Because the ICRC carries out a variety of activities, its staff members have a wide range of knowledge and professional experience, and may have expatriate or local status. No matter what their occupation, however, all staff work in the service of the same mission.

Two categories of occupation

There are two categories of occupation at the ICRC:

• occupations requiring technical or academic training that are also practiced elsewhere: surgeon, doctor, nurse, agronomist, orthopaedist, secretary, mechanic, interpreter, IT technician, etc.;

• occupations that are learned and exercised only at the ICRC, in connection with its specific activities: field officer, delegate, protection coordinator, head of delegation, etc.

Activities performed exclusively by expatriates

In situations of war, the ICRC does sensitive work that places its personnel at the heart of the underlying political, social, religious or ethnic tensions. Its activities must be carried out by people who are not connected to the situation or its history and have no stake in the outcome. This is why certain activities are performed exclusively by expatriate staff. In sensitive areas, expatriate status is the only means of guaranteeing free and independent action.

This policy is also intended to ensure that staff are not seen as being partial and are not subjected to pressure. It avoids burdening national staff with responsibilities that could have legal consequences for them or pose a risk to their lives and those of their families.

Occupations exercised exclusively by delegation employees

Many ICRC activities require in-depth knowledge of the country and an intimate understanding of the environment, its networks and its players. Expatriate staff do not possess that knowledge or understanding. Occupations requiring those specific competencies are therefore exercised by delegation employees, who are hired because of their local roots. Since they were raised in the context, they are familiar with all its subtleties.

Not all ICRC activities require the presence of expatriates. For many technical occupations, the ICRC turns to the skills available on the local labour market.