Novak Djokovic was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2015.
Before receiving the global title, Djokovic had served as a UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia from 2011. In August 2015, UNICEF appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador with a focus on early childhood development, building on his advocacy for vulnerable children and the work of the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
His UNICEF role was not simply honorary. He visited early-learning and child-care settings, spoke about the importance of the first years of life, and helped draw attention to children affected by poverty and displacement. UNICEF describes early childhood development as a foundation for later learning, health and well-being.
A frequent source of confusion is the distinction between his two UNICEF appointments: 2011 refers to his Serbian national ambassadorship, while 2015 refers to the global Goodwill Ambassador role. UNICEF lists him as a Goodwill Ambassador alumnus and says he held that global role until May 2020.