Newly appointed UNICEF Representative, Mr. Rudolf Schwenk, has replaced Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, who served as the UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone from November 2019 to April 2023.

Mr. Schwenk recently presented his letter of credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. David Francis, at his office in Tower Hill, Freetown.

During the presentation of his letter of credence, Mr. Schwenk affirmed his commitment to supporting the government of Sierra Leone and its vision for children in the country.

“I am very happy and honored to join UNICEF Sierra Leone. The country has made tremendous progress in improving child survival and development, but there is still much work to be done to ensure that all children have access to the services they need to grow up healthy, educated, and protected,” said Mr. Schwenk.

Bringing a wealth of experience in Sierra Leone, Schwenk has conducted field trips in the country to gain firsthand experience of the Early Childhood Development Centre and the Special Care Baby Unit at the Makeni Government Hospital. He also interacted with the UNICEF field staff.

Mr. Schwenk has worked with the United Nations for 24 years and with UNICEF for over twenty years. He began his career with NGOs in Germany in the area of development cooperation. In 1995, he joined the United Nations, working with UNRWA in Jordan, and since 2000, he has been serving with UNICEF in Niger, India, Denmark, and Bhutan.