United Nations Children's Fund

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN organization formed (1946) as the UN International Children's Emergency Fund to help in countries devastated by World War II. It became a permanent body in 1953, retaining the UNICEF acronym and specializing in child welfare, family planning, and nutrition programs in disaster areas and in many poorer countries. It is financed voluntarily. In 1965 UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

See also: United Nations.