Roberto Benes is the new UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
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Panama City, 24 March 2025 - Roberto Benes assumed his position as UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean on 24 March 2025.
Based in Panama City, Mr. Benes leads, oversees and provides guidance for 36 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. He also represents UNICEF before governments, donors, the private sector and civil society in the region.
With over 25 years of service at UNICEF, Mr. Benes most recently served as Director of UNICEF’s Office in Tokyo, leading partnerships and resource mobilization with the Government of Japan. He was also the Director of Generation Unlimited, the global public-private partnership for young people hosted by UNICEF.
His extensive experience with UNICEF also includes leading as Representative in Argentina and Mongolia, serving at the Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, working at the Banda Aceh Field Office in Indonesia (Indian Ocean Tsunami Emergency Response), the Country Office in Senegal and UNICEF’s Global Research Office (Innocenti Research Center).
Mr. Benes holds a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and a Master’s in Development Cooperation. His technical expertise includes child protection and social policy, and he has valuable experience in strategic partnerships and resource mobilization. He is a national of Italy.
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UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org/lac/en.
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