The fall of Afghanistan was on the minds of those who joined our Innovations in International Philanthropy Symposium session on women and girls. Our conversation was a primer in effective networking strategies to support women and girls in a time of complex emergency.

Some thirty of us gathered online for this session from diverse geographies, perspectives, and experiences. We discussed the last time the Taliban was in power, where women paid a profound price. Women’s rights were decimated, including their participation in the workforce. Women were not allowed to work, and they had to be accompanied by a male relative if they left the house. Girls’ education was banned.

We also discussed what was different from the last time the Taliban was in power 20 years ago. Many Afghan women have risked their lives by taking to the streets to advocate for their rights. Their fearlessness is so evident in literally placing themselves on the frontlines. The Taliban will rely on international assistance to stave off mass starvation and the collapse of health systems. To govern, the Taliban will depend on the recognition and humanitarian support of the international community where a modicum of human rights is expected. They will also need the support of local communities in Afghanistan where in recent years there has been a steady increase in community support for girls as well as boys being educated and for women being able to work and contribute to household income. Perhaps there is hope.

We discussed strategies we knew were important and that had been crucial in other crises. The bedrock strategy was to contribute core funds to women’s organisations and networks in Afghanistan and destination countries that are pivoting to address the emergency by accepting refugees.

Read the full article about bolstering support for women in Afghanistan by Jane Sloane at Alliance Magazine.