•    Population - 30,419,928 (July 2012 est.)
•    Highest rate of maternal and infant mortality in the world
•    Life expectancy – 50
•    Median age – 18
•    Literacy - 28%
•    78% of labor force work in agriculture
•    Unemployment – 35%
•    36% live below poverty line
•    Inflation – 7.7%

Afghanistan's living standards are among the lowest in the world. Thirty years of war have left Afghans living in shocking conditions - widespread malnutrition, insecurity, lack of infrastructure, poor education and few opportunities for employment.

Origins: MEDA's work in Afghanistan began in 1998 with consulting services. Longer-term programming started in 2003 with the development of a microfinance institution with Women for Women International.

MEDA has provided technical assistance to a number of microfinance organizations since 2003. Primary partners have included MISFA, WWI, BRAG Afghanistan, ACSP and FMFB. MEDA provides microfinance institution and credit management, product development and market research (savings, rural small and medium enterprise and microfinance products) and regulatory transformation. MEDA's Afghan Secure Futures Project was aimed at reducing youth vulnerability by improving apprenticeships and providing greater support to micro, small and medium enterprise employers.

MEDA worked closely with the Afghan Women's Business Council on Through the Garden Gate (2007-2011), a project that was highly successful in integrating homebound women to markets. MEDA has also provided a series of short-term consultancies relating to value chain development, women's economic development and agriculture.