The government of Japan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has announced a new joint initiative titled “Resilient Income Solutions Empowering Alternative Livelihoods” (RISE) aimed at supporting vulnerable communities in Afghanistan.
With the arrival of spring, the flower and plant market has taken on a fresh look, and youth working in this sector report increased sales during this season. Many of them turned to this profession because of their personal interest and the lack of job opportunities. By cultivating different kinds of ornamental plants, they not only beautify the environment but also create a source of income for themselves.
She has plans for the future and wants to expand her flower cultivation. She says, “I tell all women not to lose hope. Start with small steps and believe in yourselves. Every woman can make a difference.”
Husna, a 25-year-old from Laghman, says she uses the internet mainly for work and teaching, “Most of my internet use is related to work and teaching. Since most of my tasks are done online, my internet consumption is high, and sometimes my family complains about my usage.”
While Islamic Sharia and international documents emphasize the right of widows and women without guardians to access emergency financial assistance, evidence from Kunduz shows that many of these women are, in practice, deprived of this right. In the Holy Quran (Surah At-Tawbah, verse 60), the poor and needy are identified as rightful recipients of zakat, and in the Hadiths, caring for widows is described as equivalent to performing major social deeds.
This survey, conducted with the participation of 1,045 women from 29 provinces of Afghanistan, provides a comprehensive and detailed picture of women’s purchasing power, savings capacity, sources of income, and their economic limitations. The findings indicate that women’s purchasing power—especially among unemployed women—has declined over the past three years, and the economic crisis has had profound impacts on households.
With the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, the atmosphere in cities and along roads has changed. People’s movements to visit relatives and friends increase, and the
“We had a lot of land, but there was no water. We could only cultivate one plot, and the rest remained unused. When we received a loan from the EDF institute, we bought a solar system. Praise be to God, now we have enough water, I cultivate all my land, and I am earning a good profit.” he said.
Ghazni is one of the provinces where most residents are engaged in agriculture and livestock farming, and their livelihoods largely depend on these activities. The spread of animal diseases and their transmission among livestock in this province sometimes create serious challenges for farmers—challenges that, if not addressed in time, can lead to significant and irreversible economic losses.
“A student is psychologically placed in two arenas: one is the field of work and the other is the field of education. Certainly, prioritizing between the two can be difficult. Afghan society is a poor society, and the priorities of young people are more economy-centered. Therefore, over time the field of education may become colder and emptier, and the studies of working youth may decline in quality and be damaged,” he says.
An initiative by a woman in Kabul to establish a mushroom farm has not only led to her own financial independence but has also created employment and income opportunities for dozens of other women. Fazela Sorosh began mushroom farming in Kabul two years ago with a small investment, driven purely by personal interest. She says this initiative has now become a stable source of income for herself and many other women.
Laghman, one of the provinces that has achieved self-sufficiency in vegetable production, not only meets domestic demand but also exports its products to other provinces, including Kabul. Although vegetable production in the country decreases during winter, many farmers in this province use plastic-covered cultivation to bring vegetables to the market ahead of the season, which significantly helps stabilize prices.
