DATES: January 2008 - January 2013

PARTNERS: United Nations Habitat

 

The LCEP-2 project aims to improve the livelihoods of urban and rural populations across 20 provinces of Afghanistan through an integrated literacy and productive skills program. All participants acquire core literacy skills through a specially designed six-month curriculum, and then have access to small loans through a network of 14,000 Self Help Groups, the majority of which are managed by highly motivated women.  LCEP-2 learners can opt for apprenticeship training or for learning practical skills linked to local market demands given by skilled mentors from the local communities.  Of the 15,000 young people who have participated in apprenticeships, at least 50% have already found employment.  LCEP-2 includes an innovative ‘Skills for Employment’ module for 20,000 profoundly disadvantaged young people that promotes the concept of active citizenship, and that provides training in budgeting, communications, new technology, healthy lifestyles and working with local authorities. To date LCEP-2 has enrolled more than 223,100 learners, 60% of whom are women.  Approximately 37% of LCEP-2 participants are from vulnerable communities that include internally displaced people, handicapped people, landless nomads, and women who run households on their own.