UNICEF Representative to Myanmar

Mr. Yasumasa Kimura was appointed as UNICEF Representative to Myanmar in June 2025.

Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Kimura served as UNICEF Representative in Syria from May 2023, providing strategic, programmatic, and operational leadership in one of the most complex and protracted humanitarian contexts globally. Mr. Kimura spearheaded the successful integration of the Whole of Syria architecture into a unified Country Office structure, enhancing coordination, operational coherence, and programmatic effectiveness. He also led the office through a strategic shift from life-saving humanitarian response to early recovery and development programming, positioning UNICEF as a partner of choice in the UN’s support to Syria’s historic transition.

Mr. Kimura has over 25 years of experience with UNICEF. He served as Deputy Representative (Programmes) for UNICEF India (2021-2023), supporting one of UNICEF’s largest country programmes and providing advisory and management support to 13 field offices, covering 23 states and two union territories. He has also served as the Director of the UNICEF Public Partnerships Division in Tokyo, Japan (2016-2020) and as the UNICEF Regional Chief of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (2012-2015) in the East Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok. Mr. Kimura held several positions at UNICEF Headquarters in New York as well.

A Japanese national, Mr. Kimura holds a Master of Arts in International Development and Social Change from Clark University in the United States.