While the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent lockdown delayed the project for most of the summer , CAIT was able to move forward with the program in late August . Using curricula and trainers from the Madina Institute , CAIT adapted and delivered entrepreneurship modules during two , 10-day training workshops , each of which accommodated 25 women . Social distancing and other COVID-protective measures were practiced throughout the training .
The workshops employed modules on market analysis , competitive analysis , management , marketing , sales , and start-up requirements . Utilizing real-life examples such as catering , knitting , and sewing , the training demonstrated how to transform women ’ s vocational skills into viable businesses . For example , during sales training , women worked on plans for identifying potential customers , reaching those customers , and developing a sales pitch for their own business idea . During the second part of the workshop , each participant developed a business plan to support individual or group businesses , wherein a few women agree to work collaboratively . These plans , which were developed with the input and guidance of the expert trainers , will provide participants with a clear roadmap for the initial start-up phase of their micro-enterprises .
What excited the women most about the workshop was that it was the first time they were exposed to this type of training and practical information . They also enjoyed the opportunity to meet like-minded women from other districts in GBAO .
The project has already achieved impressive results . Several participants have started small businesses like bakeries and fruit processing shops . And two of the participants applied for and were awarded funding from the Tajik government under a prestigious presidential grant program aimed at developing women ' s entrepreneurship , creating new employment opportunities for women and girls , and increasing women ' s economic activity and competitiveness in the labor market .
Each year , more than 1,000 women across the country apply for the grants , but only 80 are successful .
The next phase of the project involved holding job fairs in the districts where the project is being piloted . These will provide a direct opportunity for the female participants to bring their products to market , gain invaluable sales experience , and identify potential modifications to their business plans .
Additionally , CAIT is planning a Women in Business seminar — likely with the co-sponsorship of the National Association of Business Women of Tajikistan — to link participants with successful businesswomen who may act as role models or mentors . Seminar speakers will engage with the audience
The backstory on a variety of business topics , such as business negotiations from the female perspective , sales techniques , and balancing the demands of business and family . In the seminar , women will have the opportunity to ask questions , network , and draw inspiration from one another . Based on lessons learned from the pilot , CAIT hopes to revise and fine-tune the ASPIRE project to expand it into other districts throughout GBAO .
Once their businesses are up and running , these businesswomen will be able to support their families , boost the local economy , and bring needed goods and services to their communities . We can ’ t wait to see the amazing things they accomplish ! a
In 1997 , the Central Asian country of Tajikistan emerged from a five-year civil war to find its economy in ruins . The breakup of the Soviet Union , which had given the former Soviet republic its independence , had also resulted in a 60 % contraction in Tajikistan ' s economy . The fledgling government was faced with the daunting task of developing sound fiscal policies and rebuilding institutions previously managed from Moscow .
Over the past decade , the country appears to have turned a corner . Not all sectors of the population , however , have benefited from the promising levels of economic growth and greater access to higher-paying skilled jobs . In the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast ( GBAO ), a semi-autonomous region of the country where CAI has long worked , income opportunities remain scarce . Lack of economic opportunity has left 40 % of GBAO ’ s population living in poverty , 17.2 % of whom live in extreme poverty ( 2017 ).
Women bear the brunt of this poverty . 1 High levels of out-migration by men ( primarily to Russia ) mean that women are often left behind to manage households and provide for their families ’ basic needs . 2 Because jobs in Tajikistan are strictly gendered , women face constraints on their ability to earn income and rise out of poverty . According to the Gender Gap Score , as of 2016 Tajikistan ranked 93rd out of 144 countries . As a result , women are unable to positively contribute to economic growth .
Gender-based inequality is the main cause of poverty among women , depriving them of their fundamental rights and opportunities for ensuring their own well-being . 3
1 Rogun HPP – Potential Resource for Building Human Capital ( 2018 ). World Bank Group . http :// pubdocs . worldbank . org / en / 624741547182513272 / Tajikistan-CEU-Fall-2018-FINAL . pdf
2 Tajikistan 2018 Country Economic Update ( Fall 2018 ). World Bank Group . http :// eca . unwomen . org / en / where-we-are / tajikistan . It ’ s estimated that 30 % of Tajik households have at least one member of the family who has migrated .
3 Lemon , E . Dependent on Remittances , Tajikistan ’ s Long-Term Prospects for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Remain Dim ( 2019 , November 14 ). Migration Policy Institute . https :// www . migrationpolicy . org / article / dependent-remittances-tajikistan-prospects-dim-economic-growth #:~: text = Migration % 20is % 20the % 20single % 20most , the % 20start % 20of % 20the % 20century .
FALL 2020 JOURNEY OF HOPE | 21