In Afghanistan and Pakistan, development progress has been threatened by decades of conflict and insecurity. Since the early 1990s, Creative has been a committed partner to the residents of both countries, helping to stabilize vulnerable communities, expand employment and build quality education delivery systems, even in the most crisis-affected areas.
When conflict disrupted the education system and caused well-trained Afghans to flee the country, for example, Creative partnered with the emerging private sector to rebuild these skills among residents, creating demand-driven training and job placement programs that have helped more than 21,000 Afghans land a position or secure a promotion.
Recognizing that a full recovery requires more than livelihoods, Creative’s programs in the region have helped to strengthen trust between the government and vulnerable communities and have worked to ensure that students master literacy so they can contribute to economic development and peace in their countries.
Special Reports
In-depth project stories. Click to view.
Current Projects
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MULTIMEDIA
[Virtual Panel] Securing Women’s Gains in the Future of Afghanistan’s Economy
A distinguished panel of Afghan women in government and the private sector discuss the importance of protecting the advances and economic contributions that women have made over the past 19 years. Learn more.
Afghan Women at Work: Actors, not beneficiaries
Manizha Wafeq, Chair and Co-Founder of the Afghanistan Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industries, discusses women's role as a driving force in Afghanistan's economy. Learn more.
Photo series: Afghanistan at work
Across Afghanistan, entrepreneurial and hardworking Afghans are launching new companies, providing services and creating much-needed jobs. Creative shines a light on these people and businesses in the Afghanistan at Work photo series. Learn more.
Leland Kruvant: Building economic opportunities in Afghanistan
Creative President and CEO Leland Kruvant lays out the four-step Opportunities tool, a cornerstone of Creative's workforce development programming. Learn more.
AFGHANISTAN: Meeting global demand for cashmere, leather
This Herati company is looking to expand its share of the world's market for cashmere and leather, increasing exports to meet growing global demand. Learn more.
AFGHANISTAN: Traditional craft meets modern market
This Afghan carpet maker is exporting its beautiful hand-crafted rugs to buyers around the world. The company received key training from the Afghanistan Workforce Development Program. Learn more.
AFGHANISTAN: Fruits for a global market
This Afghan fruit processing company turned to training and networking opportunities through USAID and Creative as it looked to expand its exports. Learn more.
Afghanistan: A 360-degree look inside an electrical engineering plant
After completing training with Afghanistan Workforce Development Program, employees of Reliance Power Co. in Kabul gained skills that increased their job performance and ultimately improved the company. Based on their work, the employees received pay raises. Learn more.
Afghanistan: Weaving Success for Women in Mazar e-Sharif (English)
In weaving centers, women who hand-make traditional carpets have a chance to leave the isolation of their homes and work together. With support from the USAID Afghanistan Workforce Development Program, the organization behind these centers is serving more women than ever. Learn more.
Afghanistan: Dairy success, AWDP’s effort boosts productions & sales in Mazar e-Sharif (English)
Through USAID's Afghanistan Workforce Development Program, a cooperative-run dairy near Mazar e-Sharif learned essential project management, marketing and production skills that increased output and sales. The Afghanistan Workforce Development Program is increasing job placements and wages by improving access to quality technical and business training, as well as job placement support services. Learn more.
Afghanistan: Turning raw milk into delicious business growth
In Afghanistan, a small dairy is on the path toward increased production and more business. With help from USAID's Afghanistan Workforce Development Program, employees underwent training in key areas that helped them take the company to the next level. Learn more.
Afghanistan: Stretching the body, expanding a business
Fakhria Mumtaz opened Kabul's first all-women yoga studio. Now, her startup is expanding with help from USAID's Afghanistan Workforce Development Program, which connected her to business training. Learn more.
Afghanistan: Transforming a company through employee training
Through her training with the Afghanistan Workforce Development Program, Sadia Abbassy gained new skills that helped her company and earned her a promotion. The program is improving professional advancement, job placements and wages through training and support to thousands of other Afghan professionals like Abbassy. Learn more.
Afghanistan: Shifting the workforce training paradigm
Private sector development in Afghanistan is just emerging and its success depends on having a skilled and workforce-ready population. The Afghanistan Workforce Development Program is tapping into the country’s potential by providing mid-level workforce training and job placement tailored to the needs of the labor market. Learn more.
Afghanistan: One woman builds the potential of other women
Kamila Sidiqi started a small dressmaking enterprise during the time of the oppressive Taliban rule. She grew that into a company that provides workforce skills training to other women so they too can realize their potential and create economic security for themselves and their families. Learn more.
Afghanistan: Empowering women to overcome economic barriers
In Afghanistan, women and girls face significant barriers to education and meaningful participation in political, economic and social development. The U.S. Ambassador’s Small Grants Program helped to raise women’s voices and provided tangible opportunities for growth and empowerment. Learn more.
PROJECTS
- Afghanistan – Afghan Children ReadThe five-year Afghan Children Read program will work with the Ministry of Education to build ...
- Afghanistan – Community Based Stabilization Grants ProgramMany regions in Afghanistan have had little or no interaction or support from the central ...
- Afghanistan – Building Education Support Systems for Teachers (BESST)Afghanistan Building Education Support Systems for Teachers (BESST) In 2002, the Afghan government began the ...