REDUCING POVERTY AND GENDER INEQUALITY PROJECT CREATES 10,000 JOBS
Hand in Hand Afghanistan conducted separate events in Balkhab, Gosfandi and Sancharak districts 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 these events representatives of districts’ Governor, Directorate of Economy and Directorate Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (DoLSAMD), Head of CDCs and community elites, representatives of Rural Entrepreneurs participated.
The participants appreciating the efforts of HiH Af team promised to support the enterprises and associations in the future as well. Mr. Safaye representative of DoLSAMD said “the project has resulted in job creation and has improved lives of thousands of people in the communities”.
Community elders and elites all thanked HiH Af and the donors for implementing and supporting the project and requested for expansion of the project in remaining villages of their respective districts
The project started in April 2015 and mobilized 10,199 (71% female) members in Self Help Groups and trained them in Group Management, Microfinance, Business Development Services and Vocational Skills in Balkhab, Gosfandi and Sancharak districts of Sarepul province. Additionally, the members were supported by provision of enterprise startup kits to establish or enhance micro enterprises and associations on both village and district level were established to ensure sustainability of enterprises bring entrepreneurs under one roof.
The project in has resulted in creation of 8,893 (74% female) micro-enterprises and enhancement of 2,134 (70% female) other, these enterprises resulted in creation of 13,317 (75% female) jobs for community members.
On sideline of these events exhibitions were held by respective district association to showcase products of members where entrepreneurs and participants interacted with each other.
