Self-Help Groups in Afghanistan: A Ploy of Economic and Social Empowerment of Women for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Women's empowerment is nothing new; it has been acknowledged as an essential element of eradicating poverty and advancing the economy. However, it remains problematic in most developing countries, such as Afghanistan. This research evaluates women's empowerment experiences by utilising Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as a fundamental development method to empower women economically and socially. This study adopts a qualitative research style, with data mainly acquired from rural areas (Kabul province). The findings indicated that SHG involvement is closely associated with families' socio-economic well-being, meaning that SHG participants are more empowered than those who do not engage or are oblivious to SHGs. SHGs confront various obstacles in Afghanistan, including (but not limited to) erroneous cultural norms, security issues, inadequate financial assistance and poor member participation, all of which influence operations. This study makes important recommendations for promoting and achieving women's integration and active participation in SHGs, including increasing social awareness, support from civil society and the government, laws and regulations that support women, strategies to increase women's economic and social empowerment and linking groups to commercial banks.

Citation

Wani, N.U.H., Majidi, B.S., Sidana, N. and Goel, R. (2024), "Self-Help Groups in Afghanistan: A Ploy of Economic and Social Empowerment of Women for Sustainable Development", Goel, R., Singh, T., Rahman, M.M., Islam, Q.T. and Baral, S.K. (Ed.) Understanding the Multi-Dimensional Nature of Poverty (Emerald Studies in Sustainable Approaches to Poverty Alleviation), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 147-170. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-292-620241008