Advancing Afghan Women's role in the Private Sector

June 24th, 2025

Host: Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

The Global Women's Trade Caravan, under its Advocacy Banner of the Afghan Women's Global Business Forum, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, UNDP, and the EU delegation to the UN, convened a roundtable to promote Afghan women's participation in the private sector. The roundtable was attended by State Members involved in Afghanistan's Doha process and UN Security Council Members.

While the people of Afghanistan continue to endure a protracted humanitarian crisis, economic collapse, and the systemic denial of the rights of women and girls, Afghan women entrepreneurs persist with remarkable resilience.

Often operating as sole providers for their families and among the few remaining pathways for women’s participation in public life, they play a vital role in sustaining local economies. Their efforts underscore the critical nexus between human rights, sustainable development,

and peace. The Afghan private sector has also, to some degree, maintained women’s employment in various sectors such as health, telecommunications, and banking.

This event highlighted the voices and experiences of Afghan women in the private sector, both as entrepreneurs and employees, shed light on the multifaceted challenges they face, and explored concrete pathways to strengthen their economic empowerment and participation.

Through this closed-door discussion, we supported the Member States and stakeholders engaged in the Working Group on the Private Sector under the UN-led Doha Process for Afghanistan, with the aim of ensuring that the potential of Afghan women is recognized as central to any inclusive and sustainable future for Afghanistan. Our leaders Manizha Wafeq, Afsana Rahimi, and Zala Ahmad presented an overview of the situation and high-level pragmatic intervention recommendations, which can be read below.

Afsana Rahimi's Statement .pdf

Download PDF • 146KB

Manizha Wafeq's Statement.

Download • 161KB

Zala Ahmad Remarks.pdf

Download PDF • 168KB

Manizha Wafeq presenting her statement of recommendations to the UN State Members working on the Doha Process and Private Sector Working Group.

Afsana Rahimi is presenting on the status of Chambers and Business Associations and her recommendations for working with them to improve Afghanistan's economy.

Zala Ahmad presenting Safe Path Prosperity's Business Model and recommendations for working with Afghan women entrepreneurs.

From left to right, Zala Ahmad, Manizha Wafeq, Minsoo Tak (ROK Mission to the UN) and Afsana Rahimi