About Us
Kashaf Foundation’s Groundbreaking Gender Bond: A Catalyst for Gender Equality in Pakistan A Focus Note on Kashf’s Financial Inclusion with a Purpose What happens when the power of capital meets the potential of female micro entrepreneurs? That’s what Kashaf Foundation’s latest Focus Note explores. A year after launching South Asia’s first gender bond, Kashaf is explaining how this PKR 2.5 billion bond can be more than a financial instrument. It can be a catalyst for change. It is being distributed by the foundation across PakistanWhat’s inside the Focus Note?This note provides data-driven analysis of how, historically, Kashaf has used its signature model of capacity building with financial instruments to grow thousands of women-led micro businesses. It highlights how targeted investments have helped these businesses address economic challenges, maintain profitability, and foster resilience.
You can easily get a loan from the comfort of your Home the Gender Bond is designed to finance women-led micro-businesses, support housing infrastructure for low-income women, and improve school facilities to increase access to quality education, especially for girls. You don’t need to go anywhere. You can get a loan from the comfort of your Home why now?Despite the global momentum towards sustainable investment, gender-labeled financial products still account for only USD 17 billion of the USD 40 trillion sustainable investment universe. The latest Global Gender Gap Report ranks Pakistan 142nd out of 146 countries in gender equality, with a dismal 34 percent gender wage gap and 75 percent of women living below the poverty line.
The Focus Note emphasizes the urgent need to shift investment to sustainable models that specifically target the informal sector. By focusing on micro-level actions, these targeted investments can drive meaningful, long-term change, creating sustainable impacts at the grassroots level.The Road Ahead over the next three years, Kashaf Foundation plans to:Scale up support for 1 million women Entrepreneurs strengthen educational access by training 3,000 school owners and 5,000 Teachers launch climate-resilient financial products tailored to women-led Households by investing in gender-sensitive financial products, Kashaf is not only closing the gap but also opening the door to sustainable, long-term change.Read how Gender Bond is creating lasting impact.
