Samuel Godfrey

East and Southern Africa advisor, UNICEF

Dr. Samuel Godfrey is the East and Southern Africa advisor for UNICEF. Samuel is a Chartered Civil Engineer with a PhD and MSc in Water and Environmental Engineering from Loughborough University, UK and two bachelor’s degrees in Engineering (BEng) and International Development (BA) from the UK. In 2021 he was awarded the title of Honorary Professor in Water at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction at UCL (University College London). He has 25 years of professional experience in the Water, Sanitation, Climate, Environment and Energy Sector which includes 18 years with UNICEF in the Madhya Pradesh, India field office (2004-2008), UNICEF Mozambique Country Office (2008-2013), UNICEF Ethiopia Country Office (2013-2018) and UNICEF East and Southern Africa Regional Office – ESARO (2018 to date). Prior to joining UNICEF, he was a researcher and academic in International Water Development at WEDC, UK where he developed skills and interest in climate and environmental child centered, data analysis and multisector programming. He has subsequently published more than 60 academic papers between 2000 and 2020 in this area. He is the co-author of the ESAR Climate Crisis and Children report and is currently leading the UNICEF Strategic Plan Goal Area five output area in ESAR which includes water supply, sanitation, disaster risk reduction, children in urban settings and environmental sustainability.