A Review of Objectives, Activities, and Future Plans AWCCI, Organizational Document (V6) | Page 8

BACKGROUND
Launch of LEAD
The predecessor organization of the AWCCI, Leading
Entrepreneurs for Afghanistan’s Development
(LEAD) was born out of a recognition that there
were no existing organizations dedicated to advocacy
for Afghan women’s interests in the private sector.
Planning among Afghan businesswomen began in
2013 to develop an organization that could speak
on their behalf, which resulted in the launch of
LEAD on 22 January 2014. LEAD was registered as
a businesswomen’s association. The growth of LEAD
was supported through a 3-year grant from the Office
of Global Women’s Issues, a division of the US State
Department.
Vision and Mission
• Vision: An Afghanistan in which Afghan
women and female entrepreneurs have
national and international recognition for
their contribution in the sustainable economic
development of Afghanistan and unimpeded
access to economic opportunity and prosperity.
• Mission: AWCCI works to meaningfully
represent, advance, and secure Afghan
women’s economic interests, nationally and
internationally.
Transition to Chamber of Commerce
In the fall of 2016, the leadership of LEAD had
meetings with the First Lady of Afghanistan, H.E.
Rula Ghani, to hear her views about the possibility
of LEAD transitioning to a chamber of commerce.
Following encouragement from the First Lady, LEAD
initiated a consultation process with its members. The
response was overwhelming support for the measure.
At this point, LEAD sent a formal letter to the Office
of the First Lady expressing its interest in becoming a
chamber of commerce. The letter was then forwarded
to the Office of the President, who referred the matter
to be scheduled into the proceedings of the High
Economic Council.
On 12 March 2017, LEAD’s proposal for a transition
to a chamber of commerce was debated at the High
Economic Council, chaired by President Ashraf Ghani.
Following a spirited exchange of views, President
Ghani approved the creation of the Afghanistan
Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industries. The
existence of AWCCI was initially approved for three
years.
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On 31 December 2018, a major delegation from the
AWCCI – consisting of 11 members of the national
Board of Directors and 20 members of zonal Boards of
Directors – delivered a comprehensive presentation to
President Ghani and the First Lady, summarizing their
achievements as a chamber of commerce and laying
out the future plans of the organization. The President
once again referred the matter to the High Economic
Council for debate, at which point the AWCCI’s status
as a permanent chamber was approved by the Council
and enshrined within a Presidential Decree.
Expansion into the provinces
While Kabul is the economic center of Afghanistan,
as well as being its most socially progressive city, it has
always been the mission of AWCCI to provide support
to Afghan businesswomen on a national level. In
January 2018, the AWCCI initiated its plans to launch
regional offices in four zones: North (headquartered
in Mazar-i-Sharif), South (headquartered in
Kandahar), East (headquartered in Jalalabad), and
West (headquartered in Herat). AWCCI’s Kabul
headquarters also serves as the Central Zone office.
Expansion into the provinces began officially on
28 January 2018, with the convening of a General
Assembly of Afghan businesswomen in the northern
city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Elections were successfully held
to select the five members of the Board of Directors
for the North Zone. Following the launch of the North
Zone office, a flurry of activity ensued in order stand
up the remaining zonal offices.
General Assemblies and Board Member elections
were organized in February for the West Zone, in
March for the South Zone, and in April for the East
Zone. The launch of the zonal offices was supported
by the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, which
donated office space at its facilities in Mazar-i-Sharif,
Herat, and Kandahar. The Afghanistan Chamber of
Commerce & Industries graciously donated office
space for the AWCCI zonal office in Jalalabad.
(selected by the Board of Directors), the Directors
who lead various departments, and the administrative
and finance staff.
The Executive Body is accountable to the Board
of Directors and must provide programmatic and
financial updates to the Board on a regular basis. The
Executive Director is limited to two 3-year terms and
is subject to an annual performance review by the
Board of Directors.
Partners
As we mentioned in the Executive Summary,
the transformation of a small businesswomen’s
association, LEAD, into an influential women’s
chamber of commerce would not have been possible
without the financial and institutional support of
a range of public, private, and development sector
organizations.
We are deeply indebted to those organizations that
have helped the AWCCI become what it is today, and
we hope to continue to grow our network of partners
in the years to come.
Office of the First Lady
The AWCCI would not exist today without the
political support of the Office of the First Lady.
The First Lady, Rula Ghani, was always willing to
volunteer her time to listen to the aspirations and
challenges of the AWCCI’s leadership and provide
assistance whenever possible. The transition of LEAD
to a chamber of commerce would have been extremely
difficult – if not impossible – without the First Lady’s
intervention. The First Lady has also been quick to
provide moral support and encouragement to the
AWCCI’s initiatives, from the inauguration of zonal
offices to the launch of programs such as the Made by
Afghan Women labelling initiative.
Office of Global Women’s Issues, US
Department of State
The Office of Global Women’s Issues played an integral
role in the AWCCI’s transformation into an influential
player in the Afghan economy, through the provision
of a 3-year grant covering basic operating expenses.
The grant allowed the AWCCI to rent and furnish
an office, cover the salaries for a full-time Executive
Body, and fund research that furthered the interests
of Afghan businesswomen.
Afghanistan International
Bank (AIB) and Roshan
Telecommunications Company
While the ‘seed capital’ for the launch of the AWCCI
came from the US State Department, the Chamber
must generate revenue and financial support from a
range sources in order to achieve sustainability. One
critical source of financial support must be the Afghan
private sector, and the Afghanistan International
Bank and Roshan Telecommunications Company
are recognized in this section as the AWCCI’s first
corporate sponsors.
Ministry of Industry & Commerce
(MoIC)
The MoIC has been a consistent source of Afghan
Government support for the AWCCI, even as the
leadership at the ministry has changed hands since
the initial launch of LEAD in 2014. The MoIC has
provided the AWCCI with office spaces in Herat,
Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kandahar for its zonal offices,
and has cooperated with the AWCCI on a range of
initiatives operated by the Chamber.
Governance
The activities of the AWCCI are governed by the
Chamber’s By-Laws, which were approved by a General
Assembly of the Chamber’s members on 2 October
2017. The Articles were modified and approved by the
Chamber’s membership on 8 August 2019, in order
to comply with new laws regulating chambers of
commerce. The Articles provide guidelines on a range
of issues, from the types and amounts of membership
fees to the procedures for nominating and electing
members of the Board of Directors.
In 2018, the AWCCI was
able to launch its zone
offices in every major
city of Afghanistan,
representing Afghan
businesswomen and
female entreprenuers
across the country
The broad agenda of the AWCCI is shaped by the 15
members of the Board of Directors, who are elected
every three years by the General Assembly of the
Chamber’s members. The day-to-day activities of
the Chamber are managed by an Executive Body of
full-time staff, which includes the Executive Director
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