November 2016—For the last decade, the technological landscape in Afghanistan has been transforming, affording Afghan women the freedom to seize emerging opportunities as leaders in the information, communication and technology sector.

To leverage this trend, USAID’s Promote: Women in the Economy program is working with young women and girls to help them gain work experience through internships and find full-time jobs.

In April, Suhaila*, along with 12 other young women, began working as an intern with a tech company in Herat. The six-month internship gave Suhaila the opportunity to build her confidence and to put into practice what she learned at university as she designed websites, developed databases, and coded computer programs for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

After completing her internship, Shaila decided to start her own company. “I want to design websites and sell them to businesses such as startups and other companies,” she said. “I also want to design learning programs on my website where women can learn specific skills required at workplaces, such as MS office and other similar programs.”

USAID believed in her vision and helped Suhaila register her own tech company. She then hired four women who worked with her during her internship.

“I was always fascinated by the work Apple Co. has done, and my role model is Steve Jobs. I know that to achieve something is not easy and it takes time, but it is not impossible and I have time.”

Promote: Women in the Economy, which runs from 2015 to 2019, seeks to place 21,000 young women between the ages of 18-30 in new or better jobs. The program also works to improve the growth of women-owned businesses and businesses with a female workforce of at least 10 percent. To date, more than 6,600 women have enrolled in job placement services, and more than 200 employers have recruited 1,074 interns, apprentices and employees. This year, program activities expanded beyond regional centers into 30 provinces through a partnership with the Afghan Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled.

*Name changed for security purposes.

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