Thank you Mr President,

Mme Executive Director, members of the Executive Board, esteemed UNICEF staff,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the five bureau members Bolivia, Eritrea, Estonia, Tajikistan and my own country, Germany.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Madame ED, the UNICEF management and the staff for the exceptional work accomplished. The year 2024 was yet another challenging year in which the situation for children around the world has become increasingly dire. More and more young lives are being affected by crises and conflicts, stripped of safety, education and hope.

At the same time, the global funding landscape has become more uncertain and unpredictable, threatening the ability to respond with the speed and scale required. We thank UNICEF for its steadfast commitment to upholding its mandate to protect and promote the rights of every child, everywhere. UNICEF has remained on the ground, helping children and advocating for their needs to ensure they receive the essential support for their well-being. For this, we are deeply grateful.

Now, more than ever, the Convention on the Rights of the Child must continue to guide our every action, especially in the face of growing adversity. The principles of child rights, gender equality, and inclusion must be non-negotiable pillars of the new Strategic Plan. The plan must not only preserve these values, but also sharpen focus, helping UNICEF prioritize where and how it can deliver the greatest impact. It must position UNICEF to deliver results even amid severe resource constraints.

UNICEF's unique normative mandate sets it apart within the UN system, underscoring its pivotal role in advocating for and protecting the rights of every child worldwide.

We also note that 2024 marks the beginning of a new QCPR cycle. We thank UNICEF for its strong engagement and leadership in advancing QCPR implementation. However, much remains to be done to ensure that the UN System truly delivers as one at the country level.
We are all aware: the United Nations must undergo reform to remain relevant and work efficiently. We are committed to a rules-based multilateral system that defends human rights and continues to strive towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We encourage UNICEF to actively engage in and help shape this reform process.

The situation UNICEF finds itself in is more than concerning. The task of continuing its valuable work for children despite significant budget cuts is difficult and hard choices need to be made. We are well aware of the uncertainties that UNICEF staff face. At the same time, we acknowledge and appreciate UNICEF’s proactive efforts to identify solutions and pursue efficiency gains, efforts that demonstrate the organization’s responsiveness and capacity to adapt, such as through the Headquarters Efficiency Initiative. As bureau members, we would like to assure you of our support in this process. Together, we hope to shape a UNICEF that is fit for future, ensuring that it can continue to fulfill its mandate for children effectively in the years and decades to come.

Lastly, the bureau also wants to thank Andres Franco and the entire OSEB team for their excellent support and collaboration. It is a pleasure to work with you.