In all Circumstances, We Stay and Deliver

This blog is part of a series written by President and CEO Sevaun Palvetzian celebrating humanitarians across UNICEF. 

"That to which we put our energy, grows."

It's a truism in life. Proven from every angle I've seen it through.

Including through the eyes and fingerprints of my friend and UNICEF colleague Anne-Claire Dufay.

I met Anne-Claire, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean in Panama City. You are immediately drawn to the warmth of her. Our first meeting was over a meal, with a few other members of the UNICEF team, including Mark Connolly, Sandie Blanchet and Canadian Ambassador to Panama Kim Ursu.

Our conversation lasted hours and I knew by the end of it that our friendship was just getting started. I tried to memorize every word said. I was blown away by the stories that Anne-Claire and others shared about their humanitarian work through UNICEF. It was clear to me that this work is deeply personal; it imbeds itself into all parts of their life – and that of their families.

Anne-Claire is incredibly humble. But the impact she's driven is anything but modest:

In Bangladesh, she helped girls and women who survived acid attacks that disfigured them. Some of the survivors, once helped and empowered, became inspiring advocates.

In Timor-Leste and Myanmar, she guided teams to address serious child rights violations and enhance protection systems.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ghana, Anne-Claire and her team supported the governments in strengthening equal access to basic services. Ghana was the first country in the world to received COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX facility, which the Government of Canada supported.

In the Latin America and Caribbean region, UNICEF teams work tirelessly to promote gender equality, empower adolescent girls, and give them opportunities to learn new skills.

Anne-Claire has met many children and young people over her 26-year career with UNICEF. She would tell you that each of them stays very close to her heart.

“In all circumstances, we stay and deliver. We are determined to achieve results for the children we serve. We never give up.” 

For her, a lifelong humanitarian, the work is deeply personal.

For us, it’s deeply inspiring and motivating.

It may be impossible to measure the energy that humanitarians like Anne-Claire pour into others' lives each day.

But every bit of it counts: it multiplies; it reverberates to impact millions.