Bekele Geleta
Secretary-General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Having worked with vulnerable populations for more than 20 years, Bekele Geleta has extensive experience in policy advice, management, and administration in humanitarian organizations. However, it is his firsthand knowledge that helps him truly understand the people for whom the Red Cross and Red Crescent exist—for he has been a political prisoner and refugee himself, from 1978 to 1982.
Bekele’s involvement with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent began when he served as secretary-general of the Ethiopian Red Cross from 1984 to 1988. Under his leadership, the organization improved its operational efficiency and was able to help significantly more people affected by drought—increasing the number of individuals supported from 100,000 to one million.
From 1974 to 1977 he was general manager of the Franco-Ethiopian Railway Company, and in 1983 was urban development officer for Irish Concern International. After serving as vice minister of transport and communications from 1989 to1991, he joined the government’s diplomatic section, and was ambassador of Ethiopia to Japan in 1992.
Bekele was a program manager with Care International in Kenya in 1994. In this role he collaborated closely with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to develop community self-management practices, introduce public education and awareness systems, and support relief and development activities.
He worked for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies from 1995 to 2007; from 2004 to 2007 he headed the Regional Delegation for South East Asia in Bangkok, and from 1995 to 2003 the Africa Department. In 2007 he was appointed general manager of International Operations for the Canadian Red Cross at its headquarters in Ottawa. He was responsible for supervising international programs, including disaster and emergency response activities, development projects, and overseas personnel. Bekele assumed the position of secretary-general of the IFRC on July 1, 2008, having been appointed by its governing board.
He holds a bachelor’s in politics and economics from Addis Abba University, and a master’s in economics from Leeds University.
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