The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced that under a new program, it will allocate $1.7 million to support women business owners in Afghanistan.

The agency said on Sunday, September 27 (Mizan 5) that the plan is expected to cover approximately 1,500 women entrepreneurs over the next year.

The goal of this program is stated to be providing financial opportunities and strengthening women’s ability to maintain and expand their economic activities.

Women covered by this plan will receive, in addition to financial assistance, training related to financial and digital literacy, specialized counseling, business planning, and better access to markets.

It has been said that strengthening women’s economic activity can also increase household incomes and indirectly affect the lives of more than 14,000 people.

This program is being launched at a time when women in Afghanistan face significant restrictions in accessing financial services.

According to UNDP data, fewer than seven percent of women in Afghanistan have access to a bank account or mobile money services.

Under such conditions, a number of women rely more on personal savings, help from family members and friends, or selling their assets to secure the capital needed for their businesses.