-
Afghan Women Transform Social Media into E-commerce Platforms
- October 20, 2025
- Posted by: HBC Insights
- Categories: Central Asia, Competitive Research, Digital & Technology, Innovation, Market Entry & Growth, Policy & Economic Impact, Research & Insights, South Asia, Women's Empowerment
No Comments
New HBC research maps 82 online businesses and interviews 70 Afghan women entrepreneurs who turned Instagram and WhatsApp into full e-commerce channels after 2021, revealing strong growth, specific skill gaps, and clear opportunities for targeted donor interventions.
-
Islamic Microfinance in Afghanistan: Market Assessment & Strategic Opportunity
- October 10, 2025
- Posted by: HBC Insights
- Categories: Case Studies, Central Asia, Competitive Research, Financial Services Consulting, Global & Emerging Markets, Policy & Economic Impact, Research & Insights, South Asia
Afghanistan’s microfinance sector contracted 91% between 2021-2023. Only 10% of the population has access to formal financial services. Yet amidst economic collapse—27% GDP contraction, $9 billion frozen central bank assets, and severe deflation—a counterintuitive signal emerged: Islamic microfinance products recorded 100% repayment rates.
-
Stick with Your Concept but Do Your Homework
- December 25, 2015
- Posted by: HBC Insights
- Category: Policy & Economic Impact
With hundreds of medications in the market, Pharm Ltd. needed a proper method to predict and manage their inventory. Using a mean absolute percentage analysis (MAPE), the teams defined appropriate levels for raw materials and finished products by mapping.