Makerere University and the UN Children's and Scientific Fund (Unicef) have signed a two-year renewable memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing research and initiatives that enhance child well-being in Uganda.
The agreement, signed by Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe and Unicef Uganda Representative Dr Robin Nandy, seeks to strengthen evidence-based policy and programme design while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
“No single organization can solve all the challenges children face. This partnership will generate evidence, nurture child rights champions, and professionalize the social workforce, among other objectives,” said Dr Nandy.
Under the partnership, the two institutions will collaborate on key areas including:
- Generating child-focused academic research and data to inform policy.
- Analyzing interventions in health, nutrition, education, and protection.
- Developing and evaluating programmes aimed at enhancing children’s well-being.
- Policy and legislative advocacy, knowledge management, and student engagement through internships, skills development, and communities of practice.
- Training social sector professionals, curriculum development, and setting performance standards for child-focused work.
Professor Nawangwe described the collaboration as a strategic step in aligning academic excellence with real-world impact on children’s lives.
“This partnership with UNICEF Uganda will strengthen research and innovation for child well-being in Uganda,” he said.
By fostering student leadership in child rights, facilitating technical capacity exchange, and deepening institutional collaboration, the MoU is expected to create a stronger foundation for the protection, empowerment, and fulfillment of the rights of children across the country.