Belink Academy started working in Afghanistan sinds 2014. The main focus has been in the field of human rights, women empowerment, food security and water management. In the past years Belink has deployed more than 10 tailor made projects. Currently Belink is working on three projects in cooperation with Hamida Barmaki Organisation for Rule of Law and Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Jalal Foundation. Here under a list of the projects deployed:
Jalal Foundation: Training the Trainers on Gender Awareness and UN Resolution 1325, Women’s Rights and Gender Equality.
- In 2019 and 2020, BE Link provided several tailor-made training courses for staff of Jalal Foundation and human rights activists in Afghanistan to enhance their capacity with regard to UN Resolution 1325.
- Jalal Foundation aims to improve the lives of Afghan women by facilitating a meaningful participation in national reconstruction and peacebuilding and promoting the enjoyment of their human rights.
- We organised several courses on human rights concepts, UN Resolution 1325 and law enforcement. We enabled the participants to use their knowledge to further develop Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on UN Resolution 1325. The results were also presented to the Afghan parliament.
Training the Trainers on governance and the rule of law for community leaders
- In 2016 and 2017, BE Link and its consortium partner WO=MEN, organised several tailor-made courses for the Jalal Foundation. This training was a follow-up of the 2015 training we organised.
- According to the Jalal Foundation, over the past 15 years Afghanistan has succeeded in re-establishing a legal framework and institutions that are supposed to promote the rule of law. However, many efforts have been largely meaningless due to persistent strong traditions, lack of capacity, lack of political will among implementers and, finally, a lack of awareness of the applicable laws.
- By ‘Training the Trainers’, our training aimed to train the elders and community leaders on how to embrace and promote the rule of law in their areas of influence as communicators of the rule of law. This will enable them to address legal issues from a legal rather than traditional perspective. The trainees were trained in approaches, best practices and challenges of the rule of law. In addition, our courses included stakeholder analyses and lobbying and networking activities.
Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan (EPAA)
- In consortium with TPG Academy, BE Link implemented a tailor-made training project to strengthen the management and operational capacity of the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan (EPAA), an executive agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. EPAA aims to enable better communication between the public and private sector and to assist in getting better market access for Afghan products into the international market.
- The training focused on five different areas: leadership skills, research methodology, facility management, marketing strategies and Information Management System (IMS). The training was completed in October 2014. The training enabled EPAA to reorganise its internal structure and work more efficiently and effectively.
Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI)
- The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) is an independent organisation that meets the advocacy and business facilitation needs for the burgeoning private sector in Afghanistan. The Chamber represents over 90% of the total Afghan workforce.
- We initiated and developed a training programme for the ACCI to improve its overall capacity. The focus areas of the training were: chamber of commerce best practices, business development, research methodology, lobbying and networking. The training was completed in September 2013. Our training enabled ACCI to implement best practices in their activities.
Sadat Institute of Higher Education (SIHE)
- SIHE is one of the largest private higher education institutes in northern Afghanistan. The institute serves a large community of young people by providing education and training. In 2013, the organisation asked BE Link and our partner organisation TPG Academy to train their staff on curriculum development, education management, and research and quality assurance. The training was completed in October 2014.
Belink Academy works in Palestine since 2016. In the past few years many capacity building projects has been deployed. Our focus area in Palestine is mainly in the field of food security, water management and women empowerment. We have excellent network in Palestine. Here some examples of our current and past projects:
Train of the Trainer on innovative solutions for the food security through circular water management
- Training on water management and agriculture
- Training on lobby & advocacy
- Strategic Development
Learning & development for a Sustainable future for refugees & host communities to promote co-existence and Socio-Economic Development (LSFR)
This training is established in cooperation with University of Twente, Yarmouk University and Amel Foundation. The training is funded by Nuffic under Orange Knowelegde Programme (OKP).
- The training took place from 24th May to 28th May 2021. The training has been organised in an hybrid form. 10 trainees from Yarmouk University were together in a location for facilitating the social contacts and interactions. The trainer provided the training online.
- The training on goal setting to Amel Foundation took place in May 2021. A five days training provided to the organisation to improve organisation processes. In addition to this Amel started working on new projects to increase revenue of the organisation.
- In October 2021 training in the field of social entrepreneurship provided. The trainees developed many real-life cases to deploy in the context or Jordan. Yarmouk University will for example design and develop a living lab to enbale students to develop innovative products for the need of the local market.
In 2022/2023 the following trainings will be provided:
- Training on curriculum development by University of Twente
- Training enagagement of the private sector by Belink Academy
- Training on pyschological issues by Belink Academy
- Training on set up of innocation lab (Edubox)
INCLUDE: towards more sustainable services and solutions to SRHR needs for youth and Refugees in Jordan
Belink Academy started in cooperation with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) the project entiteld ‘INCLUDE: towards more sustainable services and solutions to SRHR needs for youth and Refugees in Jordan’. The focus of this project is on Sexual Reproductive Health to improve the well-being of refugees and host communities. Belink Academy provides in 2022/2023 several trainings, mainly in the field of Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), stakeholder management and awareness campaign.
Soft skills trainings to empower refugees
In the Netherlands Belink Academy provides trainings in soft skill . We target mainly on new comers as we believe in an inclusive society where each individual counts. In the past few years we have trained more than 100 refugees in soft skills (e.g. self-confidence, assertive attitude, effective communication). The majority of trainees were enabled to find a job or follow a study.
SamenOndernemen
In close cooperation with Stichting Mano Belink Academy initiated in 2019 the trajectory SamenOndernemen. Belink trained new comers mainly on how to start their own businesses. In total we trained 12 entrepreneurs. This project continued in 2020 and we will start in 2021/2022 the next phase.
Rolmodel trajactory
Belink Academy, University of Twente, Connecting Hands and FC Twente joined forces to empower refugees as rolmodels. Belink Academy trained rolmodels in soft skills, coaching and trainers skills. The next phase of this project starts in 2022. As this project started as a pilot we will deploy this in many other muncipalities in the Netherlands.
Cooperation with International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Belink Aacademy as been assigned by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to mobilize highly qualified Afghan youth Diaspora for the capacity development of Afghanistan. These young professionals share their skills and experiences to enhance the specific needs of a public and private organization in Afghanistan. The duration of each assignment is up to 6 months. Project participants receive a financial support package, including travel and livings costs.
We are working currently on a project with our partner organisation Hollanddoor. In the upcoming years Belink provides trainings to Farmers Union Network of Liberia (FUN).
Sustainable Agribusiness Management
- Agrofood systems and supply chains
- Organization principals and best practices for producer cooperatives
- Access requirements for domestic and international markets
- Post-harvest and marketing
- Business management for cooperatives and for small-scale farmers
- Cooperatives model
- International best practices
Learning & development for a Sustainable future for refugees & host communities to promote co-existence and Socio-Economic Development (LSFR)
This training is established in cooperation with University of Twente, Yarmouk University and Amel Foundation (Lebanon). The training is funded by Nuffic under Orange Knowelegde Programme (OKP).
- The training took place from 24th May to 28th May 2021. The training has been organised in an hybrid form. 10 trainees from Yarmouk University were together in a location for facilitating the social contacts and interactions. The trainer provided the training online.
- The training on goal setting to Amel Foundation took place in May 2021. A five days training provided to the organisation to improve organisation processes. In addition to this Amel started working on new projects to increase revenue of the organisation.
- In October 2021 training in the field of social entrepreneurship provided. The trainees developed many real-life cases to deploy in the context or Jordan. Yarmouk University will for example design and develop a living lab to enbale students to develop innovative products for the need of the local market.
In 2022/2023 the following trainings will be provided:
- Training on curriculum development by University of Twente
- Training enagagement of the private sector by Belink Academy
- Training on pyschological issues by Belink Academy
- Training on set up of innocation lab (Edubox)
Training with University of Duhok and Center for Gender Equality
We recently started working in Iraq. It is a land of opportunities with great potential. Our first projects started with Center for Gender equality and University of Duhok. The training is entiteld: Train the trainers to institutionalise Gender Equality and to ensure that talents of girls & women flourish. In this training we will provide the upcocming years many training in the field of women empowerment, gender mainstreaming and organisational development.
Working in Yemen is challenging. Belink Academy has however good track record in Yemen. We have deployed many projects and build in the last 5 years an excellent network of organisations, experts and trainers. We conduct current two projects in Yemen in cooperation with Building Foundation for Development and Gusoor Foundation. In the addition to this we have three other projects in the pipline to start in 2022.
Tailor-made training on the rule of law, human rights and peacebuilding
- In 2020 and 2021 BE Link, together with consortium partner The Hague Academy, organised several tailor-made training courses for staff of Yemen Organization for Defending Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms (YODRDF). The courses aimed to increase their skills and knowledge with regard to conflict resolution, the rule of law, peacebuilding and stakeholder management.
- YODRDF has been operating in Yemen since 1993. It aims to enhance, support and defend the basic principles of human rights for all people, regardless of their race, gender or ethnicity. Due to the changing context in Yemen, the organisation has broadened its activities to include peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
- Among other outcomes, our courses resulted in a strategy for YODRDF and its partner on how to enable peace in a conflict country like Yemen.
Train the Trainers to effectively integrate, promote and facilitate Gender equality in Yemen
- Personal growth and development services, mentoring, workshops and career development programs such as fostering leadership
- Strengthening the position and the performance of female students in order to prevent early drop-out, empower female students and enhance the position of female graduates
