Linked-in post by Shanelle Hall and shared by Niloufar Pourzand
See also the link to his obituary below.
Robert Bell passed away on June 11th while on holiday with his family in Normandy. He was 71. He is survived by his wife Birgitte and his three children Beth, Manus and Asger; and grandchildren.
Shanelle
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Today we honour Robert Bell. The post by his family on Facebook puts it best ... it describes the wonderful Robert we worked with at UNICEF for sixteen years.
I thought to share three of the many things that are in my mind about him.
1. Procedures: Odd one, I know. But if you know, you know. If you worked in or with the Supply Division and wondered how it got things done—how this complex operation ebbed and flowed without chaos—you can thank Robert. He drafted and ushered in procedures and processes that were the backbone of our work. So people knew what to do when providing medicines, vaccines, school and WASH supplies, construction projects, etc.
The “freedom of clarity.” Assurance that actions would make good use of donor funding and do no harm to children. This pre-dated the QMS system. Steve Jarrett insisted Robert be given time to undertake this massive years-long task, which protected the organization from misuse of funds and waste. This wasn’t his (I imagined he would have been one of Europe’s top fiction writers or poets or commentators), but to the extent the multi-billion dollar operation works efficiently today, much is thanks to him.
If there was a costly error, we could almost always point to an activity that didn’t have clear inputs, outputs, and steps: and that wasn’t developed by the staff that knew the work best. A Robert Bell procedure. He applied his command of language and his delightful way, inspiring colleagues to engage, not because they liked the task but because they liked Robert.
2. Care and Justice: I recall so many times his arm raising up in a staff meeting to calmly and eloquently raise a concern, a caution, or encourage. He used his wit and compassion to convey the pulse of others, even when it was hard for management to hear.
3. Joy: And of course, his lunch table and walkabouts. A witty take on happenings, football scores (Liverpool), a trade of stories (the goss), and a feeling of connection. Always a smile. He was a safe place for so many people (as many were to him). This came across in his writings about UNICEF Supply, its staff, it's work and of course, children.
Well dear Robert, thank you. For bringing the unique you to all of us. You live in our hearts, and your legacy continues to deliver impact. And dear Robert's family, thank you thank you for sharing him with us.
Rest in peace, Robert
Rest in eternal peace, Robert..
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