Thank you, President.
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Norway.
We thank UNICEF for its update and commend the organisation for its continued leadership in delivering for children in some of the most complex and protracted crises. At a time of growing needs—where one in five children lives in or has fled from conflict—alongside shrinking humanitarian space and constrained resources, UNICEF’s role remains indispensable.
The Nordic countries welcome UNICEF’s proactive engagement in prioritisation and efficiency efforts under the Secretary‑General’s UN80 reform and the OCHA‑led humanitarian reset. This is particularly important at country level, where reconfigured UN Country Teams, empowered RC/HCs and simplified coordination depend on full cooperation across UN entities.
UNICEF’s commitment to localisation is essential and reflects a welcome shift towards responses that are locally led, planned and prioritised by communities themselves. Support should strengthen local resilience and systems, rather than sustain parallel humanitarian structures.
We support efforts to advance a more efficient, leaner and coherent humanitarian system, including the joint supply chain initiative, and welcome the emphasis on integrated responses. At the same time, consistent with UNICEF’s policy on the centrality of protection, we emphasise the need to maintain sufficient and qualified expertise to ensure effective child protection.
We would like to raise four points.
First, we are concerned that the share of humanitarian funding channelled to local organisations has declined, also for women‑led organisations and organisations of and for persons with disabilities. Stronger local partnerships are essential for effectiveness and accountability, while gender equality and inclusion remain core Nordic priorities. We encourage UNICEF to step up efforts to support these local partnerships. Could UNICEF clarify the reasons for the decline and outline measures to reverse it?
Second, we note with concern the reduction in cash‑based assistance. Cash transfers are a key pillar of the humanitarian reset: they are cost‑effective, promote dignity and choice, and support local economies, while also improving access to services such as education and child protection. It is therefore worrying that households reached with UNICEF‑supported cash assistance have declined sharply—from 3.6 million in 2024 to 900,000 in 2025. We would appreciate clarification on the factors behind this reduction.
Third, we encourage a stronger emphasis on education in emergencies. While we welcome recognition of education as life‑saving, reduced support risks long‑term consequences for children’s well‑being and protection. Rising attacks on schools increase the urgency. How will UNICEF ensure education is systematically prioritised in humanitarian appeals, and how can Member States best support this?
Finally, we welcome efforts to strengthen efficiency, coordination and humanitarian diplomacy, including through the supply chain initiative. How do these efforts improve access, protection outcomes and respect for international humanitarian law?
In closing, the Nordics reiterate our strong support for UNICEF’s humanitarian mandate and our commitment to ensuring that children affected by crises receive timely, principled and effective assistance.
Thank you.