UNICEF, FFC sign child welfare pact to boost youth development
UNICEF and the FFC sign an agreement aimed at improving the well-being of vulnerable children.
Black News 
UNICEF South Africa and the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at prioritising and funding programmes that support vulnerable children across the country.
The agreement formalises a strategic partnership between the two organisations, combining UNICEF’s expertise in child rights and development with the FFC’s constitutional mandate to provide evidence-based fiscal and policy recommendations to government.
The partnership will focus on key priority areas including early childhood development and foundational learning, youth unemployment, decentralised budgeting and service delivery, and the prevention of violence against children.
Officials say the agreement marks an important step in strengthening developmental support for children and ensuring that public resources are directed towards programmes that improve outcomes for young people.
UNICEF South Africa Representative Johannes Wedenig says the agreement seeks to align the work of both institutions.
Wedenig explains, “What it seeks to achieve is to align our two organizations. Um the Financial and Fiscal Commission obviously with its role in terms of um traditional use of finances in terms of really advancing equity and impact on the public resources that are being used in general, and UNICEF obviously our key interest is also that public resources are used in the best interest of the child and basically have the most possible impact and advance really the agenda for children and also obviously all the indicators for children.”
New, innovative UNICEF agreement looks to boost child wellbeing & development
FFC Chairperson Patience Nombeko Mbava says the partnership is aimed at ensuring public resources are used effectively to improve the lives of children.
Mbava says, “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that public resources are allocated and used effectively to improve outcomes for children. Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen the evidence base that informs policy decisions impacting the most vulnerable in our society.”
Wedenig also highlights the value of the collaboration.
“UNICEF is pleased to partner with the Financial and Fiscal Commission to advance children’s rights in South Africa. By combining our joint expertise, we can accelerate progress towards investing efficiently, effectively, and equitably in children, so that every child in this country reaches their full potential.”
Under the agreement, the two organisations will work together to prioritise public finance for children, strengthen decentralised planning and budgeting, conduct joint research on child-focused policies and programmes, convene policy dialogues and seminars, and share data, knowledge and technical expertise.
The organisations say the partnership reflects a shared commitment to promoting good governance and ensuring that children remain at the centre of fiscal planning and service delivery.
