Iceland injects US$5.5 M to boost UNICEF programmes for vulnerable children and adolescent mothers in Uganda

24 December 2025, 11:25 am

By Edwin Okurmu Kisa

The Government of Iceland has provided an additional 5.5 million US dollars to UNICEF to strengthen Uganda’s efforts to deliver essential services to vulnerable children, adolescents and families. The funding will support government led programmes in social protection, education, early childhood development and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene systems across the country.

The new support is being implemented through two complementary agreements signed by the Embassy of Iceland and UNICEF Uganda. The first is a multi year grant of 4 million US dollars to support Phase Two of the programme Empowering Adolescent Mothers and Their Children A Dual Generation Approach, running from January 2026 to December 2029. The programme targets adolescent mothers aged 12 to 19 and their children aged zero to five years within refugee and host communities in Kikuube and Kyegegwa districts. It seeks to address challenges such as teenage pregnancy, school dropout and child vulnerability through integrated social protection and education interventions.

Phase Two of the programme will reach about 3,000 adolescent mothers and their children with services that include education pathways, early childhood development, mentorship, disability inclusive support and strengthened referral systems. The initiative supports adolescent mothers to return to school or gain employable skills while ensuring that their children access quality early learning, care and protection. The programme also contributes to Uganda’s national response to teenage pregnancy by generating evidence to inform policy, financing and system reforms aligned with the National Development Plan Four.

The second agreement worth 1.5 million US dollars will support the WASH in institutions exit programme from January 2026 to June 2027. The programme will focus on consolidating gains in schools and health facilities in five refugee hosting districts in West Nile namely Adjumani, Arua, Madi Okollo, Terego and Yumbe. Nearly 140,000 children, women and community members are expected to benefit through improved water and sanitation infrastructure and strengthened service delivery systems.

The WASH exit programme will prioritize rehabilitation and expansion of infrastructure, improved operation and maintenance, strengthened institutional and community capacity and promotion of market based sanitation solutions. By embedding governance, financing and service provision within district and community structures, the initiative aims to ensure a sustainable transition to government owned systems in line with national development priorities and global water and sanitation goals.

Speaking at the signing, Iceland’s Head of Mission in Uganda Hildigunnur Engilbertsdottir said UNICEF remains one of Iceland’s key partners in international development cooperation. She noted that the exit phase of the WASH programme in West Nile is particularly important for women and children, and expressed optimism that continued support to the social protection programme in Kikuube and Kyegegwa will help adolescent mothers and their children build better futures.

UNICEF Representative in Uganda Dr Robin Nandy described Iceland as a valued strategic partner in advancing government led programmes for children and adolescents. He said the new funding will expand education and skills opportunities for adolescent mothers while ensuring that gains in schools and health facilities are sustained through nationally owned WASH systems.

UNICEF will continue working with the Government of Uganda, sector ministries, district local governments and community partners to promote sustainability, local ownership and alignment with national priorities, while advocating for the scale up of effective interventions that improve the lives of children and their families.