Providing such programmes in the forms of capacity building in areas such as effective funding proposal writing, data collection, advocacy, EU and UN human rights mechanisms, stress management and digital security. HRDs also demanded that host countries should provide them with short-term entry-point positions within relevant local organisations to help them build their capacities and create a network for their work. It will avoid their isolation and accelerate their integration into local communities. Their responses also demonstrate a poorly tailored social integration programme in some host countries. For example, HRDs based in Germany spoke of a systematic challenge in the country’s national integration programme for refugees whereby the diverse capacities of refugees are not accounted for, lumping educated and skilled Afghanistan’s HRDs and professionals into generic integration programmes that do not match their expertise and integration needs. The respondents have also placed great emphasis on the importance of political support by the host countries to involve HRDs in any talks on Afghanistan, including to put pressure on the Taliban to respect rights and halt crackdown on the civic environment. 2.4. INGOs and Donors’ Support of Exiled CSOs and HRDs Most Afghanistan’s HRDs appear to be highly concerned and frustrated about the unclear prospect of an effective support mechanism and commitment on the part of the international community in general, and donor organisations in particular. HRDs, thus, pointed out a great need for more flexible funding and long-term support to be provided by donors and INGOs. This requires a holistic long-term investment, as well as political and financial commitment beyond the emergency phase, which took place following the Taliban’s control of Kabul in mid-August 2021. HRDs also mentioned that key entities with resources, which include but not limited to Protect Defenders.eu (PDeu),62 as the European Union HRD protection mechanism, the EU, Freedom House, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, National Endowment for Democracy, Open Society Foundations, and other funders should introduce a new initiative or programme support with capacities, mandates and resources for Afghanistan just as they did for relocation and emergency assistance in the early periods of the Taliban’s capture of the country. Likewise, they suggested that an inclusive approach should also recognise HRDs an increased and meaningful involvement in shaping these initiatives and policies. By actively involving HRDs in policy and program development, it ensures that INGOs and donors’ initiatives are well-aligned with HRDs’ needs and realities on the ground, which improves support effectiveness. Moreover, lack of security and protection mechanisms is said to be a major problem for HRDs inside Afghanistan. The absence of robust protection measures nowadays, especially when HRDs and or journalists who are arrested in the country, leaves them highly vulnerable and often without recourse. HRDs, therefore, suggested that INGOs, UN bodies including UNAMA and other stakeholders should work to establish a strong mechanism of holistic protection and work simultaneously with diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of HRDs and their families inside Afghanistan. Meanwhile, given the huge waves of brain drain of HRDs since mid-August 2021, there 62 ProtectDefenders.eu is the European Union (EU) Human Rights Defenders mechanism, led by a consortium of 12 NGOs working in the field of human rights. FORUM-ASIA is also among this consortium. Available at: https://shorturl.at/tN44O 25