USAID Hosts Women’s Agricultural Credit Shura in Mazar-E-Sharif to Improve Livelihoods for Afghan Women [EN/Dari/PS]

Aug 25, 2017 | US Agency for International Development
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When it comes to accessing credit for women farmers and women-owned agriculture-related businesses, challenges have often forced these operations to close because of a lack of understanding how credit works. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) wants to change that and help these women prosper in their businesses. With that in mind, USAID’s Regional Agricultural Development Program-North (RADP-N), in partnership with Agricultural Credit Enhancement Phase-II project (ACE-II), hosted the Women’s Agricultural Credit Shura in Mazar-e-Sharif on Wednesday to increase knowledge of the opportunities for women to secure agricultural credit. This event focused on practical training for women to apply for and manage credit. This event brought together a number of top microfinance institutions in Afghanistan along with other financial experts to work with Shura attendees. Topics included women’s economic rights, the types of credit available – traditional and Islamic, and how credit could help them grow their business or farm. The participants also worked in group activities which included discussions about challenges women face in accessing credit and were able to discuss those challenges with women who have had experience with taking loans.