Harakat

What Harakat does

HARAKAT-Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility Organization (HARAKAT-AICFO) is an Afghan-led, non-profit organization founded in 2008 to improve the ease of doing business in Afghanistan by addressing regulatory and institutional barriers to private sector growth. Headquartered in Kabul's Wazir Akbar Khan district, the organization operates through four programmatic pillars: Public-Private Partnership, Public-Private Dialogue, Legal and Regulatory Reform/Investment Facilitation, and Women's Economic Inclusion. Its active program portfolio includes the Women's Inclusion in the National Economy (WIN), Private Sector Forum (PSF), PALPA, WE-LEAD, WE-ACT, WYED, Afghanistan Access to Finance (AAF), EKRe, and the IDP SME Support Project, collectively serving women entrepreneurs, rural communities, internally displaced persons, government entities, and private sector businesses across all major Afghan regions.

HARAKAT is funded entirely through international development grants rather than commercial revenue, with documented anchor funding of £30 million from DFID in 2008 and £38.4 million (£25M UK + £13.4M Sweden) for the 2016-2023 Afghanistan Investment Climate Program (AICP). The current donor base has expanded to include IFC, UN Women, UNDP, World Bank, EU, IRC, NOVE Onlus, and UNCTAD, with new partnerships continuing through 2026. The organization does not charge fees for its services and does not develop proprietary technology; its 'product' is the delivery of structured programs combining policy advocacy, technical advisory, capacity building, financial inclusion mechanisms (such as ROSCA savings groups), and direct grants to beneficiaries. Distribution occurs through direct program implementation and through partnerships with international organizations and Afghan business associations.

The organization is governed by a board chaired by Adrianus Melkert, with Hojat Fazly serving as CEO since 2021. It has received an 'A score' in Annual Performance Reviews from DFID and Sida, and has documented outcomes including 85% reduction in business registration administrative hurdles, 76% strengthening of public-private dialogue, and reach to over 12,000 women beneficiaries between April 2024 and February 2026. Operating exclusively within Afghanistan, HARAKAT functions as a convener and bridge between government, the private sector, civil society, and international donors rather than as a commercial enterprise.

Name

Harakat

Legal name

HARAKAT-Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility Organization

Website

https://harakat.af

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HARAKAT is an Afghan-led, donor-funded non-profit founded in 2008 that improves Afghanistan's business environment through policy reform, public-private dialogue, and women's economic inclusion programs. It serves women entrepreneurs, rural communities, government entities, and private sector businesses across Afghanistan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Sector Development Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Private sector development
• Investment climate reform
• Women's economic empowerment
• Public-private partnerships
• Business environment improvement

Headquarters

HQ city

Kabul

HQ country

Afghanistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: HARAKAT operates as a non-profit organization primarily funded through international development grants from donor governments and organizations. Initial funding came from DFID (UK Government) with subsequent grants from Sweden through Delegated Cooperation Arrangements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

HARAKAT is an Afghan-led, non-profit development organization that designs and delivers programs aimed at reducing regulatory and institutional barriers to doing business in Afghanistan. Its core work covers four pillars: Public-Private Partnership, Public-Private Dialogue, Legal & Regulatory Reform/Investment Facilitation, and Women's Economic Inclusion, delivered through named initiatives such as WIN, PALPA, PSF, WE-LEAD, WE-ACT, WYED, AAF, EKRe, and an IDP SME Support Project.

Product overview

HARAKAT-Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility Organization (HARAKAT-AICFO) is an Afghan-led, non-profit organization focused on improving the ease of doing business in Afghanistan through four key programmatic pillars: Public-Private Partnership, Public-Private Dialogue, Legal & Regulatory Reform/Investment Facilitation, and Women's Economic Inclusion. The organization delivers a portfolio of named programs including WIN (Women's Inclusion in the National Economy), PALPA, PSF (Private Sector Forum), WE-LEAD, WE-ACT, WYED, AAF, EKRe, and the IDP SME Support Project. These programs collectively address regulatory barriers, investment facilitation, trade policy reform, financial inclusion, and women's economic empowerment through capacity building, grants, savings groups, and market linkage support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Women's Inclusion in the National Economy (WIN) Program jointly delivered with UN Women that strengthens women-led businesses and expands women's participation in Afghanistan's private sector through business development services, mentorship, policy engagement, and workforce preparation. It is targeted at women entrepreneurs and job seekers across Afghanistan.
• PALPA (Promoting Agriculture and Livelihoods to Prosper Afghanistan) Project delivered with UNDP that addresses livelihood and resilience challenges in rural Afghanistan through diversified livelihoods, climate-smart agriculture, and community-based approaches, with particular emphasis on empowering women in agricultural communities.
• Afghanistan Access to Finance (AAF) Project that revitalizes Afghanistan's financial sector by promoting Sharia-compliant financial systems and developing value chains for grape, almond, and cashmere products, targeted at financial institutions and rural producers.
• Private Sector Forum (PSF) Afghanistan's premier platform for high-level dialogue between the business community and government policymakers, using structured Public-Private Dialogues and Technical Working Groups to influence policy reforms and track investment facilitation. Funded by IFC and others.
• WE-LEAD (Women's Economic Empowerment through Local Enterprise Development) Grassroots initiative delivered with UNDP to foster financial inclusion for women in Northern Afghanistan by establishing and strengthening community-based Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs).
• WE-ACT (Women's Economic Activity in the Private Sector) Two-tiered strategy supporting women entrepreneurs at various stages of business development in southern Afghanistan, providing skills training, equipment, grants, and access to soft loans, funded by IFC.
• WYED (Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Development) Capacity-building initiative delivering foundational business skills training to women and youth entrepreneurs, with intensive mentorship for high-potential businesses.
• EKRe (Fund for Food Security, Climate, and Resources) Community-focused initiative in Balkh Province funded by the International Rescue Committee that enhances resilience against climate change and food insecurity through distribution of climate-adapted seeds, tools, and livestock support.
• IDP SME Support Project Project providing vocational training and startup grants to internally displaced women and girls in Kabul and Nangarhar, delivered with NOVE Onlus and UN's Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% reduction in administrative hurdles in business registration
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026New partnership launched February 2026 focused on enhancing trade competitiveness and strengthening private sector capabilities through capacity-building workshops and ASYCUDA system adoption.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for Women Inclusion in the National Economy (WIN) project and Women's Economic Empowerment initiatives, supporting women-led SMEs and women's participation in private sector.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for PALPA (Promoting Agriculture and Livelihoods to Prosper Afghanistan) project and WE-LEAD (Women's Economic Empowerment through Local Enterprise Development). Collaborated on high-level roundtable consultations in Kabul.
• World Bank GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor development partner that has worked with HARAKAT to facilitate trade and transition between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Enabled government to attract private sector investment.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for EKRe (Fund for Food Security, Climate, and Resources) project in Balkh Province, focusing on climate adaptation and food security.
• Afghanistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (ACCI, ACIM, AWCI, ACS, ACALP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with business membership organizations to support private sector development, coordinate advocacy, and facilitate dialogue between private sector and government.
• Afghanistan Women Chambers of Commerce (AWCCI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for women's economic empowerment initiatives, including assessing women-owned businesses and developing database of women entrepreneurs.
• Afghanistan Banks Association (ABA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for financial sector development and banking system strengthening initiatives.
• Afghanistan Centre for Dispute Resolution (ACDR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical support provided for publishing arbitration rules to enhance commercial dispute resolution.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization with active Afghanistan operations covering livelihoods, women's empowerment, and economic recovery. Comparable in grant-funded Afghan program delivery and women's economic inclusion focus.
• Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU): Afghanistan-focused policy research organization producing independent research on governance, livelihoods, and social issues. Comparable to HARAKAT in operating context (Afghanistan), non-profit grant-funded model, and emphasis on policy-relevant research informing development programming.
• Adam Smith International: International economic development consultancy delivering private sector development, investment climate reform, and governance programs, often in fragile states. Comparable in advisory-to-government model, focus on business environment reform, and DFID/Sida funding relationships.
• Swisscontact: Swiss foundation for development cooperation implementing private sector development, financial inclusion, and vocational training across developing countries, with active programs in fragile states. Comparable in PSD mandate, donor-funded delivery, and Sharia-compliant/Islamic finance work.

Broad incumbents

• Chemonics International: Large USAID implementer with major Afghanistan footprint, delivering economic growth and PSD programs. Comparable in grant-funded program delivery, policy reform support, and women's economic inclusion initiatives in Afghanistan.
• Palladium: International development firm operating across 90+ countries on economic growth, governance, and social impact, with deep DFID/USAID contracting pedigree. Comparable in delivering investment climate and PSD programs in fragile contexts.
• The Asia Foundation: Large international development organization operating across Asia including Afghanistan, working on governance, economic development, and women's empowerment. Comparable in mandate scope (private sector development, policy reform, women's inclusion) and donor-funded delivery model, though much larger and geographically diversified.
• DAI (Development Alternatives, Inc.): Global development consultancy implementing private sector development, governance, and economic growth programs in fragile and emerging markets. Comparable in donor-funded PSD delivery, technical assistance to governments, and women's economic empowerment programming.

Regional players

• Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines (ACIM): Afghan private sector membership body partnering with HARAKAT on industry advocacy. Comparable as an Afghan private sector convener, though it operates as a membership association rather than a donor-funded NGO.

Others

• International Finance Corporation (IFC): World Bank Group private sector arm, a major HARAKAT funding partner (PSF) and counterpart on investment climate work globally. Comparable in mandate to develop private sectors in emerging markets, though IFC is a quasi-sovereign investor rather than an NGO implementer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Harakat_Invest
• Facebookfacebook.com/Harakat.Investment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harakat-afghanistan-investment-climate-program

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Harakat