RASC News Agency: According to the findings of a recent study conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, confront significant obstacles and incur high costs in conducting business. The results of this research were published on Wednesday, April 17th, by the UNDP, asserting that despite the major challenges and constraints faced by women in Afghanistan, their ownership and management of businesses in the country are recognized as fundamental pillars of economic stability.
This study scrutinizes the activities of Afghanistani women in the business sector over the past three years. Kanni Wignaraja, the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, remarked on this matter, stating, “Women entrepreneurs have demonstrated incredible resilience and ingenuity in the toughest of circumstances.”
The report highlights that workplace discrimination and restrictions on women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, coupled with a severely weakened financial system, have resulted in 41% of over 3,000 surveyed women falling into debt. Close to three-quarters of respondents expressed facing severe mobility restrictions, including the inability to travel to even local markets without a male escort.
According to the UNDP research, only five percent of women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan have accessed loans through banks or microfinance institutions. The findings of this study indicate that a total of 15.8 million Afghanistanis are grappling with food insecurity, with the women’s employment rate reaching six percent. The UNDP added that in collaboration with its partners, it has supported 75,000 small businesses in Afghanistan, providing job opportunities for 900,000 individuals in total.
Stefan Priesner, the UNDP Representative in Afghanistan, stated, “Women have long been the driving force behind the welfare of families in Afghanistan and have played a crucial role in sustaining the local economy.” He emphasized the organization’s efforts to amplify the voices of Afghanistani women and increase investment in women.
Following the Taliban’s takeover of the country, women have been prohibited from working in both government and private offices, as well as with international institutions, presenting numerous challenges for women who are the breadwinners for their families.
