The International Labour Organization (ILO) has equipped 150 former drug users in Afghanistan with practical business and vocational skills, helping them along the road toward economic independence and long-term recovery.
Implemented under the Recovery to Empowerment: Entrepreneurship and Employment Initiatives (REE-EEI) South-eastern Project 2025, the initiative supported 150 participants (75 women and 75 men) through entrepreneurship and technical training aligned with market needs. The training took place September and October 2025 in Logar and Ghazni provinces.
"This training could be a turning point in our lives, an opportunity to reconnect with our families, reintegrate into the community, and start small businesses to support ourselves and our loved ones," said one female participant.
Women participated in the Gender and Entrepreneurship Together Ahead (GET Ahead) programme, while men attended Generate Your Business Idea (GYBI) and Start Your Business (SYB) courses. All 150 trainees developed business plans, and the 60 highest-ranked (30 women and 30 men) will be referred to UNDP for seed capital and follow-up support, including financial literacy training and business coaching.
Beyond entrepreneurship, the REE-EEI project is strengthening employability for those seeking wage-based opportunities. A comprehensive market assessment across three south-eastern provinces has identified sectors with strong demand, guiding the enrolment of 110 treated drug users (60 women and 50 men) into vocational programmes, including handicrafts, mobile repair, electricity, solar installation, motorcycle repair and tailoring.
The initiative, funded by the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) contributes to broader goals of relapse prevention, economic resilience, and social inclusion.
"This programme demonstrates that recovery and economic empowerment can go hand in hand. By equipping treated drug users with skills and opportunities, we are helping them rebuild their futures and strengthening community resilience," said Tite Habiyakare, ILO Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan.
