The University for Development Studies (UDS) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening child rights and addressing critical development challenges in Northern Ghana.

The agreement, signed at UDS, establishes a structured framework for collaboration in key priority areas including health, nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), education, and child protection. The partnership is designed to deliver community-based interventions that not only improve the wellbeing of children and families but also prepare future professionals through practical engagement and research-informed solutions.

Speaking at the ceremony, the UNICEF Representative to Ghana, Mr. Osama Makkawi Khogali, underscored the importance of academia and development partnerships in achieving sustainable outcomes for children. He noted that UDS, with its strong community-based learning model and presence in Northern Ghana, is a natural partner for UNICEF’s work among vulnerable populations.

Mr. Khogali explained that the collaboration would focus on improving maternal, newborn and child health outcomes, promoting adolescent sexual and reproductive health, tackling malnutrition and environmental health risks, and strengthening child protection systems to shield children from exploitation and harmful practices. He added that the MoU would also deepen community engagement in WASH initiatives and support efforts to enhance learning outcomes while reducing out-of-school rates in underserved communities.

“The strength of this partnership lies in combining UNICEF’s technical expertise and global experience with UDS’s deep community roots, research capacity and commitment to development-oriented education,” Mr. Khogali said, stressing that the initiative would contribute meaningfully to national development priorities and the rights and wellbeing of children.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Seidu Al-hassan, described the MoU as a strategic milestone that aligns perfectly with the University’s mandate of using knowledge to solve real-world problems. He reaffirmed UDS’s commitment to child-centred development and community transformation, noting that the partnership with UNICEF would enhance teaching, research and service delivery across the University’s campuses.

Professor Al-hassan emphasized that through this collaboration, UDS students and faculty would be actively involved in evidence-based, community-level interventions that address pressing challenges such as malnutrition, poor health outcomes, inadequate sanitation and barriers to education. He expressed confidence that the partnership would generate practical solutions, inform policy and contribute to long-term improvements in the lives of children and families in Northern Ghana.

The Vice-Chancellor further noted that the MoU reinforces UDS’ role as a leading development-focused university and a trusted partner for international organizations working to advance social equity and human development.

The Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed by Professor Seidu Al-hassan, Vice-Chancellor of UDS, on behalf of the University. The signing was witnessed by the Registrar, Mr. Nurudeen Issah Abubakar. The ceremony was attended by other senior officials and leading members of staff from both UNICEF and the University for Development Studies.

The new agreement builds on a history of collaboration between UDS and UNICEF, including joint initiatives in nutrition research, child health, sanitation, community engagement and capacity building in Northern Ghana. Both institutions expressed optimism that the renewed partnership would scale up impact and further strengthen efforts to protect and promote the rights of children across the region.

Story by: Abdul Hayi Moomen (UDS Media)