Japan and UNDP Partner to Advance Women’s Livelihoods and Economic Opportunities in Afghanistan

Tokyo, Japan - 18 November 2025 - The Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a grant agreement for a two-year initiative titled "The Project for the Improvement of Women's Livelihoods through the Promotion of Economic Activity in the Border Areas."

Funded by the Government of Japan, the project aims to directly benefit Afghan women and vulnerable groups by strengthening access to community infrastructure, supporting women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and promoting inclusive local economic recovery.

With a budget of JPY 864 million (approximately USD 5.6 million), the project aims to strengthen access to community-based productive infrastructure through 73 small-scale projects and improve access to finance and markets for 2,100 women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promoting inclusive local economic recovery.

The project seeks to enhance women entrepreneurs' access to finance through subsidized loans and entrepreneurship training, thereby promoting women's economic agency and their contribution to family and community recovery. It also aims to strengthening community-based public and productive infrastructure to support economic empowerment, expand market opportunities for women to strengthen local economies, and foster positive masculinity through a whole family approach.

This initiative builds on the results achieved under the "Project for Strengthening Women's Economic Activity in the Private Sector" (WE-ACT), which has supported 1,260 women-led MSMEs and created more than 2,500 new jobs, with 87% of those occupied by women. The project is also on course to complete 90 community infrastructure assets that improve local resilience and livelihoods. The new initiative will expand the reach of these outcomes to more women, families, and border-area communities.

The Exchange of Notes was signed by H.E. Mr. Kenichi MASAMOTO, Ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan and Mr. Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan.

H.E. Mr. Kenichi MASAMOTO, Ambassador of Japan to Afghanistan, stated:

"Japan stands with the people of Afghanistan, especially women, in their pursuit of economic independence and dignity. This project will help create safe and meaningful opportunities for women to support themselves and their families."

Mr. Stephen Rodriques, UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan, emphasized:

"We are proud to continue our strong partnership with Japan and JICA in supporting Afghan women to overcome barriers, access livelihoods, and contribute to community resilience. The new project follows in the footsteps of WE-ACT, which has successfully demonstrated that investing in women's businesses is an imperative for a prospering Afghanistan."

This project is implemented under UNDP's broader framework, the Area-Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI), which supports community resilience, job creation, and inclusive economic recovery across Afghanistan. Through ABADEI, UNDP and partners have restored essential community infrastructure, created millions of workdays, and supported local economies - with women's empowerment at the centre of these efforts. The new project complements ABADEI's ongoing work by enhancing women's participation in economic recovery and local development.

For more information or to request an interview, contact:

• UNDP Afghanistan: [email protected] and [email protected]