Aida Ailarova is the Regional Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist at the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), based in Geneva, Switzerland. She also serves as ECARO’s focal point for the uSupport Digital Mental Health solution and framework, aimed at strengthening mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for adolescents and youth.

With over 24 years of dedicated service at UNICEF, Aida has led and supported a wide range of programs across Youth and Adolescent Development, MHPSS, Mine Action, Sport for Development, and HIV prevention. She provides technical guidance to UNICEF offices in 23 countries across the region, focusing on upstream policy and system reforms that promote youth participation, empowerment, and well-being.

Aida’s field experience is extensive and includes managing a comprehensive Psychosocial Recovery Program in Chechnya, coordinating the psychosocial response to the Beslan School Siege, and serving as the focal point for the “Children and Women of South Ossetia” initiative. She contributed to Early Action Preparedness for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and led youth mobilization efforts as part of ECARO’s response to the Ukraine crisis.

Prior to joining UNICEF, Aida held academic leadership roles as Head of Studies at a private university in Russia. She holds a master’s degree in English Language and Literature, with a concentration in Contemporary History, Political Science, and Philosophy from North Ossetian State University.