Kashf Foundation and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) have highlighted the impact of their decade-long partnership in promoting women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth across Pakistan. Through a combination of microfinance, financial literacy, business development training and community engagement, the collaboration has supported women-led enterprises and helped strengthen economic opportunities for households across the country. The partnership has reached more than 1.6 million people in 63 districts across all four provinces, demonstrating how combining financial access with practical skills and community support can improve women’s participation in economic activity.
The initiative was developed around the understanding that access to credit alone is not sufficient to address the challenges faced by women operating small businesses. Many women entrepreneurs manage enterprises without formal financial education, business management knowledge or the support systems required to expand their activities. Kashf Foundation and Global Affairs Canada therefore adopted an integrated approach that combines financing with training and wider community engagement, enabling women to make informed financial decisions and manage their businesses more effectively.
As part of the partnership, approximately 1.4 million women received support through financial literacy programmes, structured financial education and business development training. These initiatives focused on improving participants’ understanding of money management, business operations, financial planning and decision-making. The training was intended to help women use available financing more effectively, strengthen their enterprises and improve their ability to generate sustainable incomes.
An independent third-party impact assessment examined 2,596 households across 14 districts to evaluate the contribution of training to women’s economic outcomes. The findings indicated that women who received microloans alongside financial management training increased their incomes by 17 percent more than borrowers who did not receive training. They also accumulated 34 percent more savings, highlighting the role of financial education in helping borrowers manage their earnings and build greater financial security.
The assessment also identified stronger results among women who completed business acceleration training. These participants earned 26 percent more than women who received loans without additional training. The findings suggest that combining access to credit with business development skills can improve the financial performance of women-led enterprises. For households operating on limited incomes, higher earnings and increased savings can contribute to greater stability and provide additional resources for business activities and household requirements.
Beyond income growth, the programme also sought to strengthen women’s control over financial decisions and business operations. Following business acceleration training, more than one-third of participants reported that they independently decided where and how to save their money, while 33 percent said they were managing their businesses independently. These outcomes indicate progress in strengthening women’s financial decision-making and their ability to take greater responsibility for business management.
The impact assessment also recorded changes within households. Approximately 94.5 percent of surveyed clients reported greater participation of women in household decision-making, while 83.4 percent said their families supported their businesses. These findings highlight the importance of family involvement in enabling women to participate more actively in economic activities and manage their enterprises. The partnership extended its activities beyond financial training by addressing social and household factors that can influence women’s economic opportunities.
Community engagement formed another part of the programme. Maternal and reproductive health training was provided to women, men and mothers-in-law, while gender-related training involved both men and women. Social theatre activities also contributed to discussions around gender roles, with 88 percent of men reporting changes in their views following participation. Television dramas addressing family planning, girls’ education and cybercrime further expanded the programme’s outreach, with each production reaching an average audience of more than 120 million viewers.
Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tarik Ali Khan, said Kashf Foundation had consistently approached women’s economic empowerment as an issue involving the entire household. He noted that Global Affairs Canada was proud to support an approach demonstrating how economic opportunities, skills development and changes in social attitudes can work together. Harriet Roos, Head of Cooperation at the High Commission of Canada, also emphasized that sustained commitment is essential for achieving lasting improvements. She highlighted the importance of investing not only in women’s access to finance but also in the skills, relationships and support systems needed to make effective use of those opportunities.
Kashf Foundation Founder and Managing Director Roshaneh Zafar said the partnership was established ten years ago with the support of Global Affairs Canada to demonstrate how women’s economic advancement could benefit families, communities and the wider economy. She said the results had established the impact of the approach and emphasized the need for policymakers and businesses to expand similar initiatives.
Founded in 1996 with an initial group of five clients, Kashf Foundation has grown into an organization serving 1.2 million active clients across Pakistan. The partnership’s findings provide a model for financial institutions, development organizations and policymakers seeking to improve women’s economic participation. By combining microfinance with financial education, business development and community support, the initiative demonstrates how coordinated interventions can strengthen women’s independence, improve household financial conditions and support more sustainable economic growth across Pakistan.
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