Women’s rights key for Afghanistan’s economic recovery, UN asserts

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) stated in a report released Thursday that Afghanistan’s economic recovery depends on international support for boosting productivity and reinstating women’s rights.

The report, “Two Years in Review: Changes in Afghan Economy, Households and Cross Cutting Sectors,” assesses socioeconomic changes in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. It highlights the erosion of women’s rights and a near-collapse of the banking system as major concerns.

According to the report, the Afghan economy has contracted by 27% since 2020. It introduces the Subsistence Insecurity Index (SII), revealing that 69% of Afghans lack adequate resources for basic subsistence living.

The aim of the report is to guide policy discussions and strategic decisions to help Afghanistan recover from social and economic shocks and progress towards stability, prosperity, and resilience.

Factors contributing to the economic stagnation include restrictions on the banking sector, disruptions in trade and commerce, weakened public institutions, and minimal foreign investment and donor support.

The loss of technical expertise in public institutions, particularly the departure of women employees, is exacerbating the situation.

The humanitarian and economic crises, compounded by restrictions on women’s rights, have severely impacted women. Their access to public spaces, food consumption, and income equality have diminished significantly. Women’s workforce participation has dropped from 11% in 2022 to just 6% this year.

The UNDP urged that women’s economic participation be a priority in addressing Afghanistan’s crises, calling for local economic development, resilience against shocks, and robust private sector-led growth.