Date: December 8, 2017

Calling your attention to a new partnership agreement between UNICEF and ACT Alliance

United by our common desire and belief that all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, UNICEF and ACT Alliance are delighted to announce the formation of an institutional partnership to work more closely together with faith leaders, actors and faith communities in our joint goal of ensuring that children’s rights are achieved globally. ACT Alliance is the world’s largest Christian protestant and orthodox alliance engaged in humanitarian, sustainable development and advocacy work (www.actalliance.org). UNICEF works to improve the lives of children and their families, fighting for the rights of every child seeking safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflicts, and equality (www.unicef.org).

The common purpose of this partnership is to collaborate in agreed joint projects at global, regional and national levels, to mobilise stronger, more effective, evidence-based and rights-based engagement, advocacy and action between both organisations and the communities they seek to assist.

As UNICEF Country Representatives and ACT Alliance National Forums you can help build this collaboration through practical initiatives at country and community levels. We ask that you seek to establish contact between the two organisations in countries, and to explore where and how you can work together on programmes and advocacy that defend children’s rights.

For ACT Alliance, the rights of children need to be upheld in all aspects of our work —humanitarian, development and advocacy. A partnership with UNICEF will make it possible for ACT members to be an even stronger voice at the national, regional and global levels, championing the rights of children in all we do.

UNICEF firmly upholds that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is about the future of both people and planet. Both are under severe threat. In some cases that is because of actions committed and in others because of what has been omitted. Faith-based organizations and actors are at the centre of humanity’s actions and reactions and together with country leadership, the ACT partnership can bring change on the ground for children and their families.

Yours sincerely, Ms. Karin Hulsof Regional Director, East Asia and Pacific Region UNICEF Email: khulshof@unicef.org

Mr. Anoop Sukumaran, Regional Representative, Asia and the Pacific ACT Alliance Email: Anoop.sukumaran@actalliance.org