Solutions Panorama
A collection of 100 programs, initiatives, and strategies that were shared at the Women Deliver 2016 Conference.
A collection of 100 programs, initiatives, and strategies that were shared at the Women Deliver 2016 Conference.
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Bringing Financial<br />
Services to Over<br />
One Million Pakistanis<br />
Featuring:<br />
Kashf Foundation<br />
Where:<br />
Pakistan<br />
Time Frame:<br />
1996 - Present<br />
DESCRIPTION<br />
In Pakistan, there is an enormous need for access to financing and lending, where local<br />
moneylenders can charge up to 350 percent in annual interest for access to credit. Kashf was<br />
one of the first microfinance lenders in Pakistan, and it aims to be a “one-stop financial services<br />
provider” for low-income women and their families. Kashf offers general lending, emergency,<br />
business and home improvement loans, as well as insurance products.<br />
Since 1999, Kashf’s microfinance work has focused on enhancing women’s role in improving the<br />
economic status of their families. Kashf provides women access to business loans to build their<br />
entrepreneurship capacity; delivers financial education trainings to improve women’s financial<br />
management skills; and provides micro-insurance services to reduce family level contingencies.<br />
The organization has branches in both rural and urban areas.<br />
Kashf’s vision is to serve all with dignity by providing quality and cost effective microfinance<br />
services to low income households. They strive to alleviate poverty and enable women to become<br />
active agents of social and economic change by building alliances, promoting linkages, and<br />
developing entrepreneurship.<br />
The institution<br />
has disbursed<br />
about<br />
US$270<br />
million to<br />
an estimated<br />
two million<br />
female<br />
clients.<br />
IMPACT<br />
Kashf currently operates over 150 branches across Pakistan. More than one million individuals<br />
and 306,000 families have accessed financial services through Kashf. To date, the institution has<br />
disbursed about US$270 million to an estimated two million women clients. Kashf has become one<br />
of the premier microfinance institutions in Pakistan and is ranked in the top quarter of the local<br />
and regional microfinance sector. Of clients who have been with Kashf for over four years, nearly<br />
two-thirds report an increase in savings over the last 12 months.<br />
LEARN MORE<br />
About the Kashf Foundation; acumen.org<br />
More About the Kashf Foundation; kashf.org<br />
Kashf Foundation Approved to post Kiva loans; kiva.org<br />
Source: Build Sustainable Financing and Partnerships for Girls and Women policy brief<br />
121<br />
WOMEN DELIVER 2016 CONFERENCE: SOLUTIONS PANORAMA
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