Promote: Afghan Women’s Leadership in the Economy

The project aims to assist women-owned businesses and businesses that hire women to perform better, increasing income and sustainability. Technical assistance is provided to improve business processes and access to markets, leveraging growth in the private sector. Business service providers in regional markets are supported to meet Afghan SMEs' needs and deliver quality services. AWLE supports women between the ages of 18 and 30 in finding new or better jobs through career counseling, workplace skills training, and technical skills training based on market demand. The project partners with local educational, vocational, and technical training providers to deliver training and certification programs. AWLE also supports internships, apprenticeships, and job placement services to gain work experience and secure new or better positions. The project aims to incentivize companies to improve workplace environments for women. AWLE operates in five regional economic zones in Afghanistan, with offices in Kabul, Hirat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, and Kandahar. The project is expected to upscale, replicate, and expand activities into new areas in years 2 and 5. AWLE's projected achievements include: * 20 percent of AWLE-supported businesses moving to the next level of enterprise size * 50 percent (or more) of all AWLE-supported businesses increasing revenues by more than 40 percent within two years after assistance * 25,000 women receiving new or better employment, including self-employment * 15,000 women receiving a 10 percent or greater improvement in income * 5 gender-sensitive policies, regulations, or reforms developed to assist women in the economy During the current reporting period, AWLE's technical team has requested expressions of interest from potential partners for both program components and has worked on designing scholarship programs for women aged 18-30. AWLE's Private Sector Development (PSD) and Workforce Development (WfD) components have continued to meet with potential partners, and the WfD team has recruited for local staff positions. AWLE's Senior Regional Managers (SRMs) have held meetings with government departments, private businesses, and educational and non-profit organizations. Upcoming activities include publishing requests for expressions of interest from potential partners during the week leading up to International Women's Entrepreneurship Day. AWLE will also announce the Forward Together scholarship for women studying entrepreneurship topics in celebration of the event. The first group of 4 interns will join the AWLE project team, and an Operations and Grant Support Specialist will be fielded to complete AWLE's Grant Manual and Guidelines. In the Private Sector Development component, the team will discuss potential for Thunder to take the lead on developing an adapted model of a MBA Corps to place MBA graduates in private businesses. Meetings will be held with financial institutions after the Access to Finance Advisor joins on November 10. The team will continue to develop an activity to evaluate business needs and match with local professional services. In the Workforce Development component, the Head of department will interview a candidate for the position of STTA Workforce Development. The Head of department will also interview top candidates for the position of Internship and Apprenticeship Coordinator. Follow-up meetings will be held with the USWDP and BaMSA. AWLE's Senior Regional Managers (SRMs) have held meetings with various stakeholders in their respective regions. In the East region, the SRM met with the Chancellor of Nangarhar University, the Regional Manager of AISA, and the Regional Coordinator for USAID. In the North region, the SRM met with the chairman of Ghazanfar Group, the Director of Provincial Council, and the head of the Agriculture Development Program. In the South region, the SRM participated in a leadership program, met with the representative of the Kandahar Regional Institute, and met with the director of the Labor and Social Affairs Department. In the West region, the SRM met with the Department of Women's Affairs in Herat and the HELP organization in Herat.