May 16, 2023, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia Änjali Kaur opened a skills training center for returned migrants and vulnerable groups of women wishing to attain new skills and take part in the country’s economy.
The center is a part of a USAID-funded grant to the civil society organization Yenme, which provides legal, social, medical, and psychological support and shelter for male and female victims of trafficking and returned migrants. The Turkish Airlines Office in Turkmenistan and the Ish Nokady Company contributed to this initiative.
The center will help returnees acquire new skills, earn money, re-integrate and restore their dignity and confidence.
The United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals recognize the critical relationship between skills development and migration. USAID, working in partnership with Turkmenistan, is promoting better employment opportunities, working conditions, safe migration, and skills development for migrants, especially women. This has been especially important in the challenging post-pandemic period as migrants seek employment. Programs like this bring significant benefits to migrants and their communities through the transfer of skills and financial investments.
USAID’s efforts will empower the trainees of the center by strengthening their soft skills in preparation for gaining employment in the garment and textile sectors. The center also provides information about safe migration. Trainees will also receive support from Yenme to access job opportunities with employers and businesses based in Ashgabat and other regions, helping to ensure the retention of trained and skilled workers in the country.
Addressing the participants, Ms. Änjali Kaur noted that “Yenme and civil society organizations will remain USAID’s trusted partners in making migration safer for all migrants. USAID welcomes new private sector partners who want to support these efforts, so that they can be replicated countrywide. I am convinced that by working hand in hand with the Government of Turkmenistan, civil society, private companies and other partners, we are contributing to sustainable and equitable economic growth in Turkmenistan and in the region, while also safeguarding the rights of migrants.”
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USAID’s Safe Migration in Central Asia activity is implemented by Winrock International in five Central Asian countries. USAID works in close cooperation with local governments, civil society, and the private sector to improve migration practices and prevent exploitation. More information is available on USAID/Central Asia’s website: https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional/fact-sheets/safe-migration-central-asia.
For additional information, please contact Sultan Khudaibergenov, Communications Officer for USAID’s Safe Migration in Central Asia, at +77028450527 or Sultan.Khydaibergenov@winrock.org.
