On December 3, 2012 USIP convened a panel of Afghan female entrepreneurs for a conversation on the opportunities and challenges faced by women in business in Afghanistan.

Afghan Female Entrepreneurs Talk Business at USIP

Afghan female entrepreneurs came together at the United States Institute of Peace on December 3, 2012 for a conversation on the opportunities and challenges faced by women in business in Afghanistan. Shaima Atiq Kabir, president of Foxtail Logistics, Roya Mahboob, president of Citadel Software Development Company, and Kamila Sidiqi, president and CEO of Kawyan Professional Development Services, shared their personal stories and perspectives on a panel moderated by author and deputy director of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Women and Foreign Policy program, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon.

Each of the three panelists noted that women-owned enterprises confront many of the same challenges as businesses run by men, such as dealing with corruption and security risks. But female entrepreneurs must also overcome their own set of unique challenges, they said, such as cultural stigmas that see contracts awarded more often to men, limits on their ability to attend meetings and travel, and the lack of training opportunities that lead to jobs.

Nevertheless, the panel agreed that as the international presence in Afghanistan continues to decline, engaging Afghan women in business is more important than ever. “We have to think about how we can support people,” Sediqi said, noting that female entrepreneurs working in the private sector can help create sustainable jobs that empower other women.

Overcoming the barriers to women’s participation in the economy is possible, the women noted. Expanding access to higher education and vocational training, especially outside of Kabul, would be of great help, noted Shaima Atiq Kabir. “There are maybe four other ladies in the north, where I work who do what I do,” she said. Technology like mobile phones, mobile payments and the Internet have already made it easier for women to participate in business, she noted. The other panelists agreed. Roya Mahboob, who heads a software company she started while she was a student at Herat University, said that the IT field in particular was well-suited for women because they can work from home.

The women called on the international community to continue supporting education and security in Afghanistan even after the planned 2014 drawdown of international forces, noting that they must be present to preserve the peace and stability that enable opportunities for women.

The Institute’s Center for Gender and Peacebuilding will draw on the stories and experiences presented by the panelists for a forthcoming Peace Brief on women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan. Together with USIP’s Center for Sustainable Economies, led by Raymond Gilpin, an effort is underway to survey the international private sector companies that are working with women-owned businesses in post-conflict countries like Afghanistan. The survey hopes to better identify challenges and opportunities for women, including trade restrictions and tax codes that are problematic for small and medium enterprises. Results of the survey will be presented in Spring 2013.

Explore Further


Related Research & Analysis

Understanding the Implications of the Taliban’s Opium Ban in Afghanistan

Understanding the Implications of the Taliban’s Opium Ban in Afghanistan

Thursday, December 12, 2024

The Taliban’s opium ban, coupled with Afghan farmers’ replacement of poppy largely with low-value wheat, is likely to worsen dissatisfaction and political tensions. The Taliban’s persistence in enforcing the ban has been notable, especially in 2024. If the ban remains in place, it would demonstrate the regime’s strength but also worsen rural poverty, increase dissatisfaction among landholders and spur political instability. This will likely lead to increased humanitarian needs and more pressures for outmigration to nearby countries and beyond, both of which are of interest to the U.S. and other Western countries. Conversely, if the ban weakens in response to pressures and resistance, a revival of widespread poppy cultivation could undermine the regime’s authority. Aid alone will not offset the economic shock of the ban, nor stimulate the long-term growth needed to effectively combat the opium problem.

Type: Analysis

How Afghanistan’s Economy Can Survive Shrinking Shipments of U.N. Cash Aid

How Afghanistan’s Economy Can Survive Shrinking Shipments of U.N. Cash Aid

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Afghanistan’s precarious economy is facing a new set of multidimensional risks as humanitarian aid — delivered in massive shipments of U.S. cash dollars — shrinks rapidly amid competing demands from other crises around the world. The dollar inflows, moved under U.N. auspices, have helped stabilize the Afghan economy, cover its mammoth trade deficit, and inject monetary liquidity into commerce. With much smaller cash infusions, in line with a general reduction in aid, the suffering of Afghanistan’s poverty-stricken population is likely to increase.

Type: Analysis

View All Research & Analysis