Never give up. For every child.

In over 150 countries and territories, UNICEF works to ensure that children have enough to eat and clean drinking water, receive medical care, can go to school and are protected from violence and exploitation. Our presence enables rapid aid in the event of an emergency. 

We work tirelessly to save lives and alleviate the plight of children, including those caught in the Middle East conflict or suffering from famine or natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods. 

UNICEF is also committed to helping children in forgotten conflicts and emergencies that are not, or no longer, in the media or the public eye. 

Our work focuses on survival, protection and education. In emergencies, this includes the following:

• UNICEF provides therapeutic food and medicine and ensures that important vaccination campaigns are not interrupted.
• UNICEF provides clean drinking water, sets up sanitation facilities and distributes packages of hygiene items.
• UNICEF cares for children who have lost loved ones, creates child-friendly zones and provides psychological support to traumatized children.
• UNICEF sets up temporary learning centers and kindergartens and supports the rapid reconstruction of schools.

The many current crises around the world should not obscure the fact that the situation of children worldwide has improved significantly in recent decades. UNICEF has contributed significantly to this.

• Whereas in 1990, well over 30,000 children under the age of five died every day, today the figure is less than 15,000, despite population growth. 
• The number of new polio infections has fallen by 99% since 1988 thanks to vaccinations.  
• Worldwide, 85% of HIV-positive young women now receive antiretroviral drugs to prevent transmission of the virus to their child. In 2010, that figure was only 45%. 
• As a result, the number of HIV-positive children under the age of five has been reduced from 310,000 in 2010 to 150,000 in 2019. That is a dramatic 52% decrease. 

By donating to UNICEF, you can help save lives and give children the chance to live the lives they choose. Whether you provide UNICEF with one-time support, or sponsor a project over the long term, as a member or by financing specific relief supplies, your donation will be put to use where it is needed.

Every donation means hope. Accordingly, UNICEF handles donations carefully and sets the highest standards for efficiency and transparency in its organization. As a national committee, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein used more than 92% of donations for UNICEF’s global program work or for operations in Switzerland and Liechtenstein in 2022. Less than 5% was used for fundraising, and less than 3% was spent on administration.