The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on governments to take greater responsibility for funding child welfare programmes, emphasising the unpredictability of foreign aid and the need for sustainable domestic investment.
UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr Gilles Fagninou, made this call in an interview on Monday in Abuja.
He explained that while international partners and donors provide vital support, their contributions are often influenced by domestic constraints and economic fluctuations in their home countries.
“Foreign aid, by nature, is uncertain. Donors give when they have the resources and when their domestic situations allow,” Fagninou said.
He acknowledged that recent cuts in U.S. grants would have real consequences, including reduced support for malnourished children and fewer children benefiting from UNICEF’s programmes.
However, he assured that the agency was actively working with various partners to bridge the gap.
“There are still countries providing support and we are also strengthening fundraising efforts with the private sector, which has already yielded positive results,” he added.
Fagninou emphasised the importance of host governments increasing their domestic budget allocations for children’s welfare, highlighting this as a key objective of his visit to Nigeria.
“I see this as an opportunity for governments to prioritise what matters most for their children using domestic resources.
“Foreign aid should complement existing efforts, not serve as the primary foundation.
“So I’m very hopeful that this could also be an opportunity for governments to prioritise with domestic funding what is important for their children,” he said.
Reflecting on his personal experiences, Fagninou highlighted the deep-rooted culture of community solidarity in Africa, stressing that collective responsibility could ensure children’s rights were upheld.
“I grew up in a community where half of my childhood was spent with friends, uncles, and aunts, not just my biological parents.
“That sense of solidarity ensured I could go to school, eat well, and grow up healthy,” he shared.
He encouraged African nations to harness this communal spirit and strengthen internal support systems instead of relying solely on foreign assistance.
“Our children belong to us. We must act now to secure their future, with or without external aid,” Fagninou added.
The UNICEF official also raised concerns over inadequate investment in education infrastructure by African leaders, warning that current efforts were not keeping pace with population growth.
He noted that more than 100 million school-age children across Africa were out of school at the primary or lower secondary level.
“Of this, approximately 57 million are in West and Central Africa alone.
“Nigeria accounts for more than one-third of this total.
“The solutions implemented so far are not effectively addressing the problem.
“The population growth in our countries and communities is very high, yet governments are not investing at a level that matches this rapid expansion.
“As a result, while the number of school-age children keeps increasing, investment in education infrastructure is not keeping up,” Fagninou stated.
He highlighted the consequences of underinvestment, such as a lack of adequate infrastructure and trained teachers, which worsen the situation, leaving more children out of school each year.
Fagninou stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to education, suggesting digitalisation as an alternative to traditional learning methods.
“We don’t have to wait to recruit large numbers of teachers or construct new school buildings before enrolling more children.
“There are alternative solutions, such as radio education, distance learning, and skills acquisition programmes, which can help bridge the gap.”
He urged governments to allocate more domestic resources to education to ensure the sustainability and expansion of impactful programmes initiated by international organisations.
“Our goal is to ensure that no child or region is left behind in accessing quality education.”
UNICEF’s regional office oversees child welfare programmes across 24 countries in West and Central Africa.
NAN
