Every day, all over the world, USAID brings peace to those who endure violence, health to those who struggle with sickness, and prosperity to those who live in poverty. It is these individuals — these uncounted thousands of lives — that are the true measure of USAID’s successes and the true face of USAID's programs.
Animal husbandry is an unforgiving profession in Afghanistan. Economic survival depends on the number of sheep, goats, and cattle a family can sell each year. However, the lack of veterinary care in many areas leads to animal deaths, impoverishing families and endangering Afghanistan’s food supply. USAID-funded veterinary clinics are changing that by providing healthcare and vaccines to keep animals healthy.
To provide a safe place for aspiring woman tailors to gain new skills and earn an income, USAID opened the Farah Women’s Garment Production Center in October 2008. Dozens of women applied for positions, and the local Community Development Council accepted 50 of the most promising seamstresses. These women had been working from their homes using pedal-style sewing machines and were ready to enrich their skills.
Hurricane Mitch caused severe damage and killed thousands of Hondurans in October 1998. The government was unprepared for the intense rains, catastrophic flooding, and mudslides caused by the category five hurricane. There was a critical vacuum in the country’s disaster response and preparedness capacities. Lack of organization, infrastructure, basic emergency equipment, and guidelines prevented authorities from responding quickly and effectively. After the hurricane, USAID recognized a need to help the government develop a more robust disaster response mechanism.
Since 2005, USAID has supported the Afghan Supreme Court in providing a four week Foundation Training for sitting judges who, because of years of war and insecurity, did not receive the required year-long Stage Judicial Training Program for new judges. Nearly 800 sitting judges have completed the skills-training program.
Business Registration in Afghanistan used to involve visiting up to five separate government offices – the Commercial Courts, the TIN office, the Central Bank branch, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Finance – and take 6-8 days to complete. The old process, with its myriad steps and varying fee structures, allowed many opportunities for confusion and corruption.
USAID’s Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development project (ASMED) sponsored the participation of 30 Afghan carpet traders in Domotex, the premiere carpet and flooring trade show held every January in Hannover, Germany. The show was organized with the assistance of the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan.
The pomegranate is widely regarded as a ‘wonder fruit’ because of its scientifically proven health benefits. But to many farmers in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, the wonders of this fruit are measured by the economic future that it provides.
Afghanistan has the world’s second highest maternal mortality ratio. Every 27-30 minutes a woman dies from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. Because this is such a grave health concern, USAID and the Government of the Islamic Republic Afghanistan are committed to training midwives across the country. In spring 2008, 115 community midwives graduated from midwifery education programs in five provinces, including Khost, Bamyan, Badakshan, Takhar and Jawzjan.
Mrs. Semeen has lived in District # 7 of Kabul City all her life. She recalls the disputes neighbors had over land issues and tells the story of one neighbor killing another over a boundary wall. In addition to land disputes, she and her neighbors also lack basic services such as water, power and garbage pickup, and risk eviction or demolition of their property at any time because they do not fall within the city’s urban plan.
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