Jagan Chapagain, Secretary general of the International Federation of the Red Cross, rose from humble beginnings in Nepal. He discusses his background and role in global disaster response. The podcast emphasizes the importance of community resilience in coastal areas, investments in climate action, and the power of small changes to create a positive impact.
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Jagan Chappagain emphasizes the importance of maintaining neutrality and addressing criticisms to ensure efficient and effective aid delivery.
Jagan Chappagain highlights the challenges faced in humanitarian work, particularly in conflict zones and politically sensitive situations.
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Jagan Chappagain: From Humble Origins to Leading IFRC
Jagan Chappagain, the Secretary-General of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), shares his inspiring journey from a humble background in Nepal to becoming the head of the world's largest humanitarian network. Motivated by his early fascination with politics and a desire to make a difference, Chappagain joined the Nepal Red Cross as a fresh graduate and got his first job working on a refugee program. Over the years, he rose through the ranks and now leads the IFRC, coordinating global responses to major disasters and crises. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining neutrality and addressing criticisms to ensure efficient and effective aid delivery.
Challenges in Humanitarian Work and Disaster Response
Jagan Chappagain highlights the challenges faced in humanitarian work, particularly in conflict zones and politically sensitive situations. He acknowledges criticisms regarding the timeliness and effectiveness of aid delivery, explaining the complexities involved in mobilizing resources and responding to crises. Chappagain describes the IFRC's role in coordinating relief efforts with partner organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC), explaining their respective focuses on non-conflict related disasters and conflict situations. He emphasizes the need for proactive preparedness in addressing the climate emergency, advocating for investments in legal frameworks, resilient infrastructure, and community-based response systems.
Addressing the Climate Emergency and Funding Challenges
Jagan Chappagain discusses the urgency of addressing the climate emergency and the need to overcome funding challenges. He calls for a shift away from siloed approaches to development and climate financing and emphasizes the importance of bottom-up community-led initiatives. Chappagain highlights success stories like Bangladesh, where investments in local communities and climate-smart solutions have proven effective in building resilience. He acknowledges the lack of willingness to invest in future events and stresses the need to create an evidence base to convince decision-makers of the importance of proactive preparedness. Chappagain calls for the integration of climate action into existing development funding and the elimination of barriers hindering effective finance mechanisms.
The secretary general of the world’s biggest humanitarian network – the International Federation of the Red Cross - rose from humble beginnings in Nepal.
We hear how Jagan Chapagain became involved in humanitarian work, and how he deals with all of the current global crises, whilst remaining politically neutral.
(Picture: Jagan Chapagain. Credit: Getty Images)
Presenter: Ed Butler
Producer: Olie D'Albertanson
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