Advocating For Afghan Women in Humanitarian Crisis - with Indrika Ratwatte

“Afghanistan remains the second largest humanitarian crisis after Yemen and Sudan. When you look at just the needs alone of the people, 22 million people or 50% of the population are in need of humanitarian assistance.” — Indrika Ratwatte What makes Afghanistan's crisis uniquely complex? In this episode of Protection Leadership , Panos Moumtzis speaks with Indrika Ratwatte, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, to discuss one of the world’s most complex protection environments. Afghanistan faces overlapping crises: millions in need of humanitarian aid, large-scale returns of Afghans, natural disasters, climate shocks, and sweeping restrictions disproportionately impacting women and girls. Indrika Ratwatte provides an insider’s perspective on balancing principled advocacy with programmatic delivery, navigating dialogue with de facto authorities, and championing the rights and dignity of all Afghans amid acute challenges. The discussion highlights innovative approaches to bridging humanitarian and development work, the importance of empowering Afghan civil society (especially women-led organizations), and the need to keep compassion, engagement, and evidence-based action at the heart of protection leadership. Afghanistan is at a crossroads. Will the world step up, or turn away?Key Takeaways Bridging Humanitarian & Development Efforts Indrika Ratwatte stresses the importance of connecting life-saving humanitarian action with long-term development to help communities transition from fragility to stability, despite funding shortfalls and operational constraints. Advocacy Backed by Evidence Real change requires ongoing, fact-based dialogue, not one-way communication. Advocacy with the de facto authorities is creating space for critical sectors such as women’s health, education, and economic empowerment. Empowering Local Actors The path forward hinges on localization. Indrika Ratwatte highlights how investing in national NGOs, especially Afghan women-led organizations, ensures that assistance is sustainable and truly meets community needs.Timestamps (02:46) Protection risks in Afghanistan (05:54) Challenges for women in Afghanistan (08:49) Advocating for Afghan women's rights (16:42) Innovative approaches (21:45) Development actors (25:48) Working with DFAs (32:03) Empowering Afghan national women (34:55) Indrika’s message of hopeGuest bio: Indrika Rattwatte Indrika Ratwatte brings over 30 years of experience in humanitarian affairs and protection in complex and crisis settings, including over 14 years of working on Afghanistan and regional issues.  He began his career with the United Nations in 1992 at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and later joined the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1993.  His most recent positions have included Director of the UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, where he previously also served as Deputy and UNHCR Representative in Pakistan. He served with UNHCR as Deputy Representative in the United Republic of Tanzania and Pakistan, along with prior assignments in Thailand, Croatia, China, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.Discover More about Indrika    If you enjoyed this episode of Protection Leadership, please subscribe, share, and leave a review. For more practical insights and real-world conversations that put protection at the heart of humanitarian action, visit geli.org.