Hand in Hand Afghanistan conducted stakeholder meeting to present the final results of the DFID funded “Reducing Poverty and Gender Inequality by Improving Household Income and Financial Resilience for Rural Women through Enterprise and Job Creation” project in Sarepul province.
In this event Sarepul Deputy Governor, Directors of Economy, Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs & Disabled (DoLSAMD), Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and Justice Departments, representatives of Women’s Affairs, Rural Rehabilitation and Development, active Civil Society Organizations, Media, Private Sector, Community elders and project beneficiaries participated.
HiH Af team welcomed the guests and presented the projects results followed by a speech from, Mr. Azimi, Deputy Governor of Sarepul. He appreciated HiH Af’s work and acknowledged the impacts of the project on lives of rural communities, and said “lack of skills and employment are the main reasons for corruption, migration, drug addiction and poverty, HiH Af supported people to establish enterprises and jobs that resulted in increased household income and improving lives of rural people in targeted communities”.
Among other speakers thanking HiH Af for their outstanding work, Directors of Economy and DoLSAMD requested expansion of the project to undeserved communities and districts of Sarepul province.
Mr. Akhalqi, representative of Balkhab district’s beneficiaries acknowledging the project said “through this project women and men in our communities learned business and skills, now we have enterprises and I am confident these enterprise will last forever”.
Answering participant’s questions, HiH Af thanked stakeholders for their usual support and cooperation in successful implementation of this project.
The “Reducing Poverty and Gender Inequality by Improving Household Income and Financial Resilience for Rural Women through Enterprise and Job Creation” project implemented in Gosfandi, Sancharak and Balkhab districts covered 93 communities and mobilized 10,199 (71% female) members. The project supported creation and enhancement of 11,814 (72% female) micro-enterprises which resulted in increased income and jobs for the targeted communities.
On sideline of the event an exhibition was held to showcase products of members and beneficiaries sold their products.