Afghan refugee women stepping into business

438
Afghan refugee women hands a young customer his newly purchased goods at her tuck-shop in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Afghan refugee women hands a young customer his newly purchased goods at her tuck-shop in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Islamabad, 17 November 2021 (TDI): UNHCR reports that in Pakistan, Afghan refugee women are stepping forward into business. The enterprising Afghan refugee women are working to support their families.

Moreover, they are learning new skills and running small businesses.

Amid COVID disruptions

COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of many people. Refugees in Pakistan were no exception. The households that rely on day labor became vulnerable to lockdowns. In these circumstances, Afghan women felt the pandemic’s effect.

Many Afghan refugees are residing in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

After the first wave of virus the offers of earning disappeared. Consequently, Afghan refugee women started business ventures to support their families.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNHCR is United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It is a UN refugee agency. It offers local support to Afghan refugee women. For instance, it teaches refugees the skills needed to run a small business.

UNHCR offered a two-month course in 2020. Moreover, the agency provided new information along with basic skills. Consequently, these skills helped Afghan refugee women to run small businesses; including basic management of stock and book-keeping.

UNHCR has supported training for over 60 small home-based businesses. These businesses were owned by Afghan refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2019. It also trained 5,000 youth in vocational work skills.

Afghan refugees are coming forward to learn and gain skills. Moreover, they are pursuing opportunities in crafts, carpets, clothes tailoring, among others.

UNHCR and partners are providing over 30 different livelihood training opportunities in Pakistan; especially for men and women. For instance, bee-keeping, electrical and mobile repairs, and operating heavy machinery.

Gayrat Ahmadshoev

UNHCR’s Head of Sub-Office in Peshawar, Gayrat Ahmadshoev, mentioned that offering youth and women both education and livelihoods opportunities is vitally important. It will boost self-reliance in refugee communities.

UNHCR is working closely with Pakistan’s Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees (CAR) and the local authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It will design and support vocational and skills training opportunities.

Ahmadshoev especially welcomes the fact that Afghan refugee women are participating in the livelihoods programs. For instance, more than 30 percent of skills and vocational training places are taken up by Afghan refugee women.

Ahmadshoev outlined the fact that training contributes to better opportunities for refugees residing in Pakistan. Moreover, it also builds skills that refugees can bring to Afghanistan when conditions allow for a sustainable return.

UNHCR is raising more support for livelihoods in Pakistan. It is a part of an ongoing effort to implement a “Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees”.

This requires contributions from the international community for financial support. Along with technical assistance and opportunities like scholarships.