Transparency and accountability

Everyone who makes a contribution to a nonprofit organization wants to make sure the money is spent wisely, appropriately and efficiently. That goes for governments, too. UNICEF is keenly aware of the importance of transparency and accountability to all who support its lifesaving work for children. In that spirit, UNICEF’s Executive Board recently approved a proposal to make publicly available on UNICEF’s website all internal audits published after September 30, 2012. Although UNICEF already has been providing internal audits to UN Member States upon request since 2009, these audits have not been available to the public. Now UNICEF will create a special “accountability and transparency” section at its site for the internal audit reports. UNICEF is the first United Nations agency to adopt this policy. Ambassador Joseph Torsella, the U.S. Representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform, tweeted:  “Forecast: sunshine! Huge first in UN system!” And U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice stated: “UNICEF has set a new standard for transparency in the UN system.” Our friends on Capitol Hill want to make sure that funding provided by the U.S. Government to UNICEF and other international organizations is achieving its goals. We are happy that UNICEF is leading the way to be open and accountable. That builds the confidence and trust to secure what is needed to get to Zero: No child dying of a cause we can prevent!