Since December 2007, UNOPS has supported the Government of Afghanistan in implementing the "Rural Accessibility Improvement Project" funded by the Swedish Agency for International Development (SIDA) to enhance year-round accessibility in Sar-i-pul and Samangan provinces.
Typically, employment on infrastructure projects are dominated by male workers but, this year, UNOPS and SIDA also hired 50 women to help chip stone for road gravelling.
Many of the 50 women are householders whose salary is the only income for their whole family.
Because of the tough winter, rehabilitating roads in Afghanistan is primarily done during the summer months, which means that the women will now have to wait for spring to come before they can work again.
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Contact:
Strategic Communication and Spokespersons Unit
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: 079 000 6121; +39 083 124 6121
http://unama.unmissions.org