YES CENTRE – Youth Empowerment through Skills in Pakistan

 

 

 

 

Project Type: 
Development – Youth Employment through Skills training
Country: 
Pakistan
Region: 
District Multan, South Punjab, Punjab Province
Project Duration: 
Sunday, January 1, 2017 to Monday, December 31, 2018
Status: 
Completed
Donor(s): 
Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and Esprit (through YOU Foundation)
Project Description: 

Local Partners: Women Rights Association (WRA) and HOPE’87 Pakistan

The population of Pakistan is 186 million (Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan 2015). Due to the high birth rate Pakistan is facing a rapid population transition and it is estimated that Pakistan is standing on the sixth position in the list of most populated states. This uncontrolled increase in population growth creates enormous problems for the State relating to the provision of educational opportunities, food security, health care and other necessary parameter for a sustainable development.

Economic empowerment of youth, especially of girls and young women, with a particular scope of decent employment is the key way to confront gender-based discrimination and violence, a fact that HOPE’87 learnt during realization of several women-centred projects in different parts of Pakistan. To combat the trend of structural discrimination, HOPE’87 strives to increase the knowledge, skills, confidence and financial assets of youth, especially of girls and young women, by empowering them through developing their capacities and increasing their access to economic activities, as a substantial contribution to poverty reduction.

The project is designed to have three outcomes in terms of provision of a platform of dialogue and cooperation between non-state actors (Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Community Based Organisations (CBO), trade houses, retailers/wholesalers and women groups) and authorities at local/district and provincial level. The overall objective is to empower youth, especially girls and young women, by strengthening their skills and voices for economic self-reliance to take a leadership role in poverty alleviation initiatives in Pakistan.

The project would also focus on strengthening the capacity of 540 women collectively for developing and running income-generating projects in collaboration with CBOs through capacity building trainings and support for the growth of business ventures. It’s also anticipated, that at least 80% of these targeted 540 women (that is 430 young women) would enjoy increased financial security and economic resilience during the course of the project.

The project will bring the entirety of the public and private sector organizations, including the Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WCCI) of Multan, the Women Entrepreneurs Sub-committee of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), the Trader’s Association and Business Council and civil society’s organizations into the process of orientation, dialogue and consultation for the promotion and strengthening of small and medium businesses for women.

The specific project results are:

  • Enabled spaces of dialogue and cooperation between non state actors (CSOs, CBOs, trade houses, retailers/wholesalers and women groups) and authorities at local/district and provincial level.
  • Strengthened capacity of 430 young women collectively for developing and running income generating projects in collaboration with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) through trainings and support provided by the project.
  • 3; 430 young women enjoy increased financial security and economic resilience