Desiree Jongsma
Ms. Desiree Monique Jongsma joined UNICEF Moldova Country Office in September 2017. As UNICEF Representative, she is responsible for oversight of all activities under the Government of the Republic of Moldova – UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation from UNICEF side. These include planning, coordination, resource mobilization and implementation of programmes of cooperation contributing to further enhancing national capacities towards ensuring that all children of Moldova, especially the most vulnerable, enjoy their rights to education, health, adequate standard of living, and participation within a child-friendly legal environment, and are protected from abandonment, neglect, discrimination, exploitation and violence.
Prior to Ms. Jongsma’s assignment in Moldova, she has served as UNICEF Representative in Timor-Leste (2014-2017) and DPR Korea (2012-2014), as Deputy Representative in Sri Lanka Country Office (2007-2012), as well as in Laos PDR Country Office (2004-2007).
In earlier years, she worked for UNICEF first as Project Officer and later on as Chief of the Education Programme in Cambodia (1998-2003), as Education Officer in New Delhi, India (1993-1997) and as a freelance consultant in Freetown, Sierra Leone (1990).
Ms. Jongsma is a national of the Netherlands. She graduated from the University of Groningen, Netherlands in 1985.