XUNICEF News and Views

The two finalists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup know each other for almost 19 years (- as per Kul’s BBC article - published on the Blog 17/7/26),

Child Alert: 20 years on, children under threat in Darfur

From: Message from the Comptroller < MessagefromtheComptroller@unicef.org > Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 1:43 PM Subject: Co-location of United Nations Agencies at UNICEF House Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to share with you that UNICEF House ( 3 United Nations Plaza ) now hosts several United Nations agencies as part of the ongoing Headquarters Space Optimization initiative. This co-location is part of the DFAM Space Optimization Initiative, following the consolidation of all New York Headquarters staff into UNICEF House after the expiration of the 633 Third Avenue lease and the implementation of FFI. The approach enables cost-sharing with other UN agencies and supports greater operational efficiency. Co-located Agencies The following agencies have joined us through signed lease agreements: Co-located Agencies The following agencies have joined us through signed lease agreements: Agency Location No. of Staff Workplace ...

The Leadership UNICEF Needs Now: Systems. Integrity. Moral Courage.

  UNICEF Future Focus Initiative: Restructuring UNICEF January 14, 2026 Click here for the report Summary: UNICEF presented its Future Focus Initiative (FFI) to the Executive Board on January 14, 2026, outlining a comprehensive organizational restructuring in response to projected funding shortfalls. 

UNICEF Paris, Villa Borghese (Courtesy Fouad Kronfol) UNICEF Paris: From the earliest period of its operations  the main UNICEF office outside HQ was in Paris which covered Europe, Eastern Mediterranean and Africa. It was in the magnificent estate of Villa Borghese,in Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris.In 1970/71 UNICEF decided to move the office to Geneva to be closer to WHO and other INGO's and to reduce costs .It completed the move in 1973. In his memoirs Louis Gendron, who was Director of Administration and responsible for the event, has a complete chapter on the issues involved.

Dear colleagues, Further to the decision on consolidation of four regional offices and two headquarters divisions, I am pleased to inform you of the following senior staff appointments: Edouard Beigbeder has been appointed as the Regional Director for Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa, effective 1 January 2027. Edouard, a national of Serbia, is currently Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa. Prior to this role, he was Representative in Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bangladesh and Haiti. Edouard brings over thirty years of progressively responsible experience in UNICEF in both humanitarian and development settings. He has extensive experience in leading teams in complex environments and building strategic partnerships. Edouard holds a Master's degree in Business Management and a Master's degree in Organization and Management of Production.

UNICEF Day 2025 is celebrated on December 11, marking the founding of the organization in 1946, with activities focusing on raising awareness and funds for children's needs through initiatives like the "Day for Change,".

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Filippo Grandi (@filippograndi) https://www.instagram.com/p/DSDSaVfjN-I/?igsh=b2E1cjEwbHRwZTQ2  

Editor's Note: We did not receive the attachment to this memo sent to Innocenti approving a new name for the combined office in Florence and mentioning a new name for the Programme Group.

  Ending Child Poverty: Main Takeaways from The State of the World’s Children 2025 Click here for the Executive Summary Click here for the full SOWCR See below the summary for a point by point outline

  UN Staffers Depart Manhattan's Urban Canyons for Kenya's Leafy Capital Authors: Colum Lynch, Ayenat Mersie Publication: Devex Date: November 5, 2025 Click here for the article Summary: United Nations agencies including UNICEF, the UN Population Fund, and UN Women are transferring several hundred staff members from New York to Nairobi, Kenya, to reduce costs and position workers closer to program beneficiaries. 

Editor's Note: This bulletin presents much more of the details on post changes which we first reported a few days ago. Subject: Future Focus Initiative, Bulletin #2 Dear Colleagues, As part of the on-going efforts to keep you informed on developments in the Future Focus Initiative (FFI), I am pleased to share with you this FFI Bulletin #2.

Summary  UNICEF is consolidating three operational functions — recruitment administration, individual consultant contracting, and regional/HQ travel services — into its Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) to cut costs, standardize processes, and free Country Offices to focus on program delivery and advocacy. T

Dear All I’m in a mourning period. So please forgive any errors or over statement of UNICEF’s situation. I think you know I used to be part of the staff and very likely have heard me going on and on about some experience in a distant place. UNICEF gave me opportunity to meet people I never would have, to work on projects I loved, and do this in places I never expected to be in. I’m mourning because the headquarters of this organization is essentially being dispersed and reduced by 25%. I knew there was change coming, and felt some cutting and sharpening of focus would help. It now appears that by end December our main headquarters staff location will be Nairobi. It also appears that most of the programming functions are moving to a set of different cities, Rome, Valencia and Budapest. Admin staff moved to Budapest several years ago. The New York headquarters appears to be a thing of the past. Okay, it’s been in NYC 80 years, yes Eleanor Roosevelt was our first Exdir, yes it won the No...

Dear Colleagues,   I am pleased to share the decisions regarding the relocation of fixed-term (FT) posts to lower-cost duty stations.     Relocation is a key component of our Future Focus Initiative (FFI), aimed at bringing teams closer to the children we serve through our programmes and country operations, enhancing efficiencies and realizing cost savings over the next quadrennium (2026-2029) and beyond.   Relocations of FT posts from New York and Geneva    PFP : 95 percent of posts relocated with the majority in Rome.    DAPM :100 percent of posts will be relocated to Florence in line with the consolidation of DAPM and GoRAF to the new Office of Strategy and Evidence.   DPC : 89 percent of posts relocated with the majority in Budapest and Istanbul.   DGCA : 75 percent of posts relocated with the majority in Rome and Valencia.   Evaluation Office : 100 percent of posts to be relocated to Rome.    EMOPS : 59 percent...

Dear Friends, After more than 35 years with UNICEF, both in India and abroad, I’ve finally gathered enough courage (and breath ) to share a bit of my journey in the form of my very first unscripted and candid podcast. It weaves together snippets of my UNICEF years along with a childhood passion for theatre, that thankfully, refuses to retire! 

To: All UNICEF Colleagues Workforce and Recruitment Report – Semester 1, 2025 Dear Colleagues, UNICEF operates in some of the world’s most challenging places to reach the most vulnerable people, working to build a brighter future for every child. Our people are central to our mission, dedicated, committed, and essential to our success.