The European Union (EU) has announced a €10 million ($10 million) investment to roll out Phase II of the Women’s Economic Empowerment through Local Enterprise Development (WE-LEAD) program, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The new phase aims to strengthen livelihoods and expand economic opportunities for Afghan women in selected underserved provinces.

Building on the achievements of WE-LEAD Phase I and UNDP’s Area-Based Approach for Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI), the programme will support women across the economic spectrum — from informal savings groups to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. It will provide a package of integrated financial and non-financial services designed to fit Afghanistan’s social and economic realities.

WE-LEAD Phase II focuses on addressing key barriers to women’s economic participation, including limited access to finance, markets, skills, and sustainable income opportunities. The initiative promotes culturally appropriate and Sharia-compliant financial mechanisms, alongside business development services, mentorship, and improved market access.

Key components of the programme include:

• Transforming informal savings groups into Sharia-compliant Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs)
• Expanding access to subsidized Islamic microfinance for women entrepreneurs
• Supporting women-led micro and small enterprises through blended finance and tailored business services
• Integrating women into local value chains using a market systems approach
• Launching a Social Enterprise Idea Challenge to encourage community-driven solutions

Veronika Boskovic Pohar, the EU Chargée d’Affaires to Afghanistan, said the initiative reflects the EU’s commitment to community resilience. “By investing in women-led businesses, communities, and local markets, we are helping Afghan households build resilience and self-sufficiency,” she noted.

UNDP Resident Representative in Afghanistan Stephen Rodriques said the programme would have a broad economic impact. “WE-LEAD Phase II will support thousands of women entrepreneurs with financial literacy, access to Sharia-compliant finance, and business services, contributing to economic recovery and job creation across the country,” he said.

Through the expanded WE-LEAD programme, the EU and UNDP aim to advance women’s economic empowerment, strengthen household resilience, and promote more inclusive and sustainable local development in Afghanistan.

Thousands of children displaced by last year’s earthquakes in Afghanistan are facing heightened risks of life-threatening illnesses as freezing winter temperatures deepen an already dire humanitarian situation, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned.

An estimated 270,000 children remain vulnerable across affected areas, many living in inadequate shelters without sufficient heating, winter clothing or access to basic healthcare.

Prolonged exposure to cold and damp conditions has sharply increased the risk of respiratory infections, hypothermia and other preventable diseases, UNICEF warned this week.

Humanitarian officials say the onset of winter has compounded the challenges facing earthquake-affected families, many of whom are still struggling to recover months after the disaster. Children living in temporary settlements are particularly exposed to rain, snow and poor sanitation, further heightening health risks.

“We are responding quickly by providing winter support and constructing drainage systems in the Khas Kunar camp to divert rain and wastewater,” UNICEF said, underscoring efforts to reduce the spread of disease and improve living conditions for displaced families.

Aid agencies are urging sustained international support, warning that without continued assistance, Afghanistan’s most vulnerable children could face worsening health outcomes during the harsh winter months.

Afghanistan’s national power utility, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), says electricity supply has been disrupted in several provinces after a major power transmission line importing electricity from Uzbekistan went out of service.

In a statement, DABS said the 220-kilovolt transmission line along the Pul-e-Khumri–Kabul route sustained technical damage due to heavy rainfall, snowfall, and strong winds, forcing it offline.

The outage has resulted in widespread power shortages and intermittent electricity cuts across Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Logar, Paktia, Khost, and parts of Baghlan province.

DABS said severe snowfall in the Salang area has so far prevented technical teams from accessing the site and determining the exact location of the fault.

The company added that repair crews will be deployed as soon as weather conditions improve, allowing engineers to locate and repair the damaged section of the line and restore electricity supply.