Collaborative governance

Ms. Catherine Russell (third from left at dais), Executive Director of UNICEF, makes remarks in response to delegate statements during the first plenary meeting of the UNICEF Executive Board Annual Session 2023, convened on 13 June 2023 in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The Children’s Environmental Health Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder initiative established in 2023 to mobilize international action to protect children's health, development and well-being from the impact of climate change and environmental degradation. 

UNICEF leads the Collaborative, proposing and tracking an annual work plan, organizing Advisory Committee meetings, hosting the website, inviting and vetting partners to join, hosting an annual meeting of all partners in the Collaborative, hosting forums for stakeholders, and ensuring regular communications with stakeholders, including by issuing a regular e-newsletter. 

UNICEF works in conjunction with founding partners to advance the agenda on children's environmental health through an advisory committee. Founding partners include the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank. 

Participation in the Collaborative is voluntary. Being a partner does not constitute a formal agreement between individual partners, UNICEF or founding partners. Should members of the Collaborative wish to enter into formal agreements with other partners in the Collaborative, they are welcome to do so and to follow their own organizational policies and procedures.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee is made up of one technical representative appointed by each founding partner. The members shape the strategic direction of the Collaborative and contribute to the annual work plan by sharing their organization’s plans on products, events and advocacy to advance children’s environmental health and by proposing joint initiatives. The Advisory Committee meets twice a year to plan, monitor progress, exchange information, coordinate activities and agree on messaging and technical approaches. The Advisory Committee is made up of these members for the initial term of the Collaborative, from December 2023 through December 2026.

Visual guidelines

The Collaborative’s visual identity can be used by all partners if they follow the guidelines provided. The Collaborative’s visual identity should be used to advance children’s environmental health and does not represent individual partners or its founding members. Permission to use the Collaborative’s visual identity does not mean partners can use UNICEF’s or the founding partners’ logos. 

Download visual guidelines and icon