Kleinunternehmer: Liegt Afghanistans Zukunft in der Arbeit der Frauen?

The future of Afghanistan may hinge on the efforts of its women, according to a report on the current situation. Rukia Resai, a 21-year-old, founded a small soap-making business in Herat, Afghanistan, which now employs eight people. The business has improved the mental health of the family and allowed Resai to help her sisters. However, the humanitarian crisis has worsened since the Taliban took control five years ago.

The economy collapsed, international financial sanctions were imposed, and foreign aid dwindled. Nearly 40% of the population may face acute food insecurity this winter, and at least 3.7 million Afghan children are severely malnourished. While the World Bank claims the Afghan economy grew last year, the influx of immigrants has made Afghans poorer on a per capita basis.

The Taliban restrict women's movement, forcing them to wear men's clothing and accompany men on their journeys. Ghoncheh Karimi, a beekeeper, disguises herself as a man to travel across the country, smuggling honey to support her family. Despite the restrictions, Latif Nasari, a deputy Afghan minister of economy, says the government supports women's businesses within Islamic norms, including in airports and banks.

However, women still face significant challenges in securing employment. The private sector is currently driving Afghanistan's weak economic growth, and women-led businesses perform better than those led by men. Yet, many restrictions hinder women's progress. Rukia Resai dreams of expanding her soap business and exporting to Tajikistan, but the Taliban's restrictions are getting worse, and their production capacity is still limited to a small kitchen.