Abstract

In this article, the author addresses the effect of USAID investments in educational programs offered to Afghan women and how this investment is falling short in its goal to assist females in securing leadership opportunities that allow them to participate in decision making activity. Annual gross domestic product (GDP) data is reviewed along with the results of newly implemented quota systems in Afghanistan to confirm if educational programs are revealing evidence that their efforts are affecting economic growth and development through the hiring of Afghan women into jobs that coincide with their education. This information is compared to GDP data from western cultures where women play a significant role in economic growth and development through workforce participation.

Key words: Afghan women, social, women’s rights, gross domestic product, USAID, Afghan culture.