Afghanistan: Helping create businesswomen

A woman makes wooden handicrafts in her business with support from an IOM project in Afghanistan's Kandahar city.

A woman crafts wooden items as part of her business, supported by an IOM project in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Photo: IOM/Léo Torréton.

By Aria Abawi

Emra* joined the UN during the “tumultuous time in Afghanistan when the de facto authorities assumed control in August 2021,” she recalls.

As a Programme Associate, Emra has helped several Afghan women, internally displaced people and returnees kick-start their own ventures. "I’m proud of my accomplishments despite the difficulties I’ve encountered,” she said.

Emra began her first role as a Programme Support Assistant just before the de facto authorities took over. She explained: “I faced several challenges, including the bans on Afghan women working for national and international non-governmental organizations and the UN that came into effect in December 2022 and April 2023.”

The de facto authorities’ restrictions on women have since increased, forcing Emra to work from home for the last three months. She encounters challenges, such as limited office access and data restrictions. Despite these obstacles, her work has created jobs through initiatives to make people more financially resilient.

An Afghan woman engages in traditional dressmaking, showcasing her skills and craftsmanship.

An Afghan woman creates traditional clothes as part of an IOM-supported project in Mazar-i-Sharif. Photo: IOM/Léo Torréton.

“I have supported small-scale businesses run by women by providing machinery, such as packing equipment for their products and solar systems for their small fabric operations, creating job opportunities for thousands of women," Emra reflected.

In her current role, Emra is responsible for supporting projects in 10 provinces across Afghanistan.

#Improving women’s access to health care

In addition to supporting small businesses, Emra worked on infrastructure projects that benefit women as primary beneficiaries of community development initiatives.

The projects included constructing health centres in rural Afghanistan. They provide basic health care and primary health services, including outpatient consultations, mental health and psychosocial support, reproductive health care, and emergency and critical care referrals. More than 22,000 women have since gained access to these services, significantly improving their quality of life.

Medical teams providing support to the earthquake-affected women in Herat Province, Afghanistan.

Medical teams provide support to people affected by the earthquake in Herat Province, Afghanistan. October 2023. Photo: OCHA/Sayed Habib Bidell.

Emra has also advocated for women's rights across Afghanistan. She takes pride in drawing attention, albeit virtually, to prominent issues affecting women at donor and international meetings and forums. She emphasizes the importance of hope and resilience: "The situation might not be easy, but it is our responsibility to seize opportunities for ourselves and set hopelessness aside."

*Name has been changed.