Action contre la Faim France announces the appointment of Chibuzo Okonta as the organization’s General Director

ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM FRANCE ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIBUZO OKONTA AS THE ORGANIZATION’S GENERAL DIRECTOR. HE SUCCEEDS JEAN-FRANÇOIS RIFFAUD, WHO STEPPED DOWN IN JUNE 2023 AFTER LEADING THE NGO FOR FOUR YEARS.  

With a strong background in the humanitarian sector, Chibuzo Okonta is a Franco-Nigerian general practitioner trained in Nigeria. He began his career as a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Nigeria, holding various field positions before joining the organization’s emergency unit at its headquarters. In 2017, he played a key role in the creation of a new MSF branch in West and Central Africa, where he held several positions from 2018 to 2020 before becoming President. In five years, Chibuzo Okonta and his teams have successfully expanded the organization’s presence, operating in six countries with 13 main projects.  

His appointment at the head of Action contre la Faim comes at a time when humanitarian crises are multiplying around the world: the number of people suffering from hunger has risen for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 735 million people today.  

Chibuzo Okonta, with his years of experience in the field, will bring an in-depth knowledge of the complex issues of the humanitarian sector and solid skills in programming, planning, fundraising, finance and human resources to lead Action contre la Faim effectively, ensuring that its objectives are met.  

“Never has the number of people in need of aid been so high due to climatic extremes, economic shocks and conflicts. To tackle the causes of hunger, we need to take strong collective action“, he added, “Action contre la Faim is an organization I identify with, and I have always shared its principle of a world free from hunger. I want to encourage a culture of innovation and give our teams the resources they need to accomplish their mission of fighting undernutrition even more effectively,” declared Chibuzo Okonta.  

Action contre la Faim, with its 4,500 national and international employees, is currently present in 55 countries, and has been working in close proximity to needs for 45 years. With its ongoing commitment, the organization has succeeded in bringing aid to over 28 million people worldwide.  

“We are confident that Chibuzo Okonta possesses all the professional and human qualities needed to meet the current and future challenges of Action contre la Faim,” says Aïcha Koraichi, President of Action contre la Faim France. “He has extensive humanitarian experience, excellent managerial qualities and a good knowledge of the associative model, and thus shares the values upheld by ACF.“