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Increased Opportunities for Women in GIRoA

3 June 2012 | Kabul, Afghanistan

Frank Petrella/USAID

USAID Mission Director Dr. Ken Yamashita speaks at the signing ceremony for the ‘Women in Government’ internship program at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in Kabul.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs officially expanded the ‘Women in Government’ internship program today. The program creates opportunities for women to get experience working with GIRoA in Kabul and several of the provinces. The original USAID-funded internship program boasts a 79% job placement rate.

USAID Mission Director, Dr. Ken Yamashita and the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Dr. Husn Banu Ghazanfar, signed a partnership that creates up to 100 internship positions within the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. These opportunities promote internships/apprenticeships as a way to expand job training and employment opportunities for women throughout the public sector.

Of the over 333,000 GIRoA employees, only 18% are women. Improving the participation of women in the public sector will positively impact reconstruction efforts and is vital to the overall development of Afghanistan. The main goal of the program is to transition interns into full-time, career employees.

“Women must participate as active members of society alongside their husbands, fathers, and brothers for a nation to reach its full potential.” says Yamashita. “This innovative gender program is an example for other ministries to follow.”

“Today gives us hope as we witness these talented young women gaining valuable work experience and expanding their professional capacity. The development of our country belongs to them; future ministers and leaders of Afghanistan,” says Ghazanfar.

USAID’s Women in Government program is designed to give women interns a unique opportunity to get work experience with the Afghan government and to engage in the reconstruction and development of the country.

2012 06 03 Press Release Women Internship event (English)

2012 06 03 Press Release Women Inernship Event (Dari)

2012 06 03 Press Release Women Internship Event (Pashto)

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