Japan and UN Women partner to strengthen Afghan women’s resilience

Business training for Afghan women. Photo: UN Women

Afghanistan — On 17 January 2024, the Government of Japan and UN Women signed a partnership agreement to launch a new programme aimed at strengthening women's resilience in Afghanistan.

After supporting UN Women in the delivery of lifesaving services for Afghan women and girls in 2022 and the protection and empowerment of crisis-affected Afghan women and girls in 2023, this contribution reaffirms Japan’s commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment in Afghanistan for the third consecutive year. 

The one-year programme aims to reduce the disproportionate risks and negative impact of socio-economic and political shocks on Afghan women, including those who are the most marginalized and in vulnerable and disaster-prone settings. In line with the 2023 Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan, the programme focuses on investing in women’s leadership at the community level, while contributing to meeting their basic human needs.

The programme was designed in response to the impact of two consecutive years of natural disasters in Afghanistan, exacerbated by restrictions on women’s rights, including their rights to movement and mobility and economic participation. 

“We are proud to count on the Government of Japan as a longstanding ally of UN Women since the entity’s establishment, supporting women and girls’ rights and resilience in Afghanistan.” said, Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women’s Deputy Director - Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division and UN Women Special Representative for Afghanistan a.i.