The Business Performance of The United Nations Childrens Fund - Case Study Example

The United Nations Children’s Fund College UNICEF is one of the programs of the United Nations that has its headquarters based in in New York City in the United States of America (USA). This is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to both mothers and children especially in developing countries (Idris & Bartolo, 2000). Members of the UN development group, are its executive committee. It was developed by the United Nations general assembly in the year 1946 with the aim of providing emergency health care and food to mothers and their children in countries going through the devastations of war. A famous polish bacteriologist by the name Rajchman Ludwik is regarded as one of the founding fathers of UNICEF and was its chairman for four years i.e. from 1946 to 1950 (Ervik, Kildal & Nilssen, 2009). It is in the year 1953, that UNICEF became a permanent and integral part of the United Nations marked by the shortening of its name from the long United Nations International Children’s Emergency funds to the United Nations Children’s Fund, however, it continued to known by the popular acronym which is entirely based on this previous title. This non-profit organization heavily relies on contributions from both independent donors and contributions from various governments across the globe. With these contributions, the non-profit organization sets out to promote and improve the rights as well as the wellbeing of every child in almost every activity it undertakes (Idris & Bartolo, 2000). Together with the various partners the organization works with, it is proud of having active activities in more than 190 countries and this translates to never ending effort by its team members across the globe to apply practical action as well as focusing special effort in trying to make sure that the most vulnerable children are reached and empowered all for the benefit of the children of the world. The organization employs a life cycle based approach which makes sure that there is recognition of a child’s early development, puberty, and adolescence (Ervik, Kildal & Nilssen, 2009). The organization puts most of its effort on the highly disadvantaged children and this includes those with disabilities, those living in fragile contexts, those affected by environmental degradation, and rapid urbanization. The organization was created with a specific purpose in mind, and this constitutes its vision i.e. to work with others in the attempt to overcome the obstacles of violence, poverty, discrimination, and disease in a child’s path to maturity (Idris & Bartolo, 2000). The organization advocates and champions for measures that will ensure that a child gets the best care in life, this is because proper care given to a child ensures that the child gets a purposeful and sound foundation for his or her future. UNICEF promotes affirmative action, affirmative action is a principle employed by various bodies across the globe that stamps the empowerment of members of all genders; this is evidenced by its promotion of girls’ education. The organization ensures that the girl child achieves primary education which is the lowest form of education required to benefit a child in his or her future proceedings. The organization works on a line of thought when championing for girls’ education and this is the fact that educated girls mature up to become better citizens, better thinkers, as well as better parents to the children they shall have. The organization has also commissioned itself to making sure that all children across the globe to get immunized from common childhood diseases as well as being properly nourished. It works as a perfect rule by the organization that no child in the world should die from a disease that can get prevented. It is by this rule that the organization has stemmed up its fight to reduce HIV/AIDS infection among the young i.e. children, the organization believes that children in better care are capable of taking care of each other as well as protecting each other. In addition, the organization also gives aid to children as well as families affected with HIV/AIDS so that they may be able to live their lives with dignity. To achieve its goal, the organization employs the help of almost everyone in its quest to creating conducive and protective environment for children. With this, the organization is always present to provide relieve to children in bondage and tense situations which it terms as emergencies all because another of its fundamental rules which states that a child should not at all be exposed to any kind of exploitation, abuse, and violence (Ervik, Kildal & Nilssen, 2009).The organization recognizes and upholds the convention on the rights of the child. In this it works hard to make sure that it promotes equality where discrimination exists mostly against the girl child and women in particular. It works tirelessly to make sure that the millennium development goals are reached as well as achieving the progress standards stipulated in the United Nations Charter. The organizations strives to its level best to ensure that there is peace and stability, by making everyone accountable to the plans as well as promises made with the intention of improving children’s lives.It is because of this effort that UNICEF is a proud member of the Global movement for Children, which is a coalition of many non-governmental organizations that have solely dedicated all their efforts to improving the lives of children. It is through this impressive movement in coalition with other events such as the United Nations special session for Children that the organization empowers children by asking them to speak out and actively participate in the making of decisions particularly concerned with their lives. UNICEF has partnered with a lot of organizations across the globe for the benefit and welfare of children from different regions of the world. A partnership between UNICEF and Assam Branch of the Indian Tea Association greatly helped improve the lives of a lot of children living in more than 120 tea growing garden in the country. This was done by bringing together tea managers as well as workers in raising the awareness as well as trying to ask for government resources as well as funds so as to meet nutritional, health, water, and sanitation needs of children of children living in this area. UNICEF and another non-profit organization by the name the UN Global Compact and save the Children joint efforts in an attempt to develop and sponsor 10 children’s rights by setting up business principles that would better guide companies on what they are supposed to involved in their daily transactions to make sure that there is support as well as respect for children in work places, the normal market place as well as the community as a whole. The H4+ partnership and every woman every child is another partnership UNICEF has participated in. Launched in the year 2010 by the UN secretary general, every woman every child is a universal movement commissioned with the task to attempt andreduce the various health challenges experienced by both women and children. Governments, civil societies, multilaterals, and private sector organizations all played a major role in ensuring that there is enforcing as well as strengthening of health policies as well as health systems. UNICEF has also been engaged with the GAVE alliance, this is a global organization of public and private health partnerships whose aim is to save children’s lives as well as protect peoples health by making life saving services more accessible in most of the poorest countries in the world. This included contributions from various governments across the world, vaccine manufacturing companies or organizations, public and private research institutes, the civil society and multilateral organizations. UNICEF also partnered with the Global fund to fight AIDS, the Global fund to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis joint with UNICEF for a health partnership as well as financing that aims to boost a majority of countries as well as other partners to be able to able to provide commodities that are essential for the prevention of tuberculosis, malaria, and AIDS. The organization has also been involved in the global partnership for education. This movement provides developing countries that are partnered to it with technical support as well as necessary resources needed to develop and implement educational plans that ensure and insist that all children receive primary education (Ervik, Kildal & Nilssen, 2009).Partners in this movement included developing countries, donor governments, multilateral as well as bilateral organization, international as well as local agencies, global and local civil societies, and developed countries. UNICEF has also been involved in the global eradication of polio, this initiative is a public-private partnership led mostly by a majority of national governmentsbut spearheaded by 4 organizations. These include WHO, US Centers for Disease, Control, and Prevention, UNICEF, and Rotary International. The organization has also been involved in collaborations with the London School of Hygiene as well as tropical medicine in a project that was tasked to reduce the spread of AIDS among adolescents in a majority of developing countries. Working together with the governments of these countries and civil partners and has managed to improve the lives of over 5000 adolescents across the globe. The total income for the organization by the end of the year 2008 was around 3.5 billion US dollars. It is estimated that around two thirds of this amount was contributed by governments whereas about 6million organizations and other individual donors contributed the rest of the funds through national committees (Ervik, Kildal & Nilssen, 2009). The organization uses this money in various activities across the globe. It is estimated that over 90% of its revenues are used in financing various programs across the globe. These programs are intended or aimed at developing communities as well as provide services that promotes the health of children. It is because of its efforts that the organization managed to receive the 1965 Nobel Prizeand the 2006 Prince of Austria Award of Concord. Most of the organizations work is usually in the field and not in the offices;the organization has staff in over 190 countries in which it has active activities in. The organization has more than 200 country offices that ensure that the organizations mission through and organizes programs with the countries governments. However, the overall management of the organization takes place in its headquarters in the United States of America (USA),its supply division is based on Copenhagen and is the major site for the distribution of essentialnecessities such as medicines and vaccines. It has a 36 member executive task force whose sole responsibility is to make sure that it establishes policies and does financial planning, and approves oversees administrative duties.This board is made up of various government representatives elected by the UN economic and social council. The organization also has a lot of national committees in over 35 countries. They are tasked to establish an independent no-profit non-governmental organizations, and raises funds for most of the private sector. The organization receives its funds mainly from independent voluntary contributors, and these committees collectively make approximately one third of the organizations funds. In the USA as well as Canada and other developed countries the organization is known for a famous way of looking and sourcing for funds. Commonly referred to as Trick a Treat for UNICEF, the organization engages children in collecting money that will constitute part of the larger funding that shall be used to finance various projects across the glove intended to better the lives of children in need A majority of people in developing countries first hear of UNICEF through the activities of its 36 national committees, these non-governmental organizations are the primary fundraising tools for the organization (Suen, 2002). They do theses by doing a whole range of activities including selling UNICEF card as well as other products whose sale would earn revenue for the organization. The committees are also responsible in creating both public and private partnerships, providing various supports to children as well as championing for children’s rights. One of the oldest committee’s is the US fund for UNICEFF founded in the year 1947. In the year 2005, 18 yr. old pop singer by the name Hayley became the UNICEF ambassador in a very important effort to enlist as well as encourage the youth of the world is in support of the organization (Ervik, Kildal & Nilssen, 2009). With being the organizations ambassador, he was tasked with the duty of making several trips across the globe on behalf of the organization in the attempt to publicize the organizations plight as well as raising funds and any kind of support for the organization’s mission (Thorpe & Thorpe, 2012). Additionally, in the year 2007, Grand Maria was appointed the children’s advocate by the organization. Her role was to visit several countries and fulfill the advocacy work for the organization. She visited several countries which include Burundi of Africa, China, as well as Brazil. In the year 2009, a British retailer referred to as Tesco, used the famous advertising used by the organization (change for good), this was considered very beneficial to the organization because it was actually the first time a private organization had used its campaign. The above scenarios show how the organization has struggled to reach the wider market, in making sure it publicizes itsactivities. One of the methods we see being used by the organization is using a fellow youth. Who is likely to get identified by the youth and in this way they would get to learn more about the organization, what it does, and how they can assist in it achieving its intended goals. Additionally, the organization has employed various mechanisms in championing for the rights and privileges of children, this can be seen by the above example given above where Maria was used as an advocate and with this task she toured various countries advocating for the rights and privileges of the children (Suen, 2002). It can be noted that the organization not only utilizes the 36 committees set to generate its funding but also engages the public, one of the best example is the children’s Trick a Treat for UNICEF, where the children, primarily in developed countries move from house to house sourcing for funding that is meant to help fellow children in some other countries that are less privileged than them (Suen, 2002). The process of engaging the youth as well as children makes them become aware of the challenges children like them are facing in some other parts of the world. Additionally they get to participate in the decision making process of their lives as they know what exactly to do in order to make sure that youth like them do not sleep hungry, do not die of disease that can be prevented or are not oppressed and exploited either in community and at places of work. To further reach and show the world of its activities, UNICEF has sponsored various activities across the globe, a very good example is the agreement signed by the organization and the Spanish league AFC Barcelona, in this agreement, the Club would donate over 1.5 million euros to the organization annually which the organization would use t finance some of its projects across the globe (Thorpe & Thorpe, 2012). In return, the football club would have the organizations logo in each of the player’sjersey; this was the first time in the world’s history that a sports club sponsored an organization or company instead of it being the other way around. Additionally the organization got into another partnership with the national tent pegging team of Canadaand with this the teams name changed to UNICE tent peg team whose sole duty was to help the organization to raise funds that would be used to fight and eradicate HIV/AIDS in children in various developing countries. Further in the year 2007, Hammargy a Swedish team joint its fore runners in generating funds for the organization and in return wore the UNICEF name and logo on their sportswear (Oberleitner, 2007).Similarly an Australian team by the name Sydney FC agreed to partner with UNICEF in an attempt to raise funds that would help needy children in the Asia pacific region. In Botswana Africa, the organization has funded a variety of projects, this include the establishment of an advanced state of the art HIV/AIDS education center to cater for the children’s need in HIV/AIDS education to be used by a non-profit non-governmental organization referred to Teach AIDS (Thorpe & Thorpe, 2012). Additionally, as an achievement, the organization has established a partnership with the Scottish club referred to as the Rangers FC, and with this formed a foundation that pledged to raise over 300,000 euros by the end of the year 2011. In the year 2010, as part of its attempt to further generate funds the organization got into partnership with Phi Lota Alpha, this made the company one of the first Greek identified companies to work with UNICEF. By the end of the year 2011, the company had managed to raise 20,000 euros for a tap project in Africa and the Trick a Treat for UNICEF campaign. Later in the year 2013, the organizations also got into partnership with the Greek association football Olympiacos FC, and gave the football club the privilege of having the organizations logo on their sport gear. The above information shows various attempts by the organization to try and use sport as one of the ways it could publicize its activities as well as generate funds that it could use to finance projects in target countries.One of the major ways through which the organization has made money this is way is by partnering with FC Barcelona, a partnership that helped the organization receive 1.5 million euros annually from the club which it definitely used to finance its various projects. Additionally, its partnership with other sporting teams across the globe has made the organization managed to generate more funds that have enabled it to finance other activities in developing countries. A good example is the partnership between the organization and football club Sydney FC based in Australia whose funds when generated were used to help needy children in the Asian pacific area. The organization is greatly known for its great attempt in using these sporting teams in trying to create awareness about the fat truth. The fat truth is a movement initiated by the organization that is meant to spread awareness to the whole world about the dangers associated with early childhood obesity (In Healy & In Link, 2012). This project was to take place in phases and the first phase was to be done in the United Arab Emirates. The three month awareness campaign was implemented by the organization along withother government as well as non-governmental partners in an attempt to sensitize parents, adolescent teens as well as children on the risks of childhood obesity and the goodness or benefit of employing a good balanced diet for the proper growth and development of a child. In the campaign they emphasized on good and proper dieting, regular exercising where the kids were encouraged to emulate the various sport figures of whom the teams the belonged to were in partnership with the organization, a very good example is Lionel Messi. With this campaign, there has been development of various policies aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle among children both in school and at their homes. Additionally, the organization has partnered with various companies in the world with the aim of improving the brain development of children (Idris & Bartolo, 2000). A good example is its partnership with a Thai real estate company by the name SansiriPLC; their partnership financed the iodization of salt for the first time in Thailand which was a very effective attempt to fight iodine deficiency disorders in children that is the number one cause of brain damage in children. In the year 2006, the organization has spearheaded a campaign to help fight neonatal tetanus infections. To spearhead this campaign, the organization partnered with pampers. The two companies achieved to successfully push their campaign through a series of related campaigns of marketing under the famous slogan (I pack=1 vaccine), this has greatly helped the organization to greatly raise funds that have been directed to the giving of vaccines to mothers in developing countries in an attempt to fight neonatal tetanus infections especially in the developing countries. There has been a campaign in Cartagena Columbia by the name (I am the wall), which has helped construct a protective alliance of very committed and promising partners who include tourism businesses, a movement that has greatly assisted in fighting commercial sexual exploitationof children by mature individuals of society especiallyin tourism hotels across the globe. This campaign was carried out by the partnership between UNICEF and the Cartagena Tourism Cooperation of Columbia (In Healy & In Link, 2012). Below are some of the most important and fundamental goals by UNICEF Knowledge exchange and generation Strengthening and securing the organizations centers as well as financial bases. The generation and communication of influential as well as strategically important information on any particular issue affecting children as well as the championing of their rights and privileges Create beneficial partnerships with various research institutions as well as policy making institutions in developing proper policies to protect children in both developed and developing countries Communicating research findings to any relevant body that might come in handy in advocating, fighting for the rights or empowering children. There have been a lot of critics with the way the organization puts particular focus and attention only to specific polices. There was great debate in the year 2004 as to the approach the organization is using. Critics argue that right based approach the organization is using puts little or no emphasis on a child’s survival or on the reduction of a child’s mortality. This has been proven by vivid and harsh examples of some of its policies, for example, the policy that insists that orphans stay in orphanages in their mother countries instead of getting the privilege to get adopted by foreign nationals. Psychologists across the globe have insisted that the organizations approach to this issue is wrong, simply because the organizations values cultural heritage over love and family which are very crucial for the wellbeing of the child as for the child’s survival.There have been big claims, that the organization is giving large chunks of money to countries especially in Africa in an attempt to sway them to close their international adoption programs (In Healy & In Link, 2012). It is because of such poor policies that child mortality as well as poor conditions for a child’s growth have not improved in some countries, UNICEF should take harsh critics positively and try and reevaluate some of its policies. It’s better to give a child a family that would love and care for him or her, than live the child in the very same country where they shall keep experiencing problems Conclusion The United Nations Children’s Fund also is one of the programs of the United Nations that has its headquarters based in in New York City in the United States of America. As stated above it is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian assistance to both mothers and children in developing countries. UNICEF heavily relies on contributions from both independent donors and contributions from various governments. With these contributions, UNICEF sets out to promote for the rights and improve the lives as well as the wellbeing of every child in all its project dimensions. UNICEF was created with a specific purpose in mind and with a vision i.e. to work with others in the attempt to overcome the obstacles of violence, poverty, discrimination, and disease in a child’s path to maturity. IT advocates and champions for measures that will ensure that a child gets the best care in life, this is because proper care given to a child ensures that the child gets a purposeful and sound foundation for his or her future. This is evident in its use of the advocate Maria who went to China, Botswana, and Brazil in a bid to advocate for the rights of children. As an organization, it’s is clear set that it has helped a lot of children achieve their goals by creating conducive environment for them, however, a few corrections on its policies need to be done. References: Top of Form Ervik, R., Kildal, N., & Nilssen, E. (2009). The role of international organizations in social policy: Idea, actors and impact. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Bottom of Form Top of Form Idris, K., & Bartolo, M. (2000). A better United Nations for the new millennium: The United Nations system ; how it is now and how it should be in the future. The Hague [u.a.: Kluwer Law Internat. Bottom of Form Top of Form In Healy, L. M., & In Link, R. J. (2012). Handbook of international social work: Human rights, development, and the global profession. Top of Form Oberleitner, G. (2007). Global human rights institutions: Between remedy and ritual. Cambridge, UK: Polity. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Suen, A. (2002). UNICEF: United Nations Childrens Fund. New York: PowerKids Press. Top of Form Thorpe, E., & Thorpe, S. (2012). The Pearson General Knowledge Manual. New Delhi: Pearson. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More