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10 Questions: Jimmy Kolker

What IS YOUR NAME and your last assignment with UNICEF?
Jimmy Kolker, NYHQ, Head of AIDS section in Programmes 2007-11

How old do you feel?

I'm 77 - feel young enough that I'm still working 15 years since I aged out of UNICEF

Where do you live?
Washington, DC USA

What book do you currently read?
Everything is Tuberculosis

If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go?
UK to see our grandchildren, and rediscover everywhere I've been (101 countries) and everywhere I haven't been.

Your best experience with UNICEF?
The worldwide AIDS team 2007-11 and visiting most of them in the field

Your biggest challenge when working for UNICEF?
The systems for HR, budget and management were from the last century. It was hard to maximize impact.

What is your biggest fear, in relation to the future of children? What is your greatest hope, in relation to children?
Fear:
Trust-based, rules-based, science-and-evidence-based international systems and institutions are disappearing.
The ability to continue and build on programs advancing inclusion and equity is under direct and probably mortal threat
Hope:
That good people doing good work are everywhere, and better possibilities to recognize, link and support them already exist.

What is one piece of advice you would wish to give to the UNICEF Executive Director?
Sitting in Washington, I'm not in a position to be so presumptuous

Do you have any suggestions to improve XUNICEF - content, format, ideas, etc..?

Ditto

Jimmy can be contacted at Your e-mail (optional) : JJKolker@gmail.com.

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