Lacking sufficient funds, the Red Cross announced the loss of 1,500 jobs worldwide

Due to a lack of funding, the International Committee of the Red Cross, one of the most important humanitarian organizations in the world, announced on Tuesday 4 April that it would cut about 1,500 jobs. The Board of Directors of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which employs 20,000 people in more than 100 countries, also agreed to reduce costs during 2023 and the beginning of 2024 by 430 million Swiss francs.

“As humanitarian budgets abroad are expected to decline over the next two years, the ICRC will need to direct its efforts more deliberately towards the programs and places where we can have the greatest impact.”confirms the press release of the organization whose headquarters are located on the heights of Geneva.

The ICRC initially appealed to donors for 2.8 billion Swiss francs (about the same amount in euros), but like many charities, it had to find that donations were dwarfed by the very large sums of money its allies had spent helping Ukraine stand up to Russia. . Adjusted its budget to 2 billion francs.

Hiring freeze

With regard to job cuts during the next twelve months, the ICRC wants to limit layoffs as much as possible by freezing recruitment and betting on natural departures. At least 20 of the 350 sites currently being piloted by the ICRC around the world will be closed, “For example where the area might be covered by another ICRC office or where other humanitarian or development partners might take over.”.

We will also reduce and close some of our programs.added the International Committee of the Red Cross, without specifying which ones. “We will first share information about these changes with the people who affect them most, such as affected communities, stakeholders, and employees.”The International Committee of the Red Cross stated.

And while the committee stresses that it is not uncommon for its appeals to not be fully funded at the beginning of the year, it notes that things are a little different this year. “This year, we face simultaneous challenges.”, the organization explains, citing end-2022 pledges that did not reach the estimated level and a higher-than-expected cost increase in the fourth quarter of 2022 due to inflation. Specifically:

Because of these factors, we started 2023 with a deficit of about 140 million francs. »