Pakistani Women Sustainable Entrepreneurs – Pakistan

Ladiesfund was established to provide financial security to women and train female entrepreneurs. It supports women seeking to establish or promote their environmentally friendly small businesses. This provides opportunities for women to take leadership roles in their communities, while helping to protect the environment.

Fast facts:

Multiple Ladiesfund Entrepreneurship Conferences held in Karachi, Pakistan;
More than 12,000 attendees of events over the past 5 years;
1,000 direct Pakistani women beneficiaries; 100,000 overall beneficiaries.

The problem

South Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change, while those most affected by a changing climate are the poor and women. In Pakistan, women have fewer business opportunities, as girls tend to receive less schooling than boys. Women who do run businesses in Pakistan often care about the environment, but may not have thought about how their business can make a contribution.

The solution

This activity facilitates training and networking platforms for female entrepreneurs. Simply outlining and spelling out options and opportunities for business owners is enough to get women engaged and eager to care for the environment. Various events are held throughout the year promoting continuity, incentive, recognition, and pride in achievement, as well as inspiration for other women-led businesses. The events lead to networking and open up more business opportunities, such as a partnership with Philips to promote energy-efficient light bulbs, to name one example.

Helping the planet

The model has produced measurable reductions in carbon footprints and energy waste on the part of women entrepreneurs. By promoting green and sustainable solutions, the project contributes to the protection and conservation of the environment.

Helping people

Every element of this project involves women in leadership roles: The organizers of Ladiesfund, its events, and community are all women. Startups have introduced climate change mitigation schemes, which will stimulate the local economy and improve the health of the population. The project empowers women to take on leadership role and make change for the good in their communities, and facilitates a greater role of women in the workforce.

Scaling up

The simple and practical model is scalable and can be replicated elsewhere in Pakistan or beyond. Future Ladiesfund conferences are intended for Islamabad, and later Dubai. Interest in this project has grown yearly and it has gained large partners, such as Philips. Moving forward, this initiative shall piggyback and partner with existing technologies, connecting it to and endorsing it within established networks.