The United Nations Development Programme has announced that with a more than tenfold increase in the number of women-owned businesses, over 10,000 women in Afghanistan now hold business licenses.
In a report released today, the organization stated that prior to 2021, only 600 to 1,000 women had business licenses, but now more than 10,000 women are licensed.
The report noted that nearly 120,000 women are engaged in economic activities without official licenses.
However, the UN agency added that by 2024, less than seven percent of women in Afghanistan will be employed.
The UN Development Programme indicated that the increase in women-managed businesses does not mean that opportunities for them have increased; rather, this situation reflects that after other employment avenues were closed, businesses became the only remaining option for women.
The agency emphasized: “Women who aspired to become engineers or lawyers have turned to carpet weaving or soap production; however, they face restrictions in this sector as well, such as bans on long-distance travel, limitations on interactions with customers, suppliers, or bank employees without a male guardian.”
The UN Development Programme stated that the forced closure of beauty salons has devastated the livelihoods of nearly 60,000 women.
The agency added that less than seven percent of women in Afghanistan have access to bank accounts; as a result, most of them are forced to rely on informal cash networks, family savings, or international aid for financial support.
The UN Development Programme mentioned that in recent years, it has supported over 90,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises through grants, equipment provision, and business development services.
