LocationsSewing Hope: How Afghan Women Are Stitching Together a Brighter Future
June 23, 2025
In Herat, a modest tailoring workshop is doing more than producing clothing — it’s restoring resilience, dignity, and hope to a struggling community.
Amid tightly controlled regulatory policies and economic hardship, 25 Afghan women — some young, others returned refugees — have found purpose and income through this small business. They are not just stitching garments; they are mending the social fabric of a nation where opportunities for women have significantly diminished since 2021.
In a time where jobs are hard to come by, especially for women, and where laws restrict their education and movement, the workshop shows what can happen when women and small businesses get the support they need to succeed.
With support from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the sewing workshop received a $2,000 grant. This funding allowed Zahra (name changed for privacy) to purchase new sewing machines and expand her team. Today, the women craft jackets that sell for 250 Afghanis each. Zahra dreams of scaling up and exporting her products, if only she can access more capital.
Further north in Balkh province, another entrepreneur, Suraya, has grown her business with help from a UNDP flagship programme that blends humanitarian aid with long-term development. She has trained five other women and nearly tripled her income from 3,000 to 8,000 Afghanis per month, empowering her to support her family and inspire others.
Yet, these gains are fragile. Afghanistan’s economy grew by just 2.7% in 2023–24, while its trade deficit ballooned to $6.7 billion in the first three quarters of 2024. The banking sector also shrank, with deposits and assets falling by over 14% and 10%, respectively in 2023. Foreign aid cuts, forced refugee returns, and climate shocks have only deepened the crisis.
Women continue to face significant challenges in the current environment. Restrictions on education and employment have limited opportunities for many girls and women, with some turning to informal work to support themselves and their families. These roles, while vital, often come without formal protections or long-term stability.
Within the current context and in line with Afghan cultural norms, particularly the women-for-women approach, young women in Kabul and other provinces are participating in community-based digital training initiatives. Through UNDP’s 'Digital Solutions for Recovery' programme, and with a strong emphasis on do-no-harm principles, women are gaining valuable skills in coding, e-commerce, and entrepreneurship. Initiatives such as Girls Who Code, AI and Data Science training, and the AHEAD digital acceleration platform have already equipped over 550 youth — many of them women — with marketable tech skills that support both individual empowerment and community resilience."
So far, 40 startups — 10 led by women — have received seed funding and mentorship, creating over 200 jobs in digital education, health, e-commerce, and food delivery. Ventures like MELI BAZAAR, Modeer, and Niazland are pioneering a new, connected economy.
These stories show what’s possible when Afghan women are empowered — not just in tailoring shops, but in tech labs and digital classrooms.
UNDP calculates that continued exclusion of women from the economy could cost Afghanistan up to $920 million (or 5.8% of GDP) between 2024 and 2026. This isn’t just an economic loss; it’s a missed opportunity to build a more inclusive, resilient society.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are vital to this recovery. Globally, they drive employment, innovation, and inclusive growth. In Afghanistan, they are lifelines —especially those led by women. With investment in renewable energy, water, and local services, MSMEs can help rebuild basic infrastructure and restore livelihoods.
Supporting women-led businesses doesn’t just benefit individual families — it uplifts entire communities and improves local economies. Removing restrictions, creating decent jobs, and fostering an inclusive private sector are essential steps toward sustainable recovery.
The road ahead is long and uncertain. But in sewing rooms across Afghanistan, women are already leading the way: one stitch, one startup, one step at a time.
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