2007-04-12
Minister Verner made the
announcement in
"
The funding will be allocated as
follows:
Up to $5 million to help the Afghan
government create stronger programs dedicated to enhancing the role and voice of
Afghan women. This includes establishing a Gender Studies Institute at
Up to $4 million to support local
initiatives proposed by Afghans that help create more economic and educational
opportunities for women and girls.
This announcement builds on the
support of
$14.5 million for a Girls' Education
Project and to train new teachers;
$5 million for integrating Afghan
women into markets;
$1.75 million to support maternal
health and women's literacy in
$16 million for a Microfinance
Investment Support Facility for
For further details on CIDA's
programming in
- 30 -
Information:
Nicole
Lascelle
Director of
Communications
Office of the Minister of
International Cooperation
Telephone: (613)
286-6155
Media Relations
Office
Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: (819)
953-6534
E-mail:
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Web site: www.cida.gc.ca (electronic
version of document)
Investments in women's programs in
Education;
Sustainable livelihoods and women's
economic empowerment; and
Legal protection and women’s rights
The investments include the
following projects:
Microfinance in
Disbursements between April 2006 and
January 2007: $28 million
Total historical disbursements to
date: $56.35 million
The Microfinance Investment Support
Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA) is a national microcredit and microfinance
program in
MISFA is one of the world's largest
microfinance programs. It funds 13 local microfinance institutions that, in
turn, provide small loans and financial services to poor Afghans—people who
would normally be denied access to such services. Often for the first time, such
poor Afghans are now able to get small loans from MISFA-funded institutions to
start new businesses, or buy land and animals, to better support themselves and
their families. This program provides an alternative source of credit for urban
and rural Afghans who lack collateral.
It is important to note that almost
three out of four MISFA clients are women. As of January 2007, MISFA was
assisting over 215,000 women in improving their livelihoods.
MISFA also serves as a source of
training and technical assistance, as well as a mechanism for networking,
sharing information, lobbying, and advocacy on behalf of the industry.
Girls Primary
Education
Project Budget: $14.5
million
The
The establishment of community-based
schools will supplement the efforts of the Ministry of Education to increase
enrolment of girls, promote female teachers in primary education and develop the
capacity of the teachers in government-run formal schools through training.
BRAC-AF will establish two types of one-room schools:
Integrating Women into
Markets
Project Budget: $4.95
million
This project aims to help 1,500
women develop horticulture operations in home-based gardens, growing fruits and
vegetables to supplement family diets and generate income. Managed by the
Canadian-based non-governmental organization Mennonite Economic Development
Associates (MEDA), the project will be implemented over four years, benefiting
over 5,000 members of the families of the women involved.
Women's Rights
Fund
Project Budget: $1.75
million
With CIDA support, the Canadian
non-government organization International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic
Development (Rights and Democracy) promotes the rights of women. The project
supports women's rights education, leadership training for women, capacity
building and peace building initiatives, the participation of women in political
processes, networking and information sharing, and programs for gender
mainstreaming. CIDA's contribution also enables Rights and Democracy to continue
to promote and protect women's rights in
Literacy Program in
Project Budget: $1.4
million
UNICEF will expand its literacy
program in
Maternal Health Initiative in
Project Budget:
$350,000
As part of a new multi-donor
initiative led by UNICEF and the Afghan Ministry of Public Health to reduce
maternal mortality throughout the country, CIDA's contribution will support
UNICEF's project in
Socioeconomic Participation of
Vulnerable Women
Project Budget:
$473,000
This project, just completed,
represents the second phase of a successful partnership between CIDA and the
Canadian non-governmental organization International Development and Relief
Foundation (IDRF). The first phase, called "Re-establishing Traditional
Livelihoods in
Women's Community Support
Program
Project Budget:
$196,000
The Afghan Women's Community Support
Program is designed in cooperation with a local women's community organization,
the Afghanistan Women Council and non-governmental organization War Child
Canada, to provide women with the education, training and support necessary to
become empowered and engaged citizens. The project promotes women's rights and
supports female participants on their path to economic self-reliance,
self-realization and psychosocial well-being.
Women are offered skills and
education in basic literacy, health education, parenting, conflict resolution,
peace building, the environment, community leadership and rehabilitation. Women
are encouraged to participate in workshops, share their knowledge and skills,
learn from their peers and problem solve. The Afghan Women's Community Support
Program provides childcare, psychosocial support, counselling, food and other
basic provisions to ensure that women are able to participate to their full
capacity.
For more information on
- 30 -
Information:
Media Relations
Office
Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: (819)
953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Web site: www.cida.gc.ca
Program
Associate
Project Ploughshares
Fax: (519) 8880018
eschroeder@ploughshares.ca
http://www.ploughshares.ca
*Project
Ploughshares is the ecumenical agency of The Canadian Council of Churches
and is affiliated with the Institute for Peace & Conflict Studies,