Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey was appointed Director of the Office of Global Innovation in April 2016.

Prior to her appointment she served as Director, Office of the Executive Director, and Chief of Staff from October 2011.

Her ties with UNICEF date back to 2001. She has served the UNICEF family in a number of positions; as a Senior Programme Advisor, leading the relationship between the children’s agency and the governments of the United States, Canada, and Ireland; and as a Senior Vice President at the US Fund for UNICEF.

Ms. McCaffrey began her career in international development with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in New York. She has travelled and worked overseas extensively, including extended posts in Latin America and Africa.

Before joining UNICEF in March 2001, Ms. McCaffrey was with the office of the U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank where she coordinated issues regarding Africa, debt relief, health, education and post-conflict.

In 1995, Ms. McCaffrey was selected to be a White House Fellow, and served at USAID.

Ms. McCaffrey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Texas.

Ms. McCaffrey spends her free time with her family at softball and soccer games and comedy shows featuring her brother.