UNICEF, PDRF partner to protect children in disasters

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On World Humanitarian Day, UNICEF and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) launched a pioneering partnership to prioritize children in disaster risk management and resilience efforts across East Asia and the Pacific.

This partnership aims to address the urgent need for child-centered disaster management, a critical issue given the region’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

According to UNICEF’s regional analysis of the Children’s Climate Risk Index, 210 million children are highly exposed to cyclones, 120 million to coastal flooding, and 420 million to severe air pollution.

The Philippines, ranked first globally in disaster risk by the 2023 World Risk Report, faces a worsening climate crisis, with intensifying heatwaves and typhoons threatening the lives of 40 million children.

The partnership between PDRF, UNICEF’s Regional Office for East Asia and the Pacific, and the Philippine Country Office focuses on enhancing resilience, building capacities, and promoting business-led and child-centered humanitarian actions at various levels.

The collaboration aligns with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and seeks to integrate child rights into business principles.

“The partnership between UNICEF and PDRF brings the private sector into the fight to do good in the world by focusing on the plight of children during disasters,” said Rene “Butch” Meily, president of PDRF. “They are often overlooked during an emergency, and yet are especially vulnerable. Working together, we can make life better for children not just in the Philippines but all over the world by serving as an example and a model for cooperation between the UN and the private sector.”

UNICEF Philippines has been actively engaging with decision-makers to improve policies and budgets for climate-smart, inclusive, and shock-responsive social services for children. These services include social protection, health, education, child protection, and climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene.

The partnership with PDRF, which coordinates disaster risk management for over 60 corporations in the Philippines, is expected to be a game-changer by bringing the private sector’s resources and expertise into these efforts.

“This agreement between UNICEF and the Foundation marks a significant step forward in our shared mission to protect children during times of disaster,” said June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director. “By collaborating on business-led programs and preparedness initiatives, we are not only enhancing our disaster response but also building a future where the most vulnerable—our children—are safeguarded and empowered, both in the Philippines and across East Asia and the Pacific.”

“No child should fear for their lives when disaster strikes,” added UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov. “We are jointly reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind in our disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts and highlighting how the private sector can be our great ally in this work.”

UNICEF and PDRF plan to collaborate with international organizations, UN agencies, government entities, civil society partnerships, and other private sector actors to explore innovative solutions and deliver tangible results for children.