Chapagain Picked As IFRC Secretary-General

4 Dec., Kathmandu : Nepali national Jagan Chapagan has been picked as secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) – the globally recognized world’s largest humanitarian organization. Nepali humanitarian and Red Cross and Red Crescent veteran Chapagan would take charge of the secretary-general from 1 February 2020 for four year tenure.

Chapagain, an engineer by training, who has been continuously active in the philanthropic campaign of Red Cross for the past 25 years is the first-ever Nepali to reach to the position. IFRC is a global umbrella organization of country Red Cross organizations. Red Cross Society from 190 countries, including Nepal Red Cross have been associated to the IFRC. An extra-ordinary meeting of IFRC Governing Board on Tuesday picked Chapagain to the post, said IFRC sources.

Earlier, Chapagain had served the Federation in different capacities including Asia Pacific Regional Director, Chief of Staff and as Under Secretary General for Programmes and Operations. IFRC Chair Francesco Rocca informed the meeting about the nomination of Chapagain to the post of general secretary. “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 an 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.” It may be noted that Chapagain had played substantial role in collecting humanitarian assistance especially to the survivors of 2015 earthquake and 2018 Terai-Madhes inundation from international fronts. The IFRC network comprises 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.