The United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan (UNDPaf) has announced that the government of Japan, in coordination with this organization, is launching a two-year project worth approximately $10 million to support resilient women entrepreneurs in seven provinces of Afghanistan. This project, signed on October 11th, is a collaboration between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) […]
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The United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan (UNDPaf) has announced that the government of Japan, in coordination with this organization, is launching a two-year project worth approximately $10 million to support resilient women entrepreneurs in seven provinces of Afghanistan.
This project, signed on October 11th, is a collaboration between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan. It aims to provide support and coverage to approximately 1,400 resilient women entrepreneurs in rural areas and cities across Afghanistan.
The new project encompasses seven provinces, including Kandahar, Kunduz, Logar, Zabul, Baghlan, Ghazni, and Kabul, and it aims to support 140 small businesses led by women.
Afghanistan’s United Nations Development Programme office emphasizes that the selection of these seven provinces is based on women’s participation in work, trade, and security considerations.
Takashi Okada, the Ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan, stated that Japan has been working towards empowering women for several years, and this project provides an opportunity for women to contribute to the economic revitalization of Afghanistan.
In a press release from UNDPaf, Mr Okada highlighted the importance of the project: “To create a conducive environment for women’s economic activities, this project helps revive critical infrastructure such as rural roads, markets, and channels, which have been prioritized.”
In the past two years, women in Afghanistan have experienced severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban administration, including limitations on education, employment rights, and exclusion from public spaces.
Erfan Faqiri, an economic expert, spoke with Khaama Press News Agency, saying that since women have been marginalized and have lost their jobs, programs like these can be beneficial in the long run.
However, in the short term, they may not help resilient women significantly. He added, “If these programs are long-term and are implemented transparently while remaining aligned with the government’s economic plans, they can provide valuable assistance to women and contribute significantly to the country’s economic cycle.”
Despite the job losses resulting from the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on government and non-governmental agencies, some resilient women continue to participate actively in the private sector.
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