Opportunities for Afghan women Entrepreneurs
Afghan Peace Through Business Graduates 2010June 22, 2010
Overview:
• Women in Business make around 2% of all businesses in Afghanistan
• Businesses women are involved in are: – Handicrafts – Healthcare – Education – Business Development – Food processing – Construction (2 women)
What are the Obstacles ?
• Business knowledge – Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write– total population: 28.1%– male: 43.1%– female: 12.6% (2000 est.)
• Cultural barriers Knowledge is power
and I want to be powerful
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• Access to Financial Resources: – Women lack capital to invest – Women lack property ownership to use it as collateral accessing banks loan – High interest rate
Recommendations
• Long-term empowerment opportunities for women. (Literacy, technical knowledge and leadership skills).
• Government and International Aid organizations to allocate a percentage of their contracts to women businesses.
• Promoting awareness on Gender Equality in Economic ground.