QUETTA: The United Nations High Comm­ission for Refugees (UNHCR) and NAMA Women Advancement Estab­lishment of the United Arab Emirates have decided to work jointly for empowering the marginalised Afghan refugees and Pakistani women through skill development in Quetta.

Under a project, the UNHCR and NAMA, a Sharjah-based organisation, will support the semi-skilled refugees and Pakistani women artisans who will have an opportunity to polish their carpet-weaving skills and improve their income-generating capacity. The project is also supported by the IRTHI Contemporzan affiliate of NAMA.

The project — being implemented by the UNHCR’s partner Taraqee Foundation — will benefit 100 Afghan refugees and Pakistani women. These women will not only be trained but also be given monthly stipends to support their family while they are working.

The head of UNHCR’s sub-office in Quetta, Zephania Amuiri, praised the efforts of NAMA for helping empower women with a view to showcasing their work at the international level.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2020