Iceland Pledges $1M to UNICEF for Adolescent Mothers and Early Childhood

The Government of Iceland, through its Kampala Embassy, has partnered with UNICEF to invest US$1 million in a transformative program aimed at empowering vulnerable adolescent mothers and their children in Uganda.

The 18-month initiative will provide holistic support, including education, childcare, and vocational skills training for young mothers, alongside early childhood development (ECD) services for their children.

The program targets Kyegegwa and Kikuube districts, focusing on adolescent mothers aged 12-19 years and their children aged 0-5 years.

Hildigunnur Engilbertsdóttir, Head of Mission for Iceland in Uganda, emphasised the program’s role in breaking cycles of vulnerability:

“This partnership ensures conditional cash transfers to reduce the burden on young mothers, enabling them to return to school or seek employment while supporting their children’s early learning and care.”

UNICEF Representative Dr. Robin Nandy hailed the partnership as a step toward sustainable development:

“This initiative addresses critical challenges facing adolescent mothers and their children, ensuring every child gets a fair chance at a brighter future.”

Key Objectives:

1,000 adolescent mothers supported to return to school or acquire vocational skills.

2,000 children to benefit from formal and non-formal early childhood education.

1,200 adolescent mothers trained in positive parenting.

7,000 children screened for disabilities and developmental delays.

1,000 children to have their births registered.

The initiative also introduces low-cost ECD models, mobile ECD units, and inclusive learning kits for hard-to-reach areas.

It builds on a fruitful UNICEF-Iceland partnership since 2019, further advancing Uganda’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).