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In Pakistan, Women Social Enterprise, now renamed CIQAM, trains young women, mainly from poor and marginalised families, in a variety of non-traditional technical skills including masonry and carpentry, providing much-needed services to a number of local and national businesses. CIQAM supports young women to overcome social restrictions, gain economic empowerment and provide an income for their families.
AKDN / Kamran Beyg
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In Roshtqala, Tajikistan, the Aga Khan Foundation supports a programme that links "Pamiri Yarn" – a cashgora-producing women's group – to buyers in the USA. The business benefits Tajik and American artisans, as well as cashgora goat producers in the Pamirs.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
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Since 2017, the Aga Khan Foundation has worked with cacao collector Mrs Safiata Fernand on upgrading the quality of her cacao beans, so that she can sell them at a higher price and help improve her family’s revenue. With the increased revenue from her cacao bean sales, she has sent her two daughters to University, which is an exceptional accomplishment in her village.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
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A confectionary business in Tajikistan, which is part of a programme that helps create jobs and economic growth, is supported by the Aga Khan Foundation and AKDN’s First Microfinance Bank.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
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In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, a group of women during electrician training. The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme supports activities like these that promote entrepreneurship amongst youth, especially women.
AKDN / Danial Shah
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In southern Tanzania, community-based savings groups supported by the Aga Khan Foundation permit remote, rural households that are otherwise "unbankable" a convenient way to save and borrow money. Group members are primarily women.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
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A dai (lady health worker) in Chipurson Valley, Pakistan is carrying out a routine check-up with a pregnant woman from a nearby village. The Aga Khan Health Services is training women in remote areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, to ensure safer deliveries where no health facilities are available.
AKDN / Kamran Beyg
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This greenhouse business in Mehrgon, Tajikistan is part of a Common Interest Group supported by AKF through the Escomiad programme with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Escomiad, a Multi-Input Area Development Financing Facility for Tajikistan is helping catalyse the First Microfinance Bank (FMFB)’s portfolio of loans to SMEs to help create jobs and promote economic growth.
AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer
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Crafts are an important income source in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique and since 2006 the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has worked to help artisans improve the design and quality of their work. With funding support from the Government of Canada, AKF works with almost 500 artisans and 28 associations.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
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In Daghoni, Khaplu, Pakistan, Zarina is one of the six youth entrepreneurs that started Al-Hajra Wool Spinning Centre, after receiving the Youth Micro Challenge Award, during a week-long training on enterprise development, supported by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.
AKDN / Danial Shah
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Premiere Agence de Microfinance (PAMF) client Alinoro Rajaomarosata runs three businesses in Madagascar and has 15 employees. Businesses: ecological carbon production; hen breeding and a car repair and paint shop. Since 2011, when she received her first PAMF loan, she has increased her total revenue by at least five-fold.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
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Women make up 50 percent of the University of Central Asia's undergraduate student body at its campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan and Khorog, Tajikistan.
AKDN / UCA
International Women's Day 2019
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8 March 2019 - To help celebrate International Women's Day 2019, we are sharing some stories about women in Pakistan, Tajikistan, Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania, whose participation in AKDN-supported activities is leading to a better quality of life for themselves and future generations.
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