Producing high-end clothes, shirts and Jackets by Afghan Women

The Government of Afghanistan wants to ensure implementation of subprojects under the Citizens’ Charter National Priority Program in urban areas through community development councils (CDCs) and Gozar Assemblies (GAs). The core aim of implementing projects through the communities is enhancing capacities of the citizens in areas of project implementation and procurement procedures. It will enable them to implement project by their own, without or with the minimum support of others. In cities under this program, the nature of projects includes but are not limited to 1). street upgrading and drainage, 2). solid waste management, 3). provision of potable water, 4) household numbering, 5). park/recreation area/playground for children and women, 6). lighting/electricity and 7). women’s livelihood projects. Under the electricity provisions, it also includes “extension and installation of electrical transformers along with lights installation”. All these projects are deemed as a step towards improving infrastructures for the communities through the communities by themselves for improving their quality of life, creating jobs and ultimately resulting into economic development.  

Here, we have captured a story of Ms. Jafari who runs a training center funded by the Citizens’ Charter Program in Herat city.  This training center has two branches: training and production. Two instructors Ms. Jowhar Mohammadi and Ms. Fatima Mohammadi have been employed for training around 80 trainees. The training cycle is very unique where students are put in primary, middle and advanced categories. Those in primary and middle class are getting theoretical and some practical training, using the extra fabrics available in the center. The middle class students are working on some samples in their practical work, while the advanced class are working in production department under the supervision of the instructors. At present, there are 18 students who have made their way to the production department.

Production capacity of the center is getting higher with an increase in demands in the local market. Based on our investigation, the total costs of the center in terms of salaries and other operations reaches to AFN 35,000 on monthly basis. They have stroked an agreement with local traders who provides raw materials and agreed on a wage for each brand. In an agreement with them, the pay for each jacket is AFN 100 and AFN 30 for each shirt. Having a huge demand of their brand in the locality, currently they have an offer of 10,000 pieces of shirts to be used by women and 2000 jackets for men. They have daily production capacity of making 150 shirts and 35 jackets respectively, thus earning AFN 4,500 and AFN 3,500 on daily basis. The center has become popular in the area and they have received additional offer of 8000 shirts pending for approval with the center. Given their expenditure records, their net income reach to AFN 174,000 per month which can help them expand their businesses to the adjacent areas. In a sum-up, such projects are sustainable and more attention shall be given to these type of income generating projects.

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