The final phase of the Strengthening Badakhshan Businesswomen’s Resilience project, funded by UN-Women and implemented by Helping Hands for Women Organization (HHWO), has been successfully completed with the delivery of essential tools and equipment to 40 selected women-led businesses in Badakhshan province.

Following earlier phases of the project, which included the identification and selection of women entrepreneurs, training in business development and technical skills, and improved access to finance, the final stage focused on equipping women with practical tools to enhance their production capacity, reduce labor burdens, and scale their businesses sustainably.

The distributed equipment was carefully matched to each entrepreneur’s business sector and specific operational needs. Items included electric and manual sewing machines, overlock machines, tailoring tables, cutting tools, high-quality fabrics, button cover machines, as well as solar panels, batteries, inverters, and freezers. Women working in agriculture and food processing received fruit dryers, while those in beekeeping were supported with beehives, bees, and honey processing machinery.

This equipment will allow women to improve product quality, increase output, and create more stable sources of income for themselves and their families. It represents a shift from training to tangible business growth.

By focusing on long-term resilience and sustainability, this final stage marks a critical step forward in ensuring that women entrepreneurs in Badakhshan can compete, expand, and thrive in their industries. HHWO remains committed to supporting women’s economic empowerment throughout the province.