Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report

Project Number: RETA 7563

April 2012

AFGHANISTAN: Pilot Project on Product-Based Handicraft

Training, Production and Marketing for Women’ Groups

in Bamyan Province

RETA 7563

Prepared by Bamyan Women’s Business Association (BWBA)

Bamyan Province, Afghanistan

For Central and West Asia Department (CWRD), ADB

This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents. (For project preparatory technical assistance: All the views expressed herein may not be incorporated into the proposed project’s design.

RETA 7563

PILOT PROJECTS (Output 3)

Proposed MID-TERM REPORT Format

TA 7563-REG: Pilot Project Implementation - Afghanistan

CONTRACT NO.: COSO/S41-758

Reporting period:

From 31-Oct-2011 to 30/April/2012

Submitted by:

Organization name: Bamyan Women’s Business Association (BWBA)

Contact person: Ms. Golshah Ahmadi

Contact number: +93 (0) 772 966 101

Project Specifications

Contract No. COSO/S41-758

Project Title Product-Based Handicraft Training, Production, and Marketing for Women’s Groups in Bamyan Province

Name of the Organization

Submitting the Proposal

Bamyan Women’s Business Association (BWBA)

Grant Amount Requested from

ADB

$29,800

Project Duration (Month) 10

Country of Project Implementation Afghanistan

Relevant RM, staff responsible and

e-mail

Ms. Golshah Ahmadi, Director Mobile: +93 (0) 77 29 66 101 Email: bwba.af@gmail.com

Website: www.bwba-af.org

Office Address: BWBA office, opposite lane of the Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled Department Office, Tolwara village, Centre of Bamyan, Bamyan province, Afghanistan.

Pilot project related to the ADB

investment project (title)

North-South Corridor Project

A. NARRATIVE REPORT

1. Project Background/Brief Description

The project is in its implementation phase in Bamyan province, villages of Shahr-e-Naw Sorkhdar, Qol-e-

Jala and Giron-e-Bala found in Yakawlang – Bamyan Road Section of the North-South Corridor Project.

The sites are located along the highway and are among the poorest, driest, most mountainous, and least

productive agricultural areas in Bamyan. Besides peace and security issues, poverty persists as a result

of the lack of livelihoods and low incomes, affecting women more than men. Bamyan Women’s Business

Association (BWBA) believes in upgrading women’s skills in traditional crafts, organizing women into

production groups, and linking them with markets, as effective poverty fighting strategies.

“Product-Based Handicraft Training, Production, and Marketing for Women’s Groups in Bamyan” is a 10-

month initiative that will enhance skills of 90 women in 3 villages of Bamyan province. The project will:

upgrade skills of women in designing and weaving carpets and cloth embroidery; increase their

knowledge on the value chain; link them with markets; provide guidance on how women can work in

groups; and develop women into effective business managers and organizational leaders. The project will

invest a total of 336 hrs of training for each of the 90 project beneficiaries, identified as among most

disadvantaged women in their communities, and offer technical support to link them with markets.

Increased production of quality handicrafts will help meet domestic and export demand which is expected

to increase as a result of the completion of the road rehabilitated of the North-South Corridor.

The desired impact of the project is improved economic and social status of women in Shahr-e-Naw

Sorkhdar, Qol-e-Jala and Giron-e-Bala villages of Bamyan province. Empowering women through skills

training in handicrafts production and business management is expected to increase the participation of

women in the labor force by 20% in the next 3 years (by 2015). Organizing women into small industrial

associations (SIAs) will boost their confidence and ability to represent women’s interests and engage in

community affairs. Both economic and social benefits of this project will prepare women of these 3

villages to maximize benefits from the proposed rehabilitation of the Yakawlang-Bmayan Road section of

the North-South Road, a trading route for high quality handicrafts.

2. Progress of Work

2.1. Narrative Report on the establishment of the Project Management Unit

2.1.1. Project Management, Partnership, Institutional Arrangements as stated in

Grant Proposal Form

A Project Management Committee (PMC) is set-up and full time project staff hired to implement the

project. The BWBA Board of Directors provides oversight function in the proper and timely implementation

of the project activities based on the work schedules.

The Team Leader provides monthly project update reports to the Board of Directors for this purpose.

Project staff will have weekly project coordination meetings for smooth day-to-day operation of project

activities. The BWBA Finance Unit has assigned a project bookkeeper for proper accounting of project

funds. Included in the monthly report to the Executive Director and Board of Directors is a financial report

of the project.

It was agreed that there will be two project assessment workshops to be held at the beginning of 7th

month (May 2012) and 10th month (Aug 2012). The mid-term assessment workshop will ensure that we

are implementing the scheduled activities of the project within the specified timeframe and ensure that we

are optimizing the transparent use of project funds resulting to maximum output and outcomes.

As per the first assessment workshop, the project activities have been done according to the schedule till the beginning of the 7th month and its desirable results were as follow; Monthly income and employment: all 90 women beneficiaries said that their involvement in the project had contributed significantly to the monthly family income in which they could earn an average income of 35.4 USD per women as per month 6. Empowerment: in our project defined as the ability of women to independently make and implement decisions. However, joint decisions were made by the women and their husbands or male member of the families on most of the activities expansion of their small business, adaption of new technology, receiving income, saving income and getting advisory and input services. Joint decisions were also made with regard to attending training, but once this was done only the women participated. Women start to made decisions on initiating their own business after the end of project, securing raw materials and marketing, and got help from their husbands in implementing these activities. In addition, all the participants mentioned that they were satisfied with the skills acquired and that they are willing to learn more. Before the project was implemented, people were often unable to find skilled craft workers. It is now the case however, that some trainees have become teachers themselves and getting to start their own small businesses, which is a success for the project. Finally, appropriate, coherent and efficient, the project successfully built sustainable activities through partnership building and linking project initiatives to local realities (eg. selection of which crafts to develop was done in partnership with the beneficiaries, project team and other stakeholders etc.). Therefore, so far, participation, innovation and sustainability were the main underlying themes in our handicrafts project. The final assessment workshop on the 10th month of the project implementation will focus on

documenting lessons learned and the development of an impact monitoring system and tools that will be

used in assessing the impacts of the project after 1 to 3 years. The final assessment workshop will also

develop; if necessary and warranted a phase 2 project proposal to apply for more grant support from

current and new donors for the continuation; expansion and/or institutionalization of the project.

The f inal as sessment workshop will a lso discuss a nd a pprove an i nitial proj ect-end draft r eport for

consideration of the Executive Director and the Board of Directors towards the end of the project.

However, in terms of our partnership, as the most of Bamyan’s population lives in rural areas and where

the pro blems of po verty and un employment are particularly s evere in these areas, in order to have

economic growth leading to sustainable job c reation and poverty reduction, we have made partnership

with the following local organizations who are working in economic development sector in Bamyan.

1. The Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Program (AREDP): AREDP is one the national

programs of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD). With coordination of

AREDP Bamyan Regional Office, BWBA will pave the way for the trainees to get the support of

AREDP i n their bu sinesses. AREDP i s ai med at enhancing th e participation of r ural men an d

women in economic activities by strengthening the private sector through integrated, value chain,

knowledge delivery f rom both top and bottom, addressing c redit/capital n eeds at all l evels.

Through linking the women enterprises in this project with this program, the women will improve

their employment and income as well as the sustainability of their targeted local businesses. The

project beneficiary, through the SME development program of A REDP will al so improve their

linkages to financial institutions, input suppliers (particularly to rural areas), forward l inkages to

larger companies and consumers, and linkages to technology suppliers.

2. Department of Women’s Affairs (DOWA) Bamyan; DOWA will helped us to identify the

beneficiaries and al so develop a c omprehensive tr aining c urriculum. DoWA al so monitors the

project and pro vide the following c ontributions which w ill improve the businesses of proj ect

beneficiaries and the women of Bamyan in large.

Facilitating the setting up of gender focal points in the project site and providing them with gender

advocacy skills, gender mainstreaming tools and related trainings;

Establish partnership with training institutions and training units of government ministries to

incorporate curricula on gender in their training programs, and in this case business and

economic development sectors.

Facilitate the collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of data and information that

would track changes on the lives of women and men and inform policy planning and programme

development in the province.

Eliminate discriminatory and abusive practices in formal and informal economic development

sector, and develop its own mechanism for the promotion of media/communication activities and

public awareness of all aspects of gender equality and women’s rights, and;

Foster partnership and collaboration with women NGOs, human rights bodies, and civil society

organizations for advocacy and mutual support in making government and donors respond

effectively to women’s concerns and attract support for our project beneficiaries.

3. Community Development Councils (CDCs): CDCs’ governing committees have contributed to the

selection of trainees and facilitated the project implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

4. Eco-tourism P rogram an d B amyan Chamber of Co mmerce and Industry ( B-CCI): E cotourism

Program is a multimillion dollars project funded by The New Zealand Aid and is implementing by

The Agha K han F oundation i n B amyan province. In term s of marketing of the products, they

pledged to invite BWBA’s handicraft products to any occasions in the province to sell the products

and will pave the way to accelerate the marketing of them. Similarly, we have been working with

the Bamyan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (B-CCI) and they regularly inform BWBA about

any national/international occasions to display the women’s handmade products in order to f ind

market for Bamyan women’s handicraft products.

2.1.2. Information on Personnel, Structure, Systems

Project Coordinating Committee

The full-time project staff are as follows;

1. Team leader (Sediqa Kazimi), which has the following duties;

Lead the planning and implementation of project

Facilitate the definition of project scope, goals and deliverables

Develop full scale project plans

Board of Directors

Executive Director

Project

Implementation

Officer

Trainer Trainer Trainer

Team Leader

Assemble and coordinate project staff

Manage project budget

Manage project resource allocation

Plan and schedule project timelines

Ensure timely submission of quality inception, progress report and completion reports to ADB

Build, develop, and grow any business relationships vital to the success of the project

Project evaluations and assessment of results/Quality assurance

2. Project Implementation Officer (Zahra Panjabi);

Discuss strategies for the design and implementation of project with relevant stakeholders

Provide technical support and assistance for project development and implementation to the Team Leader

Provide technical and logistic support in the organization of project activities such as visits, meetings and trainings and document those events appropriately

Assist the Team Leader in preparing quality inception, progress report and completion reports of the project

Perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

3. Trainers (Freshta, Marina, and Turpekay);

Design development and introduce product diversification to trainees

Oversee labelling & tagging of all goods according to requirements

Coordinate between production facilities to ensure a timely delivery

Process all productions orders received

Keep careful records of teaching hours and student’s progress and report these on a weekly/monthly basis to Team Leader.

Assist Team Leader to monitor and evaluate the project

Prepare materials and approaches that are suitable for the learners’ ability and needs

Carries out other duties as entrusted by the management of the interest of organization and project.

The project strategy so far has been according to the following plan;

The structure and system of this project is designed in a way that monthly income and employment

opportunities of project beneficiaries increase and they could finally run their own businesses. In addition,

women empowered through this project and enable to independently make and implement decisions.

However, joint decisions were made by the women and their husbands or male member of the families on

most of the activities such as expansion of their small business, adaption of new technology, receiving

income, saving income and getting advisory and input services. Joint decisions were also made with

regard to attending training, but once this was done only the women participated.

Furthermore, a change in mentality (a big change in thinking) can be observed regarding to handicrafts

business. Even if handicrafts have not yet become people’s main income generating activity, they are

now considered a relevant choice to improving living conditions. In addition to helping eradicating extreme

poverty among marginalized groups, this project has also helped avoid rural exodus.

The local authorities (such as Department of Women’s Affairs) have constantly supported the project and

are committed to continuing to provide their support. Improvements in quality, the creation of new

designs, the development of the network of handicrafts production groups and life skills were some

additional results of this project so far.

In addition, the training activities of this project enabled marginalized groups to learn a creative skill and in

this way, contributed to their sense of empowerment and personal dignity. The following human rights

were also addressed in this project:

- Education and Training

- Decent Work

- Health and Social Services

- Non-discrimination

- Cultural Identity

Finally, project-based development for women would make their productive work visible and give them

greater political and economic strength. Behavioural changes in women which occurred as a result of the

transfer of new knowledge and skills, and the development of solidarity among women involved in this

project. The project also enabled them to make decisions in various project activities, such as planning

and implementing daily routines, managing workers and marketing products. The project increased

awareness among the project’s beneficiaries and stakeholders in the socio-cultural value of crafts and

their potential role as an income generating activity. Moreover, it raised women’s awareness on the

importance of protecting and preserving traditional cultural heritage which gave them a sense of pride in

their work. In effect, the capacity building f or these groups paved the way for social and ec onomic

empowerment; while the technical assistance regarding local needs and tourist demands helped ensure

the lasting development of their businesses.

2.2. Narrative Report on status of the implementation plan1

2.2.1. Output 1: Women’s skills in production of high-quality handicraft is upgraded

2.2.1.1. Activity 1: Training design/ curriculum, preparation, beneficiary selection, and materials distribution

Three (3) training curriculum prepared (namad carpet, gilim carpet, embroidery)

90 qualified beneficiaries identified (30 from each village)

90 qualified beneficiaries oriented and divided into 6 groups (2 groups of 3 handicraft specialization -15 women/group)

90 beneficiaries each receive a toolkit (wooden frame, weaving comb, embroidery loom, iron,

scissors)

90 beneficiaries supplied with weaving materials (thread and fabric).

2.2.1.2. Activity 2: 6 Training workshops conducted (2workshops x 3 groups)

Group 1 -namad carpet making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants, receive 192 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 4 months )

Group 2 –gilim carpet making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30

participants, receive 192 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 4 months )

Group 3 –embroidery making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants receive 192 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 4 months )

120 namad carpets produced from training workshops (Group1: 15women x 2classes x 4carpets each)

120 Gilim carpets produced from training workshops (Group2: 15women x 2classes x 4carpets each)

120 embroidery produced from training workshops (Group2: 15women x 2classes x 4 embroidery

products each)

In addition, 20% (90 training products) are sold at fare market price (only during month 6) and trainees could save at least 20% of sale proceeds for business capital.

1 Note: Narrative report should be consistent with appended table on project implementation status

Items sold during month 6:

42 embroidery x 700 AFN Average Price = 29400 AFN (588 USD)

15 Namad x 2500 AFN Average Price = 37500 AFN (750 USD)

33 Gillim x 2800 AFN Average Price = 92400 AFN (1848 USD)

Total money raised during month 6 = 159300 AFN (3186 USD)

The average income per women as per month 6 is 35.4 USD. As month 6 is the first month for marketing of our products, we are accelerating our marketing efforts in the remaining months to sell more number of products at the best market price. Out of 3186 USD, a sum of 650 USD is saved for business capital in a safe within the training center. This saving, as it will be accumulated in the next coming months will help women to run their own businesses after project completion.

3. Project Implementation Challenges and how they were addressed

The only project challenge was the delay in releasing the second and third installments. However, using

our own resources and fund, we have pre-financed the equipments and other costs of the project.

FINANCIAL REPORT

1. Official invoice is attached.

B. APPENDICES

1. Table on Project Implementation Status (see below)

2. Photos with captions (see below)

3. Copy of handicrafts catalog is already submitted (with inception report)

Product-Based Handicraft Training, Production, and Marketing for Women’s Groups in Bamyan Province

Afghanistan Project Starting Date: 31-Oct-2011 Project End Date: 04/Sep/2012

Table on Project Implementation Status As of 30 April 2012

: Based on approved Implementation Plan Report on Actual Status Remarks if target dates and

success indicators were not achieved as planned

Outputs Activities Activity Success Indicator (Planned)

Completion Date

Women’s skills in production of high-quality handicraft is upgraded

Training design/ curriculum, preparation, beneficiary selection, and materials distribution

Three (3) training curriculum prepared (namad carpet, gilim carpet, embroidery) 90 qualified beneficiaries identified (30 from each village) 90 qualified beneficiaries oriented and divided into 6 groups (2 groups of 3 handicraft specialization -15 women/group) 90 beneficiaries each receive a toolkit (wooden frame, weaving comb, embroidery loom, iron scissors) 90 beneficiaries supplied with weaving materials (wool, thread, fabric).

Month 1

Month 1

Month 2

Month 2

Month 2

Three (3) training curriculum prepared (namad carpet, gilim carpet, embroidery) 90 qualified beneficiaries identified (30 from each village) 90 qualified beneficiaries oriented and divided into 6 groups (2 groups of 3 handicraft specialization -15 women/group) 90 beneficiaries each receive a toolkit (wooden frame, weaving comb, embroidery loom, iron, scissors) 90 beneficiaries supplied with weaving materials (thread and fabric).

Implemented as scheduled

6 Training workshops conducted (2workshops x 3 groups)

Group 1 -namad carpet making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants, receive 240 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 5 months ) Group 2 –gilim carpet making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants, receive 240 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 5 months ) Group 3 –embroidery making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants receive 240 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 5 months ) 150 namad carpets produced from training workshops (Group1: 15women x 2classes x 5carpets each) 150 Gilim carpets produced from training workshops (Group2: 15women x 2classes x 5carpets each)

Month 3-7

Month 3-7

Month 3-7

Month 3-7

Month 3-7

Group 1 -namad carpet making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants, receive 192 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 4 months ) Group 2 –gilim carpet making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants, receive 192 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 4 months ) Group 3 –embroidery making, 2 training workshop classes x 15 participants each = 30 participants receive 192 hours of training (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 4 months ) 120 namad carpets produced from training workshops (Group1: 15women x 2classes x 4carpets each) 120 Gilim carpets produced from training workshops (Group2: 15women x 2classes x 4carpets each) 120 embroidery produced from training workshops (Group2: 15women x 2classes x 4 embroidery products each)

One month of training remains (month 7)

Women’s skills in entrepreneurial management and organizational leadership are developed

Training design/ curriculum, preparation

Training curriculum on leadership techniques, women empowerment, business management, financial literacy, value chain analysis, business plan preparation, linking with business networks

Month 7 Not yet due

Training on leadership, business management, value chain adding, product marketing

90 project beneficiaries receive 96 training hours each (2 hours daily x 6days/week x 2 months )

Month 8-9 Not yet due

Training participants marketing and selling their products

80% (360 training products) are sold at fare market price Trainees save at least 20% of sale proceeds for business capital 6 SIAs made up of 15 women each is organized 6 SIA business plans completed 6 SIA actively seeking job orders in business networks

Month 6-10 Month 6-10 Month 8-9 Month 9-10 Month 9-10

20% (90 training products) are sold at fare market price (only during month 6) (a sum of 3186 USD) Trainees save at least 20% of sale proceeds for business capital (650 USD saved) Not yet due Not yet due Not yet due

90 training products sold at fare market price only in month 6

Project Management

Monitoring and Evaluation

Inception report Development of Training-workshop evaluation form Mid term report End of Project Report

Month 1 Month 2 Month 5 Month 10

Inception report submitted Development of Training-workshop evaluation form Mid term report submitted Not yet due

d

Figure 1: Training of embroidery group in Sorkhdar village

Figure 2: a trainee using her skill and weaving embroidery on a cloth

Figure 3: three project beneficiary weaving Gillim

Figure 4: women are working on Gillim

Figure 5: Sample picture of embroidery

Figure 6: Sample picture of embroidery

Figure 7: Trainees packaging their products

Figure 8: Trainees receiving handicrafts toolkit