TARANGO, Bangladesh

TARANGO (A Women’s Development Organization) is a non-profit, national level, voluntary development organization based in Bangladesh. TARANGO is one of the prominent social businesses that has introduced the fair-trade approaches to the labour market. Since its inception in 1989, the main vision of the organization is to bring women’s empowerment in Bangladeshi society. TARANGO has experience in different fields of development including women’s economic empowerment, supporting establishment of fair-trade handicrafts businesses, implementing economic empowerment projects, conducting alternative business opportunities studies and market research, developing training modules and materials, MSME development and capacity building of facilitators. TARANGO’s business model has worked well even beyond Bangladesh in different NGOs in Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Kaweyan Business Development Services, Afghanistan

Kaweyan Business Development Services (KBDS) is the first Afghan women-owned business development and consultancy firm. The business was founded in 2004 by Kamila Sidiqi who has a strong belief that business and entrepreneurship is a lasting solution for the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan. Ms. Sidiqi started this company from a small, shared office in Kabul with one laptop and a determination to succeed. KBDS has come a long way since then and has provided entrepreneurship and business trainings and consultancy services to over 10,000 individuals in 34 provinces of Afghanistan since its inception. KBDS aims to identify and address developmental gaps in the private sector and provide targeted capacity development, private sector and policy recommendations for the strengthening of the sector, especially for other women-owned enterprises.

Parneyan Training Center and Rehabilitation Organization, Afghanistan

Parneyan Training Centre & Rehabilitation Organization (PTCRO) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit public welfare organization. PTCRO was officially established and registered in 2003 with the Ministry of Economy in Afghanistan. The organization has been active for nearly two decades, with the sole objective of contributing to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. It has implemented over 20 humanitarian programs in Afghanistan. Currently, PTCRO is a member organization of various networks and associations active in Afghanistan, including the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR), Afghan Women’s Network (AWN), Afghan Women’s Educational Center (AWEC), etc. Considering the current economic and social crisis in Afghanistan- post 15th August 2021, PTCRO is focused on playing a helping role in supporting humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, and improving access to health services, education and livelihoods support through vocational training, on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs.

Afghan Silent Women Connected, Afghanistan and United Kingdom

Afghan Silent Women Connected (ASWC) is a network created by Kamila Sidiqi in 2021. She based this network concept on her practical experience during the first Taliban regime; then, like now, many young and talented women and girls found the doors of personal growth and development closed to them. A number of established women entrepreneurs and activists have already left the country in 2021 and there are no opportunities for the next generation of promising young women to realize their true potential. Kamila believes that with the right mentoring and guidance, women can grow and achieve success even within the constraints that have been imposed on them. ASWC is a group of like-minded Afghan women who have come together to support and promote the hidden capacity and confidence of marginalized Afghan women and girls who have been left behind in Afghanistan and have no opportunity for attaining economic independence. ASWC seeks to connect with, mentor, and empower these women and girls and enable them to actively participate in civic activism and entrepreneurship. The network now connects nearly 300 women throughout Afghanistan.