UNICEF

A. The main facts about the activities of the company.

UNICEF, The United Nations Children’s Fund, is a programme that is nowadays run under the United Nations (UN). In December 2016, UNICEF celebrated its 70th anniversary. Before becoming a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953, UNICEF was originally created with the cause to provide emergency food and health care for children in need in those countries wrecked by the Second World War. Since its creation, UNICEF has retained its mission to “advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential”.

Today, UNICEF is working in 190 countries together with a broad range of partners, ranging from multilateral organizations such as the European Union to civil society organizations and national committees and governments. Most of the work that UNICEF carries out is on the field. Each region in which UNICEF works has its unique programme which is planned together with the host government. The plans for the programmes are developed every five years and focuses on how the rights of children and women can be realized in practice. The activities and programmes are approved by the Executive Board which also make field visits to the UNICEF locations to analyse the needs and ensure work is carried out correctly.

The programmes run by UNICEF can be divided into the following categories: child protection and inclusion, child survival, education, emergency help, gender, innovation for children, supply and logistics and research & analysis. These programmes are financed by contributions from governments and private donors. The government’s contribution to UNICEFs operations make up about two-thirds of the available resources whereas private groups and individuals make up the rest by donations through national committees. According to estimations, 92 per cent of the revenues (over 5 billion dollars) is distributed to the programme that the organization carries out.

B. The Ethical challenges this company is addressing.

The ethical challenges that UNICEF are trying to address in its operations mainly concern that every child should be given the same opportunities no matter their background.

Child protection and social inclusion

• Adolescent development
• Child protection
• Children with disabilities
• Fighting against violence
• Environment and climate change
• Social inclusion

Child survival

• Early childhood development
• Health care
• HIV/AIDS
• Immunization
• Nutrition
• Water, sanitation, hygiene

Education

• Girls’ education
• Innovation for education
• Learning for peace
• Out-of-school initiatives

Emergencies and humanitarian action

• UNICEF in emergencies

Gender equality

• Investing in girls and women

C. What makes you believe this company is really ethical and why you trust it?

Since we believe that everyone has the right to a dignified and complete life, we think that Unicef contributes to this purpose; they combat the inordinate number of young child and pregnancy related deaths.

A large proportion of these deaths occur due to preventable diseases and illnesses, malnutrition, poor sanitation and a severe lack of medical facilities so they provide vaccinations, antibiotics, nutritional supplements as well as the implementation of safer and more hygienic practices. They try to reach out to the most vulnerable people, in this case children, who don’t have the same chances as an adult to change their lives, they did not even asked to be born. Moreover, another fact to be noted as ethical is that executive board makes fields visits to different locations.

D.The possible challenges facing the company in the future and how you think this company may improve.

Although this company continues to have the financial support from different organizations, we believe that funding in the long run will be a problem that they will have to address. As Kristen Taylor has stated the public sector donations have been decreasing over the years. Due to this future concern we believe that UNICEF will have to refocus their resources to targeting private organizations. By heavily targeting private donors they will be able to maintain a well funded and developing company.

UNICEF can also make improvements in the way they chose their area of work because as of now they only take on an assignment if it is approved by the UN. This often times limits their resources to certain countries and by expanding their services and accepting free collaborations it will allow them to increase their ethical quality.