DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Branch of the German CARITAS Association jointly with German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Volunteer Group “Dobrota” on April 19 held a charity event to mark the 10th anniversary of its activities in Tajikistan. The event was attended by high-level representatives from government, non-government and international organizations, and residents of Dushanbe city.

Opening the event, Ivo Koerner, Desk Officer of Caritas Germany Head office expressed his gratitude to all partners for their support in the implementation of a number of projects aimed at creating better living conditions for Tajik citizens. “The CARITAS’s key activities are targeted to developing the infrastructure of social services for vulnerable individuals and communities and improving the lives of lonely elderly citizens, women with many children who lost their main breadwinners, graduates of boarding schools and orphanages, and people with disabilities, as well as supporting the victims of emergency situations and natural disasters,” he said.

The event included a concert with participation of the beneficiaries of CARITAS’s implemented projects and famous singers of the country. CARITAS’s partner organizations, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Volunteer Group “Dobrota” demonstrated their achievements on the sidelines of the event. The Volunteer Group “Dobrota” also conducted a charity action to collect donations for oncological patients.

CARITAS Germany in Tajikistan within the 10 years operation in the country supported more than 2500 people with disabilities and opened 7 training halls, 30 rehabilitation centers, 28 playrooms for children and 6 consultation points for rehabilitation specialists. Moreover, CARITAS applied the inclusive education system in 7 pre-school educational institutions and 14 general educational institutions, made the vocational education of vulnerable youth happen in 9 vocational educational institutions and included about 400 children with disabilities in secondary schools. Also, based on the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program, 15 national trainers, 250 rehabilitation workers, 6 specialists of sign language and 370 teachers were trained on the subjects related to disability and inclusive education.

For the purpose of the local capacity building and development of the civil sector, the CARITAS Germany implements its projects through non-governmental organizations. The work is carried out in rural areas, in regions that are far away from administrative centers, where access to social services is limited and communities are especially vulnerable. Together with partners, CARITAS applies essential efforts to creating an inclusive society in Tajikistan.

KABUL (TCA) — A national summit of Afghan businesswomen opened on April 19 in Kabul with support from USAID’s Promote: Women in the Economy (WIE) project, in close cooperation of the Office of the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The summit brought together more than 150 women-owned or managed Afghan businesses, government officials, interest groups, and industry leaders from throughout the country to examine challenges facing businesswomen. The summit provided a forum to identify areas of reform that will assist women-owned businesses in access to finance, markets, and increased revenues. The summit encouraged participants to share individual examples of issues they face, and work together to create practical and constructive plans that will help them grow, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) reported.

“USAID is proud to support the National Business Women’s Summit — a unique representation of diverse businesses from across the country,” said Susan DeCamp, Director of USAID’s Gender Office.

Groups of Afghan businesswomen have held meetings since March to identify economic opportunities and initiatives designed to help women better participate proactively in the mainstream economy and become more competitive. With support from business sector experts, the groups identified actions that will form the basis for a comprehensive blueprint for initiatives designed to create a more conducive business environment for Afghan businesswomen.

During the summit, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan said, “Investment in women’s development and capacity building can lay the foundation of a better future, and contribute to the stability of the country.” WIE and the Office of the Chief Executive vowed to work together in promoting adoption of the blueprint as part of the official policy related to women’s economic empowerment.

USAID Promote: Women in the Economy is a four-year program that assists women-owned businesses or those employing women to perform better, increase income growth, and provide business sustainability. WIE also supports Afghan women in finding new or better jobs through career counseling and workplace skills development.

With almost $17 billion spent on development programs in Afghanistan since 2002, USAID provides the largest bilateral civilian assistance program to Afghanistan. USAID partners with the government and people of Afghanistan to ensure economic growth led by the country’s private sector, to establish a democratic and capable state governed by the rule of law, and to provide basic health and education services for all Afghans.

BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan’s President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has signed a decree accepting the resignation of the Government of Prime Minister Sapar Isakov.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — The World Bank Group is supporting the creation of a new association designed to help strengthen credit reporting practices and bolster access to finance in Europe and Central Asia, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, said.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan has all the ingredients needed to be a leader in the production of high quality fruit and vegetables – its unique soil and climate create a perfect environment for horticulture. That’s why the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the technical and consultative support of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), held a training workshop in Balykchy, in the Issyk-Kul region, in early April, working with farmers to improve and modernize their farms to increase productivity.

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ALMATY (TCA) — IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a senior syndicated loan of $82 million equivalent in Kazakh tenge to Microfinance organization KMF LLC, a leading Kazakh microfinance institution, to boost lending to micro and small enterprises, including women entrepreneurs and customers in rural areas of Kazakhstan.

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