[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1135, 313], "category": "Text", "text": "corruption, within a general trend of rising taxation by Taliban de facto authorities. Revenue collection can however hardly compensate for the drastic cutoff in foreign assistance, which accounted for almost 70%¹⁹ of the pre-August 2021 public budget. Some off-budget international support has been resumed during 2022, but its level at about USD 3.5 billion (equivalent to EUR 3.32 billion based on the exchange rate on 13 October 2023), which represented approximately 25% of the GDP, has been far from reaching the USD 9 billion (equivalent to EUR 8.54 billion based on the exchange rate on 13 October 2023) of 2020²⁰."}, {"bbox": [96, 323, 1135, 909], "category": "Text", "text": "Macroeconomic and financial crisis triggered by the Taliban coming to power in 2021 have severely affected the **private sector** and labour market in Afghanistan. The women's share of employment has decreased from 11% in 2022 to 6% in 2023²¹, while overall unemployment has doubled. The substantial gender gap on the labour market, due to the restrictions inflicted on Afghan women's mobility and socio-economic participation, is exacerbated by girls' and women's restricted access to education above grade six and lack of labour market applicable skills. Women have also suffered most from the Taliban takeover in terms of (women-owned/led) business closures and more broadly, (skilled) job losses. In general, firms have demonstrated some resilience and benefit from improved security across the country, as well as fallen corruption. After a temporary cessation of the private sector activity, by mid-2022, the Afghan economy seemed to have partially recovered at a fragile low-level equilibrium. World Bank survey²² results report that fewer than 10% of the surveyed firms have made unofficial payments since August 2021, compared to 82% before Taliban takeover. However, weak consumer demand due to widespread poverty and financial sector challenges, as well as brain drain, are the main factors hampering private sector rebound. The merchandise trade deficit has widened by 34%²³ in 2023; Afghanistan depending on its neighbours (Iran, Pakistan, China, UAE) notably for food, minerals and textiles. Private sector recovery in Afghanistan also requires a restored microfinance sector, which enables notably micro- and small businesses, as well as women who are deprived from banking services, to access loans and saving schemes. Particularly small and medium businesses mainly continue operating below their full capacity. 80%²⁴ of the employment are made up by self-employed workers. The halting of infrastructure projects financed by development aid under the Republic, limits trade and transit and hence, private sector development. Furthermore, Taliban restrictions on women's rights to work (with UN agencies and NGOs), education (beyond 6th grade), mobility, and leisure, will cause an income loss dramatically impacting poverty levels and lead to permanent lower GDP growth due to the loss of human capital. Within this highly restrictive environment, women continue to work in the private sector and lead businesses."}, {"bbox": [96, 918, 1135, 1292], "category": "Text", "text": "**Agriculture**, Afghanistan's backbone, employs 45% of all labour force and provides **livelihoods** to about 76%²⁵ of the population. During Republic times, it contributed approximately 25%²⁶ to the national GDP, representing the second largest sector in the economy. Following the Taliban takeover, agriculture has suffered from a significant, but relatively contained contraction and thus, its share in the national economy has increased to 33.7%²⁷ in 2022. Domestic consumption has slightly recovered, but has been addressed notably by food imports. While the country has slightly increased its food exports in 2023 (compared with 2022), dominated by horticulture products for Pakistan and India, it remains a large net food importer. Afghanistan follows two main cropping patterns for staple foods (winter and spring planting), while an expansion of irrigated land and production would provide multiple harvests to households. Women traditionally play an important role in agriculture, which continues to provide one of the most viable avenues for women's economic empowerment under Taliban rule. 70%²⁸ of Afghan women are engaged in small-scale agricultural work, food processing and other stages of the value chain. Women lack however paid jobs, land and property rights, and market access. The sector has suffered from decades of conflict, low investment and natural disasters, which have flawed or broken local food systems. The future of agriculture and food security in Afghanistan will largely depend on its capacity to cope with effects of climate"}, {"bbox": [86, 1332, 538, 1357], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁹ Afghanistan Socio-Economic Outlook 2023, UNDP"}, {"bbox": [86, 1356, 651, 1381], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁰ Macro Poverty Outlook for Afghanistan: April 2023, World Bank"}, {"bbox": [86, 1380, 1143, 1428], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²¹ Two years in review: Changes in Afghan Economy, Households and Cross-Cutting Sectors (August 2021 to August 2023), UNDP, December 2023"}, {"bbox": [86, 1428, 1143, 1476], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²² Afghanistan Private Sector Rapid Survey, An Assessment of the Business Environment – Round 2, World Bank, September 2022"}, {"bbox": [86, 1476, 641, 1501], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²³ Afghanistan Economic Monitor, The World Bank, January 2024"}, {"bbox": [86, 1501, 651, 1526], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁴ Macro Poverty Outlook for Afghanistan: April 2023, World Bank"}, {"bbox": [86, 1526, 963, 1551], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁵ WFP Afghanistan Integrated Resilience Building, Climate Change Adaptation and Food Systems, WFP"}, {"bbox": [86, 1550, 815, 1574], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁶ Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Agricultural Sector Review, June 2014, World Bank"}, {"bbox": [86, 1574, 1143, 1620], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁷ Two years in review: Changes in Afghan Economy, Households and Cross-Cutting Sectors (August 2021 to August 2023), UNDP, December 2023"}, {"bbox": [86, 1620, 963, 1646], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁸ WFP Afghanistan Integrated Resilience Building, Climate Change Adaptation and Food Systems, WFP"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 9 of 38"}]