Project Facts
About the Project
Building on the suite of previous women’s empowerment activities implemented by USAID in Afghanistan, the Women’s Scholarship Endowment (WSE) Activity (formerly Promote Scholarship Endowment – PSE) aims to assist Afghan women to obtain a university education in a field of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM). This education will help them overcome barriers to employment, raise their income level, and develop leadership roles within their families, communities, and public and private sector organizations. Below are the primary objectives of WSE:
- Develop and implement a scholarship program (the WSE Program) for Afghan women to receive an education in a STEM field, either at a local or regional university of their choice.
- Strengthen the management capacity of our partner Afghan University to take over management of the WSE Scholarship Program.
- Provide WSE beneficiaries with career development, guidance, and leadership training to better prepare them to enter the workforce in their chosen field of study.
The WSE development hypothesis states by overcoming the economic barriers related to pursuing a university degree in a STEM field, more women will gain employment as professionals in the public and private sector in Afghanistan. Although employment and leadership opportunities for women in Afghanistan are currently limited under Taliban rule, AgriLife’s hope is that WSE scholars will be prepared to take their places in leadership positions when the opportunity arises.
