Kabul, Afghanistan – 22 January 2026 the European Union (EU) has announced a major new investment of €10 million to launch the second phase of the Women’s Economic Empowerment through Local Enterprise Development (WE-LEAD) programme. Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this EU-funded initiative is designed to be a cornerstone of the European Union’s commitment to protecting the livelihoods and agency of Afghan women. This new phase builds on the results and lessons