AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme and UNICEF expand partnership to advance health equity

NEW YORK, September 23, 2026 – UNICEF and AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme (YHP) today announced a new phase of their partnership to support youth-led action to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among adolescents and young people.

Over the next five years, AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme (YHP) will make a donation of U$15.1 million to UNICEF, extending the company’s investment in youth health equity to over US$100 million since the YHP’s inception in 2010.

The YHP, which supports young people in underserved communities, is committed to preventing NCDs such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease by equipping and empowering young people to make informed health choices and take action for their health and well-being. This includes addressing the wider factors that shape health and NCD risk, including the growing health impacts of climate change. The next phase of the AstraZeneca YHP-UNICEF partnership aims to reach an additional 7 million young people; support 2,000 schools and community centres to promote health and well-being, train 2,500 frontline workers; train 750,000 youth advocates; and help shape at least 17 public policies worldwide by 2030.

The commitment comes at a time of growing urgency in global health. NCDs are the leading cause of death worldwide, and 70 per cent of premature adult deaths are linked to behaviours that begin in adolescence. By 2050, a staggering 86 per cent of all annual deaths are expected to be caused by NCDs, representing a 90 per cent increase from 2019 levels. Many major NCD risk factors, including poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, take hold early in life, while air pollution disproportionately harms children and young people. In addition, the health impacts of climate change are disrupting health and food systems, worsening air quality, and affecting the environments where young people live.

Over the next five years, AstraZeneca’s YHP and UNICEF will build on the partnership’s existing work in Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Belize and Jamaica, while expanding to Egypt and Thailand. The partnership will place particular emphasis on youth-led action, health equity and climate responsiveness, recognising that young people are not only disproportionately affected by these challenges but also powerful agents of change.

Marc Dunoyer, Chief Executive Officer, Alexion, AstraZeneca Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Executive Sponsor of the YHP, said: “Health should be seen as one of society’s most important investments – not as a cost. That belief has shaped our US$100 million commitment to the Young Health Programme. We continue to invest in health equity to support millions of people in underserved communities and contribute to more resilient health systems around the world.”

Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director said: “UNICEF and AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme share a vision that young people are powerful drivers of change for healthier habits and stronger health systems. This new phase of our partnership will help equip young people with the knowledge and skills to better prevent non-communicable diseases and build healthier futures.”

AstraZeneca’s YHP and UNICEF first partnered in 2019, working in Angola, Belize, Brazil, Indonesia, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and South Africa. Over the last six years, the partnership has already reached more than 12 million adolescents, trained over 300,000 young advocates​, and supported youth advocates to positively shape 29 laws and policies. Research by RTI International found that the YHP generates US$4.30 in social return on investment for every US$1 invested, reinforcing the long-term value of investing early in adolescent health.

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