The United Nations has warned that more than half of the women-led organizations still operating in Afghanistan could suspend their activities or shut down completely within the next year because of severe funding shortages.
Susan Ferguson, the UN Special Representative for Women in Afghanistan, on Friday, August 14, urged international donors not to reduce funding for programs supporting Afghan women, warning that further cuts could deepen the hardships faced by women and girls across the country.
Ferguson said a UN assessment of 74 women’s organizations conducted in April found that more than half could be forced to suspend operations or close within the next 12 months because of financial constraints.
She also said the UN’s $1.7 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan has received only about 25% of the funding required, underscoring the growing gap between humanitarian needs and available resources.
According to Ferguson, nearly three-quarters of women’s organizations experienced funding cuts in 2025, while about two-thirds said they had enough financial resources to continue operating for six months or less.
The warning comes as Afghanistan enters the fifth year since the Taliban returned to power, with women and girls continuing to face sweeping restrictions on education, employment, movement and participation in public life.
Women-led organizations have remained an important channel for providing services and support to Afghan women and girls, particularly as restrictions and humanitarian pressures have increased. A further reduction in their funding could limit the ability of these organizations to provide assistance and advocate for women’s rights.
The UN has repeatedly called for sustained international support for Afghanistan’s humanitarian response, warning that funding shortages are forcing aid organizations to make difficult choices over which programs can continue.
Ferguson said maintaining financial support for women-focused programs is particularly important given the restrictions facing Afghan women and the shrinking space for women-led civil society organizations.
The latest warning highlights a broader funding crisis facing Afghanistan’s humanitarian response, where international assistance remains critical for millions of people while humanitarian agencies struggle to secure the resources needed to maintain essential programs.
