From small ideas to sustainable businesses in Afghanistan
University of Central Asia
Afghanistan · · 8 min
Across Afghanistan’s remote mountain communities, many young people are working to create opportunities for themselves and those around them. For aspiring entrepreneurs, turning an idea into a sustainable business often requires more than determination alone — it requires practical skills, confidence and support.
Through entrepreneurship programmes delivered by the University of Central Asia’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (UCA SPCE), young business owners in Faizabad and Badakhshan are gaining the tools to strengthen their enterprises, generate income and create opportunities for others in their communities.
UCA is part of the Aga Khan Development Network, and was founded through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan, and Aga Khan IV. Since its creation in 2006, UCA SPCE has supported more than 310,000 learners across Central Asia to acquire skills in entrepreneurship, business management, IT and vocational fields through its 18 learning centres.
From tailoring workshops and retail shops to creative ventures rooted in Afghan cultural traditions, their stories demonstrate how practical education and entrepreneurship can contribute to resilience, inclusion and local economic growth.
Bonu started with one sewing machine and trained at UCA SPCE's Faizabad Learning Centre. Her tailoring workshop in Badakhshan now employs six women.
Sewing a future through entrepreneurship
Growing up in Badakhshan, 21-year-old Bonu always envisioned a future in which she could work independently while helping create opportunities for other women. With a single sewing machine and modest savings, she opened a small tailoring shop.
Early doubt from others did not deter her. Instead, she focused on understanding her customers, improving her designs and slowly building trust within her community.
“When I started, many people told me it was impossible for a woman to run a business here,” Bonu says. “But I believed in myself and trusted the women around me. I knew that if we worked together, we could succeed.”
To strengthen her skills, Bonu enrolled in UCA SPCE’s Entrepreneurship programme at the Faizabad Learning Centre, where she received training in market analysis, financial management and team building. The programme helped her shift from an informal approach to structured business planning.
As her business grew, she began hiring other women – turning her shop into both a workplace and a learning space. What began with one machine has since developed into a stable enterprise serving a growing client base.
Today, Bonu employs six women aged 21 to 35, providing them with income and practical skills.
Hamza Ashraf reorganised his Faizabad retail shop after entrepreneurship training at UCA SPCE in 2023. It now supports his family of seven.
Turning a struggling shop into a growing business
In Faizabad, Hamza Ashraf began his entrepreneurial journey with a small retail shop and an investment of 170,000 Afghani (approximately $1,100). Like many first-time entrepreneurs, he initially relied on effort and intuition alone but soon encountered challenges in managing finances and understanding market demand.
After a year of slow progress, he began to question whether the business could continue.
Everything changed in 2023, when Hamza enrolled in UCA SPCE’s Entrepreneurship programme. For the first time, he was introduced to structured business planning, financial management and market analysis.
“The programme helped me understand how to organise my business and respond to customer needs,” he explains.
He later strengthened his knowledge further through training in marketing and communication, learning how to promote products and improve customer engagement.
Applying these skills, Hamza reorganised his shop, refined his product selection and improved his approach to customers. Gradually, the business stabilised and became a reliable source of income for his family of seven.
Khursheda's glass miniature paintings combine traditional Afghan techniques with contemporary design. She plans to exhibit nationally and internationally.
Transforming creativity into a sustainable craft business
For Khursheda, entrepreneurship began with creativity – and curiosity. Seeking both personal growth and economic independence, she joined UCA SPCE entrepreneurship and business training courses in Faizabad.
The programme introduced her to financial accounting, market analysis and strategic planning, alongside real-life examples of business successes and challenges.
“UCA didn’t just teach business basics,” she says. “They helped me understand how to think long term.”
Using these skills, Khursheda launched a glass miniature painting business that blends traditional Afghan techniques with contemporary artistic expression.
She now produces commissioned pieces, showcases her work and earns a steady income, while planning to expand into exhibitions at national and international level.
“Thanks to UCA SPCE, I know how to price my work, identify my customers and plan for growth,” she says.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her workshop, train other women and introduce her art to wider audiences – turning a personal passion into a platform for cultural expression and shared opportunity.
*Names have been changed for security reasons.