This brief discusses innovative rural finance products that the USAID funded Agriculture Rural Investment and Enterprise Strengthening (ARIES) project in Afghanistan offers to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The brief describes the satisfaction expressed by:
1. Abdul, a 33-year-old Afghan, who revived his rickshaw accessories business with a 50,000 Afghani (US $ 1000) Business Murabaha Agreement that he received through ARIES.
2. Shukria, a widow, who received a Women’s Murabaha Agreement of 8000 Afghani (US $160) to expand her tailoring business.