About the Partnership
Over the past few years, many countries have demonstrated outsized success in preventing lead from contaminating the environment at manageable costs and on accelerated timelines. They are proving that the playbook for preventing lead from contaminating the environment is replicable and scalable, and can save lives.
We have seen momentum accelerating remarkably over the last few years. Efforts by international organizations, philanthropies, national governments, and the private sector have intensified, and the need for expansion and coordination has emerged. For example, the official end of use of leaded petrol is estimated to have prevented more than 1.2 million premature deaths and saved USD$2.45 trillion a year.
Building on this momentum, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and USAID Administrator Samantha Power launched the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future during the UN General Assembly high-level week in September 2024. As the first-ever global, public-private partnership dedicated to tackling lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries, it is bringing together governments, civil society and the private sector to help end childhood lead poisoning by 2040.
There is no faster way to rob a country of its future than poisoning its children... I'm pleased to announce here that Malawi is committed to join the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future in order to have access to the necessary international support to achieve such important benchmarks as identifying all key sources of lead exposure in Malawi, conducting a national survey of blood lead levels in Malawians, and creating a national roadmap for coordinating the end of lead exposure and co-sponsoring a resolution on lead mitigation.
Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera
This UN-led initiative has its secretariat housed at UNICEF. The initiative will complement the WHO/UNEP-led Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint and relevant health and environment resolutions. This Partnership will also serve as a gateway to working on other environmental risks through the Children’s Environmental Health Collaborative, hosted by UNICEF.
Benefits of becoming a partner:
1.Access to expertise
Gain insights from leading experts, including the latest research, tools and technical guidance for eliminating lead exposure.
2.Collaborative partnerships
Connect with partner organizations and countries for hands-on support in lead testing and mitigation efforts.
3.Strategic guidance
Leverage the partnership’s technical and strategic expertise to guide investment of resources.
4.Global recognition
Be recognized as a leader in children’s environmental health, showcasing your commitment to eliminating lead exposure. Partners can also join the Children’s Environmental Health Collaborative to further drive international action against toxic threats like lead with no additional requirements.
5.Learning and sharing solutions
Exchange proven strategies and best practices with national governments and global partners to drive impactful change.