Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 8
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
Andro Shilkadze has been appointed new Representative for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Azerbaijan, UNICEF office in Azerbaijan told Trend.
Shilakadze takes up his post over from Mark Hereward.
"Azerbaijan has already made achievements in realizing the rights of children and continues to build on its successes to reach the most vulnerable," Shilakadze said. "UNICEF remains committed to help the country ensure that the needs of children and, especially those who are most disadvantaged and excluded, are not forgotten."
Shilakadze has previously held distinctive positions within the UNICEF and has served in countries of Central and South Asia. Prior to his current posting, Shilakazde has been serving as UNICEF Chief Field Office, based in Karachi, Pakistan. In this capacity he has provided leadership in the development and implementation of the UNICEF programmes in Sindh province of Pakistan.
As UNICEF Deputy Representative for Uzbekistan in 2003-2009, he provided overall coordination in the development and implementation of the UNICEF country programme.
Shilakadze joined UNICEF in 1999 in Tbilisi as UNICEF Project Officer in Health. From 2001-2003 he has served as UNICEF Project Officer in Social Policy.
He also served as Visiting Professor in University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, based in Columbia, Missouri, USA, where he led academic activities in the full range of neonatal care in 1999.
From 1996 till 1998 he served as Project Officer Evaluation, Missouri State Health Department, based in Jefferson City, Missouri, USA, where he was responsible for planning, data collection, analysis and reporting for the project in the Southeast-Bootheel area of the State of Missouri.
Shilakadze earned a Doctor of Medicine from Tbilisi State Medical University in 1989, followed by Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine from Institute of Biotechnology, Tbilisi, Georgia in 1992.