Ms Giulia Vallese has officially finished her mission to Kazakhstan in the capacity of Country Representative. Within four years of her work, she successfully implemented a number of crucial country projects, leaving a significant and lasting legacy behind. 

Ms Vallese brought her exceptional experience and contributed to resource mobilization and obtaining donor funds for the implementation of important regional projects on the prevention and combating of gender-based violence focused on women with disabilities. Under her guidance and supervision, a strong cooperation was established between embassies and the country office, which ensured numerous grants for NGOs partnering with UNFPA on the issues of women empowerment.

Thanks to her initiative, the collaboration with the Muftiate in Kazakhstan was strengthened,  and a Memorandum of Understanding between the UNFPA country office and Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Kazakhstan (DUMK) was signed.

Under Ms Giulia Vallese’s leadership and guidance, the experience of UNFPA country office on issues of people with disabilities in policy dialogue, reproductive rights, and their access to SRH and GBV information and services was recognized globally as one of the most successful practices within the framework of the UNFPA “Gender Equality Changemakers” initiative. 

Also, Ms Vallese motivated and supported the UNFPA team in the wide implementation of the Men Engage Component, and played a key role in opening the HIV Analyst position in the UNFPA Kazakhstan country office. It was her strong leadership that contributed to the development of a national network of youth-friendly health services and strengthening of the healthcare system response to gender-based violence. 

Moreover, Ms Giulia Vallese provided her strong support in the implementation of the joint initiative of UNFPA, UNAIDS and IOM on the desk survey on the access of migrants to SRH and HIV services in Central Asia, Russia, and Turkey.

As a great team leader, she has always encouraged experience sharing and exchange between countries and ensured her team’s access to the best international knowledge and practices.

We congratulate Ms Giulia Vallese on her appointment as EECA Deputy Regional Director and wish her every success in her work!