New UNICEF Representative in Somalia presents credentials

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 15 May 2019 – Newly-appointed UNICEF Representative in Somalia, Mr. Werner Schultink, today presented his credentials to the State Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Abdulkadir Ahmed-Kheir Abd.

Welcoming Mr. Schultink to Somalia, the Minister said he looked forward to continuing the strong collaboration with UNICEF to help improve the lives of children and women in the nation.

“It is a great honour to be here in Somalia,” said the new UNICEF Representative. “I look forward to working closely with the Federal Government of Somalia in our shared mission to improve the lives of Somalia’s children. These children are the future of this country and it is imperative that we champion and uphold their child rights so that they can achieve their huge potential and also contribute back to their communities in a productive and meaningful way.”

Mr. Schultink, a national of the Netherlands, joined UNICEF in April 1999 and has held several senior positions including most recently, the UNICEF Representative in Kenya from July 2016-May 2019. Mr. Schultink was also the Chief of Nutrition at Headquarters in New York.

He has written extensively about nutrition issues in the developing world in both academic journals and specialized books. Before joining UNICEF, Mr. Schultink had extensive experience working with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation from 1990 to 1999.

The new Representative will play a critical role in steering the Somalia Country Office in realizing its commitment to children and their families in collaboration with the Government of Somalia.

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