Country profile - Afghanistan

Political and economic insecurity, educational inequality, sexual violence, and poor health are pervasive amongst Afghan women and children, but when equipped with powerful vocational and economic tools, women can change their lives, regardless of circumstance.

In modern Afghanistan, the social and economic outlook for Afghan women has worsened:

• Domestic violence, early and forced marriage, and abduction against Afghan women, with no accountability for the perpetrators.

• 2.5 million Afghan women and girls do not attend school. The ban in 2022 by the de facto government saw 1.2 million denied access to college and secondary schools.

• Political and economic insecurity, sexual violence and a lack of healthcare resources are pervasive among Afghan women are prevalent following the breakdown of their freedoms and protections. 

After the control of Afghanistan by the de facto government, our training center was banned, and it was very painful for me.

The exit of foreign troops and the rise of the de facto government has weakened the country’s economy. The combination of severe droughts, the demise of government services and the withdrawal of foreign aid services has left 97% Afghans at risk of living below the poverty line (estimate by United Nations Development Programme).

Since 2002, we have operated in five provinces of Afghanistan. Participants of our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme receive vocational training for jobs like animal husbandry, tailoring and knitting, participating in savings and self-help groups, and learn to invest in their businesses as they receive stipends. Through this curriculum, they become prepared to receive an income and invest in their own savings. They are also trained by local staff on how to embrace and defend their rights, influence decision-making in their households, and create social change in their communities.

Our programming was paused after the takeover of Kabul in 2021, during which some of our most at-risk staff and their families were evacuated. For the remaining staff, we provided mental health resources to support them during such frightening and uncertain times.

At the close of last year, the rights and freedoms of Afghan women were dealt bitter blows. On 21st December 2022, the de facto authorities imposed a ban against women attending universities, a heartbreaking development for many women in the middle of their exams. Three days later, on December 24, another ban was announced against women working for foreign aid organisations.

Thanks to our locally led team, we also secured special permission from the de facto authorities for our female staff to complete the distribution of $60 cash assistance to our programme participants, which allows women to invest in their small businesses, income-generating activities or to help meet their urgent needs. In late January 2022, our Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme resumed in four provinces.