ISLAMABAD – JULY 31, 2023: Jazz, Pakistan’s largest digital operator, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan and implementation partners School of Leadership Foundation (SOLF), has launched the WISE (Women Initiative In Social Entrepreneurship) initiative to promote women-led social innovation in the country. Originally launched in 2020 by the name of SDG Bootcamp with a funding agreement worth USD 400,000, the program aimed to promote social innovation by Pakistani youth and women.

Focused on empowering and uplifting women from rural areas, unlocking opportunities for them, and fostering sustainable development, the WISE initiative aims to conduct 12 bootcamps of 4 days each to train 400 women across 9 cities of Pakistan. The program’s first cycle, called SDG Bootcamp, engaged 402 participants, 40% of them being women entrepreneurs, with 65 of the 201 social enterprises being led by women. The solutions addressed climate action, health, and digital transformation.

“WISE is aimed at empowering Pakistani women by creating opportunities for financial and digital inclusion for the women and youth,” said Aamir Ibrahim, CEO Jazz. “This outcome resonates well with Jazz’s purpose of improving the lives and livelihoods of women in Pakistan through technology. We hope that women-led businesses in WISE will address unique challenges and create innovative solutions that positively impact their communities and beyond.”

“Promoting entrepreneurship among women in developing countries like Pakistan is crucial because it empowers them to break socio-economic barriers, fostering gender equality and driving sustainable economic growth from the grassroots level,” said UNDP Resident Representative Alvaro Rodriguez. “Building on the success of the SDG Bootcamp initiative, WISE is expected to be a game changer in contributing towards achieving Pakistan’s SDG goals, bringing growth and sustainability to the country.”

“We firmly believe that this collaborative initiative between Jazz and UNDP Pakistan will serve as a catalyst for the much-needed transformative change in the country,” said Mariyam Irfan, Managing Director, SOLF. “It will empower women from rural areas throughout the country, enabling them to become influential agents of change and contribute to the overall growth and development of the nation.”
Aspiring social entrepreneurs across Pakistan can apply for registrations here. Emphasizing innovation, WISE (Women Initiative In Social Entrepreneurship) seeks enterprises that address at least one of the country’s development challenges and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Selected applicants with the most promising social venture ideas will receive seed funding to kick-start their initiatives.