UNICEF appoints new head in the Eastern Caribbean

AbdulKadir Musse, a veteran humanitarian worker, has taken over as UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Area. In this capacity, Musse will lead UNICEF's Multi-Country Programme across 12 countries and territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

On 24 March 2025, Musse presented his credentials to Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Bridgetown. Minister Symmonds warmly welcomed the new head, thanking UNICEF for its invaluable support to children and young people in Barbados and the broader Eastern Caribbean over the past four decades. The Minister reaffirmed the Government of Barbados’ commitment to further strengthening collaboration with UNICEF in the region, particularly in the areas of education reform and climate resilience. 

Musse brings with him a wealth of experience in humanitarian leadership, with a distinguished career spanning over two decades.  He has successfully navigated complex crises around the world, with a particular focus on emergency response, humanitarian operations, and child welfare. In his new role, he is committed to advancing sustainable development, enhancing emergency preparedness, and ensuring the protection and well-being of children across the region.

"I am deeply grateful to Minister Symmonds for his warm reception," said Musse. "I look forward to engaging with policymakers across the Eastern Caribbean, but more importantly, I look forward to connecting with the children and young people whose lives we are working to improve. Together, we will face the challenges and embrace the opportunities of this rapidly changing world, always with the goal of ensuring a brighter future for every child." 

Musse most recently served as Chief of Field Operations and Emergencies at the UNICEF Afghanistan Country Office, where he led efforts to address some of the most pressing crises in that region, providing strategic guidance and overseeing the efficient delivery of emergency response efforts. He worked closely with local teams to ensure that UNICEF’s interventions were both timely and tailored to the specific needs of affected communities.

From 2020 to 2021, Musse served as UNICEF’s Special Representative to Libya, where he was instrumental in advancing the organization's mission amidst ongoing humanitarian challenges. His leadership strengthened UNICEF’s presence and impact, particularly for children and families affected by conflict. 

Mr Musse’s extensive humanitarian career also includes serving as Senior Emergency Specialist in UNICEF’s Humanitarian Field Support Section at Headquarters in New York. From 2013 to 2020, he was regularly deployed to disaster zones and conflict regions, including Venezuela, Afghanistan, Bangladesh (during the Rohingya refugee crisis), and during several Ebola outbreaks. His leadership was central to UNICEF’s response to emergencies in South Sudan, Syria, Nepal, and the Horn of Africa, as well as during major public health emergencies such as cholera outbreaks and the European refugee and migrant crisis. 

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This story was first published by UNICEF Eastern Caribbean.