Overview

After decades of war and continued instability throughout the country, Afghanistan is struggling to rebuild from a fractured social and economic environment. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s new constitution promotes equal rights for every citizen, without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation or religion. The Government has also expressed its support for programs that work to improve the rights and standing of all Afghans. However, despite advances made by governmental and non-governmental reformers alike, women largely remain subject to draconian laws and limiting cultural customs which restrict them from becoming full and vocal members of Afghan society.

In late June 2009, the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, and Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer, announced the start of the Ambassador’s Small Grants Program to Support Gender Equality in Afghanistan.  Launched at a joint press conference with Afghan Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, Syeda Mojgan Mostafavi, ASGP is working hand in hand with local civil society organizations to provide technical assistance and small grants to women-focused Afghan NGOs in accordance with the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA).  ASGP is effectively empowering women’s groups throughout Afghanistan to advocate for social change and improve access to education, healthcare, literacy, and economic development for women and girls.

ASGP celebrated its second anniversary in June 2011. Over the past two years, ASGP achievements include the following:

• Awarded 1,053 grants totaling $17.2 million to support women-focused civil society groups active in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan;
• 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 working nationwide;
• Established the Afghan Women’s Advocacy Coalition (AWAC), comprised of ASGP Advocacy Coordination Grant recipients, individuals and other 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 MoWA to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry to advocate for gender equality, promote the development of AWAC, and oversee implementation of the National Action Plan for Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA);
• Supported AWAC-led nationwide initiatives, including a media campaign entitled “Justice for All” to promote the elimination of violence against women, and successful policy advocacy to improve women’s access to higher education and increase enrollment of women and girls in schools; and
• Helped AWAC secure letters of commitment from 18 provincial governors to formalize their support for women’s rights and the prevention of violence against women.