Working Around Restrictions: Afghan Women Build Businesses Under the Taliban

By Margarite Clarey, Senior Advocacy and Communications Officer, Asia

Published March 9, 2026

Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women have faced severe restrictions on their rights, including limitations on education and employment. Despite these challenges, the private sector, particularly small-scale entrepreneurship, has emerged as a crucial space for Afghan women to earn a living. However, this path is fraught with obstacles.

The Shift to Entrepreneurship

Following the Taliban’s takeover, many women were forced to leave their jobs in the public sector and with non-governmental organizations. Initially, some turned to agriculture, but droughts and Taliban policies, including a ban on poppy cultivation, made agricultural livelihoods difficult. A growing number of women have started their own businesses, often operating from home and focusing on handicrafts and food products. The number of licenses granted to women-led enterprises has quadrupled to over 10,000 since 2021, with tens of thousands more operating informally. These small-scale operations now represent the largest source of employment for Afghan women. UN Women reports that Afghanistan remains a protracted humanitarian crisis, with gendered restrictions exacerbating existing needs.

Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs

Whereas women-led businesses have largely been spared direct restrictions, entrepreneurs like Maryam face significant challenges stemming from the Taliban’s broader gender-based prohibitions. Many operate under the radar, relying on informal networks and home-based production, even with valid licenses, to avoid scrutiny. Societal pressures from those disapproving of women-led businesses also contribute to this need for discretion. Maryam, a clothing designer and producer, exemplifies this, ensuring her workshop remains exclusively female and utilizing social media for sales to minimize visibility. Worldpress.org highlights the ongoing resistance of Afghan women in the face of systemic oppression.

Access to markets presents another hurdle. The Taliban restricts women’s freedom of movement, requiring a mahram (male guardian) for travel, even for short distances. This restriction extends to interactions with government officials and attendance at business events. Women are prohibited from direct interaction with male customers, suppliers, or landlords, necessitating the leverage of male relatives as intermediaries. This impacts both entrepreneurs and their customers, as women are often hesitant to leave their homes for shopping.

The Role of Support Networks

Many women-for-women businesses benefit from support from organizations like the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry and international organizations, which offer small-scale initiatives to assist female entrepreneurs. Maryam credits training from these organizations with providing her with the skills to run a successful business. However, accessing this support can be challenging, with opaque grant processes and unmet promises of assistance reported by many women.

Regional Variations in Enforcement

The enforcement of restrictions varies across Afghanistan. While many women function informally from home, they can still face scrutiny if suspected of violating the Taliban’s morality rules. Outside of urban centers like Kabul and Herat, women encounter steeper barriers due to fewer opportunities and stricter enforcement. In Parwan province, for example, women entrepreneurs have been excluded from mixed-gender markets and required to wear the chador. Even working from home has been subject to intervention from the morality police.

The Importance of Women’s Economic Participation

Even some within the Taliban acknowledge the importance of women’s participation in the economy. The UN-led Doha process emphasizes economic recovery and recognizes the need for women’s contributions. However, restrictions on access to services, freedom of movement, and interaction with officials continue to hinder the growth of women-led businesses.

Looking Ahead

To stimulate economic recovery, authorities should consider easing controls on women entrepreneurs, including ensuring access to public services without male intermediaries, easing travel restrictions, and increasing the number of women-focused trade fairs. International donors should continue to provide targeted grants and training in business management, marketing, and digital literacy. As Maryam states, “Our strength is that women support each other.” Sustaining Afghan women’s livelihoods requires continued support and a commitment to overcoming the political constraints they face.

All illustrations by Mélissa Cornet for Crisis Group.

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• After the Aid Axe: Charting a Path to Self-reliance in Afghanistan