Both working groups under the United Nations-led Doha process have identified priority areas for increased engagement and discussed more effective and sustainable ways to support the Afghan people, women and men, UNAMA said after a new round of meetings held in Kabul.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the meetings of the counter-narcotics and private sector working groups took place on Feb. 3 and Feb. 9, bringing together representatives of UN member states, international organizations, Taliban authorities and subject matter experts.
According to UNAMA, the counter-narcotics working group focused on efforts by the Taliban de facto authorities and the international community to support alternative livelihoods for Afghans previously reliant on poppy cultivation and the illicit opium trade. Discussions also covered drug use prevention and treatment, as well as law enforcement measures to curb narcotics production and trafficking.
The private sector working group discussed ways to promote job creation and entrepreneurship, with particular attention to women’s participation in the private sector, market integration, access to finance and the development of private banking and financial infrastructure.
UNAMA said the two working groups also examined the links between private sector development and counter-narcotics efforts, noting that sustainable livelihoods are critical to economic and social stability in Afghanistan.
The working groups were established following the third meeting of special envoys on Afghanistan held in Doha in mid-2024, in line with a UN Security Council-endorsed framework aimed at creating a more coherent and coordinated approach to engagement with the Taliban for the benefit of the Afghan population.
UNAMA said the working groups meet on an ongoing basis and have helped improve information-sharing, mobilize additional resources and facilitate expert exchanges to strengthen longer-term support for Afghans.
