Christoph Harnisch
Mr. Christoph Harnisch, a Swiss national, was born in 1958 in Brigue (Switzerland). He is married and has three children.
After obtaining a Federal Maturity Diploma in 1978, Mr. Harnisch studied Political Science at the University of Geneva until 1981, and in 1983 obtained a B.A. in Political Science (International relations), at the Graduate Institute for International Studies (HEI), Geneva.
Mr. Harnisch has a long experience with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which he joined in 1984 as a Delegate in the Middle East (Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Territories - West Bank and Gaza). In 1987, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Operational Delegation in Iraq, in 1988 took up a similar position in Nicaragua, Latin America. From 1998 to 1991, at ICRC Headquarters in Geneva, Mr Harnisch was Head of Sector to coordinate ICRC operations in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Territories.
His experience in Africa started in 1993, first as Head of Delegation for ICRC operations in Angola until 1994, and then as Head of Delegation in Sudan until 1996.
In 1996, Mr. Harnisch returned to ICRC Headquarters in Geneva, where he served as Head of Sector for Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In 1997, he was appointed Deputy Delegate General for ICRC Operations in Africa, a position he held until 2000 when he became Head of Operations for Southern Africa and the Great Lakes region (DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Republic of Congo-(Brazzaville)- Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa).
In 2002, Mr. Harnisch was appointed Delegate General for Africa for a period of 4 years.
After 10 years of headquarters experience, Mr. Harnisch returned to the field in 2007 as Head of Delegation in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Since the beginning of 2008, he has headed the External Resources Division in Geneva headquarters.
Mr. Harnisch speaks French, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
After obtaining a Federal Maturity Diploma in 1978, Mr. Harnisch studied Political Science at the University of Geneva until 1981, and in 1983 obtained a B.A. in Political Science (International relations), at the Graduate Institute for International Studies (HEI), Geneva.
Mr. Harnisch has a long experience with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which he joined in 1984 as a Delegate in the Middle East (Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Territories - West Bank and Gaza). In 1987, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Operational Delegation in Iraq, in 1988 took up a similar position in Nicaragua, Latin America. From 1998 to 1991, at ICRC Headquarters in Geneva, Mr Harnisch was Head of Sector to coordinate ICRC operations in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Occupied Territories.
His experience in Africa started in 1993, first as Head of Delegation for ICRC operations in Angola until 1994, and then as Head of Delegation in Sudan until 1996.
In 1996, Mr. Harnisch returned to ICRC Headquarters in Geneva, where he served as Head of Sector for Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In 1997, he was appointed Deputy Delegate General for ICRC Operations in Africa, a position he held until 2000 when he became Head of Operations for Southern Africa and the Great Lakes region (DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Republic of Congo-(Brazzaville)- Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa).
In 2002, Mr. Harnisch was appointed Delegate General for Africa for a period of 4 years.
After 10 years of headquarters experience, Mr. Harnisch returned to the field in 2007 as Head of Delegation in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
Since the beginning of 2008, he has headed the External Resources Division in Geneva headquarters.
Mr. Harnisch speaks French, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
