Technology has infiltrated most aspects of our lives —the way we interact, learn, shop and conduct business. For many, this means more access to opportunities and information. Technology is also rapidly transforming the employment landscape, bringing with it a gig economy and a demand for entrepreneurship. It is projected that 65 per… Read more →←
Topic: Experts speak
One of the first things I learnt about Malawi, right after arriving in this beautiful country, was that it is prone to floods and drought. Floods in Malawi are a reoccurring natural disaster, made worse by climate change. They leave a lot of people without homes, affect critical infrastructure — roads, schools and health facilities —… Read more →←
What a three days they were! Our hope for the conference on Universal Child Grants (UCGs) was to bring together perspectives on social protection and universality. To move towards achieving universal coverage for children frank conversations about the evidence and options are needed. I find myself thinking about the conference in two… Read more →←
I’ve been re-reading the World Development Report (WDR) ahead of our conference on Universal Child Grants (where we’re delighted to have the World Bank participating). The chapter on the Human Capital Index (HCI) was especially interesting, not least because of so much talk around the Index here at UNICEF and outside. More so… Read more →←
Fortunately, you can read this. Millions cannot. Undeniably, the numbers are devastating: 262 million children and youth are out of school; 617 million are unable to read and do basic mathematics even when in school; and 750 million adults lack foundational literacy skills, resulting in lower earning power and difficulty in negotiating… Read more →←
Do you remember playing? Do you remember playing with a favorite toy? Do you remember playing with friends? Early childhood education in its best form gives opportunities for children to learn through playing. It brings their ideas to life, builds relationships and broadens their world. It sets in motion a positive cycle of learning… Read more →←
E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i Rangiātea. — Māori proverb, meaning: I will never be lost, for I am a seed sown in Rangiātea Rangiātea is the origin of Māori migration, representing the wider world, and marking the start and the end of the journey of potential. The concept of he kakano portrays the child as a seed ready… Read more →←
The future depends on what we do in the present. Mahatma Gandhi’s words floated through my mind as my flight landed in Beijing. I had a full schedule ahead of me, focused on initiatives that could make the current global sanitation crisis a thing of the past. There’s a toilet revolution in China and it’s not difficult to understand… Read more →←
Part 1 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand has been in the global spotlight recently, and for good reason. Not only is she the world’s youngest female head of government, but she has also asserted that one of her top priorities is “to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child.” That is a statement to be… Read more →←
Today marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Despite the remarkable progress made in past decades, 736 million people still live in extreme poverty. Most worryingly children are disproportionately affected: while they make around a third of the global population, they comprise half of those struggling to survive on… Read more →←