How investing in poor children saves lives and boosts the economy

It is shameful that the world’s poorest children remain nearly twice as likely to die before their fifth birthday. An unconscionable majority die unnecessarily. Most of these deaths could have been prevented with cheap, but effective interventions.

Today, UNICEF is launching a compelling report, Narrowing the Gaps: The power of investing in the poorest children, showing that investments in the most deprived children and communities provide greater value for money. The study indicates that every $1 million invested in the poorest children saves nearly twice as many lives as the same investments that do not reach the poor.