Highlights of the month – March 2015

• Under the “Supporting Rural Entrepreneurship and Promoting Women’s Socio-economic Empowerment” project in Dara-e-Suf Bala and Payan districts of Samangan province 16 male Comment Interest Groups are formed based on common demographic, social cohesion and income generating opportunities, which include 178 members from the existing SHGs.

• Formation of 1,484 (1,397 female & 83 male) new microenterprise in Dar-e-Suf Bala and Payan districts of Samangan province and Aqcha district of Jawzjan province. While 457 (371 female & 96 male) microenterprises those were already economically engaged in the market have expanded and all these microenterprises have resulted in creation of 2,687.

• Number of 1,254 group members (972 female and 282 male) successfully completed different vocational skills training in Aqcha district of Jawzjan province and Dare-e- suf Bala and Payan of Samangan province, the vocations are in the field of Poultry, Wool spinning, Beekeeping, and Agriculture (Wheat Cultivation). Their capacities built and these trainings are fundamental for starting and growing a business. And two embroidery vocational skill training established in Dara-e-Suf Bala for 20 female group members.

• Hand in Hand Afghanistan has distributed 1,254 enterprise start-up toolkits to eligible members in Dara-e-Suf Bala and Payan districts of Samangan province and Aqcha district of Jawzjan province. For members who have successfully completed vocational skill training and have developed a business plan, these toolkits provide the necessary tools and inputs to start or enhance their microenterprises.

• 2,001 (1,163 female & 838 male) illiterate group members are currently undergoing life skills training in Dare-e-Suf Bala and Payan districts of Samangan province and Aqcha district of Jawzjan province. These classes had started during December 2014 and Hand in Hand Afghanistan has provided the participants with a text book and the required stationery, while the community has actively taken part by providing rooms for classes with no cost. These members are going to complete the training during the month of May 2015.
• Sum of AFN 147,000 recollected as repayments of EIF loan from groups during the month which has increased the repayment rate to 84%.

• Sum of AFN 637,000 saved within the groups by members in Dara-e-Suf Bala and Payan districts of Samangan province and Aqcha district of Jawzjan province.

• 36 internal loans took place among the group members with a total value of AFN 279,600 in Dara-e-Suf Bala and Payan districts of Samangan province and Aqcha district of Jawzjan province. Internal loans aim to utilize the group savings accumulated by members for creation and expansion of enterprises.

• Hand in Hand Afghanistan facilitated an exposure visit for the representatives of 4 tailoring CIGs from Shadian village of Marmul district to visit Mazar garment markets. These ladies had the opportunity to showcase their products, deal with the shops at Mazar town for the first time. They entered an agreement with one shop at the market to provide school uniform shirts at price of AFN 100. The first sample was exchanged within a week time and after improvements on design and size they entered a long term agreement. The tailors sew shirts and deliver to the shop in whole price of AFN 100 each.

• Capacity building training conducted for 21 participants (11 female & 10 male) including the newly hired district officer, district assistant, VEFs and 6 none HiH Af employee who will serve as backup in Kishendeh district of Balkh Province. The training aimed to familiarize the participants to HiH network, HiH Afghanistan, its vision and mission, and the HiH model. The training also included effective communication skills and community mobilization skills. These staff also received the ToT of Module 01. Group Management for SHGs and CIGs formation and administration. Moreover a One-day ToT on beekeeping and another two-day ToT on poultry management conducted for the newly hired vocational trainers of Dara-e-suf Bala and Payen districts of Samangan province.

• Following the project start in Keshindeh and Shortepa districts of Balkh province Hand in Hand Afghanistan has started local stakeholders engagement into the program and community outreach as a first step, this includes the governmental authorities, DDA, CDCs and community elders as well as the local NGOs in the districts where detailed information is provided regarding the project activities, coordination with governmental sectors and NGOs took place and also administrative process proceeded.