“I help adults make the right decisions ‘with and for children’. That is something I would like to achieve.”

Gulsana Turusbekova, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Kyrgyzstan

Tell us a bit about your background.

Even as a child, I was inspired by and romanticized the UN. In secondary school, I took additional classes on UN history and after learning myself, I shared my knowledge with primary school pupils. That was fun for me, but maybe not so much for the pupils. Still, my interest was genuine – I truly shared the UN values and they were the same as those of my big, happy and cheerful family. My family also taught me the value of education and of being open minded, which has inspired me to always keep learning. That is a trait I share with UNICEF – the organization is constantly evolving.

What do you do?

As a Social Policy Specialist, I help ensure that the government of the Kyrgyz Republic spends enough resources on the country’s children. It’s a challenging but rewarding job. Challenging because I support ‘the rule of facts’, but political decisions affecting children are not always evidence- driven and strategic. And rewarding because sound policies do have an impact at the national scale.

What’s your working day like?

Lots of meetings with decision-makers to advance UNICEF agenda. Every one of them requires serious preparation. There’s pulling recent facts and figures and laying out trends for a proposal or an argument. Adapting relevant information from international practices and the global body of analysis. Mapping governmental procedures required to enact policy advice. Having ready certain financial estimates and sources. Being clear of required follow up. Knowing what motivates our vis-à-vis. There are so many factors to consider before we put anything on the policy table.

How would you describe your job to a 5-year-old?

I could say, ‘I try to help adults make the right decisions for children.’ However, I’d be happier to say that I help adults make the right decisions ‘with and for children’. That is something I would like to achieve.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I wanted to be a guide in an art & cinema museum.

How/when did you join UNICEF?

That happened last millennium. However, I am still professionally excited and happy. Partially because I was making so called ‘horizontal moves’, i.e. across several programmatic areas including health & nutrition, early childhood development (ECD) & education and child protection. Each ‘move’ was always reinforced by acquiring related knowledge base.    

What are the most satisfying parts of your job?

When UNICEF’s analysis and policy advice are implemented fully and correctly. And when policy changes have the results that we anticipated.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?

To foresee major external risks and prepare mitigation measures accordingly.

What’s your best UNICEF experience/memory?

Some years ago, I was on a field trip to a remote rural area. We had completed our tasks and were packing to return home when a local volunteer told me about a small home-based kindergarten in a nearby village. I went there right away, and so I got to meet a remarkable young woman. Larisa had come to this village from a country far away; her husband was on military service abroad when they met. Now, she welcomed local kids to her house, where she would read fairy tales and organize all kinds of improvised performances for them. Gradually, the children’s parents had also become involved.

Larisa was intuitively following very sound pedagogical methods, blending them with amazing creativity and resourcefulness. Her initiative was a prototype of low-cost community-based kindergarten (CBK) affordable in rural setting. This was at a time when Kyrgyzstan had the lowest coverage of any early child development programme, with hardly any coverage of rural disadvantaged communities.

After this visit, I told local education authorities about Larisa’s work, and urged them to go to the village and see for themselves. Later I contacted the central ministry, local universities and others. Together, we organized a workshop where Larisa came to share her experiences. She inspired us all – in fact, this had an impact on ECD policy and programmes both for UNICEF in Kyrgyzstan and for local and central government. Further supported by UNICEF, CBK model has proven itself relevant and cost-effective for reaching children in remote unprivileged  communities. As a result of UNICEF advocacy, early learning and school readiness issues were placed high on a policy agenda. Two times more children now attend an ECD programme and children from poorest households are prioritized for enrollment.

What’s one of the biggest risks you’ve ever taken in your life?

Leaving a promising research career to take up a job with UNICEF. It’s a decision I have never regretted.

How do you spend your free time?

These days, I spend most of my free time with my family. I see myself as a connection point between several generations and branches, where the oldest and the youngest need extra love and care (as a UNICEF Social Policy Specialist, I’d make that ‘quality care’). And when I have some minutes free, I listen to Barry White, Dean Martin and Mercedes Sosa.  

What advice would you give others who are seeking a similar job as yours?

In general, aim for life-long learning and an open mind. In terms of education, look into Master programmes on Public Policy.  

What do you look towards for inspiration?

Beautiful gardens and spring flowers.

My colleagues don’t know that…..

I am a fan of James Bond movies. I like them all. And all the soundtracks.