Meet the Representative
Find out more about the UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone
Ms. Mariko Kagoshima is the UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone, based in Freetown. As Representative, she leads UNICEF’s work in support of the Government of Sierra Leone and partners to advance the rights and well-being of children across the country, especially those facing the greatest barriers. She works closely with government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, communities and young people to help turn commitments for children into lasting change — so that every child can grow up healthy, safe, learning and empowered.
Ms. Kagoshima brings more than 20 years of experience with UNICEF, with a strong track record in programme leadership, strategic partnerships, and advancing results for children in humanitarian and development contexts.
Prior to joining UNICEF Sierra Leone, she served as Deputy Representative in Ethiopia, where she provided leadership and oversight to one of UNICEF’s largest country programmes and supported efforts to strengthen resilience, climate action and innovation. Before that, she served as UNICEF Representative in Jamaica, where she led programme implementation and strategic partnerships to advance results for children.
Throughout her UNICEF career, Ms. Kagoshima has held senior leadership and programme roles in Guatemala, Honduras, Uganda, Angola, Afghanistan and Mexico, contributing to humanitarian and development responses that support children and families.
“For every child in Sierra Leone, rights must translate into real opportunities — to be healthy, protected, learning and able to shape their own futures. Guided by UNICEF’s Country Programme 2025–2030, we are building on Sierra Leone’s progress and promise for children and working with partners to accelerate results for those most at risk of being left behind. Together, we will continue to support national efforts to remove the barriers that prevent children from thriving and contributing to Sierra Leone’s development.”
Ms. Kagoshima holds a Master’s degree with Distinction from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Doshisha University in Japan.
