UNICEF has been in South Sudan since 1989 when Southern Sudan was part of Sudan. Under a ‘One Country, Two Areas Programme approach, UNICEF worked for children in what is now the world's newest country. The current country office was established at the time of independence in July 2011.

UNICEF currently has 13 field and zonal offices throughout South Sudan enabling them to deliver life-saving services to all corners of the country, despite the poor infrastructure.