Paving the Way for Women in Government.

Democracy and Governance | Gender Equality and Social Inclusion | Women's Empowerment | Civil Society, Civic Engagement, and Independent Media

Asia

Promote: Women in Government Project

Project Dates: April 2015 - June 2020

Historically, women have been extremely underrepresented in the Afghan government, and as a result, they have had limited ability to shape policies and programs that directly affect them.

Afghan women face a number of obstacles to working in the government, including widely held beliefs that women should stay at home and out of public workspaces. To counter these views, the USAID Promote: Women in Government project focused on increasing women’s participation in decision-making roles in Afghanistan’s government. One-year internship programs for female high school and university graduates helped women obtain government jobs. The project also worked with government ministries to assess human resource policies and recommend changes that provided a better working environment for women. Additionally, the project increased local community support for women working in government through innovative nationwide communications campaigns.

3,059

interns graduated from internship program

1,778

intern graduates employed

15

legal instruments drafted, proposed, and adopted

Project Goals

Train and provide hands-on experience to 3,000 female high school and university graduates to promote their entry into the government workforce
Partner with ministries to assess and improve human resource policies that cultivate a more hospitable working environment for women in government
Conduct innovative communications campaigns to encourage changes in perception and acceptance of women working in the Afghan Civil Service

Our Impact Tipping the Scales for Workplace Gender Equity in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, women have faced systemic barriers to working outside the home. A USAID project focused on gender equity in the workplace reshaped its own human resources practices to promote gender equity for its staff and achieved surprising results.

Read Impact Story

Our Impact Transforming Afghanistan’s Future

A unique year-long program is changing the lives of young Afghan women.

Read Impact Story

01 02

Projects
Impact Stories
News and Blog

Promoting Integrity Networks in Peru

To curb corruption in Peru, the public and private sectors must partner to improve investment processes.

Reducing Crime and Restoring Trust in Mexico

Addressing root causes of violence in Mexico is key to reducing crime and restoring citizens’ trust.

Photograph taken at the exhibition "Huellas de la Memoria," where 220 pairs of hanging shoes and footprints engraved with the names of missing people speaks of disappearances in a country with more than 73,000 cases.

Countering Human Rights Violations in Mexico

Cycles of violence in Mexico continue to take a toll on civilians, necessitating greater accountability in Mexico’s human rights system.

Transforming Economic Governance in Vietnam

Local institutions in Vietnam must be equipped with the resources needed to maximize growth.

Stepping Up Public Accountability in Somalia

To secure debt relief, Somalia must strengthen financial oversight practices and embrace principles of accountability.

Increasing Access to Justice and Enhancing the Rule of Law in Rwanda

Access to justice is a crucial factor for Rwanda in combating poverty, promoting peaceful resolution of disputes, and enhancing the rule of law.

Catalyzing Behavioral Change

High-impact communications campaigns transformed awareness and prevention of health challenges in Zambian communities.

Transforming the Nigerian Agriculture Sector

Nigerians who farm for a living often face low harvests and sales, which threatens the population’s livelihoods, access to food, and health.

Investing in Afghanistan’s Future

Supporting and training micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in Afghanistan, which comprise 80 percent of the labor force, has strengthened the country’s financial sector.

Piloting and Promoting Best Practices for Economic Growth

Piloting and sharing approaches to job creation, public financial management, trade and customs, access to finance, enterprise and workforce development, and economic inclusion is promoting economic growth in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Helping All of Vietnam’s Citizens

Vietnam must ensure that the benefits of its recent growth period reach all its citizens, including historically disadvantaged groups, such as women, people with disabilities, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and intersex (LGBTI) community.

Stronger and Healthier Households in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan farmers are getting linked with buyers, financing, training, and inputs to sustainably increase incomes and improve nutrition in an effort to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.

Supplying Safe Water to Rural Tajikistan

Better water supply and resource management in Tajikistan can improve the health and resilience of rural communities.

Creating Economic Growth in Haiti

Investing in Haiti's agriculture sector helped to modernize agriculture, reduce flooding threats, and create strong linkages between farmer organizations and private enterprises.

Fostering the Growth of Salvadoran Small and Medium Enterprises

Employing more than one-third of El Salvador’s workforce, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in the country’s economic stability.

Advocating for a Vocal Civil Society in Nigeria

Nigerian citizens need more tools and resources to learn how to productively contribute to reform at the local, state, and national levels.

Promoting Unity in Ukraine

Divisive pressures undermine political unity in Ukraine, particularly in eastern regions. Connecting citizens with their government can help.

Strengthening Somali Governance

Somalia is taking steps toward re-establishing governance with effective and accountable government institutions.

Strengthening Municipal Governance in Jordan

Jordanian communities need innovative, sustainable ways both to improve how municipalities deliver services and to develop closer relationships between citizens and the government.

Strengthening Civil Society in Tanzania

In Tanzania, civil society organizations are working to make the government more responsive and accountable.

Strengthening Civil Society Organizations in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, civil society organizations (CSOs) needed significant support to achieve their goals of strengthening democratic and governance processes, improving health, and promoting economic growth.

Building Climate Finance Capacity in Nepal

Strengthening Nepali local governments’ ability to manage green funds can spur investment in and accelerate climate action.

Spurring Inclusive Growth in the Philippines

Government efficiencies and private sector reform are key for maximizing inclusive growth in the Philippines.

Introducing the Rule of Law in Myanmar

Building a transparent and inclusive justice sector is a critical step to improving legal rights for Myanmar’s people in the wake of recent political transition.

Promoting Tourism in Timor-Leste

As Timor-Leste invests in an inclusive and sustainable national tourism strategy, the country is emerging as an “off-the-beaten-path” destination for adventure travelers and eco-tourists.

Ensuring Quality Education in Afghanistan

To fulfill the goals in Afghanistan’s National Education Strategic Plan, the Ministry of Education is improving its services, procedures, and systems.

View All Projects

Empowering Nigeria’s Farmers

In Nigeria, a training approach that integrates agronomic and business management best practices is boosting yields, increasing incomes, and empowering farmers.

Healthier Futures in Nigeria

Chemonics and USAID are teaching rural households in Nigeria how to grow, sell, and combine nutritious crops into healthier meals.

Rice Farming in Nigeria — Come Rain or Shine

Farmers in Nigeria improve their incomes and national food security by learning how to cultivate rice during the dry season.

Empowering Mothers

Nigerian mothers increase their income, grow their businesses, and improve their family’s health through livelihood and nutrition training.

The Journey to Inclusive Finance in Afghanistan

With geographically far-reaching activities targeting rural citizens and women, the FAIDA program drastically improved Afghanistan’s financial landscape.

Technology to Empower Women in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, mobile banking technology is increasing women’s access to financial services, helping them conduct secure business transactions and grow their businesses.

Afghan Women Entrepreneurs Shatter Stereotypes

One of Afghanistan’s most famous entrepreneurs is building international partnerships and helping other women grow their businesses.

Historic Policy Changes in Vietnam Extend Rights

As the Vietnamese economy continues to grow at a rapid pace, transgender groups are leveraging historic policy changes to break down barriers to opportunity.

A New Spin on an Old Crop

Farmers in Sri Lanka are using new techniques to revive chili production and promote economic and financial stability in the Anuradhapura District.

Protecting Farmers Through Safe Pesticide Use in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan farmers commonly use pesticides incorrectly, which puts them at risk. New posters are teaching farmers important messages about pesticide safety.

Introducing Innovative Agricultural Methods in Sri Lanka

New technologies and training are helping farmers in northern and eastern Sri Lanka apply innovative agricultural methods to increase their productivity and market competitiveness.

Helping Small Businesses Grow in El Salvador

Micro- and small enterprises are receiving training to expand their businesses, thanks to a new international partnership.

View All Impact Stories

An infographic illustrating how connectivity on the internet can promote global collaboration.

How to Conduct Applied Political Economy Research in a Pandemic

Chemonics' Center for Politically Informed Programming offers five tips for overcoming the limitations of remote fieldwork to get the most out of applied political economy analyses.

Hands holding a printout of a line graph

Three Questions on Financing Self-Reliance with Mario Kerby

How can development practitioners foster local commitment for financing self-reliance? Chief of Party Mario Kerby shares how his project has engaged a diverse array of stakeholders — from finance ministers to schoolchildren — to ensure commitment to crucial fiscal reforms remains strong.

The Work You May Not Know You’re Doing and How To Do It Better

Stacia George and Heather Seeley explore why security sector reform is key to every development project, how you may be enacting reform without knowing it, and how to do more to integrate best practices into your project for more effective and just security sector wherever you work.

News: Chemonics Announces New Senior Vice President Victoria Cooper

In her new role, Ms. Cooper will oversee and develop the business strategy, management, and technical programming for the East and Southern Africa regional business unit.

Best of the Blog 2019

This was a big year for private sector engagement, with nearly half of our most popular posts exploring its importance to the future of development. Check out those posts and other key insights, profiles, and technical approaches from Chemonics in 2019.

Let’s Get Creative: Localized Data Collection for Stronger Project Outcomes

How can the development community become more creative with data collection to navigate complex operating environments and gather accurate, high-quality, consistent data?

3 Questions with Cecilia Barraza on Leveraging Mobile Apps for Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response During COVID-19

How have the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated drivers of gender-based violence, and how can a mobile app provide innovative solutions towards violence prevention?

Demonstrating Leadership for Racial Equality in Development

In the current racial climate, organizations are wondering how to deepen efforts for racial equality. In this article Victoria Cooper shares four goals for leaders seeking to build a more equitable, inclusive organization.

For the Women of Afghanistan, Peace with the Taliban May Not End the War

How can the inclusion of Afghan women's voices in the Afghanistan peace talks further champion gender equality in the country? Dr. Susanne E. Jalbert provides substantial thoughts about it and what the international community can do as a response.

Trauma-Informed Approaches to Development

Development practitioners must consider how trauma affects the communities in which they work when designing and implementing programs. Chemonics shares a new resource that offers key principles and practical steps that development projects can use to ensure activities are trauma-sensitive at all stages of implementation.

Talk of Peace Sparks Hope and Fear in Afghanistan

As peace talks in Afghanistan begin, Safir Sahar reflects on why it's so important that women's rights are central to the negotiations.

News: Chemonics Releases SHEA Prevention and Response Toolkit

The free, open-access toolkit provides organizations with a step-by-step guide on how to lead training and set up systems to prevent and respond to sexual abuse.

Making the Future Accessible: Safeguarding Women with Disabilities in the Workplace

How can the global development community do more to safeguard and empower women with disabilities in the workplace?

News: Chemonics’ President and CEO Susanna Mudge Joins Women Leaders on Panel at Global Women’s Summit

Chemonics’ president and CEO Susanna Mudge participated in Foreign Policy’s inaugural global women’s summit, which highlighted women as positive change agents.

Stigmatized for 2,535 Days

Following Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28), Dr. Jordene Hale and Nausheen Rajan reflect on how to combat the stigma and inequities surrounding menstruation.

Coding ‘Thinking and Working Politically’ into a Project’s DNA

Promising results are unfolding as project staff begin to think and work politically on one USAID project in Timor-Leste.

Working the System: What We’ve Learned About Strengthening Accountability

What is the most effective way to strengthen accountability in our development work? Sarah Nugent shares a promising approach that enables civil society to circumvent political barriers and create power: clusters.

The Politics of Biodiversity: Two Experiences with Thinking and Working Politically

What does thinking and working politically on biodiversity projects look like? Carolyn Heaps shares experiences and lessons learned from projects in Guatemala and Indonesia.

Facilitating Gender Equitable Policy Reform: Four Principles

In Afghanistan, implementors embrace a stakeholder-centric approach to overcome policy challenges to gender equity. Technical specialists and local government officials agree that accountability and local ownership are crucial elements of this model.

Afghan women participate in the USAID’s Promote: Women in Government (WIG) project's one-year training program.

Empowering Women and Cultivating Equitable Governance in Afghanistan

Through a combination of training, policy reform, and positive communications, the USAID Promote: Women in Government (WIG) project supports Afghan women and government stakeholders to create civil service opportunities for women.

News: Chemonics Does Digital Health

Chemonics convenes its digital health experts for the virtual Global Digital Health Forum from December 7 to 9, 2020.

News: USAID Awards “Digis” to Two Projects Implemented by Chemonics

USAID awards recognize the Human Resources for Health in 2030 program and the Pakistan Small and Medium Enterprise Activity for using technology to “sustain open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems and improve measurable development and humanitarian-assistance outcomes on a large scale.”

3 Takeaways from Testing the Gender Competency Framework in Ethiopia

How do family planning service providers consider gender when counseling their clients? Here’s what HRH2030 learned in Ethiopia.

Building a Financial Services Market Where There Wasn’t One

How did one USAID initiative get banks on board to provide $1 billion in services in rural Colombia? How can we do that elsewhere? It takes a systemic, business-driven approach to connect supply with demand at scale.

Woman talking to a community health worker in Indonesia

Recommendations for a Diverse, Sustained Health Workforce

How do we establish higher-performing health systems to achieve universal health coverage? These three key recommendations focus on building a diverse workforce to deliver accountable, affordable, accessible, and reliable health care for all.

View All News and Blog