India and UNICEF have worked hand in hand, advancing the health, safety and rights of millions of children across India
For 75 years, India and UNICEF have worked together, advancing the rights and well-being of millions of children. The long-standing trusted and multifaceted partnership is deeply rooted in shared values and a commitment to children’s wellbeing in India and around the world, encompassing child health, safety, protection, equality, rights and wellbeing.
An important, but lesser-known aspect of India’s partnership with UNICEF is India’s role as a key source of procurement of lifesaving supplies around the world. From 2016 to 2023, India supplied to UNICEF, commodities worth $3 billion, including vaccines, and health supplies essential for
UNICEF’s humanitarian and development response to children’s health and nutrition needs, globally. In 2023 alone, India ranked as the third-largest source of essential supplies for UNICEF, with procurements totalling $483 million. Of this expenditure, approximately 74 per cent was allocated to vaccines, underscoring India’s integral role in supporting global immunisation efforts. India’s collaboration with UNICEF in advancing global health was best exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, resilience, and innovation, India, as the world’s largest vaccine producer, played a key role in providing COVID-19 vaccines globally. During 2021 and 2022 in partnership with UNICEF, India supplied 292 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX initiative to 47 countries, all of which were delivered to low and middle-income countries.