MIDASMining Investment and Development for Afghan Sustainability

SMEs Assessment Results

Presenter: Nasrin Wahdat

MIDAS

The objective of the MIDAS project is to support and facilitate the development of the mining sector in Afghanistan

Three components:

1. Component I: Legal and Policy Framework

2. Component II: Capacity Building of the MoMP Employees

3. Component III: Private Sector Development

Component III

Focuses on the private sector development requirements which include fostering a strong enabling environment for SMEs to support the extractives sector. Under Component III a SME survey/assessment was administered to identify the existence and capacity of SMEs that are typically necessary to support the mining sector.

SME Survey Key Focus AreasSMEs included:

– Business Consulting/ Support Services – Construction– Geo-sciences– Transportation– Mining operations and community support services

The 270 interviewees were asked about their views on new opportunities and employment expansion related to the mining

sector

SME Survey Additional Areas of Focus

Also included:

– Gender assessment which identified the role of women in various SME functions

– SME accessibility to financing evaluated– Inquired on SME supporting mechanisms such as the availability

of business institutions such as Chambers of Commerce and typical business regulatory processes (such as if the business is registered)

This information was gathered to provide a project baseline and to identify strategic interventions that Component III would design and implement to

support a strong and robust Afghan mining sector

Survey Structure

Locations:

•Bamiyan – Hajigak – Iron Ore

•Badakhshan – Ragh – Faizabad & Baharak - Gold

•Sar-i-Pul – Balkhab – Copper

•Parwan Valley - Silver

•Ghazni – Zarakhshan – Copper and Gold

•Baghlan – Qara-Zaghan – Gold

•Herat – Shaida – Copper

•Helmand – Chaigi Hills – Gold and Copper

•Takhar – Samti – Gold

•Panjshir Valley – Silver

Survey Administration Details

– 9 Teams of 4 people of which 1 was a women

– On average there were 30 surveys in each location

– 270 survey in total analyzed

– Teams trained in Kabul and in the field

Key Findings Are….

Women are active typically in the areas of:

•Office management, administration and bookkeeping•Training•Health and Safety•Security guards •Cleaner

Women Face Numerous Problems and Challenges

• Security• Tradition • Culture• Pressure to conform• Lack of education • Lack of gender awareness

programs • Lack of leaders to support women

when they want to work

MIDAS Gender Strategy• MIDAS recognizes that mining is not a traditional sector for many women, however,

MIDAS will look for ways to encourage investors and partners to hire and train women where possible and to make working conditions acceptable and encouraging to women.

• MIDAS will explore the direct and indirect labor and SME services that are not directly mining but support mining operations. These ideas include office work in human resource management, accounting, procurement, data base and inventory management, as well as traditional roles in laundry services, catering, and cleaning.

• MIDAS will look for women with the desire to participate more fully and will work with businesses and partners to help advance women leaders when opportunities arise

Recommendations• Consult with women regionally to determine their areas of interest to

advance in mining (and SMEs) and the types of accommodations or support that might be needed.

• Provide specialized training and other inputs to companies on how to make their work places women friendly, and how to reach out to potential female employees.

• Address the problems that act as a deterrent to women’s inclusion in male dominated work places through awareness raising and development of solutions.

• Putting effort into upgrading women in jobs they already tend to do (health, safety, administration, finance).

THANK YOU!

Questions?