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What was your last assignment with UNICEF?
Chief of Early Warning and Preparedness Unit, EMOPs
How old do you feel?
about 55
Where do you live?
Where do you live?
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
What book are you currently reading?
What book are you currently reading?
The History of Civilization (Durant)
If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go?
If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go?
South America, Africa, Asia, Europe....
Your best experience with UNICEF?
The honor of being a part of the sacred UNICEF cause and member of the UNICEF family, working on humanitarian causes, with wonderful individuals and teams in many countries, under inspiring supervisors who provided space and support for innovation and problem-solving, and the privilege of creating and leading UNICEF's early warning and preparedness efforts globally with exceptionally competent and professional colleagues.
Your best experience with UNICEF?
The honor of being a part of the sacred UNICEF cause and member of the UNICEF family, working on humanitarian causes, with wonderful individuals and teams in many countries, under inspiring supervisors who provided space and support for innovation and problem-solving, and the privilege of creating and leading UNICEF's early warning and preparedness efforts globally with exceptionally competent and professional colleagues.
Your biggest challenge when working for UNICEF?
The goal was to do everything possible to help offices ensure effective and timely response to the needs of children and families in crisis situations. The biggest challenge in my experience was maintaining the commitment and sustained efforts by offices/staff to preparedness, continually threatened by the heavy workloads and funding limitations.
What is your biggest fear, in relation to the future of children?
Life and life systems are clearly fragile, easily disrupted or broken, with extreme consequences for children. Clearly more and more children are likely to suffer the consequences of war/conflict, displacement, impoverishment, environmental degradation, and children's support structures (e.g. families, schools, communities) seem also to be under increasing threat.
What is your greatest hope, in relation to children?
The hope for children lies in humankind's values, sense of humanity, empathy and action. As threats to children's well-being and rights increase, so too must the counter-measures increase. The hope for children is that the values that uphold the care and protection of children will continue to be upheld and supported.
What is your one piece of advice you wish to give to the UNICEF Executive Director:
UNICEF could have chosen a charity role in response to the needs of children, or the consulting group approach. Instead, it wisely chose a developmental, capacity-building approach supporting governments and local civil society in their efforts to meet the needs of their children and families. UNICEF's success is rooted in its commitment to a collaborative approach in assessing needs, in developing strategies and approaches, and mobilizing collective efforts to address critical issues. My advice - protect and support this participatory approach; ensure that the staff leading these efforts have both the cutting edge knowledge AND proven practical experience, and that they are supported in ways that guide but enable innovation and problem-solving.
The goal was to do everything possible to help offices ensure effective and timely response to the needs of children and families in crisis situations. The biggest challenge in my experience was maintaining the commitment and sustained efforts by offices/staff to preparedness, continually threatened by the heavy workloads and funding limitations.
What is your biggest fear, in relation to the future of children?
Life and life systems are clearly fragile, easily disrupted or broken, with extreme consequences for children. Clearly more and more children are likely to suffer the consequences of war/conflict, displacement, impoverishment, environmental degradation, and children's support structures (e.g. families, schools, communities) seem also to be under increasing threat.
What is your greatest hope, in relation to children?
The hope for children lies in humankind's values, sense of humanity, empathy and action. As threats to children's well-being and rights increase, so too must the counter-measures increase. The hope for children is that the values that uphold the care and protection of children will continue to be upheld and supported.
What is your one piece of advice you wish to give to the UNICEF Executive Director:
UNICEF could have chosen a charity role in response to the needs of children, or the consulting group approach. Instead, it wisely chose a developmental, capacity-building approach supporting governments and local civil society in their efforts to meet the needs of their children and families. UNICEF's success is rooted in its commitment to a collaborative approach in assessing needs, in developing strategies and approaches, and mobilizing collective efforts to address critical issues. My advice - protect and support this participatory approach; ensure that the staff leading these efforts have both the cutting edge knowledge AND proven practical experience, and that they are supported in ways that guide but enable innovation and problem-solving.
Everett Ressler can be contacted via everett.ressler@gmail.com
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