The Responsive Fund for Advancement of Women (RFAW) supports initiatives that improve equality between women and men in Afghanistan, such as those that:

• Reduce discrimination against women (including girls).
• Develop women’s job skills and knowledge.
• Encourage and improve the opportunities for women’s leadership roles that allow them to more equally participate in all aspects of life in Afghanistan.

The RFAW supports initiatives that enable, strengthen, accelerate, and influence programming and policies that advance women’s empowerment, women’s rights and equality between women and men.

Women work together to process 140 kg of cotton each day in a factory supported by RFAW funding.

© Government of Canada

RFAW funding was used to buy equipment for a new small textile processing company run by women.

© Government of Canada

To date, 20 projects have been funded to promote the following:

Basic Services: education for marginalized and impoverished women, as well as girls; maternal infant health through raising awareness and life-skills training.

Economic Growth: job skills and vocational training that generate employment opportunities and create long-term economic sustainability for women.

Governance: leadership promotion and activities that improve the ability to enhance women’s participation in all levels of the decision-making process.

Women’s Rights/Violence Against Women: advocacy, lobbying and community activities that focus on solving the root causes of violence against women; rule of law, legal aid and awareness training, awareness and victim support that includes a community-based approach.

• Afghan Women Educational Center
• Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees