Afghanistan Protection Cluster Strategy 2025 - 2027

The Afghanistan Protection Cluster (APC) Strategy 2025-2027 (hereafter “the strategy”) is a joint strategy for the protection response in Afghanistan coordinated by the Protection Cluster (hereafter the “APC”), which includes its Areas of Responsibility (AoRs) – i.e.: Child Protection (CP), Gender Based Violence (GBV), Housing, Land and Property (HLP), and Mine Action (MA), as well as the Adolescents and Youth Working Group (AYWG). It provides a three-year vision and strategic framework to guide the collective protection response and operational planning for the APC to prevent, mitigate and address protection risks in Afghanistan.

The strategy is aligned with the priorities defined in the Afghanistan HCT Centrality of Protection Strategy 2024-2027 and is complemented by the APC annual objectives and priority activities highlighted in the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) 2025, and in its annual operational action plan.

The strategy is informed by the findings from protection monitoring and needs assessment reports, Protection Analysis Updates (PAU), and consultations with subnational APC focal points and operational partners, including United Nations agencies, national and international NGOs, and other key stakeholders. The strategy complements the priorities defined in the Afghanistan HCT Centrality of Protection Strategy 2024 - 2027 and provides a broader framework and vision for the APC strategic objectives and priority activities highlighted in the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) 2025.