The Government of Iceland has committed an additional US$5.5 million to UNICEF to strengthen government–led programmes in Uganda, delivering critical services to vulnerable children, adolescents, and families across the country.
The new funding, announced in Kampala, will advance national priorities in social protection, education, early childhood development, and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) through government systems at both national and sub-national levels.
Through two complementary investments, Iceland—one of UNICEF’s long-standing strategic partners—is scaling up interventions that focus on adolescent mothers and consolidating sustainable WASH services in schools and health facilities, particularly in refugee-hosting communities.
Iceland and UNICEF signed a US$4 million multi-year grant to support Phase II of the programme “Empowering Adolescent Mothers and Their Children – A Dual Generation Approach”, running from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029.
The programme targets adolescent mothers aged 12–19 and their children aged 0–5 years within refugee and host communities in Kikuube and Kyegegwa districts, addressing the intersecting challenges of early pregnancy, school dropout, and child vulnerability.
Phase II will benefit 3,000 adolescent mothers and their children through an integrated package that includes social protection, education pathways, early childhood development, mentorship, gender- and disability-inclusive services, and strengthened referral systems. The approach enables young mothers to return to school or acquire employable skills, while ensuring their children have access to quality early learning, care, and protection.
The initiative contributes to Uganda’s national response to teenage pregnancy by demonstrating a scalable dual-generation model that strengthens human capital development and social protection systems. Evidence generated will inform policy dialogue, financing decisions, and system reforms aligned with National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) priorities.
In a separate agreement, Iceland committed US$1.5 million to the WASH in Institutions Exit Programme, running from January 2026 to June 2027. The programme supports a planned transition towards sustainable, nationally led WASH service delivery in schools and health facilities across five refugee-hosting districts in West Nile: Adjumani, Arua, Madi-Okollo, Terego, and Yumbe.
The intervention is expected to benefit nearly 140,000 children, women, and community members, consolidating gains through rehabilitated infrastructure, strengthened operation and maintenance systems, institutional and community capacity building, and promotion of market-based sanitation solutions.
By embedding governance, financing and service provision within district and community structures, the programme supports a responsible shift from direct implementation to durable, government-owned systems, in line with NDP IV, Sustainable Development Goal 6, and Uganda’s WASH sector reform agenda.
Iceland’s Head of Mission to Uganda, Hildigunnur Engilbertsdottir, said UNICEF remains one of Iceland’s priority partners in international development cooperation.
“As our successful WASH programme in West Nile approaches its conclusion, I am pleased by how ambitious the planned exit phase is, particularly for the benefit of women and children in the region,” she said. “With Iceland’s continued support, I am hopeful that thousands of adolescent mothers and their children will be supported to build better lives for themselves.”
UNICEF Representative in Uganda, Dr. Robin Nandy, described Iceland as a valued strategic partner in advancing government-led programmes for children and adolescents.
“This new support will empower adolescent mothers to access quality education and skills pathways, while the WASH transition programme consolidates gains in schools and health facilities through sustainable, nationally owned systems,” Dr. Nandy said.
Phase II of the adolescent mothers programme builds on strong results from Phase I, which reached 871 adolescent mothers with mentorship, skills training, and cash transfers, supported school re-enrolment, expanded access to early services, and strengthened safeguarding and referral mechanisms.
UNICEF said it will continue working closely with the Government of Uganda, sector ministries, district local governments, and community-based partners to promote sustainability, local ownership, and alignment with national priorities, including advocating for the scale-up of existing investments.
