USAID/LGCD

Prospective and current entrepreneurs during the training in Sharana.

The U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Sharana provides engineering skills development for working-age men from across Paktika Province. While the trainees gain practical skills, they often lack the knowledge to manage a business and turn their expertise into income. In close coordination with the U.S. PRT and the Paktika Department of Economy, USAID’s Local Governance and Community Development Project (LGCD) provided training in basic finance and management for 30 recently-graduated trainees of the U.S. PRT’s Engineering Skills Development Workshop.  Designed to complement the PRT’s engineering skills training, LGCD's training seeks to improve the trainees’ ability to find follow-on employment and/or start their own small businesses. This activity aims to build on the U.S. PRT’s efforts to strengthen and broaden Paktika’s economic base, where approximately 48 percent of the rural population derives income from non-farm labor due to the limited availability of arable land. This training is an example of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s ability to work with multiple international donors to increase the impact and benefit of capacity development activities. Ahmad Rahim and another beneficiary of the project, said, “A few months ago we had our own shops, but we didn’t properly manage these businesses. We are very excited to participate in this training and hope we will successfully resume our businesses after the completion of this training.” 

USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights; 12/15/2010-12/31/2010