The U.

S.

Department of State seeks proposals from a consortium of qualified organizations for sustainable pilot projects that focus on all of the following key objectives:
- Increase Sustainability of Women™s

credit:

Protection Centers:
Partner with women™s shelters to develop and pilot income-generating market-driven initiatives to increase the sustainability of shelter operations.

(Particular attention should be paid to ensuring the confidentiality and safety of shelter beneficiaries in the development of these initiatives.) - Build Leadership Skills:
Improve the ability of women and girls in shelters to successfully navigate and reintegrate into Afghan society through mentoring, educational opportunities (commensurate with education levels), and training focused on fostering self-confidence, including financial literacy.

- Increase Economic Independence of Shelter Beneficiaries:
Increase and improve opportunities for income generation or employment for shelter beneficiaries, including but not limited to the service sector, by providing on-the-job training, vocational skills, internships, mentoring, and practical career-building skills that enable them to engage in economic activity with competitive and practical skills, reflecting cultural and market conditions.

Special consideration will also be given to programs that:
1) align with Afghanistans policies to prevent and respond to gender-based violence; and 2) develop partnerships between local organizations currently operating women™s shelters and relevant stakeholders through the public and private sector that could provide apprenticeships or job opportunities commensurate with vocational skills training.