Pernille Ironside has officially assumed her role as the new UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, presenting her credentials to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In her new capacity, Ironside reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of children across the country, pledging to work closely with the government, development partners, civil society, and the public and private sectors to create lasting positive change for every child.
Ironside highlighted the broad scope of UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, which takes a comprehensive approach to support children from birth through adolescence. The UNICEF country programme aims to nurture, educate, protect, and assist children at every stage of their development. The organization’s priorities include strengthening education systems to expand access and improve learning outcomes, enhancing maternal and newborn care, reducing child malnutrition, and increasing access to clean water and sanitation.
Additional focus areas under Ironside’s leadership will be expanding child protection measures, boosting birth registration rates, promoting gender equality, and addressing the risks children face from disasters, climate change, and environmental challenges. UNICEF will continue to support both long-term development initiatives and humanitarian assistance in partnership with the Government of Pakistan.
Ironside, a Canadian national, brings over two decades of experience in international development, humanitarian action, and child rights advocacy to her new role. Before arriving in Pakistan, she served in senior capacities with UNICEF, including Deputy Director of Data, Planning, Analytics and Monitoring at UNICEF Headquarters in New York, Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Chief of Field Operations in Iraq, and Chief of the Gaza Strip Field Office. Her experience also includes work in Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
Emphasizing the country’s demographic potential, Ironside noted that nearly half of Pakistan’s population is under 18 and two-thirds are under 30. She described this young population as a powerful driver of transformation, emphasizing that investments in education, healthcare, nutrition, safe water, and climate resilience are essential to unlocking the talent and creativity of Pakistan’s youth and ensuring national progress and prosperity. Ironside expressed her commitment to lead UNICEF Pakistan’s mission and to champion the rights and welfare of every child.
