The Rising Afghan Women Leaders Initiative of the U.S.- Afghan Women’s Council

The Rising Afghan Women Leaders Initiative (RAWLI) recently was launched by the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council (USAWC) of Georgetown University at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service campus in Doha, Qatar. This initiative was designed under the auspices of the Georgetown Leadership Academy to advance a core pillar of the USAWC’S mission to promote substantive and practical leadership development for Afghan women. The RAWLI program was offered to 22 Afghan women leaders and six Georgetown University students from diverse fields to support the development of their personal and professional leadership skills.

Under the direction of Dr. Phyllis Magrab and Ellen Kagen of Georgetown University, RAWLI draws on their combined 34 years of leadership training experience and Dr. Magrab’s book The Leadership Equation. The group was welcomed by Georgetown SFS-Qatar Dean Dr. Gerd Nonneman. Fatema Gailani, President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, inspired the group as a featured speaker, remarking, “For me, these women are the security and the future of Afghanistan.”

RAWLI was realized through the generosity and steadfast commitment to Afghan women and children of Caroline Hudson Firestone; Abbott Laboratories; the Geraldine P. Waldorf Fund at Georgetown University’s Center for Child and Human Development; and many USAWC members and partners.

The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council (USAWC) is a public-private partnership housed at Georgetown University. Founded in 2002, the Council is co-chaired by President of Georgetown University John J. DeGioia, and U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell as well as by the Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Afghan Minister for Women Affairs. Laura Bush and Hillary R. Clinton serve as the Council’s Honorary Co-Chairs.

The mission of the USAWC is to convene committed and capable stakeholders; identify and mobilize public and private sector resources; and encourage dynamic and collaborative partnerships in support of Afghan women and children in the areas of education, health, economic empowerment, and leadership development.

USAWC Members are leaders in government, the private sector, academia, and philanthropy who undertake individual initiatives to advance the lives of Afghan women and children. The Council works to address areas of need identified by Afghan women, convening interested partners and brokering connections to build meaningful, sustainable platforms.