Our Partners

Together, we are making a positive impact on the lives of millions of children in China and beyond.

Girls and boys playing and laughing, rural China.

UNICEF works with all levels of government, corporate partners, philanthropists and celebrities.

Corporate partners

UNICEF's partnerships with the private sector are a vital part of our work to improve children’s lives in China.

Our private sector collaborations provide resources to support UNICEF programs that address children’s needs and provide a platform for businesses to promote child-rights in their socially-responsible engagement with the community.

Corporations are increasingly recognizing both the moral obligation to further children’s rights in their operations, products and marketing practices, as well as the practical benefits of doing so. 

Businesses with a child-rights focus enjoy better reputations and higher brand value, in addition to attracting investors, building public trust and contributing to more sustainable and inclusive markets.

Kimberly- Clark

In 2022, Kimberly-Clark announced new support through its Huggies® brand for UNICEF to promote the ‘Newborn Health and Early Childhood Development’ programme in China. The programme aims to improve the health and lives of children aged 0-3 years and their caregivers in underdeveloped areas of central and western China by strengthening the services and capacity of health facilities, health workers and neonatal care service providers. The vision of the partnership between UNICEF and Kimberly-Clark is, through joint efforts, to reach every child in China and help them realize their right to health with a standard of care that is aligned with global best practices.

BYHEALTH

In 2019 BYHEALTH and UNICEF China reached a strategic partnership to support UNICEF’s Early Childhood Nutrition Programme. BYHEALTH has committed to supporting UNICEF in improving early childhood nutrition in China from 2020 to 2022 through a series of strategic interventions in four areas: creating an enabling environment, strengthening the health workforce, building a social awareness and education campaign, and measuring progress and documenting results.

Chery Automobile partners with UNICEF to help children around the world access quality education

On 17 October 2023, Chery Automobiles and UNICEF announced a new two-year partnership to transform the lives of children around the world by enabling them to access quality education.  Investing in education of the poorest children is the most cost-effective way to ensure a brighter future for children, their communities, and their countries. UNICEF estimates that in 2022, 70 percent of the world’s 10-year-olds were unable to read and understand a simple sentence. This figure is up from 57 percent before the global COVID-19 pandemic. Without quality education, children face considerable barriers to employment and earning potential later in life. They are more likely to suffer adverse health outcomes and less likely to participate in decisions that affect them – threatening their ability to shape a better future for themselves and their societies. Funding from this new two-year, $6 million partnership, aims to help UNICEF tackle this issue by supporting its global education programmes, which provide access to quality education to the most disadvantaged and marginalised children who are much less likely to attend school. It also aims to help countries strengthen their education systems to create lasting change for children at scale. The partnership will also support education programmes in China, Mexico, South Africa and Türkiye. This will help UNICEF provide inclusive, healthy, and safe learning environments for children and adolescents, ensuring equal opportunities to learn and enhance their employability. 

Huatie Media Group

Since 2021, Huatie Media Group has been partnering with UNICEF to support the 20 November World Children's Day campaign every year by leveraging the reach of its media resources at railway stations and on high speed trains. UNICEF joins its partners around the world in this annual celebration to shed light on some of the most pressing issues facing children, and to enable every child to fulfil his or her potential. Since the establishment of the partnership, Huatie Media Group has deployed all the media resources at its disposal. It has not only utilized the lightboxes in Beijing Fengtai Station and the screens on high-speed trains operated by China Railway Wuhan Group and Guangzhou Group, but it has also invested its media resources and linked the campaign with online and sectoral media to support the advocacy activities of World Children's Day. Relying on the reach of the high-speed railway across the country and the huge passenger flow linked with various online media channels, Huatie Media Group is committed to encouraging all sectors of society to care about and uphold child rights.

Huatie Media Group will continue to strengthen its close cooperation with UNICEF, and it will continue to drive public attention to children’s issues through engaging passengers on high-speed trains, and rallying all stakeholders to protect and promote child rights together.

Tanboer and UNICEF collaborate for children's education in China

Qingzhou Tanboer Garment Co., Ltd. and UNICEF started a partnership in 2024 to collaborate on the Quality and Inclusive Education programme in China. The programme covers early childhood education, basic education, and skill development for young people. It aims to create an inclusive, healthy, safe, and sustainable learning environment for more girls and boys, including the most disadvantaged, by providing equitable access to education and improving their employability.

Qingzhou Tanboer Garment Co., Ltd. has been practising social responsibility over the past 25 years, engaging in poverty alleviation, education, environmental protection, and assisting the disadvantaged, among others. By working together with UNICEF, Tanboer will help bring equitable and accessible education to more children and adolescents, opening more opportunities for a brighter future.

The LEGO Group and The LEGO Foundation

In February 2021, the LEGO Group and the LEGO Foundation partnered with UNICEF to bring learning-through-play to help early years development in children living in disadvantaged regions of China.

Through this three-year partnership, UNICEF will work closely with the Government of China to empower parents and caregivers to support children’s play and practice playful parenting, and build a sustainable and scalable system of community-based services. This will lay a strong foundation for children’s learning and socio-emotional competencies. It will employ a sustainable capacity development model, whereby in-person training and on-line support will be provided to practitioners, combined with the provision of play materials and online demonstration and mini-classes to guide local practitioners.

D-Cal

In June 2021, on the occasion of International Children's Day, D-Cal became  a partner with UNICEF China to support UNICEF’s “Sports for Development” project and contribute to the holistic and healthy development of adolescents in China’s rural areas.  D-Cal is committed to supporting the implementation of various UNICEF programme activities to help promote the all-round development of Chinese children and adolescents, and establish a good physical and psychological foundation for the future.

Johnson & Johnson

Since 2017, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) had been partnering with UNICEF in China to support Health Family App project,  helping realize the connection of maternal and child health information system at national and local levels and offering convenient and high-quality health information and services for women and children.

From June 2021, in a new partnership cycle with UNICEF China,  J&J started supporting capacity development initiatives to strengthen frontline health providers’ management, coordination and delivery of Early Essential Newborn Care, maternal nutrition, and Early Childhood Development services for children aged 0–3.

Tencent and Tencent Foundation

The strategic partnership focusing on child online protection between UNICEF and Tencent was announced in March 2017. Tencent Foundation has committed to supporting UNICEF over three years from 2017 to 2019, to provide a safer and secure internet for children and adolescents, including through research and public advocacy, industry coalition building and engagement, public awareness and communication. UNICEF will provide its knowledge, expertise, tools and a child rights perspective to Tencent and other information and communications technology (ICT) companies in order to advance their policies on child online protection.   

In the internet era, children have more opportunities to realise their rights to learn, express themselves and participate meaningfully in their communities. However, the internet also poses significant challenges to children's safety. UNICEF globally has been engaged in online safety for children for a number of years. Under the #WePROTECT Global Alliance, UNICEF is calling on national governments to establish coordinated responses between criminal justice systems including law enforcement, and child welfare, education, health and the ICT sectors, as well as civil society, to better protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation. Tencent is the first Chinese company to sign on to the #WePROTECT global initiative.

Become a corporate partner today

If your business or corporation would like to become a partner of UNICEF in China, please contact us via partnerships.china@unicef.org, (86-10) 85318430 or (86-10) 85318438.

Celebrities

Celebrities can make very special contributions to improving the lives of children in China.

Celebrities are in a unique position to share their passion for helping children and bring to the attention of a large audience the issues relating to children's rights and the needs of vulnerable children. 

UNICEF was the first United Nations agency to appoint celebrities as Goodwill Ambassadors.  All celebrities who put their talents to work for UNICEF share a dedicated commitment to improving the lives of children. Today, more than 200 celebrities and artists worldwide serve as UNICEF Ambassadors at the national and international level.

In China, our celebrity Ambassadors and Special Advocates are committed to improving the lives of children in China.

Wang Shuang

Wang Shuang is the UNICEF Special Advocate for Sports and Child Development. She is a Chinese women's footballer.

Wang was called up to the China PR U-17 in 2006 and made her debut in the China Women's National Football Team in 2013. She has represented the National team in several international games great performance and helped the team to claim championship in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup. Club-career wise, beside her prominent achievements with several clubs in China, Wang Shuang also has had a successful international presence.

Wang Shuang has been well-acclaimed for her performance in the football field and for her contribution to the society.  In 2018, Wang Shuang was named as the AFC Women’s Footballer of the Year, a Top 10 Athletes of China, a Top 10 Players in China, and a Top 10 Women in the news. In 2019, she was recognized as Ligue 1 Women's Player of the Year and made to the list of Forbes 30 Under 30 China. Wang Shuang has been granted the title of Chinese Women’s Footballer of the Year for four times in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Since her engagement with UNICEF China began in 2019, Wang Shuang has been dedicated to the empowerment of children with all abilities through sports.

Wang Yuan

UNICEF Ambassador Wang Yuan, also known as Roy, is a Chinese singer and actor, and member of Chinese pop band, TFBOYS.

Wang Yuan sprung into the limelight following the release of his first hit single, ‘Cause of You’, which made it to Asia Billboard’s Top 10 in 2016. He has starred in movies and television dramas, including ‘Finding Soul’, ‘Boy Hood’ and ‘L.O.R.D.’. He has also accumulated numerous accolades, including ‘Most Popular New Talent’ in the Ninth City Super Chart, ‘Outstanding Youth Leader’ at China’s Youth League, ‘Popular Star’ at the Weibo Movie Awards, and one of Time Magazine's global top 30 influential teens. 

As a UNICEF Ambassador, Wang Yuan promotes access to quality education, especially for disadvantaged children in rural China, raises awareness on the importance of clean water and hygiene for children, and urges young people to contribute their ideas and talents towards supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In 2017, Wang Yuan became the first Chinese artist to attend the UN Youth Forum.

Ma Yili

UNICEF Ambassador Ma Yili is one of China's most famous actresses.

Ma Yili started her acting career in 1996 and gained nationwide popularity in 2007 when starring in the television series ‘Strive’.  Since then, she has collected more than 20 awards in recognition of her performing achievements in film and television.

As UNICEF Ambassador, Ma Yili supports the 10m2 of Love campaign by promoting workplace and public building breastfeeding rooms in China, and raising awareness and support for breastfeeding mothers. She also emphasizes the importance of ensuring quality early childhood development services and comprehensive care for children in the first few years of life.

Chen Kun

UNICEF Ambassador Chen Kun, also known as Aloys Chen, is one of China's most popular actors and singers. 

Chen Kum has starred in several television dramas and films, and his acting has won him ‘Best Actor’ nomination for 'Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards in 2005, and the ‘Best Actor’ prize at the Huabiao Film Awards in 2007. Chen Kun is also a successful singer and recording artist with three album releases and an MTV Asia Award for ‘Most Popular Male Vocalist’ in 2006.

As UNICEF Ambassador, Chen Kun visits UNICEF and Government of China field projects to learn about the challenges facing children in China's poorer communities and helps to empower the public to play their part in improving the situation of children. With more than 94 million microblog followers, Chen Kun often writes about his thoughts on philanthropy and shares information with his followers on UNICEF's mission and on urgent children's issues. Chen Kun has long been involved in social causes and philanthropy in China.

Maggie Cheung

UNICEF Ambassador Maggie Cheung is one of the world's most famous movie stars. 

She has graced more than 75 films, including dramas, action movies and comedies. For her exceptional range and talent on the screen, Maggie Cheung has won many awards, including ‘Best Actress’ at the 1992 Berlin Festival for Centre Stage, and the Palm d'Or ‘Best Actress’ prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

In her role as UNICEF Ambassador, Maggie Cheung shares her passion for helping the most vulnerable children, like those affected by HIV and AIDS, migrant children, children left behind and children with disabilities. Maggie Cheung raises awareness about and serves as a spokesperson for the establishment of a comprehensive child welfare framework in China.

Yang Lan

UNICEF Ambassador Yang Lan is one of China's most popular broadcast journalists and most successful entrepreneurs. 

Her talk show ‘Yang Lan One-on One’ has introduced Chinese audiences to people like Former US President Bill Clinton, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and American businessman Jack Welch. As Co-founder and Chairperson of Sun Media Group, Yang Lan has received numerous awards and honors, including being named one of the ‘Top Ten Women Entrepreneurs’ in 2002, and being honored as one of ten ‘National Women Pacesetters’ by the All China Women's Federation in 2010. She founded the Sun Culture Foundation and received China's National Philanthropy Award in 2008.
As UNICEF Ambassador, Yang Lan continues her dedication and commitment to social service and children. In her work with UNICEF, Yang Lan raises awareness about breastfeeding, the importance of vaccination to prevent childhood diseases, and the importance of handwashing with soap after using the toilet and before eating.

Champions for Children

Philanthropy can make an impact on the lives of children in China.

By exerting their influences and convening resources, 'Champions for Children' play a unique role in supporting UNICEF's programmes, including the 'Barefoot Social Workers' project (also known as 'Child Welfare Directors’ project).

Since 2010, UNICEF has worked with the Ministry of Civil Affairs to pilot ‘'Barefoot Social Workers ' in 120 project villages in central and western China. 'Barefoot Social Workers ’ support, monitor and report cases of disadvantaged children, lend social assistance and offer emotional care and guidance.  Since the launch of the project in 2010, each 'Barefoot Social Workers has helped nearly 100 children to get welfare support, benefiting more than 100,000 children in total. The General Office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a notice to pilot the grassroots child welfare service mechanism in 2015 and decided to scale up the 'Barefoot Social Workers' project in 100 counties and 1,000 villages across China.

Dr. Jin Hyenmi

As a Champion for Children, Dr. Jin Hyenmi works with UNICEF to advance child rights in China.

Dr. Jin Hyenmi, also known as Xuan Mei, received her bachelors and masters from the Chinese Department of Ewha Women's University in Republic of Korea, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Peking University. Dr. Jin established the ARTMIA Foundation, which provides a space for new artists throughout East Asia, with a vision of integrating art back into our fast-paced contemporary lives, to exhibit their work. Dr. Jin believes in the power of art to embody and inspire human aspiration for virtue and excellence. Dr. Jin is committed to fostering a wide exchange of diverse and refreshing ideas about contemporary art in Asia and its roots in oriented culture.

Tong Shumeng

As a Champion for Children, Tong Shumeng supports UNICEF to advance child rights.

Tong Shumeng is the president of Dong Fang Wen Chuang, founder and president of Rainbow Public Welfare Foundation, and the vice-chairman of SEE Foundation. She has worked in the fields of culture, art media and emerging market investment and keeps funding and contributing to public welfare and charity. Being a rural volunteer teacher in her early times and a sponsor today, Ms. Tong has always been part of the cause. Founded in 2007, the Rainbow Public Welfare Foundation has established 58 rural libraries in poor mountainous areas, set up spiritual growth courses in 20 schools for children of migrant workers in suburban Beijing, and funded a folk history writing project and rural teacher training programme. In addition, she has promoted the funding for a series of significant eco-environment protection projects during her four-year tenure as the leader of the SEE project audit committee.

Wang Ying

Wang Ying is the sponsor representative of Zhong De Securities, a securities joint venture established by Deutsche Bank AG and Shanxi Securities Co. Ltd. and one of the first groups of security firms to operate in China. Zhong De provides a full range of investment banking services to its clients, including securities underwriting and capital markets related advisory services. Wang Ying is also a sponsor of the Refugee Issue Study and Research at Peking University. Born in 1971, Wang Ying received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabian Language and Culture from Peking University. She has a daughter who currently studies at New York University.

Ng Sze Ying

Armed with a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University,  Ng Sze Ying has worked for Morgan Stanley and the Proudfoot consulting firm. She also established a technology company for developing mobile applications with her husband. Currently, she is running her own business mainly on investment in culture-related programmes and is preparing to set up an non-governmental organization for education.

Ms. Guo Shaoxia

Ms. Guo Shaoxia joins UNICEF as a Champion for Children to advance child rights in China.

Ms. Guo is a co-founder of Shanghai M&G Stationery Inc. In 2015, under her guidance, the company set up the ‘M&G Rainbow Special Fund for the Public Interest’. In 2020, the Shanghai M&G Charity Foundation was established to help promote public welfare in the three core areas of rural education, child health and environmental protection.

For years, Ms. Guo has been working with several NGOs and civil organizations to carry out programmes including education sponsorship for rural children, in-kind donations, and art trainings. She firmly believes that philanthropy is not about one person doing all the work, but about people working together. Ms. Guo looks forward to working with UNICEF to help more children in need.

Zach Du

Mr. Zach Du, Youth Leader of BOAO Forum for Asia 2019. He currently serves as executive board member of Chinese Association of STD and AIDS prevention and Control, Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Foundation for the Prevention of STD and AIDS.

Marie Louise Kirk

Marie Louise Kirk joins UNICEF as a Champion for Children to advance child rights in China.

Marie Louise Kirk brings with her more than two decades of experience in the financial industry, across the US, Europe, and Asia. Most importantly, she is a proud mother of three daughters. She grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark, deeply inspired by her own mother’s commitment to children as a hospital pediatrician and a life-long supporter of UNICEF.

NextGen

Connecting the next generation of global leaders and philanthropists to help shape a better future for children.

UNICEF Next Generation (NextGen) is a community of investors, philanthropists, influencers and creatives who commit their resources, expertise and enthusiasm to support UNICEF’s life-saving work.

Xiguang Zhang

NextGen Global Principal
Based in Shenzhen City, China

As a youth representative from China, Xiguang participated in various international conferences over the past years, such as G20 side events and the global conferences on climate change, the COPs. He also worked with "The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves", which was initiated by the United Nations Foundation many years ago. It aims to reduce indoor pollution caused by cooking with open fire and improve health standards of people. He led a professional team to coach college students to design tailor-made stoves for local use to help solve environmental issues in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, China. In addition, he donated a science and technology innovation center to Yan'an University.

Xiguang is also a member of the ChangeLabs at Stanford University. In 2019, he worked with the ChangeLabs to promote design thinking and smart manufacturing in China. He also supported ChangeLabs to establish an innovation center in Nanshan district, Shenzhen. To date, Xiguang has built more than 300 tech labs in China and other Asian countries. All these labs are equipped with 3D printers, computer numerical control tools, laser cutting machines, etc.

International Council

Driving impact for children through philanthropic investment.

The UNICEF International Council is a unique community of over 147 private philanthropists and partners – many from the world’s leading business families and global influencers – who want to optimize their philanthropic investments for children by bringing together their leadership, resources and expertise.

Marie Louise Kirk

UNICEF International Council Member
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
Based in Hong Kong SAR, China

Marie Louise Kirk brings with her more than two decades of experience in the financial industry, across the US, Europe, and Asia. Most importantly, she is a proud mother of three daughters. She grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark, deeply inspired by her own mother’s commitment to children as a hospital pediatrician and life-long supporter of UNICEF.

Shape the Future with UNICEF

When UNICEF works to build a better world for every child, we’re not just impacting them now. We’re impacting the next generation of humanity. And when you partner with us, your resources, connections, and vision become the sparks that fuel transformational change.

Alone, you can shape an incredible life. Together, we can shape the future. Will you join us?