Although women possess the skills and perseverance to be leaders in humanitarian work, they are still underrepresented in the field, according to an official with the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Silke von Brockhausen, a UNDP Communications Specialist, believes women humanitarian workers can more easily connect with women in the communities they serve, whose influence is crucial to disseminating messages during crisis situations.

Ms von Brockhausen is frequently deployed to hotspots at very short notice to help raise visibility and get greater support for countries in need.

In the last year alone she volunteered at the UN Ebola Mission in Sierra Leone and in Vanuatu in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam.

Ahead of deploying on a possible new mission to Yemen, Ms von Brockhausen spoke with Ana Carmo about the importance of having more women in the field.

Duration: 4’47”