Red Cross To Shed 2,900 Jobs Globally, Announces Major 2026 Budget Cuts

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced significant budget cuts for 2026, confirming that it will reduce its global workforce by around 2,900 jobs as part of a major restructuring driven by declining donor funding and rising operational costs.

In a statement released from Geneva, the humanitarian organisation said the decision follows a “sharp fall” in contributions from international donors, forcing the ICRC to scale down programmes, streamline operations, and prioritise emergency response activities in the world’s most volatile conflict zones. The revised budget — which will take effect from January 2026 — represents one of the largest reductions in the Red Cross’ recent history. With operations spanning more than 100 countries, the job cuts are expected to affect both field staff and employees at its headquarters. According to the organisation, part of the reduction will come from voluntary exits and unfilled vacancies, but a significant portion will involve direct layoffs due to the funding shortfall. The ICRC noted that it would make efforts to protect its frontline humanitarian services, including emergency medical aid, detainee support, and conflict-zone protection programmes. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said the organisation had reached a difficult turning point, stressing that the cuts were necessary to ensure continuity of its most essential services. She warned that the global humanitarian environment is becoming increasingly strained, with more crises emerging than available funding can support.