Digital acceleration of youth-led microenterprises in Pakistan

Why this is important 

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters in Pakistan, the need for digital capacity and solutions to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and increase their resilience has never been more acute. These instances majorly impacted small and medium enterprises in Pakistan (particularly those led by women) and highlighted a huge necessity and opportunity for digital solutions across the economy.   

Moreover, the pandemic particularly also catalysed significant growth in digital access and use by businesses to operate, presenting an opportunity for micro and home-based entrepreneurs to access new or previously unavailable markets.  

Enterprise growth, particularly of women-led enterprises, has a multiplier effect by creating jobs and increasing incomes of employees and suppliers. In these changing times, it is essential to be innovative in enterprise incubation and digital-first solutions to enable young entrepreneurs to grow their enterprises through a specialised package of enterprise and digital marketing skills training and support. Enabling the youth to build up the broad array of skills, knowledge, networks and resources needed to grow a viable enterprise. The project is supporting women to overcome specific barriers they face that prevent their participation in economic activity, creating a more enabling environment for other women in their community as well. Increased individual incomes will also lead to an increase in household income and, thereby, increased capacity to access education and health care for them and their families.