Despite ongoing restrictions and socio-political challenges, Afghan women are continuing to build livelihoods and strengthen resilience, with support from organizations such as UN Women. In eastern Afghanistan’s Parwan province, a young woman affected by the ban on higher education for females turned to knitting to sustain herself. After struggling for years with minimal income, her business gained traction following training in digital and business skills provided through a local civil society initiative supported by UN Women and the Government of Japan. The woman was able to launch a successful online shop, expanding her reach beyond Parwan.
UN Women and Japan’s government have collaborated over the past three years to enhance Afghan women’s access to income-generating opportunities and essential services. Their joint initiatives include business development training, financial assistance, vocational training, and access to safe spaces that enable women to acquire skills and market access. Activities supported under these programs include greenhouse farming, poultry raising, tailoring, and handicrafts.
So far, over 5,100 women entrepreneurs have been supported to either establish or expand their businesses, and 3,700 women have accessed services through designated safe spaces. A new phase of this initiative has been launched to further strengthen Afghan women’s resilience, leadership, and economic empowerment, particularly in the face of climate-related risks. This includes distributing climate-smart farming tools and improving access to finance and digital technologies.
Given that Afghan women—especially those heading households—face disproportionate impacts from economic hardship and environmental shocks, the initiative now combines humanitarian support with long-term development. The next phase, titled “Strengthening the Resilience and Livelihoods of Afghan Women to Respond to Humanitarian, Socio-economic and Climate Shocks”, will run from March 31, 2025, to March 31, 2026. It focuses on promoting women-only spaces, markets, and business centers to support both immediate needs and sustainable growth.
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