A recent UN report revealed that, in spite of enormous obstacles, women-owned and run companies in Afghanistan continue to exhibit incredible resilience, acting as crucial pillars of hope and economic stability in the face of hardship. “Listening to Women Entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, Their Struggle and Resilience,” a report released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday, examines data gathered over the previous three years to offer one of the most thorough perspectives on the evolving conditions facing women entrepreneurs in the nation. Under the most trying circumstances, women entrepreneurs have shown amazing fortitude, audacity, and resourcefulness, according to Kanni Wignaraja, Regional Director of the UNDP for Asia and the Pacific. The study found that a number of obstacles and expensive operating expenses confront Afghani women entrepreneurs.
Of the more than 3,000 women surveyed, 41% were forced into debt due to a combination of severe financial system weakness, operational limits, and deeper prejudice. Severe mobility constraints were also mentioned by over 75% of the respondents, including the inability to travel even to local markets without a mehram. According to reports, hardly 5% of people obtained loans from banks or microfinance organizations. According to UNDP, women in Afghanistan are overcoming obstacles despite the country’s 15.8 million people living in food insecurity and the employment rate of working-age female members having dropped to 6% from the previous year.
According to the report, entrepreneurship has emerged as a lifeline for women and their families, with 80% of women-led businesses depending on their sales as their main source of income. Additionally, women-run enterprises give other women much-needed employment options. In collaboration with partners, UNDP supported 75,000 micro and small companies, which collectively generated job opportunities for almost 900,000 people, who in turn supported their families. According to Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan, “women have long been the driving force behind the welfare of households in Afghanistan and play a crucial role in sustaining local economies.”
He went on to say that the organization keeps raising awareness of the advantages of investing in women and amplifying their voices. Their bravery and tenacity in facing the challenges they faced create a powerful tale of resiliency and optimism. They require international assistance, and this paper offers more details on how we may help. They are crucial to Afghanistan’s future,” he said.
