ABSTRACT
War has plagued Afghanistan over the last 30 years, and as a result, the nation has faced serious economic setbacks, especially in sustainability. Afghanistan has a long-standing history of war over the past three decades, and it has struggled to rebuild its economic sustainability and safety. Since 2001 and the beginning of the troop withdrawal in 2015, the Afghan people have undergone substantial political and social transformation yet remain one of the poorest and most dangerous countries in world. While some progress has been made, it remains small, especially in terms of including women as key contributors to the sustainability of the economy. This chapter analyzes previous efforts by neighboring Arab nations, such as Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and will evaluate the tools, strategies and tactics used to help women prosper and move forward in Afghanistan as contributing members of society through educational and entrepreneurial opportunities in all regions and in Afghanistan’s provinces. This chapter also addresses the current and future security challenges that must be addressed to sustain future economic prosperity and to highlight them as a cautionary measure for international relief. The findings of this analysis show practical approaches that the Afghan government, the Ministry of Education and the United States can put into practice for long-term economic sustainability in Afghanistan. The recommendations presented are aimed at improving social justice and issues of cultural disadvantage at the central government level; implementing and expanding on educational programs, such as the National Education Strategic Plan III (2014–2020); promoting technical and vocational training among women, beginning in high school; and, finally, executing approaches used in other Muslim nations to promote economic success.
