Background:
Due
to the efforts of the Women’s Enterprise Development
(WED) project in the Ministry of Commerce, business
organizations such as the Afghanistan Women’s
Business Council, and non-governmental organizations
such as Aid Afghanistan, businesswomen now have a
support network that provides skills development,
economic development opportunities, and access to
funding sources. Over the last two years, these
organizations have tapped into to the enthusiasm and
commitment of Afghanistan’s women entrepreneurs.
While focusing in different areas of economic
empowerment, each organization has had success in
redefining the role of women in Afghan society.
The
“Made by Afghan Women” program is a branding
program. ýThrough the Made by Afghan Women Program,
AWBF will focus on ýbranding one industry sector
(Carpets) that is important to women’s ýenterprise
development. Once a brand has been built for
carpets, ýAWBF may, using private funds, focus on
textiles and other sectors ýdominated by women. The
purpose of the program is to brand on the ýU.S.
market high end Afghan carpets made by women and to
do so by ýdeveloping partnerships with socially
responsible Afghan organizations ýand companies that
specialize in carpets. The ultimate goal, of course,
ýwill be to raise visibility, which will lead to
increased sales and ýultimately more income for the
weavers themselves.ý ý
It is our pleasure to announce that eight from
AWBF members associations were selected for funding
under Women Enterprise Development Grant Program by
CIPE. These associations are:
·
Association of Business Skills Training (Kabul)
·
Afghan Women Handicraft and Commercial
Association (Kabul)
·
Afghan Women Development Council (Kabul)
·
Herat Women’s Skills and Business Association
(Herat)
·
Madina Association (Kabul)
·
Professional Development Services and Education
for Women (Kabul)
·
Takhar Province Women’s Skills and Handicraft
Association (Takhar)
·
Women’s Beekeeping Association of Ghazni
Province (Ghazni)
