Impact of Home Economics in Empowering Afghan Communities in Afghanistan’s Sustainable Economic Development

Abstract

This study aims the important role of home economics education in empowering Afghan households and promoting sustainable economic development across Afghanistan. Drawing on a quantitative methodology and household-level data from over 500 respondents across urban and rural regions, the study investigates how access to home economics training, financial literacy, income levels, education, household size, and urban–rural dynamics affect the adoption of sustainable practices. The results of a binary logistic regression analysis demonstrate that access to home economics training is a highly significant predictor of sustainable behavior. Financial literacy and household income also show positive, though comparatively moderate, effects. Notably, urban households are more inclined toward sustainable practices than rural ones, highlighting a disparity in access to training and resources. The study also uncovers that smaller households (3–4 members) tend to adopt sustainability practices more frequently than larger ones. Conversely, education level showed mixed results, suggesting that while education is influential, sustainability outcomes depend more on the integration of relevant practical knowledge than formal education alone. The study emphasizes the need for targeted policy interventions, such as expanding home economics education, especially in rural and low-income areas, promoting financial literacy, and developing gender-sensitive and household-specific sustainability training. The findings advocate for positioning home economics as a strategic tool in Afghanistan’s development policy, enabling grassroots change and promoting long-term environmental and economic resilience. This work adds value to the broader discourse on sustainability in developing contexts by recommending unified and inclusive methods that align education with real-life challenges and community empowerment.