Ikea Foundation contributes $ 31.5 mn for Unicef's schemes

Ikea Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the world's largest furniture retailer, today contributed $31.5 million as grant to support Unicef's programmes in Afghanistan, China, India, Pakistan, and Rwanda.

"Ikea Foundation is boosting its commitment to children with six new grants to Unicef, amounting to $31.5 million," it said in a statement.

The grants will focus on "reaching the most marginalised and disadvantaged children living in poor communities and in strengthening Unicef's response in emergency and conflict situations."

The new grants will focus on early childhood development, child protection, education, and helping adolescents to improve their lives and strengthen their communities, it added.

Commenting on the grant, Ikea Foundation CEO Per Heggenes said: "We are very proud of our long-standing partnership with Unicef, helping to develop new approaches leading to improved lives for millions of vulnerable children around the world.

"These new grants will ensure this work continues, helping even more young adolescents, children and families enjoy their basic right."

Out of the total grant of $31.5 million, $16.1 million will be utilised towards empowering adolescents in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan to take responsibility over decisions impacting their lives and societies.

While, $2.5 million will be spent in protecting children from violence, abuse and exploitation; $5.5 million will be utilised towards investing in family and community-centred services in Rwanda to provide better care for children.

Grants of $3.75 million and $1.87 million each will provide thousands of vulnerable children with early childhood development and education and improving the welfare of orphans and other vulnerable children in rural communities of China, Ikea Foundation said.

Around $1.11 million will be spent in strengthening Unicef's humanitarian response and monitoring through better data collection, sharing, analysis, management and reporting.