UNICEF has been operating in Burundi since 1962. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF calls for all children to have their rights protected, their basic needs met, and their potential expanded to the fullest.

Making sure that children can live healthily, that they can learn and develop their skills and capacities, and that they are kept safe from violence, abuse and exploitation is essential to human progress. Therefore, UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to help them develop policies and deliver services for children and their families.

UNICEF pays particular attention to the most disadvantaged children – children affected by disasters, extreme poverty, violence, exploitation and discrimination, including girls and children with special needs, and children from minority groups – and supports their survival, development and protection.

Humanitarian disasters-climate hazards and epidemics- are especially hard to bear for children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and families.