Supporters gather in Karachi, Pakistan to celebrate the British Asian Trust’s DWEE programme

Over the past three-years, the British Asian Trust have been delivering their Driving Women’s Economic Empowerment (DWEE) programme in Pakistan. With £2.2million in match funding from the UK government, the programme has supported over 7,000 women in urban and rural areas of Pakistan, equipping them with knowledge and skills to become financially independent.

For many women from undeserved communities in Pakistan, access to financial independence is limited. Literacy and employment rates, particularly in rural areas, are significantly lower for women than for men and this reduces women’s freedom to make their own choices in life.

Photograph: Women at their business training

Earlier this year, programme participants, partners and supporters came together at an event in Karachi to celebrate the programme’s success. The event was a chance for women to share their stories, such as how they have started their own businesses or gained employment, and are now able to provide for their families.

All women supported through the programme received tailored training and mentorship in areas such as dress making, stitching and graphic design, learning valuable skills to enable them to start their careers or launch their own businesses. This support has opened up new income opportunities while also strengthening their social and economic resilience with 5,000 women reporting an increase in their earnings. 4,000 women have also been contributing at least 10% of their household income, leaving them feeling empowered and valued, and able to make joint decisions on where household funds are spent.

While vocational skills training has been a core element, the programme goes far beyond that. By fostering strong market linkages, encouraging shifts in behaviour change and attitudes, and strengthening local ecosystems, the programme is creating meaningful and sustainable change.

Photograph: Women who have taken part in the project

Meet Sobia and Saba – women who became friends during their beautician course, and are now business partners.

Before joining the programme Sobia was a housewife. Although her husband is employed – he drives an auto-rickshaw  – the family were living on a single income which was hard. Sobia attended a beautician course and business development training to learn how to open a business, maintain a budget and manage expenses. She also attended soft skills training which focused on client communications and management. With tools and confidence gained, she and Saba opened their own beauty salon.

Now, Sobia has bought her husband a new auto-rickshaw, her children attend a better school and are eating well, and she and Saba are proud to say they have the freedom to make their own choices. “We gained confidence because of this and now have the freedom to do as we choose” – Sobia.

Photograph: Saba and Sobia in their salon

The DWEE programme is not only creating financial independence and economic resilience but is inspiring women to realise their potential. By learning from and supporting one another, they are creating a cycle of lasting opportunity and change, paving the way for a stronger, more inclusive future for women in Pakistan.

Watch this impact video to learn more about the programme and learn more about Sobia and Saba’s story.

In Pakistan, girls face significant barriers to accessing school and gaining an education. These barriers include accessibility, where schools are often far from home and require long and dangerous journeys, and inadequate and basic school infrastructure and learning resources. In this context, alternative models like community learning centres offer accessible, safe spaces for girls to learn closer to home.

Through their three-year UK Aid Match project ‘Empower Her’, READ Foundation have set up 120 community-based accelerated learning spaces (CBALS) within communities in two rural areas of Pakistan, to help support 3,600 girls to receive the education they deserve.

The CBALS are located in easily accessible areas for girls, such as local churches and community centres. Each building is named after influential women, including local role models who advocate for women’s empowerment, fostering a sense of pride and connection amongst the students and wider community. The CBALS are well-equipped with teaching materials, comfortable furniture, boundary walls for added safety, and washroom facilities with access to safe drinking water, creating a secure and supportive learning environment.

Photograph: A student stood next to one of the CBALS

So far, 120 female teachers have been recruited to teach at the CBALS and have received training from education specialists. This training includes capacity building on how to implement activity-based learning methodologies and approaches for accelerated learning, assessment techniques and lesson planning. Teachers and staff have also received in-depth safeguarding training to equip them with enhanced protocols and standards for safeguarding.

“I never realised earlier that there are different teaching methodologies that can maintain children’s interest in studies. By learning and adopting activity-based learning, my interest in teaching students, including my own children, has increased.” – CBALS teacher

In addition to improving girls’ access to education, the project is assisting the girls with obtaining birth certificates by connecting them and their families with the relevant authorities. Currently, 90% of girls in the CBALS do not have their birth certificate, and securing this document will enable them to have access to essential government health, education and nutrition programmes.

Community engagement is essential to the project’s long-term success, especially in promoting the importance of girls’ education. Several committees have been established such as a Village Education Committee, where male and female community members, government officials and project staff come together to raise awareness of the project. Community outreach initiatives, campaigns and workshops are also being conducted to challenge social perceptions and attitudes around girls’ education and to emphasise everyone’s role in empowering girls and strengthening their future.

Photograph: Girls learning in one of the CBALS

Looking forward, the project’s next steps include opening 14 schools, so that girls from the CBALS can transition to formal education with confidence.

For more about the project, take a look at READ Foundation’s project report.

Since 2022, UK Aid Match grant holder, the British Asian Trust have been delivering a three-year Driving Women’s Economic Empowerment (DWEE) programme in Pakistan. They secured £2million of match funding from the UK government to support women in urban and rural areas of Pakistan, equipping them with knowledge and skills to become financially independent.

On 18 January, supporters gathered at an event in London, hosted by Lord Tariq Ahmad of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO,) to celebrate the mid-way point of the project and look at the successes so far.

For many women in Pakistan, access to financial independence is limited. Literacy and employment rates, particularly in rural areas, are significantly lower for women than for men and this reduces women’s freedoms to make their own choices in life.

The British Asian Trust has been working to change this. Through their UK Aid Match programme, among many others, they have partnered with local disability organisation NOWPDP on a textile training programme, which creates opportunity for vulnerable women to earn their own income.  

Agnes was introduced to NOWPDP through a friend, and after contacting them they invited her to take part in their stitching course. At first, because of her disability, Agnes struggled to learn to stitch, but through training and support her skills improved and she now earns an income of her own.

“I now feel capable and independent. I don’t even ask my family for money anymore. I earn my income independently through my stitching business.”

Photo: Agnes stitching as part of the DWEE programme

Through the DWEE programme, close to 5,000 women like Agnes have participated in vocational, technical and entrepreneurial trainings, building life-changing skills to support increased economic independence. Over 2,800 women have secured jobs and internships in trades including dress making, stitching and graphic design. Because of this training and support, thousands of women now have the confidence and skills they need to be financially independent and support their families.

Photo: Women from the DWEE programme

Watch this impact video on YouTube to learn more about the programme.