Matthias Schmale, Under Secretary General, National Society and Knowledge Development
As the Under Secretary General of National Society and Knowledge Development at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Mr Schmale is responsible for overseeing the Secretariat’s work with its 187 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies worldwide to strengthen their organisational and delivery capacities, as well as to improve their volunteering and youth action. His role extends to ensuring that knowledge and experiences are shared across the global IFRC network to raise humanitarian standards and improve efficiency, transparency and accountability.
Mr Schmale was appointed to this position in April 2012 after nearly two years as Under Secretary General for Programme Services, where he was responsible for disaster management – including risk reduction and preparedness, disaster response and recovery – as well as health and social services work.
During his career with the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, Mr Schmale has also served as IFRC Under Secretary General for Development and was International Director at the British Red Cross from 2005 to 2009. Previously, he worked for the Movement from 1985 to 1998 in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sudan and Kenya in field operations, programme management and organizational development.
Mr Schmale has also worked with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation and Save the Children Alliance, where he was Deputy CEO.
Mr Schmale holds a PhD from Berlin Free University in development economics with a focus on building sustainable organizations. Born in Mochudi, Botswana, he is fluent in German and English and also speaks French and Kiswahili.