Mrs. Paola Retaggi, Chief Education for Development in SOP, is a senior Education Manager and Education in Emergencies (EiE) expert with over 30 years of experience supporting inclusive, quality education for marginalized children, including refugees, migrants, children with disabilities, and out-of-school children. She has led education responses in complex emergency, conflict, and post-conflict settings across multiple countries, working closely with governments and partners.
Currently with UNICEF in SOP she’s the Chief of Education for Development section, while previously in Syria, she focused on strengthening education systems and improving formal and non-formal programs, particularly for vulnerable children. She previously held leadership roles in Syria, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo, including coordinating national education cluster responses and managing large-scale emergency education initiatives.
Throughout her career, she has specialized in system strengthening, policy development, and program implementation in crisis contexts, with a strong emphasis on resilience, partnerships, and psychosocial support. An Italian national, she holds a master’s degree in political science (International Public Department) from the State University of Milan, she is a teacher for Primary School and is a certified instructor in international humanitarian law. Her rigorous formal academic training has been complemented by inter alia Italian Red Cross, Harvard University and UNESCO trainings. Besides her native Italian, Paola is fluent in French and English.
