Under Secretary General, Programme Services, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Switzerland

Under Secretary General Mr. Schmale is responsible for overseeing the Secretariat’s work with its 187 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies to strengthen their organisational and delivery capacities as well as to improve their volunteering and youth action.
Previously 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 and Red Crescent Movement, Mr. Schmale has also served as International Director at the British Red Cross from 2005 to 2009. He also worked from 1985 to 1998 in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sudan and Kenya in field operations, programme management and organizational development.
Mr. Schmale holds a PhD from Berlin Free University in development economics with a focus on building sustainable organizations.