Eli Lilly and Company and UNICEF USA launched a $50 million global collaboration to strengthen childhood non-communicable disease prevention and care across 21 low- and middle-income countries, aiming to reach more than 30 million children, adolescents, and caregivers by 2032.
Written By: Samiksha Jadhav, BPharm
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Eli Lilly and Company and UNICEF USA announced a major global collaboration on May 14, 2026, to improve prevention and care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The partnership will reach more than 30 million children, adolescents, and caregivers across 21 countries by expanding healthcare access, enabling early disease detection, and strengthening primary healthcare systems.
Lilly is committing $50 million to UNICEF USA over six years (2026–2032). This funding supports UNICEF’s integration of NCD prevention and treatment into routine services, addressing chronic conditions like diabetes, congenital heart disease, sickle cell disease, respiratory illnesses, overweight and obesity.
NCDs are rising rapidly among children worldwide, with LMICs accounting for nearly 82% of premature deaths from these conditions (per WHO data). Limited infrastructure, poor nutrition, and unsafe environments exacerbate risks in vulnerable communities.
UNICEF will partner with governments and providers to build national health systems, train frontline workers, and provide long-term family support. The program also promotes awareness and early preventive measures.
Kitty van der Heijden, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Partnerships, said: “Millions of children are deprived of the building blocks necessary for lifelong health due to NCD risk factors established early in life. Our collaboration with Lilly leads the way to a healthy future and shows private sector impact at scale.”
Patrik Jonsson, Lilly EVP and President of Lilly International, added: “Every child, everywhere, deserves a healthy future. Through UNICEF, we’re improving global health via NCD prevention, changing trajectories for millions from their earliest years.”
This aligns with Lilly’s “30×30” strategy, which exceeded its goal of reaching 30 million people annually in resource-limited settings by 2025 five years early. Lilly’s prior UNICEF support since 2022 has reached nearly 16 million children and caregivers.
Reference
Lilly and UNICEF collaborate to give millions of children a healthier start | Eli Lilly and Company
About the Writer
Samiksha Vikram Jadhav (LinkedIn) is a B. Pharm graduate with a strong academic foundation in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, and drug development. She specializes in pharma market research, with a focused interest in mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and global pharma and biotech deals. Her work centers on analyzing industry transactions, market positioning, and business strategies, translating complex developments into clear, accurate, and insightful scientific and commercial reporting.