Afghan women defy Taliban, become entrepreneurs and YouTubers

The Taliban’s strict restrictions on women in Afghanistan have significantly limited their ability to work and move freely. As a result, many Afghan women have turned to entrepreneurship as a means of supporting themselves and their families. However, a recent study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has highlighted the challenges faced by these women entrepreneurs, particularly in accessing capital and reaching markets.

According to the study, 41 percent of the surveyed women entrepreneurs had to take a loan or debt to start or sustain their businesses. However, only five percent were able to obtain these loans from formal financial institutions, such as banks or micro-finance institutions. Instead, most women relied on borrowing money from friends and family, highlighting the lack of access to formal financial services.

Moreover, the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s movement have further hindered their entrepreneurial activities. More than 70 percent of the respondents stated that they couldn’t go to a local market without a male guardian, severely limiting their ability to conduct business and reach customers.

Despite these challenges, female-led businesses continue to play a crucial role in Afghanistan’s economy. Some Taliban officials have even expressed support for female businesses, recognizing their importance in sustaining local economies. However, the Taliban’s actions, such as closing beauty salons and restricting women’s access to work, have created significant barriers for women entrepreneurs.

In response to these restrictions, many women who are unable to work outside the home have turned to online platforms, such as YouTube, to earn a living. One such YouTuber is Setaish Hayat, who creates videos on cooking, fashion, makeup, and skits with her family. However, international sanctions have limited transactions with Afghan banks, so most YouTube content creators rely on friends abroad to transfer their earnings.

Overall, the future of Afghanistan’s economy depends on supporting women entrepreneurs and providing them with the resources they need to succeed. As Stephen Rodriques, UNDP’s Afghanistan Resident Representative, emphasized, “Women have long been the driving force behind the welfare of households in Afghanistan … the future of Afghanistan depends on them.”

Re-reported from the article originally published in bt business today.