The Impact of Microfinance on Women Empowerment: A case study of Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan

Year 2024, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 38 - 64, 28.03.2024

Baqir Khawari , Mohammad Samim Miskinyar , Mohammad Sadiq Khawari

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of microfinance on the empowerment of women in Afghanistan in terms of economic, educational, decision-making, and social status. The country has been plagued by poverty and conflict for more than 30 years, with women being the most severely impacted. Microfinance institutions have been introduced to alleviate poverty, with a focus on women. A quantitative research method was used, with 100 randomly selected women clients of microcredit. The study found that microfinance has had a significant impact on women's economic empowerment, education, decision-making, and social status. However, access to microfinance services was challenging due to the need for a guarantor. Furthermore, the regression analysis showed that microfinance's economic empowerment, education, decision-making, and social status have a positive and significant impact on women's empowerment in Afghanistan. However, under the new regime, microcredit is no longer available for women, which could have a significant impact on their empowerment, given the high poverty rate, particularly among women. Therefore, the study recommends that the government allow and encourage microfinance institutions to provide credit facilities to women in these challenging circumstances.

Keywords

micro-finance, women empowerment, Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan

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