— regional director signals deeper collaboration on child protection, education and social programmes

UNICEF is set to deepen its cooperation with Guyana as the organisation continues to support national programmes aimed at improving the lives of children, families and other vulnerable groups.
This commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy call on President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali by Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Roberto Benes, at State House on Thursday.
“During the meeting, Mr Benes congratulated President Ali on his Government’s development vision, particularly its focus on human capital. He commended Guyana for the progress made in addressing violence against women and children and pledged UNICEF’s support for further cooperation,” Office of the President said in a statement.
President Ali, in outlining the government’s ongoing efforts, highlighted several programmes that have been implemented to improve the lives of women, children, and other vulnerable groups across Guyana. He highlighted that the country is moving beyond traditional frameworks and is pursuing a development model that could set new global standards.

According to the Head of State, Guyana is not only implementing policies and charters but is actively building systems and programmes designed to deliver long-term social transformation.
Benes was accompanied by UNICEF’s Representative for Guyana and Suriname, Gabriel Vockel. Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, also attended the meeting.
UNICEF currently works closely with the Government of Guyana through its 2022–2026 Country Programme, which focuses on advancing the rights and well-being of children while addressing systemic challenges affecting youth and families.
Key areas of cooperation include early childhood development, where UNICEF is assisting with the finalisation of a multi-sectoral Early Childhood Development Policy while providing training and distributing play-based learning kits.
The organisation is also supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening mental health and well-being, including the “Hear Me Out” campaign launched in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) and local authorities to reduce stigma surrounding mental health among children and adolescents.
In the area of child protection and justice, UNICEF is working with local partners to strengthen national child protection systems, address violence against children and support the operations of the Sexual Offences and Family Courts.
Efforts are also being made to strengthen education and social protection systems, including improved data collection to guide policies aimed at reducing poverty and expanding support for vulnerable families.
Additionally, UNICEF is supporting climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in communities while also implementing programmes to assist migrant populations in Guyana.
The organisation operates in Guyana through a single country office that also covers Suriname and collaborates with government ministries, including the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, as well as civil society organisations.
Among its recent initiatives is the Children’s Manifesto project, which saw nearly 200 children participating in shaping recommendations to guide future policies affecting young people.
UNICEF also recently reported that Guyana is among only four countries in the region with a hunger prevalence rate below 2.5 per cent, highlighting progress in national food security efforts.