10th Bibi Khadija Annual Award

The founder, Manizha Wafeq, along with the sponsors, Global Women’s Trade Caravan, Afghanistan International Business Council (AIBC), Giving Joy, and Safe Path to Prosperity celebrated the 10th anniversary of an annual award named after Prophet Mohammad’s wife, Khadija tul Kobra, ‘Bibi Khadija’. Since the award’s launch in 2015, for the last 9 years, around 100 businesswomen from more than 20 provinces of Afghanistan have been recognized and received $1,000 cash prize to support their businesses. Majority of these businesses are active and have contribute to more than 600 jobs.

The event featured distinguished speakers, including Special Envoy Rina Amiri of the United States for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights; Ms. Afsana Rahimi, CEO of AIBC; and Mr. Tawkalshah Ahmadyar, the Chairperson of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They highlighted the importance of supporting women-owned businesses in Afghanistan, especially during this time of unprecedented economic and humanitarian crises.

The Bibi Khadija Award serves as a reminder to Muslim communities and specially to the hard-liners like Taliban that, over 1,400 years ago, a woman, Khadija was able to lead trade caravans across the Arab world and the Middle East. If Prophet Mohammad worked for and alongside her, why should women not do the same today and why not men stand in support of women’s empowerment and economic contribution?

The event celebrated the remarkable achievements of 10 women entrepreneurs from 8 provinces of Afghanistan.

Among them was Nooria Najafizada, the owner of Noor Atlas Rugs Company in Balkh Province. Established in 2021, her company specializes in handmade carpets and has created 213 jobs, with 210 roles filled by women and three by men.

From Herat Province, Maliha Shams runs Shams Rufoq Saffron and Livestock Company, founded in 2018. Her business focuses on cultivating, processing, packaging, and selling saffron and dried fruits. She has generated 10 permanent jobs (five for women and five for men) and provided temporary employment to over 1,000 people.

Bibi Amena Rahimi, the founder of Safa Dairy Company in Badakhshan Province, processes 500 liters of milk daily to produce yogurt, butter, strained yogurt (chaka), cream (qaymaq), fresh milk, and cheese. Since its establishment in 2016, the company has created 12 jobs, 10 of which are held by women.

From Bamyan Province, Nisa Rezaei owns Nisa Rezaei Handicraft Company, which has been producing traditional embroidered clothing since 2010. Her business employs 32 people, including 29 women and three men, keeping cultural craftsmanship alive.

Muslema Hajizada, based in Herat Province, runs a Food Processing and Production Company that specializes in dried fruits and vegetables. Established in 2019, the company has provided employment to 45 individuals, including 35 women.

In Parwan Province, Wahida Malikzada owns Restaurant Hawsana-e-Watani, which serves traditional Afghan dishes like Bolani, Manto, and Ashak. Since its founding in 2014, her restaurant has created 20 jobs, with 15 of those roles occupied by women.

Farzana Auobi is the founder of Firouz Koh Egg Production Company in Ghor Province. Established in 2022, her company focuses on poultry and ostrich farming, employing eight individuals equally split between men and women.

From Farah Province, Maleka Sana owns Kashana-e-Honar Afreenan, a company specializing in resin jewelry, wall clocks, and decorative items. Since its inception in 2019, it has created five jobs, four of which are held by women.

Lailuma Sarwari, based in Nimroz Province, is the owner of Aaj Noqra Handcrafts Company, which engages in sewing, carpet weaving, hand embroidery, and other handicrafts. Her company, founded in 2018, has created 32 jobs, with 30 roles filled by women.

Finally, Fatimah Shirzad from Kabul Province owns Golden Drop and Fatimah Shirzad Handicrafts. Established in 2017, her business produces honey, saffron, jewelry, sewing projects, and other handicrafts, employing 20 individuals equally divided between men and women.

The list also includes Parisa Eqbal, the owner of Banwan Bartar Company in Herat Province, which sews various clothing and uniforms for women and girls. Founded in 2020, her business employs 20 people, with 18 of the positions held by women.

In the honorary category, the award was presented to the Special Envoy Rina Amiri of United States Special for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights – An Afghan born-American woman who tirelessly worked to ensure Afghan women regain access to their basic rights, though not much could change in Taliban’s bans and restrictions but under her leadership several initiatives have been launched to serve Afghan women and girls, such as the Afghan Consultative Mechanism and the Coalition for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience (AWER), through which thousands of women and girls have been receiving professional development support. She has tirelessly traveled  the world, especially to Muslim-majority countries, to mobilize support for Afghan women and to oppose the Taliban’s restrictions. As the award symbol shows a woman leading a caravan of trade, Ms. Amiri truly led a caravan of government officials, the international community, and the US private sector in support of Afghan women, children, and people. For her extraordinary advocacy and support for Afghan women, the conveners of the 10th Bibi Khadija award proudly presented her with the 2024 Bibi Khadija Honorary Award.