ASGP Highlights

The overarching goal of the ASGP is to implement a small grant umbrella program to strengthen women-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) that address women’s issues in Afghanistan. Specifically, ASGP is:

  • Enabling CSOs to improve and expand delivery capacity of essential services to at-risk and disadvantaged women and girls;
  • Strengthening the capacity of CSOs and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to advocate effectively, reliably, and consistently on behalf of women constituents to influence policy and decision-making;
  • Fostering the development of a CSO network that is unified, collaborative, and supportive of common agendas; and
  • Creating a viable and pragmatic mechanism to support the women’s CSO sector over the long term, inclusive of a coordinating local organization (mentee) and a cadre of dedicated technical assistance providers.

The Launch

U.S. Embassy, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Launch the Ambassador’s Small Grants Program to Support Gender Equality in Afghanistan. Kabul, Afghanistan — On Wednesday, January 20, 2010, U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry joined Acting Minister of Women’s Affairs Husn Ban Ghazanfar to launch the Ambassador’s Small Grants Program (AGSP) to Support Gender Equality in Afghanistan. The Ambassador’s Small Grants Program was initially awarded as a three-year, $27,000,000 program to strengthen the skills of Afghan-led NGO and civil society organizations. Building on its success during its first year, program funding has doubled in size and implementation has expanded to extend operations to all 34 provinces in Afghanistan. The program provides flexible, rapid response grants to NGOs that lack the financial management experience to receive grants directly from the U.S. Government. The program also works within the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to provide technical assistance to further its ability to advise, advocate for, and administer successful and sustainable programming nationwide. ASGP-funded grants are addressing Afghan women’s needs in education, healthcare, skills training, economic opportunities, counseling on family issues, and public advocacy. “This small grants project not only improves the trust of people in the government, but also strengthens women’s capacity and enhances development projects and initiatives around the country,” said Minister Ghazanfar. Five of ASGP’s first grant recipients were recognized at the launch. As Ambassador Eikenberry noted, “The five organizations that are receiving grants provide a wide range of services and training to Afghan women, and I congratulate them and the inspiring women who run them.”

Celebrating International Women’s Day, 2011

Creative Celebrates International Women’s Day – March 8 This year’s International Women’s Day celebration is focused on ensuring that women have access to training and opportunities to realize their full potential in the workplace and in the global economy. For thirty-four years, Creative Associates has made a difference for women in the workplace and their communities around the world. Creative is dedicated to education—especially girl’s education. The latest edition of Creative magazine relates the story of Safaa, a 15 year old Egyptian girl who dropped out of school. Like her country, Safaa has a new beginning thanks to the American people’s generosity through USAID. Safaa, now thriving in school, said: “I have something to say to every girl thinking of dropping out of school. You will regret every day you sped away from school and from learning for the rest of your life.” Elsewhere in Afghanistan, Creative is working with American Ambassador Karl Eikenberry’s Small Grants Program for Gender Equality to give Afghan women the opportunity—often for the first time in their lives—to start a small, sustainable business and provide for themselves and their families. Creative is awed by and grateful for the extraordinary courage and leadership of the women who work every day here at our headquarters and on our projects in the field to make a genuine difference in the lives of others, and most especially for women and girls. Related videos on International Women’s Day: Ambassador Eikenberry Statement on International Women’s Day Statement by Mrs. Ching Eikenberry on International Women’s Day

More Than 400,000 Afghan Women Have Benefitted From USAID Project

The Ambassador’s Small Grants Program to Support Gender Equality in Afghanistan held a capstone conference today to highlight two years of project implementation. Designed to enhance the social, economic, and political status of the women and girls in Afghanistan, the USAID-funded project provided economic development support, vocational training, improved family healthcare, and education and literacy training for more than 400,000 Afghan women in 180 districts nationwide. The project also taught men and women to better advocate for gender equality leading to improved participation in the social and political development of Afghanistan.

Speaking at the capstone event, U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker said, “As women leaders in Afghanistan, your role in helping to build the capacity of Afghanistan’s government and civil society, participating in decision-making, and in holding your government accountable to its people, is essential.” Crocker added, “The U.S. Government will maintain a strong focus on women’s rights and issues in Afghanistan and will look to you to continue a productive partnership as your country continues to advance towards peace and stability.”

ASGP Capstone Event November 2011

ASGP Achievements

  • Supported 926 women focused CSOs to obtain grant funding
  • Awarded 1,053 grants to support women-focused civil society groups totaling $17.2 million
  • Registered 311 new organizations with Government of Afghanistan institutions
  • Conducted institutional and gender audits to assess organizational needs and provide ongoing technical support to more than 120 women-focused CSOs
  • Established the Afghan Women’s Advocacy Coalition (AWAC) comprised of ASGP Advocacy Coordination Grant recipients, individuals and civil society partners who are leading nationwide advocacy efforts and campaigns focusing on women’s and girls’ access to education, women’s access to justice and women’s political participation and leadership
  • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding between ASGP and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry to advocate for gender equality, promote the development of the AWAC, and provide support to the National Action Plan for Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) goals
  • Supported AWAC-led nationwide initiatives including a media campaign entitled “Justice for All” to promote the elimination of violence against women and a national advocacy campaign to support women’s access to education and increase enrollment of women and girls in schools
  • Circulated an AWAC-sponsored commitment letter to provincial governors of all 34 provinces to formalize their support for women’s rights and the prevention of violence against women

See below for information from USAID on ASGP.