September 16, 2026 06:54 am (IST)
India, US to strengthen livelihoods of over 3000 Afghan women
New Delhi, May 8 (IBNS): The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Administrator Alfonso Lenhardt announced a new $1.5 million, three-year award to the Indian Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), the world's largest women's cooperative, with a membership exceeding 1.9 million.
SEWA will partner with government and civil society stakeholders in Afghanistan and India to train more than 3,000 Afghan women across five provinces in vocational skills including embroidery, garment stitching, food processing and jewelry making, as well as in leadership and marketing.
Making the announcement during his visit to SEWA’s Hansiba store in New Delhi this week, Acting Administrator Lenhardt said, “The strategic partnership among the U.S., Indian, and Afghan governments is a significant contribution to regional stability and prosperity. The empowerment of women and girls is essential for sustained peace and progress. By partnering with such an immensely talented and committed organization as SEWA, our three governments are helping thousands of Afghan women lead healthy and productive lives.”
U.S. Ambassador to India Richard R. Verma added, “A key goal of U.S. collaboration with India is to harness the strengths and capabilities of both countries to tackle development challenges around the world. Our partnership with SEWA to benefit Afghan women is a great example of the expanding India-U.S. global partnership.”
This new partnership builds on an earlier effort in which SEWA, USAID, and the Indian and Afghan governments collaborated to improve the economic and social condition of 150 Afghan women and their families. The initiative helped triple the average monthly income of the participants.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Jadavpur University tightens night entry: Students without legitimate reason after 8 PM to face action
Tue, Sep 15 2026
India flags 2 Pakistan-made fairness creams over excessive heavy metals; nationwide alert issued
Tue, Sep 15 2026
India dismisses Pakistan’s Masood Azhar bounty hike as ‘phoney announcement’, calls for concrete action
Tue, Sep 15 2026
Karnataka Congress chief calls Umar Khalid ‘nationalist’ amid NLSIU documentary row
Tue, Sep 15 2026
Gurugram biker hit by car: Two including main accused arrested after viral road rage video, attempt to murder case filed
Tue, Sep 15 2026
Anwar Ibrahim’s Bollywood moment at BRICS: Malaysian PM sings Kishore Kumar, then shares SRK-Kajol song with official Instagram post
Tue, Sep 15 2026
This BJP candidate got just 1 vote in Rajasthan civic polls — and it wasn't even his own!
Tue, Sep 15 2026
3 Italians board Delhi-Munich flight without immigration check, Air India under scanner
Mon, Sep 14 2026
