Manizha Wafeq
Manizha Wafeq is the co-founder of several organizations which advocate for women's economic empowerment, including Peace through Business Network (PBN) and Leading Entrepreneurs for Afghanistan’s Development (LEAD); a predecessor organization for Afghanistan Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI).
Her persistent and influential lobbying skills resulted in developing LEAD into Afghanistan Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry which gained more attention and influence on businesswomen around the country and outside. In less than two years of AWCCI’s life, several policy recommendations have been incorporated and approved. Among them are the 5% preference clause in the National Procurement Procedures of the government and the allocation of 15-25% of industrial parks to small, medium and women-owned businesses in the national industrial parks’ policy.
Ms. Wafeq earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Kardan University and her MBA from the American University of Afghanistan in 2017. She graduated from the inaugural Peace Through Business class in 2007, and later, she served as the country facilitator at the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women for Afghanistan. In this role, she has taught and mentored more than 400 Afghan businesswomen in Kabul and other provinces. She has also served on the board of various organizations such as Afghan Women’s Network and International Chamber of Commerce, Afghanistan.
She has over 17 years of experience in women’s empowerment and gender equality working with international, government and none governmental organizations. She is the co-author of a training manual on business start-ups and the booklet ‘Gender and the Legal Framework of Afghanistan’.
Ms. Wafeq is the recipient of several awards such as the Enterprising Women Magazine Award for her Leadership, Leadership Award from the National Business Association of the US, Young Activist Award from the Afghan Women's Network and the Afghan Lower House of the Parliament, 40 Under 40 Award from Kardan University and Hall of Fame Advocacy Award from Enterprising Magazine.