The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2014-2017: Realizing the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged The Strategic Plan is designed to enable the organization to contribute to the realization of the rights of all children, especially the most disadvantaged. This impact will be reflected in progress towards global development and human rights commitments, based on internationally agreed indicators summarized in the annex to the Strategic Plan. This is a primary measure of how the world is progressively meeting its collective obligations to children. UNICEF will support both individual countries and the global community as a whole to measure overall trends in advances for children. Outcomes, which represent institutional and behavioural changes consistent with the Results-Based Management Handbook of the UNDG, are results to which UNICEF contributes in collaboration with national partners, civil society and others. The seven outcomes of the Strategic Plan, 2014-2017, encompass major aspects of child well-being. Together, they converge to support the realization of the rights of all children, especially the most disadvantaged and excluded, as well as addressing needs of their communities and families. [Editor's Note: The outcomes are documented as goals in this StratML rendition.]United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF_eb15e8b8-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4ChildrenThe equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children's rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life -- in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions -- her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens -- addressing inequity -- not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. Disadvantaged ChildrenUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of WomenWorld Food ProgrammeUN Country TeamsAt country level, the agencies of the United Nations development system collaborate through United Nations country teams, humanitarian country teams and clusters, Delivering as One and other mechanisms for collective action.GovernmentsCivil SocietyPrivate SectorNGOsFamiliesCommunitiesSocial MediaAll children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential ..._eb15eb10-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4To promote the rights of every child, everywhere ..._eb15ec28-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4HealthHealthy, safe and well-educated children are essential for a sustainable planet, and vice versa. Today's children and those of forthcoming generations must be nurtured to contribute to sustainable development even as they are its primary beneficiaries. At the same time, communities and families must be supported to increase their resilience so that achievements for girls and boys can be sustained even when families are confronted with volatility and shocks, whether caused by economic shift, climate change, natural disaster, disease or violent conflict. Humanitarian action will remain crucial given the anticipated increase in the scale, severity and frequency of humanitarian crises.SafetyEducationHumanitarianismThe review emphasized the importance of UNICEF involvement in humanitarian action and the need to anticipate a possible increase in the scale, severity and frequency of humanitarian crises.PreparednessThere is a need for dedicated systems and capacities for effective preparedness and response, more explicit integration of humanitarian and development programming to promote resilience, and increased attention to human rights protection in emergencies.ResponseResilienceHuman RightsRisk MitigationSystematic attention to risk analysis and mitigation is particularly important to effectively addressing the specific needs of children living in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. MainstreamingThe benefit and relevance of 'mainstreaming' approaches were confirmed in the review, in order to systematically integrate humanitarian preparedness and response and gender equality into programming.Gender EqualityEnvironmental StewardshipThe end-of-cycle review called for increased attention to mainstreaming sensitivity to climate change and environmental degradation, to promoting resilience and to addressing the rights of children with disabilities and indigenous children. The review also noted the need to strengthen dedicated capacity on these issues. ActionAnother important conclusion of the review was that UNICEF adds value to development efforts by linking normative and operational work. Therefore, UNICEF will continue to help countries to translate policy into practice and vice versa.DataThis will build on a foundation of data and evidence, as well as on the observations of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and other United Nations human rights mechanisms. NourishmentAn additional lesson learned from the review is the critical importance of a child's early years to later stages of growth and development. New scientific research on brain development has brought fresh evidence of the critical importance of early childhood development for future learning achievements, health outcomes and productivity, and the cumulative nature of deficits. There is strong evidence that children who are well nourished and receive adequate care and psychosocial support during the formative years from birth to age 3 are more likely to be healthy and productive adults. Informed Decision-MakingThe demographic transition being experienced by a majority of countries reinforces the importance of working with adolescent girls and boys. Support is required for policies and programmes that enable adolescents to make informed decisions, communicate effectively and develop coping and self-management skills that help them lead healthy and productive lives while building healthy, safe and peaceful communities. CommuncationSelf-ManagementEquityThe Strategic Plan contributes to realization of the rights of all children by emphasizing equity. Focusing on the most disadvantaged and excluded children, families and communities accelerates progress towards fulfilment of the rights of all children and reduces disparities. CoherenceUNICEF contributes to and fosters coherence and synergies among all funds, programmes and specialized agencies in the United Nations development system, to better support countries.SynergyCollaborationAs part of this effort, the Strategic Plan has been developed in close collaboration with the other funds, programmes and agencies under the remit of the QCPR, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and World Food Programme.Strategic AlignmentThese agencies are all aligning their strategic plans to operationalize the QCPR during the period 2014 to 2017.CooperationThey are also acting in accordance with the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) programming principles, based on the human rights-based approach to cooperation, gender equality, environmental sustainability, results-based management and capacity development.Environmental SustainabilityResults-Based ManagementCapacity DevelopmentRolesThe aim is to avoid overlaps and define clear roles and responsibilities based on comparative advantage.ResponsibilitiesComparative AdvantageShared ResultsThe agencies also commit to contributing to shared results to the maximum extent possible in thematic areas in which multiple agencies are active. MonitoringUNICEF and the other funds and programmes have taken steps towards converging strategic planning through actions that include: (a) A greater focus on strengthening real-time monitoring systems of government and partners, as outlined in the Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES) approach, with particular focus on barriers and bottlenecks faced by the most disadvantaged children and families;Performance Indicators (b) The use of performance indicators of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS to help monitor progress in addressing HIV and AIDS and to maximize the coherence, coordination and impact of the broader United Nations response to HIV and AIDS; (c) The use of performance indicators aligned with the approach agreed through the ongoing work of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on a common Humanitarian Response Monitoring Framework, as part of the newly developed Humanitarian Programme Cycle;Value for Money (d) Harmonizing application of the principle of value for money, based on the concepts of economy, efficiency and effectiveness;EconomyEfficiencyEffectivenessRelevance (e) Selecting a set of common indicators for QCPR monitoring, as outlined in the annex of the Strategic Plan, based on their relevance, feasibility and cost of collecting data, and balance across different issues addressed. FeasibilityCostBalanceAccountabilityIn consultation with Member States, other parts of the United Nations family and other partners, UNICEF will continue to strengthen performance, accountability and coherence as called for in the QCPR.FeedbackThe organization will collectively identify effective common operating platforms for achieving results and accelerate collaborative work to support countries in strengthening the frequent monitoring of outputs, with feedback loops to adjust strategies as appropriate.ReportingUNICEF will aim to achieve greater coherence in reporting results across agencies. PartnershipThe UNICEF Strategic Plan will also leverage a growing diversity of partnerships with government, civil society, the private sector and others. These include public-private partnerships, South-South and triangular cooperation, and engagement with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Important new partnership opportunities are emerging, including new models of South-North learning, in which countries adopt, adapt and help to refine effective innovations from the South. This will include a stronger engagement with the private sector in development in terms of corporate social responsibility and innovations. An equally important opportunity is the increasingly direct engagement with children, families, communities and social movements, facilitated by social media. DiversityHealthApply maternal, newborn and child health interventions from pregnancy to adolescence and promotion of healthy behaviours._eb15ecf0-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4aWorld Health OrganizationImproved and equitable use of high-impact maternal, newborn and child health interventions from pregnancy to adolescence and promotion of healthy behaviours. Working with the World Health Organization and others, UNICEF will support all countries to end preventable child deaths, with a view to reducing under-five mortality to 20 per 1,000 live births or lower in all countries by 2035. At the same time, participation in the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 will drive the eradication of all polio viruses, and support for introduction of the human papilloma virus vaccination for girls will leverage the comparative advantage of UNICEF to contribute to adolescent health, complementing the efforts of UNFPA. Key approaches to the health work of UNICEF will include providing equitable delivery of interventions; increasing access to lifesaving and preventive interventions, including in humanitarian action; improving caregiver knowledge of high-impact interventions; strengthening health systems, including the contributing, as appropriate, to universal health coverage; improving the quality and use of data for making decisions; and ensuring better integration of health services with other services and interventions being provided to mothers, newborns and children ...Child DeathsEnd preventable child deaths._eb15edf4-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.1World Health OrganizationPolioEradicate polio viruses._eb15eeee-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.2PapillomaVaccinate girls for the papilloma virus._eb15efe8-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.3GirlsEquityProviding equitable delivery of interventions._eb15f0ec-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.4Lifesaving & PreventionIncrease access to lifesaving and preventive interventions, including in humanitarian action._eb15f1e6-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.5Caregiver KnowledgeImprove caregiver knowledge of high-impact interventions._eb15f2e0-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.6CaregiversHealth SystemsStrengthen health systems, including the contributing, as appropriate, to universal health coverage._eb15f3f8-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.7Decision-Making DataImprove the quality and use of data for making decisions._eb15f4f2-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.8Service IntegrationEnsure better integration of health services with other services and interventions being provided to mothers, newborns and children._eb15f5ec-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4a.9MothersNewbornsChildrenHIV & AIDSApply proven HIV prevention and treatment interventions._eb15f6fa-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4bUnited Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDSImproved and equitable use of proven HIV prevention and treatment interventions by children, pregnant women and adolescents. In keeping with the division of labour within the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS, UNICEF will play a leading role in HIV programming across both decades of childhood including in the ongoing rollout of the Global Plan Towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections among Children by 2015 and Keeping their Mothers Alive. New approaches are required for adolescent girls and boys, to more rapidly reduce HIV transmissions and because adolescents in need are disproportionately excluded from HIV treatment. UNICEF will therefore increase its emphasis on promoting comprehensive sexuality education and on protecting the rights of excluded adolescent populations who are highly affected by HIV. In programming across both decades of a child's life, UNICEF will work with partners across sectors, aiming for results that contribute to healthy behaviours and address root causes of vulnerability ...Sexuality EducationPromote comprehensive sexuality education._eb15f7f4-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4b.1RightsProtect the rights of excluded adolescent populations who are highly affected by HIV._eb15f8f8-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4b.2Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Apply good sanitation and hygiene practices._eb15fa42-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4cWorld BankImproved and equitable use of safe drinking water, sanitation and healthy environments, and improved hygiene practices. UNICEF will emphasize capacity development to increase sustainable access to safe drinking water; eliminate open defecation and improve access to adequate sanitation; increase hand-washing and good hygiene practices; provide safe drinking water, sanitation and hand-washing facilities in schools and health centres (with attention to the needs of girls); and increase preparedness to respond to humanitarian situations. Leveraging the presence of UNICEF before, during and after emergencies, support will be provided to increase the number of children and families with access to safe drinking water during humanitarian crises. UNICEF will continue its leading role in the Sanitation and Water for All partnership with the World Bank and others ...Drinking WaterIncrease sustainable access to safe drinking water._eb15fb50-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4c.1SanitationEliminate open defecation and improve access to adequate sanitation._eb15fc5e-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4c.2HygieneIncrease hand-washing and good hygiene practices._eb15fd8a-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4c.3Schools & Health CentresProvide safe drinking water, sanitation and hand-washing facilities in schools and health centres (with attention to the needs of girls)._eb160532-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4c.4SchoolsHealth CentresGirlsPreparednessIncrease preparedness to respond to humanitarian situations._eb160533-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4c.5NutritionApply nutritional support and improved nutrition and care practices._eb160534-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4dImproved and equitable use of nutritional support and improved nutrition and care practices. Leveraging the strengths of UNICEF within the broader United Nations system and the Scaling Up Nutrition movement, UNICEF will continue to support delivery of vitamin and micronutrient supplementation and iodized salt; promotion of exclusive breastfeeding; and community-based prevention and management of malnutrition. Disadvantaged and excluded families will be supported to apply good nutrition and care practices and seek comprehensive nutrition services. UNICEF will increase nutrition work focused on early childhood, given the crucial impact of nutrition on brain development and function during the first 1,000 days. Emphasis will also continue on completing the unfinished business of the scale-up and integration of management of severe acute malnutrition. In addition, support will be provided for increasing country capacity to ensure protection of the nutritional status of children in humanitarian situations ...Dietary SupplementsDeliver of vitamin and micronutrient supplementation and iodized salt._eb160535-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4d.1BreastfeedingPromote breastfeeding._eb16067c-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4d.2MalnutritionPromote community-based prevention and management of malnutrition. _eb1607da-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4d.3Disadvantaged FamiliesDisadvantaged and excluded families will be supported to apply good nutrition and care practices and seek comprehensive nutrition services.Excluded FamiliesEarly ChildhoodIncrease nutrition work focused on early childhood._eb160910-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4d.4Young ChildrenAcute MalnutritionScale-up and integrate management of severe acute malnutrition._eb160a32-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4d.5Country CapacityIncrease country capacity to ensure protection of the nutritional status of children in humanitarian situations._eb160b72-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4d.6EducationImprove learning outcomes and make education equitable and inclusive._eb160c94-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4eImproved learning outcomes and equitable and inclusive education. UNICEF will continue its focus on access and learning in primary education. It will support strengthening of systems to provide multiple and alternative pathways for disadvantaged and excluded children, including children with disabilities and girls, with an emphasis on measurable learning outcomes. UNICEF will also increase attention to early childhood development and renew its involvement in secondary education. UNICEF will seek to strengthen understanding and best practices in education and peacebuilding, and to build on this knowledge to support countries in assessing and managing risks. Working with the Global Partnership for Education and others, UNICEF will support innovations with the potential to rapidly improve education outcomes for marginalized children, such as multilingual education, right-age enrolment, child-centred pedagogy and technology. Support will also be provided to generate knowledge and data on education disparities and to reinforce government and community capacity to monitor and improve access to and quality of education for all ...Primary EducationFocus on access and learning in primary education._eb160db6-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4e.1Educational PathwaysStrengthen systems to provide multiple and alternative pathways for disadvantaged and excluded children, including children with disabilities and girls, with an emphasis on measurable learning outcomes._eb160fe6-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4e.2Disadvantaged ChildrenExcluded ChildrenChildren with DisabilitiesGirlsEarly Childhood & Secondary EducationAttend to early childhood development and renew involvement in secondary education._eb161112-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4e.3Young ChildrenHigh School StudentsEducation, Peacebuilding & RisksStrengthen understanding and best practices in education and peacebuilding, and build on this knowledge to support countries in assessing and managing risks._eb16123e-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4e.4InnovationSupport innovations with the potential to rapidly improve education outcomes for marginalized children, such as multilingual education, right-age enrolment, child-centred pedagogy and technology._eb161392-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4e.5Global Partnership for EducationDisparities, Monitoring & ImprovementGenerate knowledge and data on education disparities and reinforce government and community capacity to monitor and improve access to and quality of education for all._eb1614c8-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4e.6Child ProtectionPrevent and respond to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect of children._eb1615f4-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4fChildrenImproved and equitable prevention of and response to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect of children. UNICEF programming will emphasize strengthening of child protection systems and support for social change for improved protection of children. Programming approaches will increasingly take into account the interplay between child protection systems and social norms. Efforts will also focus on preventing violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect, including through strengthening the protective capacities of families and communities. Recognizing that child protection issues span the care, justice and civil registration domains, UNICEF will build on and emphasize intersectoral approaches. Greater emphasis will be placed on the role of allied systems, such as health, social protection and education, in preventing and responding to child protection concerns. UNICEF will maintain its leadership role in child protection in emergencies and in the children and armed conflict agenda. Emergency preparedness and response efforts will contribute to the strengthening of child protection systems, and vice versa. UNICEF will also invest in institutional competence and research on child protection, given the complexity of its issues and its centrality to the UNICEF mandate ...Systems & SocietyStrengthen child protection systems and support social change for improved protection of children._eb161752-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4f.1Families & CommunitiesStrengthen the protective capacities of families and communities to prevent violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect._eb161888-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4f.2FamiliesCommunitiesIntersectoral ApproachesBuild on and emphasize intersectoral approaches spanning span the care, justice and civil registration domains._eb1619c8-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4f.3Greater emphasis will be placed on the role of allied systems, such as health, social protection and education, in preventing and responding to child protection concerns.Emergencies & Armed ConflictsMaintain our leadership role in child protection in emergencies and in the children and armed conflict agenda._eb161b30-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4f.4Emergency preparedness and response efforts will contribute to the strengthening of child protection systems, and vice versa.Competence & ResearchInvest in institutional competence and research on child protection._eb161c70-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4f.5Social InclusionImprove the policy environment and systems for disadvantaged and excluded children._eb161dba-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4gDisadvantaged ChildrenExcluded ChildrenImproved policy environment and systems for disadvantaged and excluded children, guided by improved knowledge and data. Too often, social exclusion begins at birth, and multidimensional poverty is transmitted from one generation to the next. UNICEF will support countries to understand the patterns and drivers of exclusion and disadvantage, including the impact of gender inequality. Using those data, UNICEF will assist countries to design and scale up social protection systems, often building on the normative framework of the ‘social protection floor’ of the International Labour Organization and working with the World Bank and other partners. UNICEF will support countries to design legislation and policies that promote social inclusion, complemented by systems for social budgeting, child-sensitive financial management, and related national and subnational monitoring systems. These policies and systems will combat multidimensional child poverty, address the drivers of vulnerability, build resilience to external shocks and improve humanitarian response. Collaborating with UNDP, UNICEF will support interventions on rule of law and access to justice that address discrimination and promote accountability. In addition to working with governments as duty-bearers, UNICEF will strengthen families in their child-care role, particularly for the youngest children, and support the poorest and most marginalized families to demand and access basic services. As a contribution to social inclusion as well as to other outcomes, the meaningful participation of children, including adolescents, in processes that relate to them will be emphasized, including through strengthening their own decision-making and communication capacities.Exclusion & DisadvantageUnderstand the patterns and drivers of exclusion and disadvantage, including the impact of gender inequality._eb161f5e-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4g.1Social ProtectionDesign and scale up social protection systems._eb1620a8-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4g.2International Labour OrganizationWorld BankDiscrimination & AccountabilitySupport interventions on rule of law and access to justice that address discrimination and promote accountability._eb1621fc-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4g.3Child CareStrengthen families in their child-care role._eb162378-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4g.4FamiliesDecision-Making & CommunicationStrengthen their decision-making and communication capacities of children and adolescents._eb1624cc-1564-11e7-818a-299b647280a4g.5ChildrenAdolescents2014-01-012017-12-312017-03-30https://www.unicef.org/strategicplan/files/2013-21-UNICEF_Strategic_Plan-ODS-English.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net