(CNS) — “Earlier we were dealing with malnutrition in a sense of inadequate food. Now we are dealing with growing rates of obesity, which is a new challenge that we’re addressing.” Amakobe Sande, UNICEF Representative to China, noted that since the establishment of the partnership between UNICEF and China in 1979, some “interesting” challenges have emerged.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. From health to education, mental wellbeing to social protection, as the UN agency dedicated to child development, UNICEF has collaborated with China on innovative pilot projects across multiple sectors to improve the lives of Chinese children.
In Sande’s view, pilot projects hold importance for the cooperation between UNICEF and China: once progress is achieved, UNICEF can draw on these results to inform the development of national policies and legislation. “What is exciting and what is a really good return on investment for us is that China then uses its own resources to scale beyond the pilot and to scale up nationwide.”
In 2001, China’s first pilot project to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV was launched with UNICEF support. By 2015, efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B had expanded nationwide. By 2024, China’s mother-to-child HIV transmission rate fell to 1.2%, down from 34.8% before intervention, marking a historic low.
“In that time we’ve been associated with China, we have seen dramatic improvements in child survival, in children’s health and development, in education access, in expanding social protection services for children, and in addressing emergencies from a child's lens.”
Early as 2019, UNICEF released the report UNICEF in China and Beyond, giving an overview of UNICEF’s projects in China and, through these experiences, providing a global perspective on the major development areas concerning children’s welfare.
Sande remarked that China has made tremendous progress over a very short period of time, and these experiences are what other developing countries are eager to learn about. “We take pride in the fact that our work with China is with the children in China, and also involves sharing lessons and best practices in all of these areas with countries in the developing South.”
Sande emphasized that such sharing is a two-way learning process, whereby China can also draw upon the experiences of other nations through these exchanges. “We ensure that the technical expertise that’s being exchanged is sound. We also ensure that it’s in line with international laws and standards.”
Sande also stated that South-South cooperation is an important instrument for advancing development. It’s not only vis-a-vis government partnerships, but also linked to the private sector. Sande expressed particular gratitude for generous support from Chinese people to UNICEF, describing it as “something special about our partnership with China”. “Through their support, we’ve been able to receive funds for our work with children in China and around the world,” said Sande.
“I must again convey my sincere thanks to the people of China because through their resources, children in Myanmar, particularly following the earthquake, were able to benefit from essential supplies that be needed in that horrific and traumatic situation.”
Looking ahead, Sande said that UNICEF will deepen cooperation with China in areas such as promoting children’s mental health, ensuring online safety, and addressing the impacts of climate change on children. In her view, this is crucial for China and the world to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With less than five years to fulfill the promise of SDGs, Sande described the United Nations’ 80th anniversary as “a sobering moment”. She noted that people need to reflect on the fact that multilateralism is in challenge and funding is declining, and people need to address the growing crisis around the world that are caused by climate or by wars. She called upon nations to work together so as to create a secure world for children.
“And so the message is really to remain supportive of children in the next phase, to stand in solidarity with children and young people and to really commit as member states of the United Nations, to have our world where children can meet their full potential, ” said Sande.
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