The World Bank has announced that it has allocated $16 million to support small businesses in Afghanistan, with a focus on women-owned enterprises and businesses led by women. The World Bank noted that this assistance will be directly disbursed to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) via the Aga Khan Foundation in the USA. The project in Afghanistan will be implemented through the Aga Khan Foundation and the Afghanistan Credit Guarantee Foundation. Melinda Good, World Bank country director for Afghanistan, emphasised that “supporting small financial providers in Afghanistan is one of the few actionable options currently available to enhance access to financial resources in Afghanistan, especially for women.”