Afghan Women Entrepreneurs Are at the Frontlines of Economic Recovery

Despite Taliban restrictions, Afghan women entrepreneurs are launching small businesses and cooperatives. However, they face struggles accessing capital. According to Reuters, 41% of surveyed female entrepreneurs rely on informal loans to finance their ventures and about 70% must have a male guardian to travel to market. Nevertheless, many use tailoring, food preparation, dairy cooperatives and handicrafts to build income and resilience.

A case in point is Kabul Sewing Circle, founded by Afghan activists including Mina Sharif, provides sewing skills and business training to women in private homes. Sharif told Teen Vogue, “They are meant to not need a thing and be prepared for their first round of business.” The project operates quietly and is funded via hawala transfers, blending economic empowerment with a supportive community.

Afghan women entrepreneurs like Sharif and others are reclaiming autonomy through enterprise. They are not just making products; they are building community resilience, preserving cultural identity and pushing back quietly against injustice. As one participant said, “This work gives us dignity.”

wegg® admires and supports the courage and adaptability of the Afghan women entrepreneurs, illustrating their fortitude and hope, making them vital agents of change in Afghanistan’s most challenging times.