Blinken launches alliance to support Afghan women

KABUL (Pajhwok): The US secretary of state has launched the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience (AWER).

Antony Blinken launched the alliance on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, the US State Department said.

A new public-private partnership between the Department of State and Boston University, AWER seeks to catalyse business, philanthropic and civil society commitments to advance Afghan women’s entrepreneurship, employment and educational opportunities in Afghanistan and third countries.

Blinken highlighted AWER’s first initiative, the Million Women Mentors Initiative for Afghan Women and Girls (MWMA).

The initiative aims to step up private sector and civil society commitments to mentor one million women and girls over the next five years.

He noted Deloitte’s commitment to work with the Alliance’s first member Pod in mentoring 2,000 Afghan women under MWMA as an example of how AWER aims to foster economic opportunity for Afghan women and girls.

Earlier, the State Department pledged $1.5 million in additional funding for this effort, including funds from the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund.

The fund supports the economic security of women and girls globally to advance Afghan women’s access to business incubation and partnership with the private sector.

AWER creates a pathway to generate sustainable, market-driven solutions to Afghan women’s economic security and underlines Washington’s deep commitment to Afghan women and girls.

PAN Monitor/mud

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