Kathmandu, December 4

Nepali humanitarian and Red Cross Red Crescent veteran, Jagan Chapagain, has been selected as the new secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Chapagain was selected during an extraordinary meeting of the IFRC governing board in Geneva yesterday. An engineer by training, he brings more than 25 years of experience within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Most recently, Chapagain served in a series of senior IFRC roles, including as regional director for Asia Pacific, as chief of staff and as under secretary general for Programmes and Operations, a role that sees him guide all IFRC relief and development efforts around the world.

Announcing Chapagain’s selection, IFRC President Francesco Rocca said, “We are very excited to announce Jagan as our new secretary general. He brings a deep knowledge and understanding of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. He started his path in our movement as a volunteer and I am sure he will bring all his first-hand experience as added value to this position. He also has a strong vision for the role the IFRC can and must play, both within the Red Cross Red Crescent movement and as part of the broader humanitarian sector.”

Chapagain’s announcement comes at the end of a six-month open recruitment process that was led by Russell Reynolds Associates, together with an internal selection committee. Chapagain will begin his four-year mandate on 1 February 2020. He will replace current Secretary General Elhadj As Sy, read a press release issued by IFRC.

“Let me also take this opportunity to thank him for his great commitment to humanity and his immeasurable dedication to our organisation and to the millions of people we serve. I am sure our paths will come across again soon. Once part of the Red Cross Red Crescent family, he will be part of it forever,” said Rocca. The IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 190 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 13.7 million volunteers and 160,000 local branches, working in local communities to save lives and promote dignity around the world.