The newly designated representative of UNICEF in The Gambia, Ms Nafisa Binte Shafique, was full of praises for the Government of The Gambia for the “strong and instrumental support” it provides to UNICEF in general and for hosting the Ministerial and High-Level Retreat on the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children in situations of conflict in Africa, held from 4-6 December 2023.
Ms Shafique was speaking on the occasion of the presentation of her credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Hon Dr Momodou Tangara at the Foreign Ministry in Banjul last week.
Further in her remarks, she also hailed The Gambia for assuming the chair of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union Commission for December 2023.
The UNICEF then expressed deep gratitude to the Government of The Gambia for its support to the development of the new UNICEF Country Programme Document (CPD 2024-2028), and informed the Minister that the new CPD was developed in close collaboration with the Department of Strategic Policy and Delivery at the Office of the President and in consultation with different government ministries and institutions, civil society, and the public.
All of this, she noted, shows that The Gambia is a frontrunner for children’s rights in Africa and beyond.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Dr Momodou Tangara welcomed Ms Shafique to The Gambia and described her as the right person for the job due to her strong background in development. He assured her of government’s continuous support and collaboration, describing UNICEF’s work as noble. “Working for children is working for the future,” he said.
About Nafisa
Ms. Nafisa Binte Shafique is the Country Representative of UNICEF The Gambia.
Prior to joining UNICEF The Gambia Country Office on December 01 2023, Ms. Shafique served as UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bihar, India from December 2020 to November 2023. Before that, she had also served as UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Homs and Hama, Syria from 2016-2018 and UNICEF Deputy Representative in Sudan (2018-2020) and Azerbaijan (2014-2016).
Ms. Shafique has a long experience of working in the humanitarian and development sector. She started her UNICEF career as a national officer in Bangladesh 20 years ago and has since served the organization in different capacities, including as Chief of HIV and AIDS section in Kathmandu, Nepal, Chief of Adolescent Development and Participation in Kathmandu, Nepal, Head of Adolescent HIV Prevention in Lesotho, and Child Protection Officer (Adolescent Development) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
She has also worked in other organizations, including UNFPA, Expressions Ltd. (a leading social communication agency in Bangladesh), as well as national and international NGOs like Save the Children. Her major areas of expertise areAdolescent Development and Participation, (ADAP), HIV and AIDS, Social and Behavior Change and Gender.
Ms. Shafique is a citizen of Bangladesh and holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands, as well as in Social Science from University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Source: UNICEF Gambia
