USAID Promote Musharikat Project Monthly Report July 2016

The project is sponsored by the Office of Democracy and Governance and is implemented by DAI. The project's main objective is to strengthen advocacy for women's rights and empowerment in Afghanistan. Significant project achievements in July include the initiation of the "Know Your Rights" women's rights education campaign targeting over 200 women activists and civil society organizations in Musharikat's Access to Education, Violence against Women and Women's Economic Empowerment Coalitions. The campaign educates coalition members on key women's rights laws and international conventions through a series of educational messages delivered through the Musharikat Mobile Platform (MMP). The project also issued the Strengthening Advocacy for Women's Rights and Empowerment Grants Request for Application (RFA) on July 28th. The RFA is designed to support the development of strong, inclusive coalitions; building of Coalition member's advocacy skills; and design and delivery of effective advocacy strategies and campaigns focused on Access to Education, Women's Economic Empowerment and Violence Against Women. The Musharikat Mobile Platform Women's Rights Education Initiative was launched in July, with the goal of educating coalition members on key women's rights laws and international conventions. The initiative involves delivering a series of educational messages through the MMP to coalition members across all 34 provinces. The messages are drawn from various sources, including the Constitution of Afghanistan, Law on the Elimination of Violence against Women Afghanistan, Education Law, The Labor Law, U.N Security Council Resolution 1325 and National Action Plan for the Women in the Afghanistan. The project's grants strategy and manual were updated, and staff received comprehensive grants training in advance of the issuance of Musharikat's first RFA. The Civil Society Organization (CSO) and individual activist baseline assessment tools and plans have been completed, and assessments will commence in August. A series of communications and meetings with leaders and members of the Coalitions were held this month to provide updates on recent and upcoming activities. Preparations are under way for Coalition organizational development working sessions to be held in August. The project anticipates providing multiple small grant awards of up to $25,000 each to 1 to 2 CSOs per province to cover the period of September 2016 through June 2017. The grants mechanism is designed to support the development of strong, inclusive coalitions; building of Coalition member's advocacy skills; and design and delivery of effective advocacy strategies and campaigns focused on Access to Education, Women's Economic Empowerment and Violence Against Women.