NURTEN YILMAZ
Protection Specialist
Nairobi
Summary
Impact-driven human rights professional with 18+ years of experience managing total programme commitments in humanitarian and development contexts across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Demonstrated success as Acting Chief Child Protection in Myanmar, leading human rights monitoring, treaty body engagement, and coordination with OHCHR. Skilled in legal analysis, systems strengthening, and embedding rights-based approaches into national frameworks for justice, social protection, and violence prevention.
Proven ability to lead multi-sectoral teams, oversee complex operations in fragile and emergency settings, and ensure optimum use of programme funds through rigorous planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Skilled in representation and high-level advocacy with governments, donors, and multilateral partners, achieving sustainable policy reforms and mobilizing over $15 million in resources.
Fluent in English, French, Turkish, and Dutch, with advanced academic credentials in international humanitarian law and development studies. Committed to equity, inclusion, and principled leadership in advancing human rights across diverse contexts.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
4
4
Languages
Work History
Child Protection Specialist
UNICEF Kenya
07.2024 - Current
- Strategic programme lead for national child protection systems strengthening, addressing violence against children and online safety through integrated, rights-based, and risk-informed programming.
- Lead strategic planning and implementation of child protection systems under the $250M Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project and UNSDCF.
- Integrate human rights and gender-sensitive approaches into
national frameworks, enhancing resilience and equity. - Coordinate with government and donor partners to secure over $2M in sustainable financing.
- Drive national policy action on violence prevention, resulting in formal government pledges during the Inter-Ministerial Conference in Bogota and renewed commitment.
- Collaborate closely with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights providing technical advice and aligning child protection strategies with national human rights priorities.
- Supervise and mentor staff, fostering a collaborative and
results-driven team culture.
Child Protection Manager (Acting Chief)
UNICEF Myanmar
11.2020 - 06.2024
- Led UNICEF’s child protection programme in a high-risk humanitarian and political context, managing a $10M multi-donor portfolio and supervising 16 staff across eight field offices.
- Served as UNICEF’s principal representative in negotiations with de facto authorities, securing humanitarian access and ensuring staff and asset safety.
- Managed a $10M multi-donor portfolio, sustaining and expanding protection services in high-risk areas.
- Conducted legal and political analysis to inform programming and advocacy, delivering weekly
strategic updates to HQ and donors. - Coordinated with OHCHR during civil unrest and led the UN Security Council Resolution 1612 Mechanism, negotiating with armed actors to secure child releases and accountability.
- Established a real-time knowledge management system for programme monitoring, enabling adaptive decision-making and improved donor reporting.
- Designed and led Myanmar’s first cross-sectoral MHPSS and GBV Strategy, reaching over 4 million children and recognized as a regional best practice.
Chief Child Protection (Stretch)
UNICEF Sri Lanka
02.2024 - 05.2024
- Directed total programme commitment for UNICEF Sri Lanka’s child protection portfolio, ensuring delivery in line with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022–2026).
- Supervised and nurtured a multidisciplinary team, enhancing programme coherence across justice, alternative care, and violence prevention sectors.
- Represented UNICEF in high-level engagements with government ministries, judiciary, and donors, securing national commitment to legislative reform, care reform, and violence prevention.
- Advanced legislative reform through the EU-funded Justice programme with UNDP, improving governance for children in conflict with the law.
Child Protection Specialist (CPIE/Migration)
UNICEF Türkiye
02.2015 - 11.2020
- Provided strategic leadership for $25M+/year refugee and migration child protection programme, aligning with national
social protection priorities and the UNCT framework. - Designed and scaled a multi-sectoral, community-based model reaching 600,000+ refugee children, embedding human rights principles into national systems.
- Advised government counterparts on rights-based
programming and collaborated with the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkiye to strengthen child protection and safeguarding frameworks. - Co-led the national adolescent and youth strategy, increasing adolescent girl participation by 250%.
- Led policy and legal analysis, supported treaty body engagement, and institutionalized national M&E systems.
- Supervised a 15-member team and supported field offices to ensure coherence and impact.
- Secured major donor investments (EU, ECHO, Norway) and hosted high-level missions.
- Championed safeguarding, achieving 100% partner compliance with child protection standards.
Programme Specialist
UNICEF HQ, New York
09.2013 - 12.2014
- Supported over 40 UNICEF Country Offices in integrating disability rights into programming under the UNCRPD.
- Coordinated the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities, engaging 120+ partners and producing policy briefs for high-level global forums.
Child Protection Specialist (Surge)
UNICEF Iraq
07.2014 - 11.2014
- Provided strategic and technical leadership during the Sinjar crisis response, supporting development of the national Social Service Workforce Strategy and Justice for Children Strategy.
- Designed a multi-sectoral CPiE and GBV framework integrated into national coordination mechanisms.
- Strengthened frontline capacity by training over 100 community volunteers on safeguarding, GBV prevention, and MRM protocols.
Emergency Officer (Humanitarian Policy)
UNICEF HQ, New York
06.2012 - 08.2013
- Developed strategic policy guidance on HRBA to humanitarian action, gender equality in emergencies, and cash-based programming.
- Contributed to UN Security Council advocacy on Children and Armed Conflict, reinforcing UNICEF’s global leadership.
Child Protection Officer (Systems Strengthening)
UNICEF HQ, New York
06.2010 - 06.2012
- Provided technical leadership on global child protection systems strengthening, with a focus on juvenile justice and birth registration.
- Led a $4M multi-country project on children with disabilities, advancing global standards on alternative care and juvenile justice.
- Authored A Passport to Protection: A Guide to Birth Registration Programming (UNICEF, 2013).
Programme Coordinator
UNRWA, Jordan
10.2009 - 03.2010
- Managed multi-sectoral projects in refugee camps, improving access to education, health, and social services.
- Led child rights-focused needs assessments and monitored the security, policy, and human rights situation in three camps, producing data-driven analyses that informed programmatic and policy responses.
Legal Advisor
WHO, Geneva
07.2008 - 12.2008
- Provided legal guidance on staff disputes, reinforcing internal justice mechanisms.
Research Fellow
UNHCR, Geneva
06.2007 - 07.2008
- Monitored the Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review, and UN human rights treaty bodies (CERD, CEDAW, CRC, CAT, HRC), providing technical support to UNHCR field offices on strategic engagement with these mechanisms.
- Reviewed and finalized confidential field submissions to treaty bodies, enhancing the quality and coherence of UNHCR s human rights reporting.
Legal Research Associate
University of Gent
09.2004 - 09.2006
- Legal research associate at the Research Commission for Child Rights, especially looking at issues of family and child welfare and case management.
Education
L.L.M. of Advanced Studies - International Humanitarian & Human Rights Law
Geneva Academy of International Law
Switzerland 06-2007
Post-Graduate Degree - International Relations and Development Studies
University of Gent
Belgium 06-2006
Masters in Law - European Studies
University of Gent
Belgium 06-2005
Bachelor in Law -
University of Gent
Belgium 06-2002
Timeline
Child Protection Specialist
UNICEF Kenya
07.2024 - Current
Chief Child Protection (Stretch)
UNICEF Sri Lanka
02.2024 - 05.2024
Child Protection Manager (Acting Chief)
UNICEF Myanmar
11.2020 - 06.2024
Child Protection Specialist (CPIE/Migration)
UNICEF Türkiye
02.2015 - 11.2020
Child Protection Specialist (Surge)
UNICEF Iraq
07.2014 - 11.2014
Programme Specialist
UNICEF HQ, New York
09.2013 - 12.2014
Emergency Officer (Humanitarian Policy)
UNICEF HQ, New York
06.2012 - 08.2013
Child Protection Officer (Systems Strengthening)
UNICEF HQ, New York
06.2010 - 06.2012
Programme Coordinator
UNRWA, Jordan
10.2009 - 03.2010
Legal Advisor
WHO, Geneva
07.2008 - 12.2008
Research Fellow
UNHCR, Geneva
06.2007 - 07.2008
Legal Research Associate
University of Gent
09.2004 - 09.2006
L.L.M. of Advanced Studies - International Humanitarian & Human Rights Law
Geneva Academy of International Law
Post-Graduate Degree - International Relations and Development Studies
University of Gent
Masters in Law - European Studies
University of Gent
Bachelor in Law -
University of Gent
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