UNHCR and Afghan Microfinance Bank Sign Deal to Support Returnees

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the First MicroFinance Bank-Afghanistan (FMFB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a new support program for returnees. The initiative aims to provide small loans and technical training to help returnees establish and grow local businesses sustainably.

The project is being launched with backing from the European Union and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and is expected to benefit around 3,300 returnees. UNHCR officials have stated that the program could play a key role in the economic empowerment of returning families, encouraging them to take a more active role in improving the economic conditions of their communities.

In recent years, the return of thousands of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries has heightened the demand for job opportunities and financial support. International organizations stress that implementing such programs not only promotes economic stability in local communities but may also help prevent further migration. So far, the Taliban administration has not made any official comment on the initiative. Meanwhile, the administration’s lack of attention to effective support policies for returnees remains a significant obstacle in Afghanistan’s economic reconstruction efforts.