In an effort to strengthen coordination between the Afghan government, civil society, and media, the USAID-funded Afghanistan Civic Engagement Program (ACEP) organized a two-day “Framework for Cooperation Conference” in Kabul on May 7-8, 2018. More than 230 representatives from Afghan civil society organizations (CSOs), media agencies, and representatives from the Afghan government attended.
A national summit of Afghan businesswomen has been launched in Kabul with support from USAID’s Promote: Women in the Economy (WIE) project, in close cooperation of the Office of the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The summit brought together more than 150 women-owned or managed Afghan businesses, government officials, interest groups, and industry leaders from throughout the country to examine challenges facing businesswomen. Convened at the Kabul Star Hotel, the summit provided a forum to identify areas of reform that will assist women-owned businesses in access to finance, markets, and increased revenues. The summit encouraged participants to share individual examples of issues they face, and work together to create practical and constructive plans that will help them grow.
At least 400 Afghan women graduated today from an internship program aimed at providing Afghanistan with a pool of educated women ready to join the government workforce. The women were participants in USAID’s Promote: Women in Government (WIG) project. WIG supports the Government of Afghanistan’s goal of increasing women’s participation in government to 30 percent by 2020, a 7.5 percent increase from the 2017 level per Afghanistan’s Central Statistics Office.
In the early hours of March 26, an attack in Baghlan Province damaged two power transmission towers that supply imported electricity from Uzbekistan to Kabul and four other provinces. The attack briefly shut off over 300 MW of electricity—the bulk of the city’s power needs. The Government of Afghanistan responded quickly, using USAID-funded resources and training to reduce the impact of the disruption to residents and businesses in Kabul.
Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it has donated $25 million to the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP’s) Afghanistan Protractive Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) to provide cash-based and food assistance to nearly 1.7 million Afghans—mostly women and children—affected by conflict, natural disasters, and seasonal hunger.
Afghan traders have inked US$20.5 million in signed and potential deals for high-value agricultural products due to their participation in February at the Gulfood Exhibition in Dubai.
Afghanistan’s finest fruits, nuts, and saffron went on display this week for buyers around the world at the world’s largest food and beverage exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
USAID launched the University Support and Workforce Development Program’s (USWDP) first Associate Degree in Business Accounting in Afghanistan in October 2017, with technical expertise provided by the University of Massachusetts in the United States. The two-and-a-half-year degree program offers university-level preparation for specific jobs in the public and private sectors, as well as for those who want to start their own businesses as independent entrepreneurs. The first cohort comprising 22 students, including two women, will graduate in September 2019.
USAID hosted the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) and more than 80 private sector business leaders at the U.S. Embassy to discuss reform strategies and business openings for the Afghan mining sector. Afghan government officials, including Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Nargis Nehan; private sector mining company representatives; international partners; and officials from the Afghan and international Chambers of Commerce attended the day-long dialogue. Participants focused on key opportunities and challenges in the mining sector and took part in interactive roundtable discussions with Afghan government representatives.
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Last updated: June 11, 2018
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