Yalda Bari, a human rights advocate and expert in women’s economic empowerment from Afghanistan, holds a Master’s degree in International Economics from Berlin School of Economics and Law (Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin). With over seven years of experience working with international organizations such as GIZ, BMZ, the International Labour Organization (ILO), USAID, and the German Center for Integration and Migration (DeZIM), her work spans development, business development, human rights, migration, and capacity building, with a particular focus on Afghan women’s empowerment.
Yalda’s research is centered on “Afghan Women-Led Businesses in Crisis: Addressing Human Rights Challenges and Recommendations,” in which she analyzes the impact of the current socio-political situation on Afghan women-led businesses. Through this research, she explores the human rights challenges these businesses face and formulates policy recommendations to support their resilience and economic empowerment.
Yalda previously served as a Human Rights Project Manager at an NGO in Berlin, where she worked on the Feminist Development Policy Towards Afghanistan project. In this role, she contributed to feminist policy development focused on Afghanistan, collaborating with international stakeholders to advance women’s rights and human rights initiatives while advocating for a feminist approach to policy-making in the context of Afghanistan’s evolving situation. She also worked as a Women’s Economic Empowerment Project Officer at GIZ, where she designed and managed projects aimed at enhancing Afghan women’s economic participation and strengthening women-led businesses.
Yalda is a Certified Trainer and Certified Master Trainer on Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), recognized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). She has trained approximately 500 entrepreneurs and trainers across Afghanistan, helping small businesses start and grow by supporting them with business plan development and providing long-term capacity-building efforts.
As the founder of Bari SearchPath, a company that supported Afghan women’s labor market participation through job placements and capacity-building initiatives, Yalda led projects that provided training and development opportunities to enhance women’s skills and promote their economic independence. With a strong commitment to women’s empowerment and human rights, Yalda continues to advocate for Afghan communities both in Afghanistan and in exile.