August 2016—Frozan Haidari, like many other female university graduates, struggled to nail down a job after graduation. “I learned a great deal during my time at university, but employers are looking for tangible experience,” she said.

Instead of endlessly and fruitlessly applying for jobs, Haidairi decided to fill in the practical gap in her education. She became one of 60 women participating in a sixth-month USAID-sponsored Women in Business Management Internship Program at the American University of Afghanistan’s International Center for Afghan Women’s Economic Development in June 2015.

Through the internship, Haidari built up practical knowledge of business operations, human resource management, marketing, communications, information and technology, microfinance, and project management.

Haidari is now gainfully employed as a full-time finance manager at Mubtakar (Inventive) Women’s Social Organization. “The six-month internship program gave me the chance to learn more about the growing field of business management both by attending classroom sessions and through practical training. It was an extremely rewarding experience for me,” she said.

Afghan women still face an uphill battle in finding jobs after university graduation. Haidari’s internship, made possible by USAID’s Financial Access for Investing in the Development of Afghanistan (FAIDA) program, is an important opportunity for the ambitious young women of Afghanistan.

“USAID’s internship program helped me gain practical knowledge in my field, which allowed me to find a job, build my capacity, support my family, and continue my education,” said Haidari.

The $108 million, five-year FAIDA project began in 2011 and is designed to build a sustainable, diverse, and inclusive financial sector that can generate and sustain quality employment and meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. To date, the project has facilitated nearly $57 million in private sector loans to 5,900 businesses (including $3.27 million to more than 1,700 female-owned or -operated businesses). FAIDA is one of many USAID programs working to shrink the gender gap in Afghanistan’s workforce.

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