What we do
UNICEF is the global leader promoting and protecting children’s rights in 190 countries, including Guinea-Bissau.
UNICEF’s work in Guinea-Bissau
UNICEF programme focuses on service delivery, given the fragile government services which need constant capacity strengthening. Because of the high child mortality rate, UNICEF has a strong focus on child survival due to the high child mortality rate supporting, in particular, a nationwide network of community health workers. UNICEF is also leading the education partners’ group and thrives to ensure that every child can access comprehensive education services
At the policy level, UNICEF supports the development of policies as well as legal frameworks that will guide government’s interventions in social sectors.
In addition to core resources, UNICEF leverages resources from a variety of partners, including the European Union and the UN Peacebuilding Fund. Resource mobilization remains challenging as the country’s donors have withdrawn their support. UNICEF has also engaged in the dialogue around social protection and has supported in 2017 an analysis of child multidimensional poverty (MODA).
Scaling up child survival interventions at the community level to accelerate the reduction of maternal and infant mortality by providing basic and quality care to the population is an organizational priority for UNICEF.
Scaling up community-based interventions to reduce infant and maternal mortality has been one of the greatest achievements resulting from UNICEF support to the ministry of health throughout the eleven health regions.
By the end 2017, almost a third of rural population was living in ODF verified communities. However, additional efforts are needed to be on the track of the 2030 sanitation goals.
The education sector faces many challenges in terms of access to education for all children in the country and its quality. The net enrolment rates from yearbook 2014/2015 show that 34 per cent of children aged 6-11 years are not enrolled.
Despite continued political and institutional instability, UNICEF provides the necessary assistance to the government for the elaboration of the child protection policy and child protection code.
Given the current media landscape, community radios, with awareness programs produced and aired in local languages, play a very important role within rural communities.