Stay and Deliver? Walking the tightrope of humanitarianism in Afghanistan

The withdrawal of international military forces and takeover by the Taliban in August 2021 began a new chapter in Afghanistan’s contemporary, ‘conflict-marred’ story. 

Afghans awoke to a new reality – with greater socio-political restrictions, fewer income-generating opportunities and alarming food insecurity. Hsiao-Wei Lee has led the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan as Representative and Country Director through this uncertainty. Join her as she reflects on her last four years in the country, and the nuanced considerations and impossible trade-offs that are required to stay and deliver.

About the speaker

Ms. Hsiao-Wei Lee assumed her responsibilities as WFP Representative and Country Director in Afghanistan in January 2023.

Ms. Lee has many years of humanitarian leadership and strategic programme experience in both fragile and conflict affected countries and corporately. Prior to her appointment, Ms Lee served as WFP Afghanistan's Deputy Country Director for Programme and Operations. Previously she was WFP South Sudan's Head of Programme and, for a period, the Acting Deputy Country Director for Operations. She worked strategically at WFP HQ in Rome, where she contributed to the strategic development and implementation of the corporate transition from project documents to Country Strategic Plans (CSPs), and supported a number of countries with their strategic reviews and in developing their CSPs, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Laos.

Prior to joining WFP, Ms. Lee worked for USAID in Sudan and South Sudan on conflict mitigation and peacebuilding. Her experience includes both strategic engagement and operational implementation in conflict-affected areas.

Ms. Lee has also practiced law in New York, Beijing and London with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School and a Bachlor's in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley.

Chair

• Naomi Hossain, Professor of Development Studies at SOAS and Director of SOAS Development for Transformation Centre (DevTraC)

This event is hosted by DevTraC.