11th Bibi Khadija Annual Award
- Manizha Wafeq
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Date: December 22, 2025
Format: Virtual Convening
Organizer: Global Women’s Trade Caravan In Partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Afghanistan Office
The 11th Annual Bibi Khadija Award was convened virtually on December 22, 2025, continuing a decade-long tradition of recognizing and supporting Afghan women entrepreneurs and economic actors. Named after Khadija, the wife of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), a successful businesswoman who led trade caravans over 1400 years ago. The award highlights women’s economic leadership rooted in history, resilience, and enterprise.
The virtual convening brought together over 60 participants, including Afghan women entrepreneurs, national allies, women’s business leaders, and international partners. Participants joined from urban, rural, and remote provinces, reflecting the geographic and sectoral diversity of women’s entrepreneurship in Afghanistan.
In her welcome remarks, Manizha Wafeq, Founder of the Bibi Khadija Award, emphasized the urgency of sustained support for women entrepreneurs, stating: “If women in Afghanistan, despite all the challenges they face, can carry on their business activities, then we must support them.”
2024 Honorees’ Progress and Grant Utilization - In the event a progress report on the 2024 honorees was presented, highlighted how award grants were utilized to sustain operations, improve product quality, retain employment, and adapt to restrictive operating environments. The session reinforced the value of flexible, trust-based funding. The report can be found at the end of this page.
Panel Discussion: Voices from the Honorees - A panel discussion moderated by Afsana Rahimi, Chair of AWCCI and CEO of AIBC, featured previous honorees. Panelists highlighted challenges and recommended long-term, structured programming:
Key Challenges Identified:
Panelists emphasized persistent and interconnected barriers, including:
Extremely restricted environment for women in general and women businesses
Limited local and international market access
Severe constraints on access to finance
Electricity shortages and infrastructure challenges
Restricted access to digital tools and online platforms
Gaps in market-relevant, quality training
Limited networking opportunities and women-led associations
Key Recommendations
Honorees called for long-term, structured programming, particularly in:
Continued negotiation with the current rulers to improve the situation for women.
Market access and value chain integration
Gender-responsive financial instruments
Digital inclusion and e-commerce enablement
Skills development aligned with market demand
Strengthening women-led networks and associations
2025 Bibi Khadija Award Honorees - A selection committee reviewed more than 260 nominations and shortlisted the following 12 to be honored in 2025. Each honoree received a grant of AFN 55,000 (USD 840) to invest in a business need they identified in their applications.
Honorees
Bibi Alema Latifi - Shamaal Football Manufacturing Company | Balkh
Products: Football and Volleyball.
Established: 2021
Jobs created: 21 (20 women, 1 man)
Humaira Mohammadi - Nawai Zan Radio Station | Farah & Herat
Sector: Women-led media
Established: 2021
Jobs created: 24 (20 women, 4 men)
Soraya Amiri - Banoo Sweet Store | Daikundi
Products: Cakes and confectionery
Established: 2020
Jobs created: 7 women
Atiba Tokhi Badghis Women Business Center | Badghis
Products: Handicrafts, food processing, dry fruits
Established: 2015
Jobs created: 600 women, 20 men
Sadiqe Tamasoki -Tamasoki Silk World | Herat
Products: Silk items
Established: 2008
Women trained: 275
Sadeqa Sadeqyar - Sadeqyar Agriculture Company | Herat
Products: Fruit chips (production and packaging)
Established: 2023
Jobs created: 10 (6 women, 4 men)
Narges Bader - Glossy Fashion | Kabul\
Products: Handmade beaded bags, jewelry, gift packaging
Established: 2023
Jobs created: Over 30
Basma Faqirzada - Nooristan Tourmaline Jewelry | Kabul
Products: Handmade jewelry in brass, silver, and gold
Established: 2020
Jobs created: 10 (5 women, 5 men)
Madina Faqiri - Banowan Tawana Agriculture and Livestock Company | Balkh
Products: Spices
Established: 2022
Jobs created: 10 (8 women, 2 men)
Marwa Quraishi Creative Women | Parwan
Products: Hand-woven Afghan carpets.
Established: 2019
Jobs created: Over 75 women (15 currently active)
Najiba Rahmani - FASTO Online Delivery Services | Kabul
Sector: Logistics and delivery services
Established: 2020
Jobs created: Over 25 (10+ women, 15 men)
Nasima Ebrahimi - Afghan Mosafar Trading Co. | Herat
Product: Saffron
Established: 2021
Jobs created: Over 80 (4 women, 3 men, 15-20 temporary women workers, and 50-80 seasonal)
You can watch the 12 inspiring videos of our honorees in this YouTube playlist - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPIQrV-ENOxhGfveB567WbV6-D7SioFkF&si=FtLkMO5ALatW9jes
Across the 12 honorees, the 2025 cohort demonstrates:
Women’s leadership across urban, rural, and remote provinces
Strong emphasis on women’s employment and skills transfer
Presence in both traditional and non-traditional sectors
Adaptation through digital tools, community-based models, and innovation
Sustained economic contribution under restrictive conditions
Collectively, these enterprises have created and sustained hundreds of jobs, the majority for women, while preserving skills, traditions, and livelihoods.
The 11th Annual Bibi Khadija Award reaffirmed that Afghan women entrepreneurs continue to build businesses, create jobs, and sustain communities—even in the face of systemic barriers.
The event highlighted the importance of:
Long-term support, not one-time recognition
Flexible, trust-based funding mechanisms
Policy-relevant evidence drawn from women’s lived experiences
The Bibi Khadija Award remains committed to ensuring that Afghan women entrepreneurs are recognized as economic leaders, investors, and contributors, deserving sustained support and global solidarity.
Report of the 2024 Honorees can be found here:
Comments