Antony Spalton
38 years of senior level experience in the management of humanitarian and development work - policy and practice - with Afghanaid, UNICEF and the Red Cross movement in a variety of developing, fragile and conflict contexts. Represented and managed country programmes for the British Red Cross, IFRC and UNICEF. This included as IFRC Country Representative in Cambodia (2002-2004) and UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office for Darfur, Sudan (2019-2025). Led on the development of policy and guidance while providing direct technical support to country offices on Disaster Risk Reduction, resilience and peacebuilding including as it relates to Climate Change and the ‘humanitarian and development nexus’.
Recent Professional Experience
Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Darfur, Sudan (August 2019 to January 2025). Represented and managed UNICEFs multi-million dollar programming ( with 139 staff) in Darfur. This included all support to the provision of basic social services, partnership development, peace building and most recently, the leadership of cross border operations from Chad.
Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Afghanistan (January to April 2018). Managing the largest UNICEF Field Office with more than 30 staff in a context of longer term programming and humanitarian action (including conflict, refugees, displacement and drought). Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Resilience Adviser, UNICEF, NY and Geneva (September 2008 to 2019).
Leads on policy and programming aspects of Risk Informed Programming including DRR and resilience (including as it links to climate change and the Emergency Preparedness Platform).
Supports UNICEF regional and country offices in strengthening national and sub-national capacity in risk assessment (disaggregated by sex, age, disability), preparedness, early warning systems and ‘risk informing’ social services including education, water and health and nutrition.
Collaborates with UNICEF’s Field Results Group and regional planning teams, to include risk, resilience and peacebuilding in normative planning and monitoring guidance including RBM, PPPX and Situation Analysis and Programme Strategy Notes.
Led UNICEF to include child rights and ‘risk to children’ in 2030 Agenda including in the development of the Sendai Framework, World Humanitarian Summit and SDGs.
Developed UNICEF guidance (e.g. Guidance for Risk Informed Programming – GRIP) as well as publications (e.g. DRR and Children, 2014) and advocacy material (e.g. study with UN Women on disaggregated disaster impacts).
Led country level workshops, as part of UNICEF country programming, on risk and resilience in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malawi and Bosnia & Herzegovina.