly dire. More and more young lives are being affected by crisis and conflict. More and more children are stripped of safety, education and hope. At the same time, the global funding landscape has become more uncertain and more unpredictable, threatening the ability of the Organization to respond with the speed and scale that is required. We thank UNICEF for its steadfast commitment to upholding its mandate to protect and promote the rights of children everywhere. UNICEF has remained on the ground, often under exceptionally difficult circumstances, helping children, advocating for their needs, and ensuring that children receive the essential support for their well-being. For this, we, the Bureau members, are deeply grateful. Mr. President, now more than ever, the Convention on the Rights of the Child must continue to guide our every action, especially in the face of growing adversity. The principles of child rights, of gender equality and inclusion, must be non-negotiable pillars of the new Strategic Plan. The Plan must not only preserve these values, but also sharpen focus, helping UNICEF prioritize where and how it can deliver the greatest impact. The plan must position UNICEF to deliver results even amid severe resource constraints. UNICEF's unique normative mandate sets it apart within the UN system, underscoring its pivotal role in advocating for and protecting the rights of every child, We are well aware that the United Nations must undergo reform, even severe reform, to remain relevant and to work efficiently. We are committed to a rules-based multilateral system that defends human rights and continues to strive towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We encourage UNICEF to actively engage and help shape this reform process. Coming back to UNICEF, The situation UNICEF finds itself in is more than concerning. The task of continuing its valuable work for children, despite significant budget cuts, will be difficult. The Bureau is keenly aware that now hard choices need to be made, and we are well aware of the uncertainties that UNICEF staff is currently facing. At the same time, we acknowledge and appreciate UNICEF's proactive efforts to identify solutions and pursue efficiency gains— efforts that demonstrate the organization's responsiveness and capacity to act and to adapt, such as through the Headquarters Efficiency Initiative. As Bureau members, we would like to assure you of our continuous support in this process. Together, we hope to shape a UNICEF that is fit for purpose and fit for future, ensuring that it can continue to fulfill its mandate for children effectively in the years and decades to come. Lastly, the Bureau members want to thank Mr. Andres Franco and the entire OSCEB team for their excellent support and collaboration. It was always a pleasure to work with you. I thank you.

I thank distinguished representative of Germany. I understand you want to have a statement on your national capacity as well. Please go ahead, Mr. Zanahitian.

Thank you, Mr. President. If everybody can bear with me, I would then have a statement on national capacity, and I would like to reiterate that we sincerely thank Madam Executive Director for her annual report. The report reflects for Germany the significant work UNICEF has accomplished in 2024, a year full of crises, a year, I may add, that was not yet marked by the disruptions and challenges that UNICEF and the entire UN development system are facing now. We would like to extend our gratitude to UNICEF management and even more so to the entire UNICEF staff for their invaluable and tireless work often carried out under extremely difficult circumstances. Mr. President, no child bears responsibility for any of the many global crises we encounter, yet children are too often those who bear a disproportionate share of the consequences. Germany firmly believes that global challenges and crises such as this can only be addressed within a rules-based multinational order. Germany reaffirms its unwavering commitment to human rights, including the rights of children, to gender equality, and to the goals of the 2030 Agenda. We are committed to strengthening multilateral cooperation. This being said, we are also convinced that the multilateral system requires profound reform. We call on all agencies, including UNICEF, to see UNAID as a process that leads to more efficient delivery, in this case for children, and to better coherence on the ground. It is an opportunity to further consolidate and accelerate existing reforms, and I want to reiterate, for us, this is not a simple exercise in austerity. Mr. President, the budget cuts— we heard it— will compel UNICEF to undertake reforms within its own ranks. The transparency in the recent informal on the financial situation of UNICEF and the involvement of senior management has been remarkable. We hope for the same transparency regarding the difficult decisions ahead. We fully recognize the complexity of this task. The inevitable tough decisions will have severe impact on staff, with many facing job losses and relocation. Germany stands ready to support UNICEF in this difficult endeavor. We also continue to stand with UNICEF financially in advancing its mandate by contributing to both its core funding and program financing, fully aware, as you said, Madam Executive Director, that core contributions are essential for efficiency and flexibility. I thank you for your kind attention.

I thank distinguished representative of Germany. I invite distinguished representative of Sweden to take the floor, please.

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Executive Director Catherine Russell, and the UNICEF team. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and my own country, Sweden. We commend UNICEF for its work and the results achieved under difficult circumstances in 2024, particularly in crisis situations. UNICEF's ability to respond quickly to new or changed circumstances is literally vital for children around the world. For the Nordic countries, UNICEF, together with its sister UN agencies, funds, and programs, plays a key role in contributing operationally to all 3 pillars of the UN and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, as well as promoting and defending norms and values embodied in international law. This Executive Board meeting takes place at a time when the UN is at a critical juncture. The Nordic countries welcome the Secretary-General's UN80 reform initiative and expect to see ambitious reform proposals. The UN must adapt to a new financial reality with less resources and undertake reform to respond to global challenges more effectively and work better as one, from headquarters to local level. Each United Nations Development System entity will have to review their operations, processes, organizational setup, and value proposition with the purpose of delineating the core functions necessary for mandate delivery. There is no alternative to full implementation of UN reform. Identifying effectiveness and cost-efficiency opportunities is paramount. In this context, It is essential that UNICEF focuses on core operational priorities based on its mandate to protect and promote the rights of every child. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child should therefore guide UNICEF's work at all levels. This includes advancing gender equality, disability inclusion, protection against violence, abuse, and harmful practices, and providing access to education and health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. Setting clear priorities when resources are becoming increasingly scarce is essential. The focus must be on the most vulnerable children. We would appreciate UNICEF reflections on the need to review the system for allocation of regular resources to country programs to enable an increased focus on precisely those children. To maximize impact, UNICEF should make full use of its dual mandate to strengthen integrated programming across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. We commend UNICEF for achievements in harnessing new technologies and innovation to the benefit of children worldwide. This work should continue and be further enhanced, including in partnership with the private sector and other relevant partners. It will be crucial to continue investing in robust risk management systems, accountability, oversight and risk management functions are preconditions for effective delivery on the ground. We recognize the importance of core resources for funding these functions. We encourage UNICEF to continue its efforts to diversify funding sources and strengthen access to innovative financing. Finally, the Nordic countries welcome the draft strategic plan presented by UNICEF for this session. We support its human rights-based orientation and its strategic approach towards sharpened focus, increased scale and impact, and a more differentiated offer at country level. We see scope for strengthening the emphasis on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. We should also call for clearer articulation of humanitarian priorities, in particular relating to children in armed conflict, including monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children. We will provide further comments at the dedicated agenda item for the Strategic Plan later in this session and look forward to a continued dialogue. Thank you very much.

I thank distinguished representative of Sweden. Now I invite distinguished permanent representative of Mozambique. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, let me begin by expressing my sincere thanks to you and the Bureau for your committed leadership. We commend Executive Director Catherine Russell and her team for their continued leadership in protecting children's rights in today's complex global landscape. Mozambique aligns itself with the statement delivered by Eritrea on behalf of the African members of this board and wishes to add the following remarks. in its national capacity. In 2024, 3.4 million children in Mozambique required humanitarian assistance due to compounding climate shocks, conflict in Cabo Delgado, and economic stress. Despite these challenges, UNICEF-supported programs vaccinated over 4 million children against measles, delivered nutrition, WASH, education, and child protection services across high-risk provinces. The cooperation between Mozambique and UNICEF spans over 40 years and is currently framed, framed under the 2022-2026 Country Programme Document, which aligns with Mozambique's 5-year government plan and Agenda 2030. Our joint priorities focus on child survival, early learning, child protection, WASH, and social inclusion, particularly in the provinces of Sofala, Zambezia, Nampula, and Cabo Delgado. As UNICEF and the UN system adapt under the UNAIDS Reform Initiative, we urge that support to frontline countries remain robust and tailored to realities on the ground. In conclusion, Mr. President, children are flowers that never wither. Let us work for a bright present and an even brighter future for children to thrive. leveraging UNICEF's triple mandate, which is survival, protection, and development, in order to drive meaningful change for children and communities, both locally and globally. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Mozambique for his remarks. I now invite the distinguished Permanent Representative of Ecuador. to have the floor, please.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, President. I'd like to thank Executive Director Russell for her report. I will read just some of the speech I've had the opportunity— that's been prepared for this opportunity because I'd simply like to highlight the dedicated work of UNICEF in areas of violence and armed conflict. As well as its focus on approach to cooperation to strengthen capacity of national institutions, mobilize funds, and prioritize humanitarian assistance in the areas where we see the greatest fragility. The report of the Secretary-General on children in armed conflict highlights that more than 400 million children have been suffering from forced displacement or living in armed conflict areas, illustrating the seriousness of what I've just touched on. Ecuador also acknowledges that transnational organized crime represents a rising threat to children who face the risk of being abducted, recruited, or exposed to the dynamics of the scourge of organized crime. In such instances, coordinated work between states, financial— international financial institutions, and UNICEF is key. To strengthening protection, child protection systems and building societies which are able to ensure access to their rights. President, colleagues, the Pact for the Future is a call to have a holistic approach to global challenges, recognizing that priority, the priority of children and youth is vital to ensuring that we meet the 2030 goals. In these complex times characterized by instability and uncertainty, Ecuador would like to echo the words of Secretary-General Guterres when he highlighted that we live in dangerous times, but also times of great opportunity and responsibility. Ecuador believes in that. We believe that now is the time for the strategic Thank you, Chair, for your vision, for efficiency and effectiveness, for ambition with realism. Chair, under your leadership, we wish you a productive and successful session of this Annual Executive Board, prioritizing dialogue, transparency, constructive negotiation, and genuine interest in the needs of children. Thank you very much.

I thank distinguished Permanent Representative of Ecuador for his remarks and now would like to give the floor to distinguished representative of Lao PDR. You have the floor.

President, I wish to begin by thanking you and the Executive Directors for your insightful opening statements. I also wish to appreciate the presentation of UNICEF's 2024 Annual Report and the reports of the Joint Inspection Units. Our current guest steering takes place amidst escalating challenges that have a disproportionate impact on children. Drawing from the 2024 Annual Report, it is concerning that over 400 million children were affected by the conflict and nearly 1 billion live in multidimensional poverty while funding for it declined. Therefore, we urge UNICEF to stay fast in protecting children and strengthening systems for long-term resilience. In the context of Over the last few years, we recognized that UNICEF at the country level had made significant strides across all programs, contributing to improved outcomes for children and promoting systemic changes. However, persistent challenges remain in health, nutrition, education, protection, and climate resilience. This demands continuous focus on cross-cutting priorities, including promoting gender equality through transformative programming, advancing digital transformation to improve service deliveries, and child engagement. In light of ongoing financial constraints, we deeply concern about the funding crisis affecting the UN development system. We commend UNICEF's efforts to diversify funding sources and address shortfalls. While improving efficiency is essential, it must not come at the cost of country-level program deliveries. We encourage UNICEF to enhance strategic partnerships and engage regularly with the broader partners, including those existing within the country. In conclusion, we thank UNICEF for unwavering dedication to improving the life of Syrian birthrights. I thank you.

I thank distinguished representative of Laos PDR. I now give the floor to distinguished representative of Denmark.

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, and UNICEF colleagues, in addition to the statement delivered by Sweden on behalf of the 5 Nordic countries, Denmark wishes to add a few general remarks in our national capacity. For decades, Denmark has worked with UNICEF to uphold children's rights, meet their basic needs, and expand their opportunities. Ever since supporting the establishment of UNICEF's Global Humanitarian Warehouse in Copenhagen back in 1962, we have remained a steadfast partner, and we are proud to be among UNICEF's largest donors. We deeply appreciate the tireless efforts of UNICEF staff and partners who deliver for children under the most challenging conditions and often at great personal risk. Denmark strongly condemns the attack on a World Food Programme and UNICEF convoy in North Darfur, which resulted in the death of 5 convoy members and injuring several others. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and to their colleagues. This tragic event is a stark reminder of the need to uphold international law and ensure safe access to aid. Children are always among the hardest hit in times of crisis. That is why Denmark remains firmly committed to protecting children, now more than ever. 2025 is a pivotal year for UNICEF, as it advances the headquarters optimization process and develops its next strategic plan, UNICEF must also navigate a shifting and increasingly constrained funding landscape. UNICEF operates in a time of global crisis where key issues such as global health, climate change, and gender equality, including women's and girls' sexual and reproductive health rights, risk being deprioritized. At the same time, the UN Development and Humanitarian humanitarian system is undergoing substantial reforms. The UNAID process, along with UNICEF's own reform initiatives, are vital to strengthening agility, efficiency, and impact. As UNICEF positions itself for the post-2030 agenda, it must continue to deliver essential services and to uphold normative standards. A strong UNICEF anchored in a clear child rights mandate is indispensable. This Annual Session marks a critical juncture. We need to show the world's children that our commitment is unwavering. Children cannot wait. They are the foundation of our shared future. Madam Executive Director, under your leadership, UNICEF has delivered meaningful and lasting results. You have led with purpose and strong commitment to leaving no one behind. Thanks to UNICEF, the world is a better place for children today.

I thank distinguished representative of Denmark, and I would like to invite distinguished representative of China to have the floor.

President, I thank Executive Director Russell for her presentation. We appreciate UNICEF staff all over the world for their efforts and contribution to improving children's well-being. China commends UNICEF for implementing the strategic plan in a context of cascading crises such as geopolitical conflicts and climate change, and effectively helping children in program countries navigate a mirage of challenges. Allow me to make 4 points. First, China supports UNICEF in implementing the full gamut of its mandates and endorses the overall framework of the new strategic plan. The new plan should be anchored in both mandates, development and humanitarian, contribute to the implementation of the 2024 QCPR resolution, ensure the programmatic leadership and ownership by program countries, and lend more effective support to developing countries in achieving the child-related SDGs. Second, China calls for taking robust measures in response to the challenges of resource constraints. Developed countries should earnestly honor their ODA commitments.

We encourage UNICEF to continue taking effective and innovative financing measures to secure sufficient resources for the new planning cycle.

Third, China commends UNICEF for its contribution to children in humanitarian context. We hope that in response to the requests from beneficiary country governments, UNICEF will strengthen the coherence and complementarity of its humanitarian development work and enhance the capacity of developing countries for independent development. We urge major donors to provide necessary necessary, flexible, and predictable resources for the operations of UNICEF. We also hope that UNICEF will better balance the quality, coverage, and equity of humanitarian assistance and address the inadequate funding and protracted humanitarian crisis. Fourth, the UN80 initiative affords a rare opportunity for advancing balanced progress across the 3 pillars of the UN. We hope UNICEF will participate in the process constructively and always keep children's rights, development, and protection at the center. President, China and UNICEF have worked together for 40-plus years, braving the elements, so to speak, with fruitful results. We look forward to our cooperation under the China-UNSDCF in a new cycle of country program in support of children's development in China. China will continue providing stable core resources to UNICEF and will continue supporting the common development of children in the Global South, including through South South cooperation to arrive at a shared future for all.

Thank you, President.

I thank distinguished representative of China. I now would like to invite the distinguished representative of Switzerland. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. We'd like to thank Director-General Catherine Russell for her detailed and relevant report and congratulate UNICEF and its staff on their continued commitment to the rights and well-being of each and every child. In 2024, children had to suffer disastrous effects of multiple crises. In particular, we emphasize the scale of humanitarian intervention by UNICEF, which assisted 183 million children in the context of crises in 104 countries. Switzerland reaffirms its support of the statutory mandate of UNICEF in a world where children are increasingly suffering from various conflicts, poverty, and climate change. The action of UNICEF is guided by the firm principle that each child has the right to thrive and live in dignity. Switzerland emphasizes the urgent need for synergy and agility in the UN system, that it can adapt itself to changing realities. Switzerland is convinced that courageous reforms are necessary, and the focus should be on implementing current reforms. It's essential to strengthen the impact of the multilateral system to promote sustainable development objectives. Switzerland supports improving operational efficiency of the United Nations, taking into account comparative advantages of each agency. This requires strengthening interagency cooperation, increased reliance on the common services, and great consistency in action. Switzerland understands the urgency of putting in place measures to cut costs. However, these measures should take into account the entire system. It must be a clear, transparent strategy for the long term, respecting the advantages and synergies of tested multilateralism centers such as Geneva, for example. Furthermore, we recognize that the efficiency and effectiveness of UNICEF's work depends on adequate and predictable resources. In this regard, we support predictable and flexible financing to make sure that UNICEF can address urgent situations Invest in long-term solutions and assist children where they are at the most vulnerable.

Thank distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to distinguished representative of the Netherlands.

Thank you. Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, for the past few boards we have been discussing the increasingly challenging times for children around the world and the importance of UNICEF's work across development and humanitarian contexts. Unfortunately, the situation for children is not getting any better. On top of that, we are now facing a multilateral system that is under pressure and a constrained funding landscape, a harsh reality that forces UNICEF and many, many other UN agencies to make really difficult choices on prioritizing interventions and beneficiaries, as well as on staff reductions. Especially in these difficult times, the Kingdom of the Netherlands wishes to express its sincere appreciation and gratitude to all UNICEF staff members and personnel who unabatedly continue their crucial work in support of children. Please allow me to make 3 points. First, UNICEF has a mandate to safeguard the rights of all children, everywhere, a notion that is rooted in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. During the last Board, we called on UNICEF to ensure that the Convention and other core human rights documents provide an overarching frame for the new strategic plan. We are pleased to see that UNICEF has taken this on board. Second, we expect UNICEF to continue its work on the Sustainable Development Goals, including by promoting and working towards the achievement of gender equality. We are concerned that language on issues such as gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and addressing vulnerability of children on the move has been weakened in the new draft strategic plan in comparison to the current strategic plan. We want to underscore UNICEF's important normative role in this regard. Third, in these turbulent times, we call on UNICEF to ensure that the change processes that the organization is embarking on, such as the Future Focus Initiative, are based on solid business cases and risk assessments. Pilots and impact assessments are critical tools to ensure the organization takes the right course. We ask UNICEF to continue to consult the Global Staff Association and to update the board regularly and timely on the steps management is planning to take. To conclude, Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will continue to support UNICEF on the journey ahead, and we look forward to continuing our partnership. I thank you.

I thank the Netherlands. Now I would like to invite distinguished representative of France. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Executive Director, I'd like to congratulate you, Madam Executive Director, on your work and on the significant results that you accomplished in a context of intensifying crisis. I greet your team and believe you're committed to working on the ground in difficult situations As we were sadly reminded by the attack on the UNICEF and World Food Programme convoy in Darfur with 5 dead and many wounded, our thoughts go to their families. Madam Executive Director, the work of UNICEF is crucial in the face of cascading urgent situations in the areas of education, health, food, and drinking water. As you recall, 460 million children live in situations where they either in a crisis or fleeing from crisis in 2024 and since in Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and Ukraine. Every day we're reminded of the urgency and the absolute need to fight against serious violations against children in conflict situations. You know France's commitment to protect children in the context of armed conflicts. It's a priority that we jointly defend in the United Nations and on the ground. We'll continue our efforts to universalize the principles of parties relating to children in armed forces and armed groups launched with UNICEF in 2007. In the face of challenges to Sustainable Development Objectives, Recentering the strategic plan for 26-29 around 5 pillars is going in the right direction. Education, health, fighting malnutrition, fighting multidimensional poverty, protection against risks and violence must remain priorities for UNICEF. In the context of financial tensions and situation where some question the legitimacy of multilateral institutions, We must prove pragmatism and ambition. Our efforts, Madam Executive Director, to strengthen transparency in terms of budget, cutting costs and improving effects on the ground— your work in that regard is exemplary. Concentrating efforts, rationalizing work, focusing on the most vulnerable countries. Maximizing the effect of projects and strengthening synergies with other agencies. Multilateralism founded based on law, inclusion, and solidarity is a vision that runs defense. The UN80 initiative is a historic opportunity to reinvent the multilateral system, make it more consistent. Thank you.

I thank distinguished representative of France, I would like to pause now and go back to Madame Executive Director to hear some of her reflections to some of the statements that we heard today. Madame Executive Director, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Mr. President, and I really want to thank everyone, as always, for the very helpful comments. I appreciate it very much. I'm going to try to respond to some the points that you all made. Obviously, I can't respond to everything. And I would just say, in the course of these days, I imagine everything you raise will be responded to. If not, obviously, please reach out to me directly or to any of the team up here, and we'll make sure that you get whatever answers you need. But I did want to just make a few comments on what folks said here. First, to the Vice President and colleague from Eritrea, I do— I just— the one point you mentioned that I hadn't raised before is I I always want to remember the challenges that countries are facing, especially around debt. I do think, as we talk about countries doing more and more, and obviously they should, and our job is to build their capacity to do that, they can be really challenged by the difficulties of the debt that they're struggling with. I always think it's important to remember that, and apologies that I hadn't mentioned it earlier. Germany, you raised several good points, as always. appreciate that. You and several others mentioned the importance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. You know, for us, that is the governing document. It's the most important thing. We always go back to it. And I do think it's important to always remember that. And I would just say, in response to, I think, Netherlands and others who raised this point about the importance of those values in our work, I would say that, you know, from our perspective, nondiscrimination, gender equality, empowerment of girls, disability inclusion, leaving no one behind, those are all core and non-negotiable guidelines, guiding principles for our work. So, I appreciate that, and I always want to try to make sure that we remember to mention all that, because it does really frame all of the work that we're doing. So, appreciate the reminder of that. Several of you raised UNAID, which I appreciate Germany, Sweden, China, and I think several others. And I would say, you know, we see UNAIDS as obviously incredibly important. We're contributing to it as best we can, and I would say in several different places. Hanan is the queen of a lot of the work that we're doing to be as supportive as we can on issues around global shared services and supply chain innovation, which Ted also is working on. And I think we see that— we see UNAID as a very important effort, and I think it's important, as one of you mentioned— I'm sorry, I can't remember— to say it's not just about the funding. It is really to look at the efficiencies and the effectiveness of the UN system. We believe in that and want to be as supportive as we can, and as I said, we're involved in both the humanitarian piece and the development piece, and are committed to seeing that, as I said with UNICEF, that the UN comes out of this as strong as possible. So, much appreciate that. To the colleagues from Mozambique and Laos PDR, I just wanted to say that you both talked about the importance and the realities of the work that we're doing on the ground. And through the course of the that we're doing to reform and think about what UNICEF needs to look like going forward, we have worked hard to protect as much as possible the work at the country level, because I think that is where we are having the greatest impact with children, for children, with countries, and trying to help those countries build their capacity. So, we have— the cuts that we've made at headquarters and the regional offices are higher than the cuts that we're doing at country level for precisely that reason, to try to protect that work. Ecuador mentioned the issue around violence and children in armed conflict, and I think somebody else mentioned the CAC too. I've said this many times, you all have probably heard me say it, but trying to respond to the issues that children are facing in areas of armed conflict are just so challenging. challenging for us, and we are committed to do it. We're committed to trying to make sure that we can, to the extent possible, track what is happening to children in these contexts, make sure that countries are— countries and other actors are held accountable for it. But it does make it very difficult, obviously, for governments to provide services and for UNICEF to do it as well. And it's a place where we worry constantly because obviously the needs of children there are so extraordinary. So, we're doing our best on that, but thank you for mentioning it. Oh, Sweden too mentioned the CAC, so thank you for that. To Denmark, I would just say, you know, thank you again for the point on the rights, but we do love the supply division. We're so grateful for them— oh, there you are— and so grateful for that. And I, you know, I was just there recently when the CEB met in Copenhagen, and it was such a reminder of the commitment the government made to that work that we're doing at the Supply Division. And, you know, we really can get supplies anywhere in the world within 72 hours, which is amazing. And I just want to thank you all for that. I think it's just incredibly important. And I also sort of appreciated your— the way you said that our commitment has to be unwavering. And I think that is how we feel. We are committed to doing this work. And even in the most challenging circumstances, as many of you have mentioned, it is something that we're not going to give up on. Let's see, China, I mentioned Switzerland. Oh, I appreciate the point about, you know, making sure that children live in dignity. I mean, that is really ultimately what we're trying to do. You know, these children deserve a decent life. And across all of the areas where we're working, the dignity of human beings is an important reminder for us of how critical it is to do this work in a way that recognizes the humanity of people and tries to give them some opportunity in life. So very much appreciate that. I hope I got most of it. Oh, yes. I may let Omar, if he doesn't— do you want me to? You can do it. Yeah. Okay. On allocation of regular resources, apologies, I can't remember who raised that, but it is an important question and maybe, Omar, you could address that. It was Sweden. Oh, it was Sweden.

Sweden, on behalf of the Nordic countries, also raised the important issue of allocation of regular resources, which is critical at the time, especially when overall resources are going down. I mean, we currently have one of the most progressive allocation system throughout the development world. Our formula favours countries with the highest under-5 mortality rate, lowest GNP per capita, and that results— 60% of our core resources go to least developed countries, and over 50% of it goes to Africa, sub-Saharan Africa. But we're willing to revisit it and see if it makes sense to tweak it a little bit, in consultation, of course, with the Board. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Executive Director. Indeed, Thank you for your responses. We go back to our national statements. Oman, distinguished representative Oman, you have the floor, please.

In the name of God, most gracious, most merciful, we extend our appreciation to your wise leadership of the Executive Board. We are confident that your efforts will contribute to international efforts to protect the rights of children and to improve their well-being across the world. Excellencies, the Sultanate of Oman attaches great importance to the rights of children. This is a core of our national policy. We believe that investment in children is essential to build prosperous and safe societies. In this context, we commend the great role undertaken by UNICEF regionally, locally, and internationally. We continue to support the lofty objectives of UNICEF in different contexts, mainly in conflict-affected countries. We are deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation of children in conflict situations. International efforts must be stepped up to end wars and to improve the situation of children in line with international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations. In this context, we call again for serious efforts in order to allow the children of Palestine, Yemen, and Sudan to enjoy their fundamental rights, including the right to life, education, and healthcare in a safe and stable environment. President, we continue to cooperate with the UNICEF country office in Moscow as part of the country program. This translates our priority as part of Vision 2040 and our national plans. This year we achieved several milestones. We implemented programs to build the capacities in evidence-based policies. We also implemented several policies on child protection. We elaborated a comprehensive analysis of the current environment and its impact on the children in Oman in cooperation with UNEP. In addition, we updated a manual on children and we have child-friendly schools. We cooperated with academics in order to publish a new study and a study on children in Oman. We currently elaborate a new program, country program for 2026-2030. This program takes into consideration our priorities for the period to come. We aim to empower children and adolescents and to improve social inclusion. We aim also to protect vulnerable segments and to promote early childhood programs. President, the Sultanate of Oman believes that our commitment to children must translate into tangible outcomes. As we participate in the meeting today, we reiterate our support for all decisions that improve the life of children everywhere. We need to ensure flexible funding for environment, for the organization.

Thank you, Representative Oman. I now would like to invite distinguished Permanent Representative of Australia to take the floor.

Thank you so much, President, and I particularly thank Executive Director Russell for your remarks this morning. The important work of UNICEF cannot be overstated. Over the past year, Australia has provided $82 million in funding to UNICEF, exemplifying our fervent and ongoing support for its mandate. Often on the front lines, UNICEF staff are providing life-saving support to protect and alleviate the suffering of children, including in the midst of conflict. Yet we are seeing a disturbing and unacceptable trend in the numbers of humanitarian workers killed or harmed. We all know 2024 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel, with hundreds killed and more unlawfully detained, kidnapped, and seriously injured. This year already, 127 aid workers have lost their lives, including the 5 killed just one week ago in an attack on a WFP-UNICEF humanitarian convoy in Sudan. Australia offers our condolences to UNICEF and WFP, their staff, and the families of those affected. Humanitarian workers are the best of humanity. Their dedication to improving the lives of others should not cost them their own. Australia is working with a group of states on a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. The declaration will galvanize international commitment for the protection of humanitarian workers and aims to translate that into tangible action. In the coming months, we will invite other states to join the declaration, and I thank UNICEF colleagues for their ongoing engagement in this important work. President, Australia launched its new International Gender Equality Strategy in February 2025, reaffirming the centrality of gender equality and advancing the human rights of women and girls. We want to work together to progress inclusion at all levels, ensuring disability and gender equality is championed and mainstreamed through UNICEF programming in our Asia-Pacific region. Diverse perspectives and full, effective, and meaningful participation and leadership will only promote peace, stability, and prosperity. In this regard, we commend UNICEF for developing the Gender Equality Action Plan, and we look forward to its release. President, we cannot be blind to the pressures facing the UN development system. As the Secretary-General has warned, we are on the precipice of a development emergency, and we face difficult choices. Australia asks UNICEF to continue implementation of existing reforms, including the QCPR, while embracing bold reforms with full engagement in the UN 80 process. We must deliver on our commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and leave no one behind. Thank you.

I thank distinguished Permanent Representative of Australia and now give the floor to distinguished Representative of Norway.

Thank you. Thank you, President. Norway aligns itself with the statement given by Sweden on behalf of the Nordic countries, and would like to add a few comments in our national capacity. First, let me echo others in assuring you of the continued high esteem in which we hold UNICEF and its staff. The continued quality and results of your work is the reason why Norway prioritizes core funding, consistently remaining among the top 5 public sector donors of regular resources to UNICEF. President, our meeting of the Executive Board takes place in a global environment of a deteriorating respect for international law, including human rights and international humanitarian law. For Norway, this is a time to redouble our joint efforts to safeguard these fundamental principles. UNICEF's role is critically important, and especially as relates to child rights and protection of children in armed conflicts. A principles-based approach is essential in all international response efforts. priorities. The SDGs remain the central framework for this coordination, and the implementation of the QCPR and the RC system are critical for success. Presently, the UNAT initiative unavoidably requires significant reforms in order to cut expenses. But the goal of the exercise must be to safeguard multilateralism and its fundamental principles. This is a time for all Member States and UN organizations to join forces for multilateral cooperation. Norway continues its strong and active support for UNICEF and the United Nations in general in this endeavor. I thank you.

I thank Norway. I now invite distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea to have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also thank Executive Director Erzel for her comprehensive statement. Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General, for your kind statement. Let me begin by commending UNICEF's achievement in 2024, particularly in its partnership with OpenAI on digital learning and the delivery of WASH services to nearly 100 million people across development and humanitarian contexts under the current strategy plan. As we discuss the next strategy plan alongside with the UNAID initiative and the Humanitarian Reset, This moment offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how UNICEF delivers results in a challenging global context. Against this backdrop, I'd like to highlight a few points. First, we appreciate UNICEF's efforts to incorporate concrete targets across the 5 impact results in the draft strategy plan, contributing to a stronger strategic focus and greater clarity. As the research framework continues to develop, we encourage UNICEF to ensure that indicators are supported by clear baselines and targets grounded in feasible resource projections so that the plan can guide effective implementation and enable robust monitoring and evaluation. Second, we welcome UNICEF proactive efforts to address the financial constraints. Through the Future Focus initiative, including restructuring and consolidation of overlapping internal functions. As this process advances, we underscore the importance of a prudent approach that minimizes the loss of talented personnel and prevents potential disruptions to the delivery of results and impact on the ground. To this end, we encourage UNICEF to keep member states regularly informed of the key milestones to ensure transparency and collective ownership. Third, with regard to the UNAID initiative, we encourage UNICEF to contribute to system-wide reforms that promote a more coherent, efficient, and result-driven UN development system while safeguarding the needs and rights of the children. At the same time, as a lead agency for the 3 humanitarian clusters, it is crucial for the UNICEF to build on the momentum of the Humanitarian Reset to seek a more streamlined and agile architecture that responds effectively to the current resource constraints and operational challenges. In closing, as evidenced by our increasing contribution last year, rising nearly 2.5 times from $60 million to $140 million, the Republic of Korea reaffirms unwavering commitment to supporting UNICEF's work to protect children everywhere, including in the most challenging environments. I thank you.

I thank distinguished representative of Korea. I now invite distinguished representative of Bulgaria to have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Let me begin by thanking you and the Bureau members for your excellent for your excellent work.

You can count on Bulgaria's continued support and constructive participation as Executive Board member. Next, I would like to thank Executive Director Catherine Russell for her work, for her commitment, and for the comprehensive review of UNICEF's progress and challenges over the last year. We welcome the ongoing evaluation of the strategic plan and the preparatory for the next working cycle, where we support UNICEF's strengthened focus on systematic change, resilient national systems, and evidence-based advocacy to advance child rights. Bulgaria supports UNICEF efforts to expand climate-resilient health and social protection systems. As highlighted in the report, the organization's adaptation of primary healthcare strategies, including the Osaka Agenda and the Community Health Delivery Partnership, demonstrate innovative solutions for sustainable child health. We also welcome UNICEF's leadership in vaccine procurement, including the expansion of the Vaccine Independence Initiative, enabling greater financial predictability in immunization efforts. Bulgaria recognizes the importance of multi-year funding commitments and continues to prioritize contributions to the core budget despite financial constraints. Humanitarian action remains central to Bulgaria's priorities. We commend UNICEF's response to 448 emergencies in in 104 countries, ensuring access to healthcare, nutrition, education, and protection for children affected by crises. The integration of humanitarian-development approaches, particularly in nutrition, education, and WASH programming, demonstrates a necessary shift towards sustainable solutions. We also know the urgency of addressing resource gaps which pose a risk to UNICEF's ability to reach the most vulnerable. Since my time is up, I will wrap up by commending UNICEF staff worldwide for the work they are doing, and I would like to take this opportunity to invite you for the celebration tomorrow of the 2nd International Day of Play, and thank you once again for your commitment and work.

I thank distinguished representative of Bulgaria. Next on my list, distinguished representative of Yemen. You have the floor. Yemen is not here, so we move to the next speaker. Canada, you have the floor, please.

Merci, Monsieur le Président. Thank you, President. Canada is pleased to join member states, civil society, and UNICEF representatives to support the vital, essential, and transformative work undertaken by UNICEF all over the world. We'd like to congratulate UNICEF for the 2024 program, which was made possible thanks to the dedication of its leadership, the personnel of its central administration, and its country teams. We very much appreciate the unwavering commitment of UNICEF personnel vis-à-vis the promotion of the rights and well-being of children everywhere in the world. During this period of rising global crises, it's crucial to recall that the work which we accomplish here, namely strengthening governance and oversight, lays the necessary framework Canada recognizes the essential role of accountability mechanisms within UNICEF, particularly the rigorous assessments and independent investigations, as well as sound financial management. These tools make sure that UNICEF is a more effective, transparent, and resilient organization. Canada is optimistic about the next strategic plan and welcomes its sharper focus. We encourage UNICEF to remain responsive to global realities, including fiscal constraints and the need for adaptability, while aligning to overarching policies such as the Quadriennial Comprehensive Policy Review. We are especially pleased with the integration of a rights-based approach aligned with Canada's commitment to leaving no one behind. Canada remains committed to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We urge UNICEF to deepen its integration of these principles and to deliver measurable, transformative outcomes. Advancing gender equality and promoting inclusion is a powerful investment. It fuels economic growth, strengthen democracy and fosters peace and resilience. Canada also encourages UNICEF's active engagement in UNAID and the Humanitarian Reset. We support bold action for streamlining the humanitarian response system by reducing duplication, supporting humanitarian enablers, simplifying coordination structures, and improving cost efficiency and effectiveness. In this spirit, we kindly ask UNICEF to keep the Executive Board informed of its engagement in UNAID and the Humanitarian Reset, and to continue providing timely updates on the agency's financial outlook during these critical times. Thank you. Merci.

I thank distinguished representative of Canada. Next is distinguished representative

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm pleased to join this annual session of UNICEF Executive Board, which aims to set the direction for the future of the organization amidst challenging international development and significant changes in the environment surrounding UNICEF. The situation for children of the world is harsher than ever as the compounding crisis of conflict, poverty, and climate change worsen. Meanwhile, UN funds and programs, including UNICEF, face serious resource shortages. In this context, Japan supports the strong leadership of the Executive Director Russell in confronting these difficulties, and we will continue to cooperate Today, UNICEF is required to generate maximum impact through its projects within a limited budget. Japan supports ongoing reform efforts by UNICEF in the context of UNAID initiative. We look forward to bold decisions by the executive team. Japan places particular emphasis on the discussions around the next strategic plan and securing resources We think it is essential for the Executive Board to provide clear and appropriate direction on organizational management and programmatic strategies in order to enable UNICEF to achieve focus and prioritization. We expect the formulation of a well-structured strategic plan which is consistent with the QCPR and which takes fully into account the current status and outlook of funding. Mr. President, Japan just began to materialize its cooperation with UNICEF under the initial budget for financial year 2025. For example, the cabinet approved the implementation of the project for eradication of polio in Afghanistan and project for emergency response to mpox in DRC. In addition to health care cooperation, Japan will continue to support UNICEF's global activities in areas where UNICEF excels, such as WASH and education, while introducing a human security perspective. Japan will strengthen its partnership with UNICEF through collaboration in multilateral forums, including TICAD 9, and continuous support by its public and private sectors. To conclude, I pay tribute to the UNICEF staff who strive to achieve the noble ideal of leaving no child behind despite uncertainty at their workplaces and harsh working environment. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank distinguished representative of Japan for his remarks. Now, we invite distinguished representative of Greece, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, let me express our gratitude to you, Madam Executive Director, and the UNICEF team for the 2024 Annual Report, as well as for your invaluable efforts in protecting children's rights under different difficult circumstances. Greece, as a member of the United Nations and the European Union, and one of the first signatories to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, remains a staunch advocate for the promotion and protection of children's rights. We salute UNICEF's tireless efforts to save and improve the lives of children and to advance and to ensure the protection of their rights in over 190 countries and territories. In Greece, where UNICEF has been active since 1947, we reiterate our enduring support and firm commitment to the organization's mission. In this context, we are working towards concluding a host country agreement to further institutionalize our cooperation. As Chair of the Security Council Working Group on conflict, Greece looks forward to working closely with UNICEF to strengthen its action to protect children affected by conflicts around the world. Moreover, concerted action is critical to guaranteeing that children are not marginalized in the discourse surrounding climate change and migration conditions. Mr. President, Greece, as a staunch advocate of multilateralism, supports UN reform in the context of the UNAIDS Initiative. We support increasing efficiencies and effectiveness of the system, creating synergies with other agencies, and promoting budget transparency. In concluding, Mr. President, regardless of the circumstances, every child has the inherent right to protection Physical, emotional, and psychological. Upholding these rights is vital to building a more sustainable, secure, and inclusive future for all. Greece stands ready to continue supporting UNICEF in this vital endeavor. I thank you.

I thank Greece. Now I would like to invite distinguished representative of Brazil to have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, all protocol observed. Brazil welcomes the presentation of the Annual Report. The document provides a comprehensive and valuable account of the initiatives undertaken and funded by UNICEF over the past year, reflecting the organization's continued commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of children worldwide. Nevertheless, we note with some concern the lack of reference to partnerships developed directly between UNICEF and developing countries. In our view, such partnerships are essential, not only in the implementation of programs, but also in fostering the exchange of successful social policies and practices among countries of the Global South. This exchange represents a concrete means of advancing the goals outlined in UNICEF's strategic plan. In this context, it would be timely and appropriate to include references to South-South and triangular cooperation as one of the Fund's strategies of action. According to the report on the implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, 57% of UNICEF's country programs in 2024 involved South-South or triangular cooperation activities, a notable figure that could be reflected in the draft decision under consideration. We further note that page 19 of the same report provides useful descriptive examples of UNICEF's engagement in trilateral South-South initiatives, which deserve greater visibility in the organization's reporting. I thank you.

Thank you, Brazil. And I would like to go back to the Secretariat for some of the comments we have heard. Madam Executive Director, you have the floor.

Great, thanks, Mr. President, and I'll be brief, but I did want to just mention a couple of the comments that folks made, and again, huge appreciation for that. Oman, I think just 2 things. One, thank you for highlighting the difficulties that we're facing in some of these very terrible conflict settings— Gaza, Sudan, others— just very difficult for our teams, of course, but also increasingly and horrifically challenging for the children who live there. So, thank you for highlighting that. Also, you mentioned early childhood programs. We haven't talked too much about that today, but those are so important from our perspective because they get children off to a good start. The data is just so clear that investing in early childhood is very important. Many of you do that and know that, but it's something that we're trying to really spread in more countries around the world. Australia, thank you. I did also want to just say a huge thank you for mentioning the humanitarian workers who have been killed this year, harmed, incarcerated. I mean, it is It's just an incredibly bleak situation. Many of you have mentioned that. We appreciate that. It's something, you know, causes me to lose a lot of sleep, as you can imagine, because it's almost impossible to protect everyone who's out there in the most difficult situations. And I think it does really speak well to UNICEF that our teams are committed to being out there where the needs are enormous, but boy, it is is definitely a worry. Thank you also for the mention of gender equality and disability. You know, from our perspective, of course, children who are, you know, particularly vulnerable, I think, you know, I've seen disabled children all around the world who face incredible challenges, some of them disabled as a consequence of conflict and war, some of them, you know, born or developing different difficulties. But, if they don't get some attention, it means that they're often left behind, even more so than others, and that's something that obviously we can't accept. Norway, of course, just thank you so much for your emphasis on core funding, how important that is to us. We just— we need to increase it, and I say this every time to all of you, and many of your governments already do it, so thank you for that. But I just cannot say enough how much we need the flexibility that we get with the core funding. So just, you know, constant imploring on everyone to remind your capitals how critical that money is to us. To Korea, just one thing you mentioned. Well, you mentioned the staff too, which I appreciate. But also, you know, we also haven't talked too much today about digital learning and AI. And, you know, when we look at all the challenges facing, we have to also look at some of the opportunities. And to me, digital and increased use of AI is one of those opportunities. And we're trying to get the most out of that that we possibly can, both in terms of the work we do internally, but also the programming work. So, appreciate the mention of that and the reminder of that. Bulgaria, one point you mentioned that I wanted to stress is the importance of primary health services and primary, you know, community health workers, which we're doing a lot of support of. And it just is a good reminder that as much as we're all focused on UNAIDS and reform, and we're doing cuts here, you know, that important work that we're doing in communities continues. We want it to continue. It is making a huge difference. And you see that in the data that Vidya talked about today. So, I just think, you know, community health workers is such a good example of that, of an intervention that makes a huge difference. And, you know, for us to be able to help governments do that, I think, is really important. To Canada, you know, the point I wanted to stress in what you said is the importance of governance and oversight. We take that really seriously. I think that we are, you know, we don't take a backseat to anybody on our dedication to that. And I think that comes from 2 things. One, obviously, we take the fact that we are given resources seriously. We want to be good stewards of that money. But we also have to have the trust of the people who support us and the people we work with. And I think that could not be more important to me personally and to all of us. And we want to— you know, I think we've earned that trust. We want to keep that trust. And that means that we have to subject subject ourselves to rigorous oversight. And I think we do that and are committed to that, but always grateful to all of you for reminders and for just highlighting the importance of it. To Japan, thank you across the board for decades of support. But I did want to highlight one thing you mentioned, which is polio eradication and global health. I think those two things— polio me, I always look at it and think, of all the things that children die from, they shouldn't be dying from things we know how to prevent. And if we could just get polio eradicated, it would make a huge difference. You know, we're spending— not we, UNICEF, but we, the international community, are spending a lot of money on polio eradication. It's important to do it. We've got to finish the job. But boy, it is, you know, something that just has got to get done because children— no No child should be paralyzed or die from something that we know how to prevent. Greece and Brazil, both, thank you so much for the work that we do together. Brazil, in particular, your mention of partnerships, which, you know, we see that as the key to everything we do, either partnerships with the countries where we're working, with the people on the ground, with the local communities, with local NGOs across the UN system, everywhere. Look, what we're trying to do is amplify the work of UNICEF, right, to leverage the work of UNICEF through partnerships, because we can't— even at our best day, we can't be everywhere doing everything. We need others to understand what the objectives are with respect to children, how we know how to get to the endgame, and getting more and more people moving in the same direction. I think partnerships are key to that. So, thanks so much.

Thank you. Madam Executive Director, and now I would like to invite distinguished representative of New Zealand. You have the floor.

Thank you, President, and we commend you, Executive Director, and all UNICEF staff for the continued dedication in delivering for children in an increasingly complex global environment. As we mark its 80th anniversary, We are reminded of the founding values of the United Nations and UNICEF's vital role in realizing its vision. New Zealand believes that UNICEF's transparent efforts alongside the UNAID initiative can help ensure the whole system is fit for purpose, one that remains adaptive, trusted, and equipped to deliver development results that are locally led and globally relevant. We, the Member States, have a responsibility to ensure that the UNAID process continues to serve those most in need. As so many of us have stressed already, we are meeting at a time of unprecedented uncertainty for the UN system. New Zealand remains committed to protecting the norms and values of the UN, and we support action that will enable the UN system to deliver on its core mandates in, in this fiscally constrained environment. In that regard, we call for a renewed global commitment to core, predictable, and flexible funding, and and are pleased to confirm our multi-year core funding for the next 3 years. As a Pacific country, New Zealand is deeply committed to ensuring that the voices and priorities of Pacific Island countries are heard and reflected in global processes. We will continue to work alongside our Pacific partners to ensure that issues of particular importance to our region are considered in major decisions and negotiations across the UN system, including those shaping the future of development cooperation and humanitarian action. Children in our region face disproportionate risks from climate change, geographic isolation, and systemic vulnerabilities. We strongly support UNICEF's deepening engagement with Pacific countries and its commitment to and focus on gender equality, disability inclusion, and data-driven decision-making. New Zealand stands ready to work with UNICEF Member States, and the wider UN family to realize the full promise of sustainable development and to ensure that the future of multilateralism is inclusive, Pacific-informed, and fit for purpose.

Thank you. Thank you, New Zealand. Next on my list, distinguished representative of Finland, followed by Armenia.

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, distinguished members of the Executive Board, Finland aligns itself with the statement delivered by Sweden, and I would like to offer some remarks in, in my national capacity as well. Finland highly values our long-standing partnership with UNICEF. We are proud to support UNICEF work that is rooted in human rights, including its commitment to leaving no child behind, its pioneering role in disability inclusion, and its dedication to gender equality— principles central to Finland. Finland is committed to the rules-based multilateral order and the agreed-upon norms and standards. We greatly appreciate UNICEF's work in defending the rights of the child, fulfilling children's needs, and giving special attention to the most vulnerable vulnerable, even in the most difficult humanitarian contexts. Today, UNICEF's mission, as mentioned, is more important than ever. The 2026-2029 Strategic Plan comes at a critical juncture, at a time when the UN reform is taking place. This moment provides an opportunity to reflect and focus on delivering UNICEF's core mandate. This is essential in our collective work to reach global commitments towards the 2030 Agenda and to ensure that the Organization remains fit for purpose. We call for more diversified, flexible, and predictable funding, attainable only through broad strategic partnerships. This is essential for adapting and staying agile amid rapid changes and reforms. In this evolving landscape, maintaining strong governance risk management and oversight is key to delivering on UNICEF's mandate. Madam Executive Director, innovation to build a bit— to build a better world for children remains a cornerstone of our collaboration. We are pleased with UNICEF's progress in this area, including the Helsinki-based UNICEF Learning Innovations Hub and the Innovative Finance Hub. These hubs are catalytic in shaping the future of learning and financing for children, and we are encouraged to see the results of their work. We urge UNICEF to continue leveraging the work of the hubs in support of the broader UNICEF innovation agenda and in achieving global targets on education and financing for children. Madam Executive Director, to conclude, we want to thank UNICEF and its dedicated staff for their tireless efforts. Your work is a testament to the enduring commitment to human rights and the well-being of every child. I thank you.

I thank Finland. I now invite the distinguished representative of Armenia to have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Madam Executive Director, at the outset, we would like to thank you for the thorough presentation.

Presentation of the 2024 Annual Report.

Armenia values its longstanding cooperation with UNICEF and recognizes its pivotal role in safeguarding and advancing children's rights.

The UNICEF Country Office in Armenia remains a critical partner in formulating and implementing national policies and strategies across critical sectors, including education, healthcare, social protection, and climate resilience. In 2024, Armenia underwent an extensive review by the Committee on the Rights of the Child. To follow up on the Committee's recommendations will be essential to our ongoing efforts to consolidate human rights commitments and advance their implementation, and UNICEF's support is instrumental in this process. We attach great importance to the forthcoming Country Programme Documents for 2026 and 2030, which will soon be submitted for adoption and welcome the inclusive and constructive consultations conducted with all relevant line ministries throughout its drafting and review process. In particular, we appreciate the CPD's focus on the most vulnerable groups, especially children in rural and border communities, children with disabilities, those affected by conflict, and refugee children along with their host communities. Mr. President, Armenia is currently hosting over 120,000 120,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, including 36,000 children. This situation has posed significant humanitarian challenges that require sustained and appropriate support. In this context, we value UNICEF's close cooperation with the Government of Armenia and its active engagement in the Interagency Refugee Response Plan, as well as its efforts to ensure a multifaceted and timely refugee response. A notable initiative One of the initiatives in this regard is the recent launch of the program Mental Health and Psychological Support for Nagorno-Karabakh Refugee and Host Community Children and Adolescents in Armenia, implemented by the UNICEF Country Office in partnership with the Government of Japan. Developed in close collaboration with national stakeholders, the program aims to expand access to quality multi-sectoral mental health and psychological support services for refugee children and host community to families. Mr. President, UNICEF's continued engagement remains essential to Armenia's efforts in advancing inclusive, resilient, and child-centered policies. We reaffirm our strong commitment to working in close partnership with UNICEF to uphold the rights of every child and to facilitate transformative changes that yield sustainable and long-term outcomes.

I thank you.

Thank you, Armenia. I now invite distinguished Permanent Representative of El Salvador.

Thank you very much, President, Executive Director. My delegation would like to express its thanks to the Bureau and particularly the President, the Permanent Representative of Tajikistan, for its stewardship. We'd also like to thank Executive Director Russell for each of the salient points you raised in your intervention. Which give account of the valuable work undertaken by your team and the Executive Board of UNICEF. We are at a critical phase, not just for UNICEF, but indeed the entire UN system. This phase isn't only critical— is critical to many entities, departments, offices, and agencies which work on a daily basis to deliver the mandates that we as States have entrusted them with. Last week at the annual session of the Triple Executive Board, my delegation had an appeal which could be boiled down to just one word: coherence. While at the highest level of the organization initiatives like UN80 appear as a novelty, UNICEF has made progress in its strategic plan for 2026-2029, and we'd therefore like to thank UNICEF for the efforts they've made to date to prepare this important document. At the same time, we urge that its content ultimately tally with the spirit of initiatives with immediate impact on the work of all UN entities. In line with the messages which were transmitted a few weeks ago in the context of the joint meeting of the Executive Boards, El Salvador reiterates the importance of the spirit of close collaboration and synergies between the various entities, including UNICEF. We call for this to be a key and common factor for work. We call for this work emphatically to be stepped up in the field. Executive Director, any reform initiative means that we face multiple imminent scenarios. My delegation urges that these changes and any adjustments which may need to be made to the program documents of UNICEF for future years should prioritize one thing: the work of territories with the most vulnerable populations. Once again, we call for the work to focus on the territories with the most vulnerable populations. In this instance, children, boys and girls, and adolescents. In this framework, we hope that this work will not be diminished following the work UNICEF has carried out over a great deal of time, and you can count on El Salvador. Thank you very much, President, Executive Director.

Distinguished Permanent Representative of El Salvador, I now would like to give the floor to distinguished Permanent Representative of Yemen, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. We'd like to recognize the efforts of UNICEF to protect children and to promote the rights of the child. We appreciate UNICEF's work in Yemen and elsewhere. Mr. President, the war waged over decades in our country has caused a drop in living standards, the quality of life, and endangered children, women, older people, pushing a lot of them below the poverty level. Working with international organizations present on the ground in Yemen, the ground— the government has extended health services Focusing in particular on severe diseases that undermine our development efforts. The situation in the health sector as well as in education is being addressed. We highly appreciate the efforts of UNICEF in this regard, and we hope this to make sustainable cooperation providing services such as education, nutrition, and healthcare to children who need it the most. We particularly focus on assisting children pushed into temporary camps fleeing armed conflicts. And this goes hand in hand with our efforts to fight hate speech, terror, and physical violence endangering the future of Thank you. Millions of children are deprived of access to education and cannot develop in the way that children should develop in society. The government believes that those responsible for the acts of violence must be brought to justice. Thank you.

I thank distinguished permanent representative of Yemen. I now give the floor to distinguished permanent representative of Myanmar. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, I wish to express our appreciation to Madam Executive Director for her comprehensive statement updating on gender, humanitarian action, risk management, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, and other key reviews. We recognize the immense challenges UNICEF faces globally, especially in protecting children amidst escalating crises. We appreciate UNICEF's unwavering commitment and support in the most vulnerable and high-risk humanitarian settings, ensuring children's rights are respected and protected. In case of Myanmar, the situation of children has drastically worsened. For over 4 years since the illegal coup, the country's political, security, economic, humanitarian, and human rights conditions are completely dire due to the coup and the subsequent junta's atrocities. Every day, the people in Myanmar endure the military junta's atrocities ranging from killing, arbitrary arrests, forced conscription, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, to area attacks. Women and children have been bearing the heaviest brunt of the junta's atrocities. The devastating earthquake in March this year further compounded these challenges. To this date, over 3.5 million people have been internally displaced and 20 million people, among which 6.3 million children, are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, the military junta has not ceased its hostility but rather intensified them. Within 2 months following the quake disaster, the junta conducted over 780 area and artillery attacks across the country, including earthquake-affected regions, killing over 540 civilians, including women and children, and destroying many healthcare facilities and schools. On 12 May, a village school in the Dapeng-Zagai region was hit by the Hunter's Area attacks, killing at least 20 children along with their 2 teachers. This is not an isolated incident. Fatalities of children have been increased to almost 400 between 2023 and March 2025. This is clearly resulting from the military junta's targeted and systemic area attacks against the civilians. In conclusion, Mr. President, to save lives of children and their future, we all need to work together to end the military junta's atrocities and area attacks against civilians. It will definitely help the cessation of violence in Myanmar. Therefore, I urge all member states of the UN and international community to stop immediately the flow of weapons, dual-use items, including jets, fuel, and finance to the military junta. I thank you.

I thank distinguished Permanent Representative of Myanmar. I now invite distinguished representative of Algeria to have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President of the Executive Board, Madam Executive Director of UNICEF, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. President, my delegation acknowledges the efforts of the Executive Board members, especially the Bureau, in preparing for this session. Their tireless work, along with the invaluable support of the Secretariat, is deeply appreciated. Our thanks also go to Madame Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, for her insightful presentation. Mr. Mr. President, Algeria demographics, with nearly a third of the population under 19, naturally place children and youth at the heart of our national priorities. Our consistent state investment, including in health, education, and social protection, have significantly strengthened child rights underpinned by policies aligned with our constitutional principles. Child protection policies have also been significantly reinforced— have also seen significant reinforcement. In 2024, over 20% of our public budget was allocated to serving children and youth, underscoring our strong commitment to human capital development. Efforts to modernize education continue, and Algeria's participation in the Continental Education Conference held in Nouakchott in December 2024 further demonstrates our dedication to ensuring equitable and quality education. Last year, Algeria initiated a consultative process for National Action Plan for Children 2025-2030. The strategic framework aims to advance child welfare policies in line with both national and global commitments. Our commitment to child protection and international cooperation was also reaffirmed at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children held last November in Bogotá, Colombia. To conclude, Mr. President, Algeria recognizes the importance of UNICEF's Strategic Plan 2026-2029. As the last strategic framework before 2030, it is crucial for advancing children's rights worldwide. Our sincere hope is that this plan will powerfully strengthen collective collective efforts towards the 2030 Agenda goals, and in doing so, contribute significantly to the African Union Agenda 2063, in strong alignment with UNICEF's strategy to contribute to Africa's development agendas. My delegation also takes this opportunity to express our continued support and appreciation for UNICEF's dedication to children's rights and well-being. We commend your achievements in promoting and protecting children's rights, and we highly value UNICEF's swift response to children's needs despite ongoing challenges and resource constraints. I thank you.

Thank you, Algeria. Now I invite distinguished representative of Slovenia.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank the executive Director, for presenting UNICEF's Annual Report for 2024 and for the update on the implementation of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025. Slovenia welcomes the progress in all 5 goal areas and commends UNICEF's vital role in addressing the needs of children worldwide. In these challenging and unpredictable times, we express our deep appreciation to all UNICEF staff, especially those on the ground for their unwavering dedication to fulfilling UNICEF's mandate, often in very difficult situations. As highlighted, despite notable progress, millions of children across the world continue to endure unimaginable hardship.

Many do not know when their next meal will come, whether their water is safe to drink, if they will be able to attend school the next day, or receive medical attention if ill.

The scourge of violence and exploitation of children persists. We commend the efforts of all relevant stakeholders working to alleviate the suffering of children, including the Secretary-General's Special Representatives for Children in Armed Conflict and on Violence Against Children.

Slovenia fully supports the Prove It Matters campaign launched by the Office of the SRSG for CAC in March this year.

Slovenia is furthermore deeply concerned by the increasing scope and scale of grave violations against children in armed conflicts. We are appalled by the growing number of gender-based and sexual violence against children, particularly girls, as well as the continued recruitment and use of children.

Such violations have devastating and lifelong consequences, not only for the affected children but for the entire society. Slovenia continues to call for full accountability for perpetrators of these heinous crimes, and in this regard, we commend the work of the International Criminal Court. Slovenia remains committed to its long tradition of supporting humanitarian operations and development projects that aim to protect children affected by armed conflicts. From Ukraine, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Afghanistan, UNICEF remains a cornerstone of global efforts to protect children and uphold their rights.

Slovenia strongly supports UNICEF in its mission and its principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, ensuring that no child is left behind. In today's increasingly constrained humanitarian space, we urge all countries to sustain or increase their financial contributions to UNICEF in support of its life-saving and and transformative work.

I am pleased to share that Slovenia has already allocated funds for its contribution to UNICEF for 2025 and remains committed to continue with financial support in the coming years as well.

I thank you.

Thank you, Slovenia. I now invite distinguished representative of the United Kingdom to have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. The United Kingdom welcomes the work carried out by UNICEF deliver its critical mandate, focused on supporting and protecting children, which remains just as important as ever against the backdrop of an increasingly complex world. As UNICEF develops its next strategic plan, it's important that it draws on the successes and lessons from the current plan. We are pleased to see the focus on resource mobilization and the priority given to digital delivery, given this will be important in terms of delivering organizational efficiency. We support the emphasis on adolescent girls as an accelerator for change. In the context of UNAIDS, it will be important for UNICEF to take a flexible approach to the new strategic plan and to ensure a strong and continued focus on collaboration with other elements of the UN's development and humanitarian architecture. We are aware that UNICEF is also undertaking its own internal reform process. And would encourage that as you do that, you also look across at identifying efficiencies working across agencies linked to common premises, common back offices, and global service centers. Strong collaboration and support for the Resident Coordinator System remains an important priority for the UK, and we hope to see UNICEF continuing to provide support in that regard. Ultimately, the focus must be on impact and delivering for those who need it most. On humanitarian action, we commend the role UNICEF has played in delivering for children in the most challenging circumstances. We also, in that regard, recognize UNICEF's active engagement with the Humanitarian Reset Process and the Humanitarian Working Group of UNHCR. It's important that we grasp this opportunity to make the humanitarian system more efficient and effective focusing on the 100 million most in need, including children. We would like to see UNICEF do more on localization and would appreciate an update on the challenges and opportunities in that regard, and for views on the role of country-based pooled funds. Lastly, the UK would like to commend UNICEF for its strong partnership on the Global Care Reform Campaign. Together, we are raising global awareness of the harm of institutionalization and promoting family-based care, ensuring that no child is left behind. UNICEF continues to be a key partner for the UK in building a strong alliance dedicated to advancing this critical agenda. Thank you.

I thank the UK. Now I invite distinguished representative of Spain.

Gracias, President.

Thank you very much, President. We'd like to thank you, Madam Executive Director, for your statement and the leadership you've showed— shown in such a complex global context. Spain would like to thank you, your team, and all UNICEF staff for your commitment and dedication. We pay tribute to the humanitarian workers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The 2024 Annual Report reflects major progress in outcomes for children in a year overshadowed by multiple humanitarian crises, growing needs, and a restrictive financial context. With that in mind, it's very important that UNICEF facilitate fluid, up-to-date, comprehensive information about its budget and personnel, as well as clear identification of its priorities. We also should praise the commitments from the private sector helping to allay the drops we've seen in public resources. But that's not enough. We'd like to call upon all partners to increase the predictability and quality and flexibility of financing. We call for a spirit of compromise so that we can have the action we so dearly need to bolster the effectiveness of the work of UNICEF to help the most vulnerable children. We especially value UNICEF's work in the areas of health, education, nutrition, water and sanitation, and in the digital sphere. Spain praises the efforts to integrate the gender perspective in a cross-cutting way and the renewed impetus given to equality. We welcome the central role UNICEF has played in the global humanitarian response, particularly in conflicts— context of protracted conflicts and forced displacement. We highlight the nexus between peace, humanitarian action, and Spain also wishes to welcome the information on the Strategic Plan 2026-2029. We believe that this must focus on sustainability and equity and be firmly rooted in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We are major backers of UNICEF and we will continue to be so in 2025 and beyond. Allow me to highlight the fundamental role of the Spanish UNICEF Committee, which is one of the largest contributors across the world to the agency's programs. The recent visit of Spain to the Executive Director should help consolidate and reinforce collaboration with the Fund from our country.

The microphone was cut off. Thank you. I thank you, distinguished representative for Spain. Now I would like to invite distinguished representative of Cuba. You have the floor.

Muchas gracias, señor presidente.

Thank you very much, President. Distinguished Executive Director, members of the Bureau, delegations. We thank the Executive Director for her statement and welcome the presentation of the annual report, which provides a comprehensive insight into the efforts made by UNICEF to make progress with the promotion protection of the rights of children in an ever more complex international scenario. We are facing an alarming reality. The increase in barriers to accessing essential services, the fact that we're losing ground in terms of key childhood indicators, and the skyrocketing of thousands of children who are now facing situations of poverty, inequality, and conflicts. This situation demands a fairer, more solidarity-based multilateral solution to help developing countries. In this context, Cuba has seen its national efforts to protect childhood hugely hindered by the impact of the economic, trade, and financial blockade imposed by the government of the USA. We continue, however, to prioritize universal public policies and comprehensive programs to care for children and adolescents. In this vein, UNICEF has been a strategic ally of our country in all sectors which are key to childhood development. The fund has been of the utmost importance in rolling out the expanded immunization program of Cuba. One of the most important contributions has been the purchase of between 70,000 and 100,000 doses of the MMR, uh, measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, the doses of which in 2024 covered all children in the country. Similarly, Our country has been supported with the purchasing of equipment for cold chain, medical inputs such as syringes, and the strengthening of technical capacities of healthcare professionals. Given the importance of strengthening health systems, nutrition, education, and protection of children in situations of disasters and climate emergencies, we very much appreciate the emphasis that the strategic plan has laid on these matters for the 2026-2029 period. While resources are under strain, we highlight the need for flexible, adequate, predictable resources allowing UNICEF to discharge its mandate. We also would like to alert you to the risk that seeking operational efficiencies could lead to a diminished presence in the field or limitations in terms of reaching the most disadvantaged communities. There can be no efficiency without presence, and there can't be impact without genuine links to local realities. President, I'd like to conclude by reaffirming the commitment of Cuba to the work of Madad UNICEF. We reiterate that guaranteeing the rights and well-being of children is a sine qua non to building more humane, inclusive, and sustainable societies. Thank you.

Thank you, Cuba. I now would like to give the floor to Morocco, followed by Belgium.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I would like to thank Madam Executive Director for her comprehensive presentation and for her overview of UNICEF achievements on the ground in promoting and protecting children's rights, as reflected in the 2024 Annual Report. In light of this notable progress, we commend the inclusive process behind development of the 2026-2029 strategic plan, as well as the integration of findings from evaluation. As we enter the final stretch toward 2030 Agenda deadline, we encourage closer alignment with the SDGs implementation and renewed focus on UNICEF comparative advantages. In this context, Morocco wishes to express its concern over the decline in financial contributions, particularly in core resources, in context of constrained findings.

This trend is especially critical as it coincides with pivotal moments in our collective effort to achieve the SDGs.

As the organization embarks in the UNATP process, this milestone should be leveraged enhance UNICEF's operational effectiveness, reinforce its focuses on core strengths, and reaffirm the central and cross-cutting importance of child rights across all its actions.

Madam the Executive Director, the Kingdom of Morocco and UNICEF maintain exemplary partnership relations at the bilateral, regional, and global levels.

In this regard, the 2024 UNICEF Morocco report highlights the tangible outcomes of this collaboration, particularly progress made in the area of health, nutrition, education, and child protection. As a concrete example, Morocco has made a step forward in enhancing social protection for children thanks to an ambitious reform of 80% of children now benefit from social coverage, including monthly allowance provided to the most vulnerable families as a key lever of strengthening social inclusion. At the national level, Morocco upholds a proactive and committed vision to promote and protect child rights, guided by his— by high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the personal engagement of Her Royal Highness Highness Princess Lalla Mariam, President of the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child. In the same spirit, and at the regional level, Morocco also commends UNICEF's unwavering engagement across the African continent to respond to the multidimensional needs of children, particularly in the context marked by complex humanitarian crises. I thank distinguished representative of Morocco. I now invite distinguished representative of Belgium, followed by Syrian Arab Republic. Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Executive Director, we thank you for your statement and the presentation of the 2024 Annual Report, and we are I especially commend the dedication of all UNICEF staff, particularly those in the field, for their indispensable commitment to delivering for every child. The global situation for children is shocking. In 2024, half of the world's children faced extreme risk due to the effects of climate change. Almost half a billion children endured violent conflicts, suffering the highest number of verified grave violations on record, and 1 billion children continue to live in multidimensional poverty. At a time of escalating needs, the UNAID Initiative and the Humanitarian Reset reforms must show maximum ambition, be transparent and evidence-based, ensure system-wide coherence, and reinforce operational effectiveness through a One UN approach, which must also uphold UNICEF's capacity to deliver on the ground through field and local staff while fulfilling its custodianship of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Mr. President, staff costs account for about 70% of the costs in the UN system. However, staff cuts must not fall disproportionately on P4 positions and lower, as expressed by the Secretary-General. Allow us a few questions we would like to address. Could you elaborate a little bit further on the methodologies used to make the cost-cutting decisions? And how do regional offices and hubs of excellence fit into this exercise? Are any reductions to staff benefits foreseen to avoid letting staff go? Have all promotions been halted? And lastly, is there a plan to address the Is UNICEF considering, like the UN Secretariat, reclassifying staff to lower categories? And are policies around business class travel being reconsidered? In conclusion, we ask for effective communication and consultation throughout the process, both with your staff and with the Executive Board and donors. Madam Executive Director, we reaffirm our unwavering support for UNICEF staff delivering for children during these very turbulent times. I thank you. Thank you, Belgium. I now give the floor to distinguished representative of Syrian Arab Republic, followed by Ireland. Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, ladies and gentlemen, I would like at the outset to express our best wishes for the board of every success in this annual session. My country highly appreciates the efforts made by UNICEF to support children around the world, especially in my country, Syria. I reiterate our commitment to promote the cooperation existing already with UNICEF and to promote it further. Ladies and gentlemen, Syria enters today a new area entitled recovery and rebuilding. Lifting the American and European sanctions, a decision that was issued recently, is a huge step that would allow for more development, revival of development, and increasing the scope of humanitarian response, especially in vital sectors linked greatly to the lives of children. It is time to invest in Syrian children and allow them to obtain quality education, healthcare, care and a safe and dignified life. In this regard, we emphasize the importance of investing in the UNICEF plans in Syria and support programs to rehabilitate schools, allow more access to them, and limiting the number of children dropping from schools, fighting against children labor, and allow for an environment that would enable building peace and coherence in society after years of war. It is important also to allow for programs of vaccination, psychological support, and nutrition, especially for children who have been displaced and subjected to numerous shocks. We should also provide clean water and health services and fight the impact of climate change, especially in agrarian areas. We suffer this year from a serious drought. Achieving these objectives requires national efforts and also support our government increasing the financial support for our requirements in order to respond to the aspirations of Syrians and to provide programs to respond to the rights of children. In conclusion, Mr. President, we value efforts by UNICEF to support children of the world, protecting them from conflict and crises. Yet we emphasize the importance of guaranteeing the rights of Syrian children under Israeli occupation in the Syrian Golan and in the areas invaded by Israelis recently, and also in all areas under occupation, including the Palestinian territory. The protection of children is a collective responsibility, and investing in children today is the true guarantee for a more peaceful and equitable world in the future. Thank you, President. Thank you, Syria. I now give the floor to distinguished representative of Ireland, followed by the US. Thank you, President, and thank you, Madam Executive Director. Ireland welcomes your report and reaffirms our strong support for UNICEF's vital work on behalf of children. President, Ireland commends UNICEF's active engagement in the UN80 Initiative, and the urgent reforms required to ensure that the UN remains the cornerstone of strong and effective multilateralism. In the context of an increasingly challenging resource environment, UNICEF must intensify its efforts to work collaboratively with other UN agencies under the leadership of a strengthened Resident Coordinator system, and maximize a diversity of public and private sector resources. Doing so, it is essential that UNICEF maintain a focus on its core mandate and strengthen its normative work. The pushback on rights, including the rights of children, must be tackled. Addressing the challenges faced by children, adolescents, and youth is a critical precondition for accelerating progress towards the SDGs. UNICEF's new draft strategic plan will be essential in that regard. Ireland is actively engaged in its development, and we welcome its ambition ambition and alignment with the Pact for the Future and the new QCPR. We urge UNICEF to be innovative in addressing known challenges and resolute in its leadership to advance the rights of all children. President, Ireland recognizes the work by UNICEF and its partners in delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance to those most in need. We are especially appalled by the suffering of children in Gaza, Sudan, and other contexts where the right to life and development of huge numbers of children is under threat. Aid blockades are unacceptable, and civilians, including children and humanitarians, must always be protected. Such emergencies place immense strain on UNICEF's ability to deliver on its mandate. In 2023, Ireland entered into a 2-year partnership amounting to almost €16 million in core funding to be used flexibly for children wherever and whenever the need is greatest. Core funding enables UNICEF to achieve the greatest impact for children, and we encourage other partners to expand flexible and unearmarked funding in order to strengthen UNICEF's agility and impact. With partners including UNICEF, we also continue to work for the protection of children and all civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Ireland welcomes UNICEF's continued leadership on gender equality and its focus on rights and needs of adolescent girls. Gender analyses underpinned by disaggregated data must continue to inform programming across all sectors, including education, WASH, and social protection. Finally, robust accountability and governance are essential. Ireland supports UNICEF's efforts to strengthen independent oversight and evaluation functions, and we welcome the ongoing follow-up to the JIU governance review. I thank you, Mr. President. I thank Ireland. I now give the floor to distinguished representative of the United States. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you also to Executive Director Russell. The United States recognizes the vital role UNICEF plays in addressing global humanitarian challenges and its continued efforts advancing the health and well-being of vulnerable children Thank you, Mr. President. This Board session comes at a crucial time for the UN and the UN development system. With UNAID reform discussions underway and the strategic plan draft being reviewed, we encourage UNICEF to focus on effective delivery where it matters most— for the individual child. We ask UNICEF to further strengthen its governance and risk management systems and enhance its evaluation capacity. We also urge greater innovation in financing, including expanded partnerships with the private sector and explorations of alternative funding models to enhance program stability. We encourage UNICEF to focus on its core mandate. We are strongly opposed to the current draft strategic plan due to references to concepts like diversity, equity, and inclusion, gender ideology, and abortion. The United States understands the vital role the family plays in a child's life and development. President Trump believes that parents, both mothers and fathers, know how best to raise their children and create a thriving society. We firmly believe that harmful gender ideology, including comprehensive sexuality education, is detrimental to the well-being and development of children, especially usurping basic parental authority. We believe that parental authority is the key component of health education. Under the Trump administration, it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called transition of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce We call on the United States to enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures. We call on UNICEF to protect the most vulnerable human beings, children, from such horrid procedures. The Trump administration is committed to supporting families, promoting women's health, and protecting children at all stages of life, and reaffirms there is no international right to abortion.

Thank you.

The United States looks forward to working with UNICEF and all member states to ensure the organization's work effectively advances children's well-being. Thank you.

Thank you, US. Now I would like to give the floor to the distinguished representative of EU.

Thank you, Chair. Madam Executive Director, I speak on behalf of the European Union as a donor. In today's exceptionally difficult context for the aid community and the populations we serve, the EU reiterates its strong support to UNICEF and deep appreciation for the unwavering commitment of its staff and partners. With rising conflicts, violence against children, and blatant violations of international humanitarian law, it is vital that UNICEF continues delivering basic services and protecting children's rights, including those on the move. With over $550 million in financial support each year, the US has been and will continue to be a major donor to UNICEF. There is no life-saving without protection. It is at the core of the humanitarian mandate and crucial for sustaining human life and dignity amidst conflicts, fragile settings, and disasters. We urge UNICEF to safeguard and pursue the centrality of protection in all its interventions. Protection is both an operational and moral imperative and must remain a collective priority in ongoing prioritization and rationalization processes. Given the challenging funding environment, we support UNICEF's cost-efficiency measures and engagement in broader UN reforms. We encourage continued efforts to diversify funding and strengthen partnerships with local actors. We welcome the results achieved in 2024 under the strategic plan. In nutrition, we commend UNICEF's collaboration with WFP and support the No Time to Waste initiative. In light of current funding shortfalls, especially pipeline breaks in ready-to-use therapeutic food, regular updates on urgent needs and progress in local therapeutic food production would be appreciated. The EU strongly supports UNICEF's efforts to combat child abuse and strengthen child protection systems, particularly as many related SDG targets remain off track. We welcome UNICEF's whole-of-route approach to protecting children on the move. On gender, we commend progress on the Gender Action Plan. and urge continued efforts to address gaps in education and healthcare for girls. Gender-based violence remains unacceptably high, especially in fragile settings. We support UNICEF's growing reach in this area and its collaboration with UNFPA to end female genital mutilation. We also welcome UNICEF's work in preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment and encourage further strengthening of policies and transparency. Finally, Director Russell, allow me to add one more question to your list. Looking ahead to the next strategic plan and its ambitious objectives for the well-being of children, how does UNICEF plan to further strengthen coordination across its humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding work, including at field level, to ensure coherent and transparent and effective response in complex crises? Thank you.

Thank you, European Union. That was the last speaker on my list, and I would like to go back to the Madam Executive Director, to hear some of her views on some of the questions and comments that we have heard today. Thank you.

Okay, great. Thank you, Mr. President, and I will be brief. I know everyone's probably anxious for lunch, but you did raise a lot of good points and I just would like to take a minute to address them. To the colleague from New Zealand, 2 things. I would say, and this is a much more general comment as well on UNAID, which is that UNICEF is fully engaged. I said this earlier, we have endless meetings. Kitty is— oh, Kitty left. Oh, there's Kitty. Kitty is leading on this, much of this for us, and then Ted, obviously, on the humanitarian side, Hanan on the operational side. So, we are working across the UNAID effort.

Thank you.

But I would say this, you know, a lot of UNAIDS is member states, right? So, at the end of the day, you all are going to make decisions about this. We are trying to inform as best we can. I would ask all of you to really have open conversations with us. We're trying to share as much information as we can, as much as we have, and happy to do that. Again, Kitty is taking the lead on that. We want to know, you know, where we can be helpful to you, where we can provide information. But at the end of the day, a lot of this is going to be decisions that you all make, and we want to make sure that those decisions reflect what we think works from the UNICEF perspective. So, please, you know, please rely on us, call on us, ask us to provide whatever you need, and we will try to do the same. I think it needs to be a conversation so that we can get to the best result, but you can rest assured that UNICEF is committed to this.

Thank you.

this, so very much appreciate all the efforts on your side. I would just say to New Zealand, I did have a fantastic trip to the Pacific, and I got to New Zealand briefly too, but the Pacific is— it's an area of real concern for us because there are big challenges there. Excuse me. Huge opportunities, big challenges, and I think sometimes when you're sitting in New York, it seems really far away, which it is, but I think that the work is important, and I really value the partnership and the continued emphasis on that space. To the colleague from Finland, you know, you mentioned innovation, and that— I neglected that, I think, earlier to really focus on that. It is such a priority for UNICEF. It's how we see ourselves, how we do our work, how we think about ourselves, and I think the hubs there are really valuable, and we're getting a lot of good experience out of them. Omar is leading on this, but I think thinking about how we can aggressively share the experiences with others is important. To Armenia, I did want to make a point, which is that you mentioned the CPD, and it just reminded me of— there are conversations in different parts of the UN system about, do we really need CPDs? And I think the experience that I've had here is that the CPDs are invaluable. They're very specific. They are the result of a lot of negotiation and work between UNICEF and the countries. And I think we want to make sure that those are protected, because it can't just be a general framework about, oh, we're going to do X, Y, and Z. The CPDs are very specific, very important. It's a way for us to agree on what the course of work is and then also to measure it, so it's an important tool for us, so I appreciate the fact that you mentioned that. To El Salvador, and someone else mentioned this as well, the importance of coherence across the UN system. I certainly agree with that. I think it's an important principle, and it's something that, again, and I would sort of come back to this, I think at the end— oh, the EU colleague made a couple of points about Some of the really good joint programming that gets done, and I would say that UNICEF— I could stand to be corrected on this, but I'm pretty sure that we do more joint programming than any other UN agency. We try to make sure that there is coherence, that we are working together. We do it, as you mentioned, with WFP, with UNFPA and FGM, so we look for opportunities to work together, and I think we have some really good experiences to share on that. front. So, thank you for mentioning that. Both colleagues from Yemen and Myanmar, I mean, just highlight the challenges of working in conflict settings, of dealing with the challenges and the children who are living in these conflict settings who are really in desperate straits. And I think, you know, we do our best. It is just very, very difficult. Both Algeria and Slovenia mentioned violence against children, which is a really important issue and something that, you know, we see it presents itself in many different ways, in many different contexts, all of them terrible, but it is a real commitment for us to try to address it and to try to help governments do a better job addressing it. To the UK, you mentioned many different issues, but one Oh, I appreciate, actually, this point about the RC system, that we really have to focus on the impact of it, and I could not agree more, and I think we have to think about any discussions about the RC system in that context. Also, very much appreciate the points on localization. That is a huge priority for UNICEF. I imagine Ted will talk about that in the context of the humanitarian work in the next day or so, but we see our job as trying to work as closely as possible with local partners on the ground to build their capacity, build the capacity of countries, so that we can sort of pull ourselves ultimately out of these situations. To Spain, also had a fantastic trip there. Thank you very much. I appreciate the comments you made about the National Committee there. That is a fantastic National Committee. We've got many, many great National Committees, but they do play a really important role, not just in mobilizing resources, which is critical. And as, you know, you heard earlier, we depend on those resources, but also in the advocacy they do with governments. And obviously, in Spain, that works really well, and we're delighted to see that. Cuba, I wanted to focus on one point you made, which is the importance of immunization. And that is, you know, that's something that we are— we know that immunization of children saves lives, and we are trying to do as much of it as we possibly can. I mentioned it earlier in the context of polio, but it's a much broader— as you said, in the MMR case, I mean, we've just got to make sure that we get as many children immunized as possible. We're focused on no-dose children, children who've never been immunized in any way. They're very hard to get to, but we're determined to try to do that. Morocco mentioned the point about social protection, which again is so important, and I just want to commend the work that you're doing there on that. I think it's critical. Belgium, I'm going to come back and let Hanan respond to some of it, some of the very specific points that you raised about how we're proceeding with our efforts on reform. But generally, I just wanted to thank you for the points you made about climate and conflict and poverty. They're just the challenges that we face everywhere, and trying to figure out how to support children in the context of those is difficult. To the Syrian Arab Republic, I think that you highlighted the importance of, as you're thinking about rebuilding, the importance of investing in children. We obviously agree with that. I traveled there, I saw some of the work that was getting done, some of the work that UNICEF was doing on healthcare. I think that there are— the needs are enormous, and we will do everything we can to be as helpful as possible. Ireland, thank you so much for 2 things. One, for mentioning the rights of children, which does govern everything we do and informs everything we do, and I think we can never lose sight of the importance of that. And also, thank you for the core resources, not just for giving us core resources, but also for reminding everyone else how important those are. The US, I would like to thank you for stressing the private sector, because that is a really important space for us. We look to do more. It's not always easy to work with the private sector, but we've found that if we can kind of set the direction, a lot of times the private sector will come in and try to be as helpful as they can. We see that a lot in Generation Unlimited. The private sector is incredibly influential and helpful. And I think I did the EU already, so Hanan, over to you. I'll turn it over to you on Belgium. Oh, I'm sorry.

Before I give the floor to Hanan, Please, I would like to release our interpreters and sincerely thank them for their service today. Please, Hanan, you have— and colleagues, please be informed that since we release our interpreters, this meeting will be conducted in English only. Hanan, you have the floor, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr.

President, and thank you to the distinguished delegate of Belgium and to the delegations that mentioned the Future Focus Initiative that the organization is undergoing. And as our Executive Director mentioned, the most important element of that is to preserve our country programs, and therefore our headquarters and regional offices are the more impacted.

Yes.

On the specific questions, in terms of the methodology for the cost cutting, we looked at several elements. We analyzed the cost from a staffing perspective, a location perspective, the cost of doing business, overhead costs, operational costs, and we also tried to project in relation to income that we foresee. And on that basis, we came back with recommendations for our various offices and divisions within which they have to submit structures for their offices.

I will hand over to my colleague, Omar to speak about the Centers of Excellence.

But let me first come back on the questions on the reduction in staff benefits and halting promotions. As per the staff rules and regulations, we are unable to do that.

That is simply not possible legally.

This is something that we looked into. In fact, we just discussed it yesterday afternoon with the executive director as well, but that is not something that we can do as per the staff rules and regulations.

Thank you.

In the restructuring that we're going through, in terms of reclassification of positions to lower levels, we undertook a functional review to see what positions are required and at what levels. Based on the function, the level is then determined by our classification team that sits in our Division of People and Culture so that the function is commensurate—

Sorry.

that the post is commensurate to the function that needs to be done, and therefore the pay, and so on and so forth. We are very conscious of the fact that we need to make sure that we're not cutting too much in certain levels or certain functions, because we also have to keep in mind career management and talent management. So as we go through the exercise, we will be analyzing the abolishments and and the establishments of positions that are recommended to make sure that we also preserve a line for career progression and that we're also responsive to the programmatic needs. We have also cut down on travel costs, we've cut down on operational costs, premises costs, to make sure that we can preserve. We're trying to see what more we can do within the High-Level Committee on Management with the rest of the UN system. We are trying to find ways to save more on travel through common contracting procedures, for example, with airlines and booking agencies and so on.

That is where most of the savings can come in.

So these are things that we are looking into. I will stop there. And Mr. President, with your permission, Mr. Omar Abdi on the Centers of Excellence.

Thank you.

As we progress in designing these centres of excellence, we will be briefing the Board, as the Bureau has suggested this morning. But just overall, you all know one of the major contributions of UNICEF to the countries that we collaborate with is the provision of technical assistance. The technical assistance from our programme countries is getting complex, understandably. The needs are different from the traditional ones that we have provided in the past. We've talked about digital learning, we've talked about innovation, we're talking about innovative financing, sector financing and planning, and so on. Currently, our technical resources are scattered in 7 regional offices and headquarters, in 8 places. So we are bringing together all of these technical resources into 4 centres that are close to the countries where we provide support to, and to provide special assistance, special technical assistance to the countries on demand, and at the same time identify best practices that countries can share. We've talked— we've mentioned— Brazil mentioned South-South and triangular collaboration to promote those types of collaboration. We want to be closer to the countries with the technical assistance that they provide. So we're in the design phase now, but as we progress we will be be briefing you. We will, of course, also collaborate with other UN agencies because there are certain expertise that we don't need to have it in-house that we can draw upon from our partners, whether it's UNDP and UNEP on climate, whether it's financing with the World Bank and so on. Thanks, Mr. President.

I thank the Secretariat for their remarks. Before we adjourn for lunch, I believe the Secretary of the Executive Board, Mr. Andrés Franco, would like to make some announcement.

Yes, thank you, Mr. President. So just following this session, we will have the lunchtime informal consultations on the draft decisions being considered for adoption, and that's going to be held in this room from now pretty much until 2:45. Then in the afternoon, after the session, when we finish at 5, we will reconvene for the informal consultations from 5 to 6. Also bear in mind, I'll remind you in the afternoon that the President and the Bureau have offered a reception on the occasion of the annual session, so we have sent the information to you, but just so that you have it in your calendars. And finally, the code bar for the survey is always available there, so we will write to you, and at the end we will have the code bar on the screen so we can always hear back from members and observers on the conduction of the Board. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the Secretary for his announcement, and dear colleagues, once again, Again, thank you for your active participation, and the meeting is adjourned.