Gender Equality Initiative
Empowering Women and Strengthening Community Resilience
Promoting Equity and Opportunity
Women in Afghanistan face significant social and economic challenges. Early marriage remains common, with an estimated 60% of girls married by the age of 16, and access to education is limited, resulting in approximately 85% of women being unable to read or write.
Decades of conflict and social structures have also led to a high number of widows. Today, an estimated 1.5 million widowed women live in Afghanistan, many with limited access to income and economic security.
At the household level, women play a vital role in caring for family livestock. This responsibility provides an important opportunity to strengthen women’s economic participation within culturally appropriate and safe home-based environments. DCA integrates women and gender inclusion across its programmes while respecting local traditions and social norms.
Women & Gender Inclusion in DCA Projects
DCA applies a women-to-women training approach, which has proven highly effective in reaching and empowering female beneficiaries. Female extension workers work directly with women’s groups, with a particular focus on widows, female-headed households, and economically vulnerable families.
To support this approach, DCA developed a specialized extension package on the role of women in livestock health and production. Women actively adopt improved practices, resulting in:
- Increased livestock birth rates
- Reduced animal morbidity and mortality
- Improved backyard poultry production
- Successful processing and marketing of dairy products
Women & Gender Inclusion within DCA
DCA is committed to gender inclusion within its organizational structure. Approximately 20–25% of DCA’s professional and support staff are women, working at all levels with equal responsibilities and equal remuneration.
To ensure a supportive and inclusive work environment, DCA provides:
- Reimbursement for a male travel companion where culturally required
- Maternity leave and workplace support
- Ongoing capacity-building and professional development opportunities
