On Monday the 23rd, we participated in Proven Solutions for Children: Accelerating Progress towards the SDGs and Beyond, a high-level event hosted by UNICEF in New York as part of the UN General Assembly week.
At the heart of the event was the launch of the Proven Solutions for Children policy brief, a joint initiative between UNICEF and the Learning for Well-being Institute. This policy brief presents a carefully analyzed set of cost-effective public policy solutions aimed at optimizing child outcomes. While the full report will be released later this year, the discussions focused on policies that can immediately improve children’s well-being on a global level.
The policy brief identifies several proven interventions that impact multiple aspects of children’s lives. These include child benefits, which reduce poverty while fostering long-term economic growth for families and expanding immunization coverage to 90% by 2030, which could save millions of lives. Early childhood development, particularly in nutrition and care during the first 1,000 days, is also highlighted as essential for laying a strong foundation for a child’s future. Additionally, the brief calls for greater investment in quality secondary education for girls, crucial for both gender equity and economic progress. These policies are not only transformative for children but also have a ripple effect that benefits communities, societies, and economies as a whole.
Throughout the event, prominent advocates reinforced the urgency of governmental action. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro emphasized the life-changing potential of child benefits, stating, “The largest drop in child poverty was driven by the Child Tax Credit, lifting 5.6 million out of poverty. We must reinstate it and ensure no child grows up in poverty or hunger in America.” Sidsel Marie Kristensen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation, highlighted the critical nature of early interventions, noting, “80% of brain development happens early. We need to work with governments, the private sector, and UNICEF to raise awareness and prioritize children’s holistic well-being.”
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai passionately advocated for the right to education, especially for girls, declaring, “I advocate for the right to education, including higher education as part of integral learning. In some countries, girls are still denied this basic right.” Tamilore Omojola, the Malala Fund Girls’ Vision Co-Lead, pointed at girl education as the foundation of achieving all the SDGs and stated, “We still live in a world where girls are denied education because of their gender. The solutions must come from girls, as they see themselves as changemakers.”
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell opened the event by addressing the pressing need to accelerate action towards the SDGs despite recent setbacks. “We must do better for children, and we can—we’ve done it before,” she said. She stressed the importance of scaling up investments in immunization, social protection, and education to build resilient systems that safeguard the futures of all children.
As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches, the message from this event was clear: although the challenges are significant, the solutions are proven and achievable. Governments must now prioritize children in their policies and scale these interventions to reach every child. The Learning for Well-being Institute remains committed to supporting UNICEF and other global partners in advancing this crucial agenda.
Read more about these proven solutions in the policy brief here: UNICEF Proven Solutions for Children.
