Sharad Sapra

Sharad Sapra is the Director of the Division of Communication at UNICEF. Prior to his appointment as Director of Division of Communication, Dr Sapra served as UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan from November 2002.

Dr Sapra joined UNICEF in July 1983 as a consultant in the area of Programme Management in New Delhi, India. He continued in this capacity until his appointment as Assistant Project Officer, Health, in March 1985. In February 1988, Dr Sapra transferred to Malé, Maldives, to work in the Programme Section as Project Officer until July 1989 when he became Assistant UNICEF Representative. In 1990, Dr Sapra transferred to New York to assist with the global monitoring, evaluation and programme support to field offices until he transferred to UNICEF Dhaka as Senior Programme & Planning Officer. In 1997, he was appointed UNICEF Representative in Iran. In 1999, Dr Sapra transferred as Chief of Operations in the Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) programme in Nairobi, Kenya until November 2002. In February 2002, the Executive Director requested Dr Sapra to co-ordinate the implementation of the Afghanistan Back-to-School Programme, which resulted in over 3 million children enrolling in schools in Afghanistan.

Prior to joining UNICEF, Dr Sapra was involved with the preparation of project proposals for Amar Jyoti Trust in New Delhi, India (1982-1983). He also researched the effect of immunization in communities for the Indian Council of Medical Research (1980-1982).

Dr Sapra is a national of India. After completing his Degree in Medicine and Surgery, he obtained a post-graduate degree in Preventive and Social Medicine from the Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India in 1982.