With the prevailing food security crisis in Afghanistan, the international community must invest in the significant potential of Afghan girls to increase their participation in formal agriculture education and cultivate the growth and prosperity of Afghanistan. Currently, more than half of the Afghan population is confronted by acute hunger due to continuing conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic collapse, and a severe drought.

Additionally, with agricultural production accounting for 23 percent of Afghanistan’s gross domestic product, it is no surprise that the agriculture sector dominates discussions among policymakers for its potential to reduce poverty and stimulate job creation. Agriculture accounts for 22.8 percent of self-employment and family businesses and provides 45 percent of all jobs in the country. Realization of the potential of the agriculture sector could increase economic growth by 7.5 percent by 2024.

However, girls’ participation in agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)—even before the dramatic events of August 2021—has been very low, resulting in thwarted aspirations and a loss of human potential. Of the nearly 20,000 students enrolled in agriculture schools and institutes in 2019, only around 2,400—less than 12 percent—were girls.

Based on focus group discussions and interviews with more than 300 female agriculture students, teachers, and faculty, as well as TVET directors and experts, I lay out the challenges girls and women pursuing agricultural TVET face and potential solutions to help overcome these challenges and navigate paths into the labor market. For the full details on this study, please see my recently published policy brief.

Read the full article about investing in skill-building for women and girls by Nangyalai Attal at Brookings.