10 | Acquisition International, August 2025 Jun25091 Rising Stars in Humanitarian Workers Support 2025 – Belgium stablished by Olivier Vandecasteele in 2024, Protect Humanitarians is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Brussels, Belgium. Supported by the King Baudouin Foundation, this NGO works for a better support and protection for humanitarian workers worldwide, with a special emphasis on local actors. Through a dedicated emergency fund, Protect Humanitarians provides immediate assistance to NGOs, humanitarian victims of attacks, and their families — with a particular focus on local frontline personnel, who are most at risk but often overlooked. In addition, with the support of the EU, the NGO is developing a Community of Practice that brings together experts and practitioners to strengthen staff care and MHPSS for humanitarian personnel. Through this dedicated Community of Practice, they promote good practices to ensure quality mental health and psychosocial support and the wellbeing of humanitarian workers. Together with its partners, Protect Humanitarians offers legal advice and information to humanitarian actors impacted by incidents or attacks as they pursue justice and accountability. Underpinning all these other services is its advocacy work, which sees the organisation engage those who make decisions through targeted publications/ events stressing the immediate need to improve the protection and support for humanitarian personnel. This is something Olivier has seen first-hand, as prior to founding Protect Humanitarians in March last year, he worked for more than 20 years as a humanitarian himself. Olivier has responded to humanitarian crises in challenging contexts, including health emergencies in Afghanistan and Mali, and the delivery of essential aid to refugees and migrants in Morocco and Iran. It was during a stint in the latter that Olivier was kidnapped and arbitrarily detained for 456 days by Iran. Both Amnesty International and the United Nations recognised him as a victim of enforced disappearance and torture. Now, just over two years after regaining his freedom, Olivier leads Protect Humanitarians, and, together with his team, works to ensure that those who dedicate their lives to helping others are protected, supported, and placed in conditions that allow them to work safely, while safeguarding their physical and mental well-being. And set itself apart is certainly something Protect Humanitarians has done since its work commenced, with the NGO hitting some impressive milestone in its short life thus far. This dates right back to the beginning, as this NGO was established with strong support from both the media and the public across Belgium. In the months since, impactful collaborations and partnerships have been nurtured with like-minded NGOs, civil society organisations alike and universities, and the team have even been invited to speak at key events across Europe and beyond. However, working towards this noble goal comes with more than its fair share of challenges, amongst them being funding constraints. Those who wish to contribute to protecting, supporting, and empowering humanitarians around the world - and to donate to this important cause - can do so here, via the Protect Humanitarians website. These donations will help Protect Humanitarians to continue the great work they do, ensuring that humanitarian personnel providing lifesaving aid in some of the world’s most critical contexts receive the recognition, protection, and support they deserve. It is this commitment that has resulted in the people behind Protect Humanitarians being recognised with this well-deserved award as the Rising Stars in Humanitarian Workers Support 2025 – Belgium. Contact: Olivier Vandecasteele Company: Protect Humanitarians Web Address: protecthumanitarians.org As its name suggests, Protect Humanitarians is a global initiative dedicated to supporting frontline humanitarian workers. The NGO delivers direct assistance to humanitarian victims and survivors and provides legal advice after incidents. In addition, the organisation promotes good practices in staff care, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for humanitarian personnel and advocates for a better protection and support for humanitarians all around the world. E
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