Pia Rebello Britto was appointed the Global Director of Education and Adolescent Development at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in August 2024. In this role, she provides strategic vision and leadership for UNICEF’s education and adolescent development programs, overseeing the development of policies, strategies and guidance to implement learning initiatives for children globally.
Before this role, Britto served as UNICEF’s Representative to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic where she led the organization’s work in realizing children’s rights across education, health, protection, water and sanitation, climate action and emergency response. She has also held the role of UNICEF’s Global Chief and Senior Advisor of Early Childhood Development, spearheading a global movement to give every child the best start in life.
Britto joined UNICEF after an academic career as an Assistant Professor at Yale University and earned her doctoral degree in developmental psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.
She is a globally recognized expert with over 100 publications, including books, peer-reviewed articles and reports in the field of child development and learning. Britto is also the recipient of numerous national and international awards, and is widely cited in both academic research and media for her contributions to child development.
Britto’s work is grounded in her commitment to ensuring the right to education, learning and skills for every child and young person. She is a national of the United States, is fluent in English and Hindi and speaks several South Asian languages.