The city of Homs has seen some of the heaviest fighting of the Syrian conflict. UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Maria Calivis recently visited the city and met with affected families.

As we approach the target date of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, discussions on what will replace them are gaining momentum. This week the UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel on the Post-2015 agenda is holding its fourth meeting, focusing on global partnerships. The role of the private sector is high on the agenda.

Around the world people from business, politics, academia and civil society are having discussions online and in person about what the international development agenda should look like after the Millennium Development Goals reach their 2015 deadline. This has become known as the "post-2015" debate.

No – it’s not my birthday, not even one of my children’s. Today, I’m celebrating the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Children’s Rights and Business Principles (CRBP).

As part of the annual World Child and Youth Forum taking place today in Stockholm, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the UN Global Compact will meet businesses, governments and civil society to take stock of how companies have – or indeed have not - put the CRBP into practice. 

Thank you. Not often do I get to start a blog with that but today - thanks to you and your campaigning - the Chancellor George Osborne announced that the Government will meet the 0.7% aid promise this year. This is a historic achievement - as this promise was first made 43 years ago.

Years of civil conflict had a crippling effect on Liberia’s education system. An influx of refugees fleeing violence in Cote d’Ivoire in early 2011 worsened the situation. But, as Victoria Morris explains, UNICEF helped to ensure that children could continue their education, even during an emergency.