ChildFund’s Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
The world is more than halfway through the journey toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collective global promise to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure every person lives with dignity and opportunity by 2030.
But with just six years to go and only a fraction of the goals on track, children in our communities continue to face immense challenges. Poverty, inequality, climate shocks, and conflict are preventing far too many from accessing the basics they need to survive and thrive, health care, education, safety, and a clean and abundant environment.
If we don’t act now, the cost will be measured in lost childhoods, lost potential, and lost lives.
At ChildFund, we believe that every child, no matter where they live, deserves the chance to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe — safe at home, at school, in the community and online.
In Zambia, we are working alongside children, youth, families, communities, local organizations, local, national and regional governments to accelerate progress where it matters most. From remote rural villages to urban settlements, our programs are designed to respond to the real needs of children and the barriers they face every day. We are strengthening systems, building community resilience, and supporting communities to lead sustainable change, while amplifying the voices of young people, to ensure that no child is left behind.
This is how we are contributing to the achievement of the SDGs in Zambia. Click on the SDGs below to learn more.
Goal 1
NO POVERTY
Through a holistic approach, ChildFund tackles the multiple dimensions of poverty by strengthening families’ access to education, health, nutrition, protection and sustainable livelihoods. By building community resilience, supporting youth development, improving basic services and helping households respond to crises and environmental challenges, ChildFund supports children and families to overcome vulnerabilities and secure lasting well-being.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 2
ZERO HUNGER
ChildFund combats food insecurity by supporting households to produce sufficient, nutritious food and generate sustainable income. By strengthening community and household capacity across availability, access, utilization and stability, ChildFund ensures children and families can meet their basic needs, reduce reliance on harmful coping strategies and improve nutrition and general well-being.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 3
GOOD HEALTH & WELL-BEING
ChildFund promotes children’s health and well-being by addressing the root causes of malnutrition and poor health among children and women. We strengthen community health systems, promote healthy practices, and improve access to safe water, nutritious food, and essential services, ensuring children grow up healthy, nourished and thriving.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 4
QUALITY EDUCATION
ChildFund advances quality education by expanding access to early childhood and primary education, addressing barriers to enrolment, retention and completion. Through an integrated approach that combines health, learning and child protection, ChildFund creates safe and supportive environments where children can thrive and achieve better learning outcomes.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 5
GENDER EQUALITY
ChildFund promotes gender equality by engaging all members of the community: girls, boys, women and men in programs that promote equitable access to education, health, protection and economic opportunities. By addressing harmful social norms, preventing violence against girls, boys, women and men and fostering inclusive participation, our initiatives support all members of the community to live together in harmony.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 6
CLEAN WATER & SANITATION
In Uganda, ChildFund strengthens access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene by supporting schools and communities with clean water facilities, promoting healthy practices and training local structures to manage water, sanitation and hygiene services. These efforts directly advance SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, while improving children’s health and learning outcomes.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 8
DECENT WORK & ECONOMIC GROWTH
By building employability, entrepreneurship and life skills especially among youth, ChildFund supports young people to secure meaningful work and generate sustainable income. Through training, mentorship and access to startup resources, our programs support youth, particularly in underserved areas, to drive economic growth and actively participate in their communities.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 11
SUSTAINABLE CITIES & COMMUNITIES
At ChildFund, we believe that every child, no matter where they live, deserves the chance to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe — safe at home, at school, in the community and online.
In Zambia, we are working alongside children, youth, families, communities, local organizations, local, national and regional governments to accelerate progress where it matters most. From remote rural villages to urban settlements, our programs are designed to respond to the real needs of children and the barriers they face every day. We are strengthening systems, building community resilience, and supporting communities to lead sustainable change, while amplifying the voices of young people, to ensure that no child is left behind.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 13
CLIMATE ACTION
Through integrated climate resilience and peacebuilding programs, ChildFund supports families and communities to cope with droughts, floods and resource pressures. Our focus on adaptation, disaster risk management and sustainable use of natural resources ensures children grow up in safer, abundant and more resilient environments.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 15
LIFE ON LAND
At ChildFund, we believe that every child, no matter where they live, deserves the chance to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe — safe at home, at school, in the community and online.
In Zambia, we are working alongside children, youth, families, communities, local organizations, local, national and regional governments to accelerate progress where it matters most. From remote rural villages to urban settlements, our programs are designed to respond to the real needs of children and the barriers they face every day. We are strengthening systems, building community resilience, and supporting communities to lead sustainable change, while amplifying the voices of young people, to ensure that no child is left behind.
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Goal 16
PEACE, JUSTICE & STRONG INSTITUTIONS
ChildFund strengthens peace and protection systems by safeguarding children in emergencies and addressing violence in homes, schools and communities. Through humanitarian response in refugee settlements and disaster-affected areas, we provide lifesaving support while ensuring children continue to learn and thrive. At the same time, our child protection programs prevent and respond to abuse, neglect and exploitation, working with families, communities and institutions to create safe, supportive environments thereby protecting the most vulnerable.
SDGs in Action
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
“It is shocking that, in the 21st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic health care. It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters or violent conflicts that are killing and maiming children. Every child has the right to live in peace, health and safety. Today and every day, let’s protect and support children as they meaningfully contribute to making our world a better, brighter, more peaceful place for all people.”
~ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS