Dubai's MBRGI, CIFF and Unicef join hands to save 3m children from malnutrition

The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), in partnership with MBRGI and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), on Thursday announced a major new $300 million partnership to help save 3 million children from malnutrition.

As part of this collaboration, and within the broader Edge of Life Campaign and an alliance that will bring together additional partners to eventually reach 5 million children, this catalytic donation of $100 million will allow Unicef to mobilise an additional $200 million to scale up its life-saving nutrition programmes globally.

Through its technical expertise and strong on-the-ground presence, UNICEF will expand access to prevention, early detection, and treatment services for the most vulnerable children.

The campaign was launched in the Holy Month of Ramadan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, with the aim of raising hundreds of millions of dollars to be invested in fighting childhood hunger around the world.

The growing momentum behind this campaign, including CIFF's collaboration and efforts to scale lifesaving nutrition for the most vulnerable children, sends a clear signal that the world is capable of standing together for children as needs rise - and now is the time for others to join.

Unicef's contribution is pivotal to achieving these objectives. In its role as a strategic partner, UNICEF will utilise its Child Nutrition Fund to implement sustainable programmes targeting childhood hunger and poor nutrition in the world's most vulnerable communities.

These efforts directly align with the mission of the Edge of Life campaign to reach and assist five million children from hunger, as a global humanitarian initiative focused on those facing acute hunger and malnutrition. Statistics show that five children under the age of five around the world lose their lives to malnutrition and hunger every minute.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) emphasised that the Edge of Life campaign to rescue five million children from hunger embodies the vision of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for fostering a culture of philanthropy. It also reflects the UAE's unwavering commitment to fighting childhood hunger and ensuring access to essential nutrition to the world's most vulnerable populations.

Al Gergawi stated that CIFF and UNICEF's contribution alongside this latest Ramadan campaign, and the collaboration with MBRGI in its implementation, reflect the profound partnership between the organisations. It underscores our shared vision for strategically combating childhood hunger and highlights the urgent need to invest in sustainable projects that address the risks of acute malnutrition worldwide."

WAM