Pia R. Britto

Pia R. Britto

ECPC: 
Emeritus Member
Title: 
Global Director, Education and Adolescent Development
Affiliation: 
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Pia Rebello Britto
ECPC Co-founder Pia Rebello Britto, PhD was appointed the Global Director of Education and Adolescent Development at UNICEF in August 2024. In this role, she provides strategic vision and leadership for UNICEF’s education and adolescent development programmes, overseeing the development of policies, strategies, and guidance to implement learning initiatives for children globally.
 
Before this role, Britto served as UNICEF’s Representative to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), where she led the organization’s work in realizing children’s rights across education, health, protection, water and sanitation, climate action, and emergency response. She has also held the role of UNICEF’s Global Chief and Senior Advisor of Early Childhood Development, spearheading a global movement to give every child the best start in life. 
 
Britto joined UNICEF after an academic career as an Assistant Professor at Yale University and earned her doctoral degree in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. 
 
She is a globally recognized expert with over 100 publications, including books, peer-reviewed articles, and reports in the field of child development and learning. Britto is also the recipient of numerous national and international awards and is widely cited in both academic research and media for her contributions to child development. 
 
Britto’s work is grounded in her commitment to ensuring the right to education, learning and skills for every child and young person. She is a national of the United States and is fluent in English and Hindi and speaks several South Asian languages.
 
Image release – credit: © UNICEF/UNI668966/Voisard

Resources

  1. Pia Britto, PhD, Adjunct Faculty, Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine

  2. Video: Successful transitions from home and preschool to primary school (Dr. Pia Rebello Britto)

Recommended Reading

See Pia Rebello Britto’s recent scientific contributions while affiliated with UNICEF and other institutions on Research Gate.

  1. Britto, P. R., Kagan, S. L., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2002). Developing indicators: Considering the issues. UNICEF Technical Report.

  2. Alderman, H., Britto, P. R., Engle, P., & Siddiqui, A. (2003). Longitudinal evaluation of Uganda nutrition and Early Child Development Program. World Bank Technical Report.

  3. Britto, P. R., & Kagan, S. L. (2004). Going global with indicators of child well-being: Using a standards approach. UNICEF Technical Report.

  4. Kagan, S. L., & Britto, P. R. (2005). Going global with indicators of child well-being: Using a standards approach. UNICEF Final Report.

  5. Britto, P. R., & Kohen, D. E. (2005). International perspectives on school readiness assessment.  UNICEF Technical Report.

  6. Britto, P. R., & van Ravens, J. (2008). Recommendation for the development of the National ECD Policy and Plan of Action for the Republic of Macedonia. UNICEF Report.

  7. Britto, P. R., & Chopra, V. (2009). Recommendations for Syria ECD Policy Framework. UNICEF Report.

  8. Kagan, S. L., & Britto, P. R. (2009). Recommendations for ELDS in East and South Africa. UNICEF Report.

  9. Britto, P. R. & Kagan, S. L. (2009). Recommendations for supporting Malaysia’s early childhood care education and development.

  10. Britto, P. R., & Ponguta, A. L. (2009). Creating a national policy for early childhood in the Occupied Territory of Palestine. UNICEF Report.

  11. Seder, R., & Britto, P. R. (2009). Early childhood development: From policy idea to implementation to results. Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood. Singapore: SEED Institute. 

  12. Britto, P. R., Ogbunugafor, C. B., Cerezo, A., van Ravens, J., Gilliam, W. S., Engle, P. E., Alderman, H.A., & Richter, L. (2010) (online) Concept note: Early Human Development Index. Edward Zigler Center for Child Development and Social Policy, Yale University. 

  13. Britto, P. R., van Ravens, J., & Delamonica, E. (2010). National plan of action for early childhood in Jordan

  14. Britto, P.  R., Yoshikawa, H., Ponguta, L. A., Oh, S. S., & Reyes, M. R. (2010). Governance and finance of early childhood: Achieving equity, access and quality. UNICEF Report.

  15. Britto, P. R., Dimaya, R., & Seder, R. (2010).  Early childhood care and education in Lao PDR. New Haven, CT: Yale University.

  16. Britto, P. R., Dimaya, R., & Seder, R. (2010). Governance and finance of early childhood: Achieving equity, access and quality. Peoples Democratic Republic of Lao (LPDR): Country Case Study Report. UNICEF Report.

  17. Britto, P. R., van Ravens, J., & Ponguta, L. A. (2010). Governance and finance of early childhood: Achieving equity, access and quality. Kenya: Country Case Study Report. UNICEF Report.

  18. Britto, P. R., Yoshikawa, H., Oh, S. S., & Seder, R. (2010). Governance and finance of early childhood: Achieving equity, access and quality. Cambodia: Country Case Study Report. UNICEF Report.

  19. Britto, P. R., van Ravens, J., & Ponguta, L. A. (2011). Joining forces for the integration of early childhood development policies and services in Kosovo. UNICEF Report.

  20. Hodges, W., Hillibrand, J., Britto, P. R. (2011). Early childhood and international frameworks. Asia-Pacific Regional for Early Childhood (ARNEC). 

  21. Britto, P. R., Ponguta. L. A., Hodges, W., Ogbunugafor, B., & Seder, R. (2011). Proposal for Angola national early childhood policy and strategy. UNICEF Report.

  22. Britto, P. R. (2011). Global battleground or school playground: The bullying of America’s Muslim children. Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. Policy Brief, No. 49.

  23. Britto, P.R. (2012).  School Readiness: A Conceptual Framework. New York, NY: UNICEF.

  24. Britto, P.R., Limlingan, M.C. (2012). School Readiness and Transitions. A Companion to the Child Friendly Schools Manual. New York, NY: UNICEF

  25. Britto, P.R. (2012). Key to Equality: Early Childhood Development. UNICEF Report.

  26. Britto, P.R., Williamson, A., Snow, T., & Mankad, K. (2013). Social Protection programs and early childhood development: unexplored potential. Plan International: Australia 

  27. Spier, E., Britto, P.R. , Piggot, T., Roehlkapartain, E., McCarthy, M., Kidron, Y., Song, M., Scales, P., Wagner, D., Lane, J., & Glover, J. (2014). Parental, Community, and Familial support Interventions to Improve Literacy in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 

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