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Minister of State Colm Brophy pledges €1 million to UNICEF Generation Unlimited initiative

Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, T.D., today announced funding of €1 million to UNICEF to support their Generation Unlimited (Gen U) initiative. At UNICEF’s annual consultation with Ireland, held virtually today, Minister Brophy was appointed to the role of Gen U “Champion”.

Speaking today, Minister Brophy said:

“Given Ireland’s deep commitment to the multilateral system, we are delighted to provide €1 million in funding to UNICEF. This will help fund key new initiatives, such as Generation Unlimited, that will help young people all over the globe meet the challenges of a changing world.

I am also honoured to accept the invitation to act as a ‘Champion’ for Gen U and will focus my efforts on ensuring that we can translate these noble aspirations into better lives for our children and succeeding generations. The funding announced today deepens Ireland’s strong support to, and for, the UN Development System. This support helps make the UN system work better for those furthest behind.”

Generation Unlimited is a global, public-private partnership that aims to ensure that by 2030 every young person aged 10-24 is in some form of school, learning, training or age-appropriate, decent employment, with a special focus on empowering young women and girls.

Gen U supports effective solutions and promising ideas at large scale by unlocking public/private investment and engaging young people as co-creators, enabling them to learn, train and work so that they can lead meaningful, productive lives.

UNICEF, remains one of Ireland’s largest and most important development partners. Since 1993, Ireland has provided over €260m in funding to UNICEF.