Jagan Chapagain renewed as IFRC Secretary General

IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain

IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain

Photo: IFRC

Geneva, 10 May 2023 – The IFRC Governing Board renewed today in Geneva the mandate of Jagan Chapagain as Secretary General of the world’s largest humanitarian network for a second four-year term.

IFRC President, Francesco Rocca, said: 

“We are all very proud of the work done by Jagan in recent years and we look forward to working with him in the future. He took the helm of the organization shortly before COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency. But despite those trying times, Jagan demonstrated visionary and able leadership and made impressive achievements within a very short period. Thanks to his leadership and the work we have done together, our organization is financially healthy and continues to deliver on its important humanitarian mandate.” 

IFRC Secretary General, Jagan Chapagain, said:  

“I am both honoured and humbled to have the trust of the IFRC’s Governing Board and of President Francesco Rocca. This comes with immense responsibility and there will be many challenges along the way, but we will work with agility and integrity to find solutions and build trust among the communities we serve.” 

Mr Chapagain is from Nepal and has extensive experience in, and broad knowledge of, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.   

He brings to the role decades of experience in the humanitarian field, providing leadership to major crises around the world while advocating for actions that build community resilience and reduce their needs in the long term. He has championed the localization agenda that empowers local actors to lead their own development. He has extensive experience in building partnerships for a broad range of initiatives and in leading diverse workforces for meaningful humanitarian work. 

An engineer by training, Jagan began his humanitarian journey as a youth volunteer with the Nepal Red Cross where he represented and advocated on behalf of communities.   

Prior to being appointed Secretary General for the first time in December 2019, he served as Under Secretary General for Programmes and Operations and guided IFRC relief and development efforts around the world.  

He was also previously Chief of Staff and Regional Director of the Asia Pacific region for the IFRC.  

The IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies working to save lives, build resilience, and promote dignity around the world.     

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:    
[email protected]    

In Geneva: Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79 708 43 67   

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