Alexander Matheou Authors

Alexander Matheou

Alexander Matheou is the regional director for Asia Pacific at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. He has worked in the humanitarian sector for 20 years across a variety of fields, including disaster response, food security, social exclusion, displacement and migration, HIV/TB prevention, and institutional development.

Latest Articles

Roots of Change
Roots of Change
Opinion: There is opportunity in the rise of national aid organizations
29 Apr 2024
National humanitarian organizations may struggle with independence — but their importance will grow and so must their place in the global humanitarian system.
Climate change
Climate change
Opinion: 5 steps to tackle climate disasters during a pandemic
4 Mar 2021
The new IFRC Asia-Pacific director, Alexander Matheou, asks humanitarian leaders how they're going to respond to the risk of climate events in the region. The answers are largely consistent.
Yemen crisis
Yemen crisis
Opinion: 6 actions to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen
1 Aug 2019
On the heels of a trip to Yemen, Alexander Matheou, executive director of the British Red Cross, explores the path forward for humanitarian response efforts.
Migration and displacement
Migration and displacement
Opinion: The migration trails to Europe are shrinking, but people on the move still need protection
26 Feb 2019
Migration is heavily politicized — but what does that mean for the basic safety of people on the move? Alexander Matheou, executive director of International at British Red Cross, explores.
Syrian crisis
Syrian crisis
Opinion: 7 trends that will shape humanitarian options in Syria
7 Jan 2019
Alexander Matheou, executive director of the British Red Cross, looks ahead to the trends shaping humanitarian work in Syria.
Localization
Localization
Opinion: Building on the localization agenda in 2018
12 Feb 2018
The localization agenda risks running out of steam in 2018 unless thought leaders in the humanitarian sector focus more on helping entire local systems to cope and recover from crises, rather than just simply empowering local NGOs.
EU refugee crisis
EU refugee crisis
3 priorities for Greece after the EU-Turkey migration deal
12 May 2016
With the EU-Turkey deal in place, a new approach is needed for refugees in Greece. Alexander Matheou, director of international programs at the British Red Cross, offers three actions that would make a big difference.
World Humanitarian Summit
World Humanitarian Summit
1,000 stories from southern Africa
10 Nov 2014
In the weeks prior to the recent World Humanitarian Summit regional consultations for eastern and southern Africa, IFRC officials listened to how people affected by drought and floods in Namibia perceive challenges and solutions proposed by aid groups. Find out the four main takeaways in this guest opinion.
Aid to middle-income countries
Aid to middle-income countries
Better systems to address chronic crises
22 Aug 2014
What should the aid community change in the way it tackles slow onset disasters and chronic crises in middle-income countries? The IFRC’s Alexander Matheou discusses how we can apply lessons learned from fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria to fix Namibia’s drought problem.
Alexander Matheou on humanitarian response
Alexander Matheou on humanitarian response
Humanitarian effectiveness in protracted crises
2 Jul 2014
How can we respond better to long-term crises like chronic food insecurity in middle-income countries? By shifting from service delivery to strengthening local systems, the IFRC's Alexander Matheou writes in an exclusive commentary.
See all articles by Alexander Matheou