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Title Empowering Afghan Women in Rural Communities: The Impact of NGOs on Capacity Building and Gender Inclusion

Author(s) Najeebullah

Abstract This study explored the Impact of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on women's empowerment in rural Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, with an emphasis on capacity building and gender inclusion activities. Using feminist theory, capability approach, and social capital theory as theoretical lenses, the research examines the impact of NGO interventions on socioeconomic opportunity, education, and social inclusion of women. Based on data from twenty women beneficiaries and NGO staff through individual interviews along with two focus group discussions of ten participants each, the study uses a qualitative case study approach, supported through document analysis and field observations. The results show that although NGOs are essential in supporting empowerment of women through vocational training, educational programs, and social inclusion efforts are constrained by short project life cycles, lack of follow up support, and cultural pushback. The study identifies some of the social economic problems faced by the rural women and they are identified to include unemployable and limited access to education leading to a cycle of poverty and dependence. These initiatives, however, are hobbled by high repayment rates leading to inadequate long-term market access, making skills training and economic empowerment programs important catalysts of change. The research confirms that development efforts are most effective when they respect and engage local culture and religion and recruit male allies and community leaders. The study highlights that the sustainability of women's empowerment is only possible by adopting integrative approaches targeting the combined interplay of structural and cultural barriers, especially the cultural sensitivity of program planning and implementation. Thus, these findings also have important implications for policy development, program design, and future research on women empowerment initiatives within conservative rural settings. The study suggests the need for longitudinal studies to assess the long-term effects of the program and stresses the importance of technology-enabled interventions that can help surmount geographical and cultural hurdles in rural Afghanistan. Keywords: Women's empowerment, Rural development, NGO interventions, Capacity building, Gender inclusion, Rural communities

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Management Sciences

Department Governance and Public Policy

Language English

Publication Date 2025-06-30

Subject Governance and Public Policy

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