Region:Asia PacificCurrent UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
World Bank Income Classification:Low IncomeThe World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.Least Developed Country:YesSince 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability.Gender Inequality Index:0.575GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa.Gender Development Index:0.723GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
Population:209,497,025Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 RevisionMale:19,976,265 (9.5%)Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
By the end of 2025, more people in Afghanistan will benefit from an increasingly stable, inclusive, and employment-rich economy, with greater equality of economic opportunities and more resilient livelihoods, increased food production, and improved natural resources management.
Activity DetailsResourcesOutcome Indicators and ResultsStrategic Note Outcome Progress NoteDocuments
Outcome details
SDG alignment
Impact areas
Organizational outputs
Policy markerGENDER EQUALITY
Humanitarian scopeNo
UN system function
Outcome Description
Related UNSF Output 2.2: Private sector enterprises, particularly MSMEs, have improved access to finance, asset support and business development services, and increased business opportunities that stimulate growth and decent job creation.
Resources
Planned Budget
Actual Budget
Planned Budget
Actual Budget and Shortfall
Expenses
Outcome Indicator and ResultsPlan Period :
2023-2025
OUTCOME
AFG_D_1.2
By the end of 2025, more people in Afghanistan will benefit from an increasingly stable, inclusive, and employment-rich economy, with greater equality of economic opportunities and more resilient livelihoods, increased food production, and improved natural resources management.
AFG_D_1.2A
AFG_D_1.2A
Country
Employment Rate (of those participating in the labour market) (15-65 years old).
2025
Result-
AFG_D_1.2A
Country
2022
Baseline
50% (Men: 69%, Women 32%)50% (Men: 69%, Women 32%)
2023
Milestone
3% increase3% increase
Result
68% men 22% women 68% men 22% women
2024
Milestone
10% increase10% increase
Result
--
2025
Target
--
Result
--
AFG_D_1.2B
AFG_D_1.2B
Country
Employment to Population Ratio (Proxy for SDG indicator 8.5.2)
Domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) (Proxy for SDG indicator 9.3.2)
2025
Result-
AFG_D_1.2C
Country
2020
Baseline
33
2023
Milestone
55
Result
33
2024
Milestone
88
Result
--
2025
Target
1010
Result
--
AFG_D_1.2D
AFG_D_1.2D
Country
Proportion of total working age population (15-65 years old) in salaried employed in the private sector by sex (paid private salary includes all nongovernment jobs with a regular paycheque). (Non-SDG indicator)
2025
Result-
AFG_D_1.2D
Country
2023
Baseline
6% (Men: 10%; Women: data not available)6% (Men: 10%; Women: data not available)
2023
Milestone
7%7%
Result
Female: 96% of total employment in manufacturingFemale: 96% of total employment in manufacturing
2024
Milestone
8%8%
Result
--
2025
Target
10%10%
Result
--
AFG_D_1.2E
AFG_D_1.2E
Country
Number of new domestic and foreign sectorial businesses registered. (Non-SDG indicator)
2025
Result-
AFG_D_1.2E
Country
2022
Baseline
84408440
2023
Milestone
95009500
Result
84408440
2024
Milestone
1050010500
Result
--
2025
Target
1200012000
Result
--
SP_D_0.4.3
SP_D_0.4.3
Country
Number of countries where multi-sectoral systems, strategies or programs are implemented to advance women’s equal access to and use of services, goods and/resources, including social protection (CO)
Complementary indicators are identified as those in the results framework
that are not repeated verbatim in the results framework of another United Nations entity, but are related or provide
different but complementary lenses or insights into the same issue, high-level result and/or area of complementary work,
such as a Sustainable Development Goal target.
Complementary
UNICEF
2025
Result-
SP_D_0.4.3
Country
2022
Baseline
YesYes
2023
Milestone
YesYes
Result
TRUETRUE
2024
Milestone
YesYes
Result
2025
Target
YesYes
Result
--
SP_D_1.1
UN Women reports on this indicator in a global scope, signified by "(Desk Review)" at the end of the indicator statement (see the Our Global Results page for the global result)
SP_D_1.1
Country
SDG 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments, (b) local governments and (c) executive positions/ministers (cabinets) held by women (Desk Review)
SDG
Goal 5
Common indicators are those that appear verbatim the same in at least two
entities' results frameworks and are drawn, where possible, directly from other globally agreed frameworks.
Strategic Note Outcome Progress NoteShowing data of :
2023
By the end of 2025, more people in Afghanistan will benefit from an increasingly stable, inclusive, and employment-rich economy, with greater equality of economic opportunities and more resilient livelihoods, increased food production, and improved natural resources management.
While UN Women achieved some progress towards this Outcome, in 2023, economic decline continued to affect all sectors of the Afghan economy, though the decline has been slowed compared to 2022. Services, which made up 45 per cent of the national GDP, shrank by 6.5 per cent, following a sharp 30 per cent drop in 2022. The agriculture sector, which accounted for 36 per cent of GDP, declined by 6.6 per cent in 2023 due to unfavorable weather conditions and farmers’ lack of resources to cope with the crises affecting their activities. The industrial sector also saw a contraction (of 5.7 per cent) in 2023, as businesses – especially those owned by women – faced closures due to limited access to resources and financial challenges. Analysists estimate that the “No-conflict" dividend in Afghanistan is spent: the economy still depends heavily on external support and lacks a self-sustaining pathway for recovery. [1] Women’s income security was drastically impacted by the fall of Kabul in August 2021, and women’s livelihoods continue to be threatened by the impact of bans and decrees infringing on the rights of women and girls.
Despite this economic decline, an increase in economic activity among women has been observed. Not surprisingly, given the reduced labour demand and constraints on women’s economic activity imposed by the de facto authorities (DFA), the increase in economic activity among Afghan women has mostly occurred within the bounds of their homes. An increasing number of women are employed in the manufacturing sector, particularly in garment and food processing activities.
In this context, UN Women is contributing to women’s economic engagement, and utilizes the potential of women’s economic empowerment to counterbalance the systemic exclusion of women and girls from all spheres of life in Afghanistan. For example, under a pilot initiative, UN Women worked with a private consulting firm to enhance access to employment opportunities for skilled women in Afghanistan. Pledges and expressions of interest to provide internship opportunities to Afghan women were secured from select companies, while others expressed willingness to contribute to discussions on women’s economic participation. UN Women – together with other UN agencies - also supported current and aspiring women business owners and entrepreneurs, who are facing complex administrative and social barriers to develop, sustain and strengthen their businesses, and to access credit and markets. UN Women regularly meets with Afghan businesswomen in different parts of the country to learn about economic opportunities they would like to pursue, and to tailor support accordingly. UN Women also expanded partnership with other UN entities to create job opportunities for women within micro, small and medium enterprises through the “Roads to Decent Jobs” project implemented in partnership with ILO. Under this partnership, using a Market System Development (MSD) approach, women owned MSMEs are empowered not only to become self-sufficient but also to create jobs for women.
UN Women’s approach to economic empowerment will thereby continue to go beyond increasing women’s income and is anchored in changing the social norms that govern a women’s ability to influence decision making. UN Women will continue to use economic empowerment as a programming entry point in Afghanistan, contributing to ongoing work on countering the diminishing pathways for women’s economic participation, and, by extension, on stimulating economic recovery.
[1] Afghanistan-Development-Update-20231003-final.pdf
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Strategic Note (SN) Development Results and Resources Framework
Intended ultimate beneficiaries, Conditions, Budget, Results, outcomes and outputs
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World Bank Income Classification:Low Income
The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.
