UNDP Reports on Resilience of Women Entrepreneurs in Afghanistan

Stephen Rodriques, UNDP country director in Afghanistan, said that they have conducted discussions and surveys with 3,100 women entrepreneurs about the difficult conditions women face in the country.

Rodriques added that women entrepreneurs work like “vital pillars of economic stability and hope” amidst adversities.

“We know that we need more studies and assessments so that we can better understand the issues and challenges facing the private sector, the banking sector, and micro medium enterprises across the country. After the studies are done, we need to act. We need to strive to change some policies and regulations, for example, to facilitate business licensing,” he said.

According to the findings of the report, 73% of the respondents complained about travel restrictions without a male guardian, and 41% of these women entrepreneurs have been forced to take loans.

The European Union’s delegation to Afghanistan and Japan’s Embassy in Kabul, as partners of the United Nations Development Program, have also described supporting women entrepreneurs in the current conditions of Afghanistan as a serious need.

Raffaella Iodice, the acting head of the European Union delegation to Afghanistan, said: “Many women as you said are the only breadwinners of their families. I never met so many in my 32-years career, women held the households. The war has left many women widows.”

Takayushi Kormaya, the ambassador of Japan to Kabul, stated: “Recently, Japan has committed to further supporting 1,400 women entrepreneurs and 140 other women-led small and micro enterprises in partnership with UNDP.”

According to statistics from the United Nations Development Program, 15.8 million people in Afghanistan are facing food insecurity, and the employment rate for employable women by age has decreased by 50 percent over the past year.