Women as Partners in Pastoral Production in Afghanistan

Abstract

On the Ground • The Kuchi are pastoralists who raise sheep and goats on the rangelands. • Kuchi women are equal partners in the success of pastoral production, despite facing unique risks. • Kuchi women are unskilled, illiterate, and underserved, and remain constrained by cultural beliefs. They are eager, however, to improve the welfare of themselves and their community when given appropriate opportunities. • Women with training demonstrate they are more than capable of finding effective and sustainable solutions for female-related problems. • Building the capacity of motivated women and supporting their efforts outside the home to resolve conflicts themselves are keys to success.