Program for Afghan Businesspeople Announced Today
MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ — Bpeace (The Business Council for Peace) today announced a new program for women and men in Mazar-i-Sharif and the Balkh Province who are committed to creating jobs for other Afghans, and who need technical assistance to grow their businesses.
Entrepreneurs accepted into the three-year Bpeace program will receive:
- Business skills training in Mazar and technical assistance at their places of business in finance, marketing, customer service, and staff recruitment and management.
- Most importantly, Bpeace will connect each entrepreneur with U.S. business professionals who will provide technical guidance in industries important to the economic development of Balkh.
“After working in Afghanistan for five years, we are focusing our program in Mazar and the Balkh province because we see the energy and commitment among the women and men in this area to build peace,” said Toni Maloney, co-founder and CEO of Bpeace. “Businesspeople who have a vision to move Afghanistan to greater prosperity will find a proven ally in Bpeace. We will work side by side with the best entrepreneurs in Mazar and Balkh, understanding their businesses, solving problems, linking them to other organizations and resources and collaborating with them on ideas to increase employment. In our experience, the most successful Afghans are those who understand that growing a business is a full-time job, and that making a profit sustains the business and the community.”
To date, Bpeace has delivered its innovative business and workforce development services solely to Afghan businesswomen. For the first time, Bpeace will accept a limited number of men into its program if they operate businesses that employ women or provide services to women.
Eligibility requirements are:
- Female or male businesspeople between 21 and 35 years of age.
- Afghan citizens who live in the Balkh Province.
- Already operate a business or desire to start a business.
- Are willing to devote at least 10 hours a month for six months to work with the Bpeace program and 5 hours a month for 18 months thereafter.
HOW TO APPLY
- Download an application at: www.bpeace.org/mazar
- Complete application in English.
- Email completed applications to mazar@bpeace.org by January 15, 2010.
- Applications submitted after January 15th will not be considered.
Partners in this program (list in formation)
Partial funding for this program comes from the U.S. Department of State’s
Office of Citizen Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Afghan and U.S. organizations who will be promoting this program in order to attract applicants are: U.S. Embassy in Kabul; AWBF (Afghan Women Business Federation), Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs, GTZ, Radio Rabea Balkhi (RRB), ASGP (U.S. ambassador small grants project), Balkh BDS, Kanoon Banoowan Sabz, ACCI (Mazar Chamber of Commerce), Peace Dividend Trust, Thunderbird School of Management’s Project Artemis.
JUDGING CRITERIA
For Bpeace, the ideal applicant is one who knows the meaning of financial sustainability and who runs a business, or has a business idea, with the potential to create jobs. Applications will be reviewed by professionals in both Afghanistan and the U.S.A. on three criteria:
- Community. The business or business idea will generate significant job creation, provide opportunity for workers to gain new skills, and give back to the community.
- Business viability. The business is currently relevant in Mazar and Afghanistan and will be in the future. For example, the applicant has researched the market and knows there is demand for the product or service.
- Leadership. Applicant is a leader and role model for other young Afghans and committed to helping the community.
About Bpeace
Bpeace is a non-profit organization of U.S. volunteer business professionals.
- Bpeace will assist 30 female and male business owners create 1,000 jobs in Balkh over the next two-three years.
- Bpeace delivers business skills to motivated Afghan businesspeople.
- Bpeace does not provide grants or cash.
Since 2004, Bpeace has helped Afghan businesswomen create more than 1,400 jobs supporting more than 12,000 Afghan family members.
For More Information:
Email: mazar@bpeace.org
Mazar program website: www.bpeace.org/mazar
SOURCE Bpeace