WHEN Kate Forbes, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), touches down in Fiji tomorrow, it will signal more than a diplomatic engagement — it will be a moment of solidarity with a region on the front lines of climate crisis, disaster, and resilience-building. For Fiji — and by extension the Pacific — it affirms the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s growing relevance in a rapidly changing world.
This marks her first official voyage to the Pacific, a region where the realities of geography, climate vulnerability, and limited resources continually test global aid systems. The significance lies not only in the visit itself, but in what it represents: recognition that the Pacific is not a periphery, but a vital part of the global humanitarian ecosystem.
To appreciate the importance of this visit, one must begin with scale. The IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network, supporting 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Its secretariat in Geneva coordinates global operations, but the Movement’s lifeblood flows through its 16 million volunteers worldwide — people who turn ideals into tangible action in villages, cities, and remote islands.
In the Pacific, the Red Cross has a presence in 14 countries. Though often underrepresented in global discourse, these societies are critical to weather response, health outreach, and disaster preparedness. Fiji Red Cross Society stands as a regional linchpin — coordinating domestic relief, supporting smaller island programs, and leading on logistics, training, and disaster communication.
When Forbes arrives, she steps into that interconnected web — a global leader meeting the heartbeat of local humanitarianism. A visit of this kind strengthens confidence among national societies that their efforts are seen and valued. It sends a clear message to partners and donors alike that Pacific nations are central to the Movement’s vision for resilience and equitable humanitarian action.
Forbes’ presence also provides an opportunity to align global strategy with local needs. The IFRC’s 2024 Annual Report notes that 85.3 million Swiss francs were allocated across 167 operations worldwide, reaching 24.4 million people affected by disasters and crises — nearly half through cash assistance. To make that kind of reach effective, national societies need strong foundations: skilled volunteers, accountable systems, and resilient structures. Fiji’s Red Cross can be that model for the region.
By engaging with volunteers and communities, Forbes reinforces a core truth — the Red Cross is not an external entity, but a local force powered by people. In remote provinces, volunteers are often the first and only responders. Supporting them means strengthening the very heart of humanitarian response in the Pacific.
The visit could also open pathways for Fiji to serve as a regional hub for training, pooled logistics, anticipatory planning, and knowledge exchange. This would help knit together a more resilient Pacific Red Cross network, ready for shared challenges and coordinated response.
Humanitarian diplomacy — persuading governments and institutions to prioritise humanitarian action — is another crucial dimension of the IFRC’s work. In a region where climate change and disaster risk are existential, Forbes’ presence can amplify Pacific voices in forums such as the Pacific Islands Forum and global climate negotiations, helping secure the policies and resources that small island nations need. Yet expectations are high. Pacific societies are often stretched thin; the impact of such visits must translate into practical support — funding, expertise, and sustained engagement. Anything less risks undermining the confidence that such moments are meant to inspire.
In 2024, 77 percent of the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund allocations went to weather-related crises. For the Pacific, those numbers are lived realities — cyclones, sea-level rise, and food insecurity. Strengthening local capacity is not optional; it is survival.
Globally, the Movement faces its own challenges — rising costs, shrinking donor pools, and risks to humanitarian workers. In 2024 alone, 32 Red Cross and Red Crescent personnel lost their lives in service, many of them local volunteers. Forbes carries that weight with her—the reminder that humanitarian action is often paid for in courage and sacrifice.
Her visit, then, must be more than ceremonial. It should spark renewed commitment — through resourcing, training, and structural investment — to empower local societies to lead. For Fiji, it could reenergise volunteer recruitment, enhance branch structures, strengthen partnerships with government agencies, and boost domestic fundraising. For the wider Pacific, it could reinforce the legitimacy of local Red Cross societies as equal partners in humanitarian decision-making.
Symbolically, it also reasserts that even small island nations hold vast significance in global resilience and adaptation. The Pacific is not a remote footnote — it is the proving ground for the future of humanitarian response.
When Forbes arrives, representing a Movement spanning 191 countries and 16 million volunteers, she carries both promise and expectation. Her presence in Fiji is not just a visit — it is an investment in the capacity and dignity of Pacific peoples. The true measure will come afterward: in stronger systems, more confident societies, and a region more deeply woven into the global humanitarian fabric.
If this visit spurs even a fraction of those outcomes, it will be remembered not as a photo op but as a turning point. The Pacific, after all, deserves no less.
Forbes brings a wealth of experience to her role as President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). With over four decades of service, she began as a volunteer with the American Red Cross in Phoenix, Arizona, and went on to serve as Vice-Chairman of its Board of Governors and National Chairman of Volunteers — mobilising over a million volunteers to deliver assistance across communities. Her professional background as an auditor and Chief Financial Officer adds further depth to her leadership and governance expertise.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement — Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality — adopted in 1965 as
the ethical compass of the Movement. Forbes’ visit underscores their continued relevance, affirming the IFRC’s commitment to uphold these principles and to serve humanity with dignity, neutrality, and compassion — here in the Pacific and beyond.
Kate Forbes. Picture: SUPPLIED
