About Us

©UNICEF/UNI117932/Markisz Cynthia McCaffrey

Cynthia McCaffrey is the UNICEF Representative to China.

Prior to moving to the UNICEF country office in Beijing, Ms. McCaffery served in New York holding several leadership roles since 2011, including Director of the Office of Innovation, Director of the Office of the Executive Director and Chief of Staff.

Ms. McCaffrey has a long history with UNICEF that dates back to 2001. She has demonstrated a strong desire to achieve results for children, including serving as a Senior Programme Advisor, leading the relationship between the children's agency and the governments of the United States, Canada, and Ireland; and as a Senior Vice President at the United States Fund for UNICEF.

Ms. McCaffrey began her career in international development with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in New York. She has travelled and worked overseas, including posts in Latin America and Africa. She coordinated issues regarding Africa, debt relief, health, education and post-conflict for the office of the U.S. Executive Director at the World Bank. And she served at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Ms. McCaffrey was selected to be a White House Fellow in 1995. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from Vanderbilt University and a master's in public policy from the University of Texas. Ms. McCaffrey spends her free time with her husband cheering at their daughters' basketball and soccer games, admiring their dance performances and attending comedy shows featuring her brother.