Eli Lilly has made a six-year, $50 million commitment to UNICEF USA to support efforts to improve the prevention, detection and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
UNICEF is the United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and development assistance to children. The nonprofit UNICEF USA supports the agency through fundraising, advocacy, and education, including partnering with U.S. companies to serve vulnerable children. Lilly donated $14.4 million to UNICEF USA in 2022 and an additional $6.5 million in 2024.
The latest initiative has significantly increased Lilly’s contribution. Lilly, which has donated $20.9 million over the past five years, will give $50 million to UNICEF USA over the next six years to help expand its donor-funded work.
Lilly initially supported UNICEF’s work in Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. A subsequent $6.5 million commitment has enabled UNICEF to support children and youth at risk of NCDs living in resource-limited settings in India. The initiative, funded by Lilly, has reached approximately 16 million children and caregivers, the company said.
UNICEF plans to use Lilly’s latest initiative to reach 30 million young people and their caregivers in 21 low- and middle-income countries. The agency wants to help countries’ primary health systems manage NCDs such as diabetes, congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease and respiratory diseases in children and adolescents.
Prevention, care and support for children living with overweight and obesity is also a focus. UNICEF aims to reduce long-term health risks for children by supporting overweight and obese children, a key treatment area for Lilly.
Providing access to early detection, care and long-term support has the potential to address the leading causes of death. According to the World Health Organization, 18 million people will die from NCDs before the age of 70 in 2021, with 82% of premature deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Children exposed to risk factors such as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and tobacco smoke may develop NCDs later in life.
Lilly’s increased support for UNICEF comes 10 months after US lawmakers voted to cancel $142 million in funding for UNICEF. UNICEF, facing financial pressure, is committing to $609 million in cost cuts between 2026 and 2029, including relocating about 70% of its headquarters staff in New York and Geneva to cheaper locations.
