New UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone to build on progress for children

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 14 July 2026 – Ms. Mariko Kagoshima has presented her credentials to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Francess Piagie Alghali, as the new UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone.

In this role, Ms. Kagoshima will lead UNICEF’s work with 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.

Before joining UNICEF Sierra Leone, Ms. Kagoshima 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. She previously served as UNICEF Representative in Jamaica, leading 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.

Through the UNICEF Sierra Leone Country Programme 2025–2030, UNICEF supports national efforts to build on Sierra Leone’s progress for children while addressing the barriers that continue to hold too many children back and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

At the presentation of credentials, Ms. Kagoshima reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working with the Government of Sierra Leone and partners to support progress for children.

Accepting her credentials, Hon. Francess Piagie Alghali noted UNICEF’s longstanding partnership with Sierra Leone and its support for national development priorities for children.

“On behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, I warmly welcome Ms. Kagoshima to Freetown and look forward to further strengthening our partnership with UNICEF,” said Hon. Francess Piagie Alghali. “Children, especially girls, are central to Sierra Leone’s human development agenda, and we greatly value UNICEF’s technical expertise and capacity-strengthening support. We look forward to continued collaboration, including preparations for upcoming reporting under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as we work together to accelerate results for every child.”

UNICEF remains committed to working with the Government of Sierra Leone and partners to advance children’s rights and help ensure that every child has the services, protection and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

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About UNICEF: 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 in Sierra Leone, visit https://www.unicef.org/sierraleone and follow UNICEF Sierra Leone on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.