The United States announced this week the launch of a 200 million dollar program to boost the role of women in Afghan society.br br The funding by the U.S. Agency for International Development is the largest gender-focused investment by the agency in any country.br br The program, known as "Promote", intends to help women between the ages of 18 and 30 build skills to find jobs, to support women entrepreneurs and provide training to women who want a role in policymaking.br br Brigadier General Heinz Feldmann in Kabul was made available to Reuters by the Pentagon.br br (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRIGADIER GENERAL HEINZ FELDMANN, SAYING:br br "These programs work on the ground, and they will be successful in the end. And I personally do hope that the international community is able to raise more funds to be able to push these kinds of programs further out.