The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. In 1953, its name was shortened to the United Nations Children's Fund, but is still known by its popular acronym. Headquartered in New York City, UNICEF provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. A voluntarily funded agency, UNICEF relies on contributions from governments and private donors. Its programs emphasize developing community-level services to promote the health and well-being of children. UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965.
