Jess Markt is the ICRC’s Disability Sport and Inclusion Advisor, leading the organization’s efforts to create sustainable programs focused on breaking down the stigma of physical disability in countries dealing with the effects of war and conflict around the world. He has worked with the ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme since 2011 to build and develop wheelchair basketball and other disability sport programs in more than 20 conflict zones worldwide. Jess also served as the head coach of the Afghanistan men’s national wheelchair basketball team from its formation in 2013 until 2018. In addition to his work in adaptive sport program development, Jess also oversees the ICRC’s efforts to stimulate economic integration opportunities for persons with physical disabilities through its Career Development Program. In 2019, he was named the AidEx Humanitarian Hero of the Year.
