UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF)?

RUTF is a little packet of therapeutic food. It plays a key role in saving children's lives who are suffering from malnutrition. Insdie the little packet, there is high-energy paste, a mixture of peanut butter, powdered milk, oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals. The invention of this peanut paste in the early 2000s was a revolution in the fight against hunger.

How can RUTF or peanut paste help save lives?

The RUTF therapeutic food supplement can help an acutely malnourished child to regain strength in about 6 weeks with just about three packs a day. It is easy to use and has many advantages:

- It is instantly edible without adding water.
- It keeps for up to two years without being refrigerated.
- The light, 92-gram pack has a nutritional value of 500 calories.
- Children can eat the paste on their own or with the help of their parents.
-It relieves the burden on health-care staff in inpatient facilities.

UNICEF is the world’s largest purchaser of peanut paste and uses it for children in need in around 60 countries.

What is the goal of fighting malnutrition?

UNICEF works with governments, partners, charitable organizations and other UN agencies to help countries ensure the below Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deliver results for and with every child:

Goal 2 "ZERO HUNGER" - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition as well as promote sustainable agriculture: UNICEF works to lower the barriers to good nutrition, with a focus on preventing all forms of malnutrition – including stunting, wasting and being overweight. We do this to ensure that every child, young person and woman has the nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets they need to reach their full potential.

Goal 3 "GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING" - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages: UNICEF works around the world to strengthen health systems; immunize and treat children for pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and other health conditions; help countries combat non-communicable diseases; and support children with mental health conditions, developmental delays and disabilities. To end preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths and promote the health and development of all children and adolescents, UNICEF continues to scale up work in primary health care at the community level.

Why should I donate to UNICEF and where does my donation go?

Your donation and contribution to UNICEF is vital to help a child in need be it in Malaysia or globally.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to promote and protect the rights of children. When you donate to UNICEF, you contribute to their well-being through programmes that help children survive and thrive to adulthood, providing essential medicines, nutrition, vaccines, educational, health and emergency supplies. As a leading organisation working for children, UNICEF also uses its global influence to advocate for the long-term needs of children and women around the world. Because UNICEF is not funded by the United Nations, we depend entirely on regular donations to continue making positive changes for children in Malaysia and around the world.

Together, with your help, we can improve the lives of children in need today.

When I donate to UNICEF, is it tax deductible in Malaysia?

Yes, when you donate to UNICEF, you get to enjoy tax exemption benefits from the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) for donations of RM50 and above, as according to section 44(6) of the Income tax Act 1967, Malaysia.

How can I donate to UNICEF Malaysia on a monthly basis?

There are 3 methods that you can choose from to donate: Through credit card, debit card or via auto-debit from a Maybank (MBB) account. 
(Note: Donation method via cheque is ONLY accepted when the donors prefer NOT to donate through their credit cards or MBB bank account)

When I donate to UNICEF Malaysia, how does it get deducted monthly?

After you make your initial UNICEF donation, future donations will be automatically charged to your credit card or deducted monthly from your bank account. For example, if you choose to donate monthly an amount of RM100 today, your next donation of RM100 will be automatically charged to your account in exactly one month to the day, and each subsequent month thereafter. 

Why does the programme have monthly donation schemes?

A monthly UNICEF donation provides steady and cost-effective source of income. As our country programmes are long-term and permanent, each month you donate allows us to focus on teaching, encouraging and mentoring local communities to build local capacity and help their own children. It also allows us to focus on strategic long-term goals in order to provide permanent solutions to ongoing worldwide difficulties for children. 
Because monthly donations to UNICEF Malaysia are processed automatically, this helps to reduce our administrative costs - which allows us to spend more on programmes for children.

Can I make a one-time donation to UNICEF Malaysia?

Yes, you can donate one-time and any amount is greatly appreciated. However, we encourage a monthly donation as it enables us to plan effectively in our upcoming work for children; knowing that we have the funds in hand to invest in long-term solutions and making a positive impact for children.

What happens to the UNICEF donations raised?

As stewards for the world's most vulnerable children, we believe it is our responsibility to use every Ringgit received from our donors wisely. Your UNICEF donation goes directly towards the mission of our organization, including programme services and engaging the public. For more information, kindly refer to UNICEF Malaysia Annual Report 2021.

How is UNICEF Malaysia funded and how much of UNICEF’s donations goes to children?

Although part of the United Nations (UN) system, UNICEF does not receive any funding from the UN. All the funding UNICEF receives is provided by voluntary contributions from governments, private individuals and businesses from around the world, as well as foundations and the general public.

For every 1 Ringgit you donate to UNICEF, about 80 sen goes to helping save and transform children’s lives. We spend about 20 sen on policy, management, administration and reinvestment.

Your contribution helps support the provision of essential medicines, vaccines, educational, health and emergency supplies to help children in Malaysia and globally survive and thrive to adulthood. UNICEF also uses its global influence to advocate for the long-term needs of children and women around the world.

How many years am I pledging to donate for?

When you donate to UNICEF Malaysia, you are in total control of your own giving. You can change your gift at any time. UNICEF Malaysia would like to encourage you to give for as long as possible, as this way you can make more of a difference to the lives of children.

What do I get in return when I donate?

You will receive regular updates on how your UNICEF donation is being spent to help the children of Malaysia and around the world. You can join donor-exclusive events and activities organized by UNICEF Malaysia.

If you are a monthly donor, you are also eligible for tax exemption for your donation to UNICEF, which is expected to be received in the first quarter of every year.

If you are a one-time donor, you will receive a donation receipt from UNICEF for every donation you make. For every donation of RM50 and above, it is also tax exempt under Section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967.

Will my credit card and bank account information remain confidential?

UNICEF Malaysia adheres to a strict policy regarding donor privacy. Your personal information will be dealt with the utmost confidentiality within the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). You can contact the Donor Services team on 1300 300 010 (9.00am - 5.30pm) or email donorcare@unicef.my for more information.

How do I make changes to my monthly UNICEF donation?

Every Ringgit is crucial to carry out the important work we do for children and we hope to get your vital support. However, should you ever need to stop your UNICEF donation, all you have to do is contact us through the contact details provided below. Please allow a maximum of 30 days for the termination of auto debit, debit card or credit card arrangements to take effect. Our contact details can be found below:

UNICEF Malaysia  
United Nations Children’s Fund, 
Menara PJH, Level 10, No. 2, 
Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Precinct 2, 
62100, Putrajaya, Malaysia. 

Donor Services Hotline: 1300 300 010 
Fax: +603 2093 0582 
Email: donorcare@unicef.my
Contact: Donor Services Team 
Office hours: Monday - Friday; 9.00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Are there other ways to sign up and donate to UNICEF’s monthly donation programme?

Yes, you can download the form from the donation page and submit it to us via mail/fax or to the address below. Please make all cheques payable to UNICEF. You can also sign up as a UNICEF monthly donor via our Face-to-Face Fundraising Programme.

Our contact details can be found below:

UNICEF Malaysia
United Nations Children’s Fund,
Menara PJH, Level 10, No. 2,
Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Precinct 2,
62100, Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Donor Services Hotline: 1300 300 010
Fax: +603 2093 0582
Email: donorcare@unicef.my
Contact: Donor Services Team
Office hours: Monday - Friday; 9.00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

How do I change my address and bank details?

Please let us know as soon as you move, or if your bank details change for any reason. When doing this, we advise you not to email any bank details as we cannot guarantee security. Please call UNICEF Malaysia’s Donor Hotline at 1300 300 010 – they will be happy to amend your donations details.

What are other ways that I can donate to UNICEF?

There are number of ways you can donate to UNICEF. One of them is to inspire your social circle to contribute to the future of children. Get your family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, hobby interest groups involved and donate to UNICEF via SimplyGiving. Check out the fundraising guide here.

Besides, you can donate via a Tribute Gift to honour yourself or someone special by celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, wedding anniversaries, job promotions, retirement, newborn babies and so much more.

Furthermore, you can also choose to leave a gift in your will to support UNICEF's work on building a better world for children. Your legacy giving can help transform the lives of many children today and tomorrow.

What is the importance of my donation to UNICEF?

By making a donation to UNICEF, you really are making a difference to children's lives. 

With your donation, you are working together with UNICEF for the survival, protection and development of children in Malaysia and more than 190 countries all around the world. As an established international organization, UNICEF has good systems and are able to fully utilise your donation to really help a child in need, not only in Malaysia but other countries around the world where it is harder to reach.  We ensure more of the world's children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. 

We get things done. And we're not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

Is UNICEF a charitable organization in Malaysia? What is UNICEF doing?

No, UNICEF’s work is funded entirely through the voluntary contributions and support of public and our partners in government, civil society and the private sector. 

A core area of UNICEF work is on humanitarian action, where UNICEF is spending vast amount of resources to ensure that children in emergency contexts have an opportunity to survive and thrive.

As part of its Humanitarian Action for Children 2022 appeal, UNICEF plans to reach:

- 7.2 million children with treatment for severe acute malnutrition;
- 62.1 million children with measles vaccinations;
- 53.4 million people with access to safe water for drinking and domestic needs;
- 27.9 million children and caregivers with access to mental health and psychosocial support;
- 21.3 million children and women with access to gender-based violence risk mitigation, prevention or response interventions;
- 51.9 million people with safe and accessible channels to report sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers;
- 77.1 million children with formal or non-formal education, including early learning; and
- 23.6 million households with cash assistance.