A programme to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship in Pakistan was launched by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan on Monday.
Almost thirty trainers from twelve HEC universities and other development organisations were trained over two weeks on ILO’s globally recognised module, titled “Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB)”, augmented by training on gender dimensions of entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at the HEC building, ILO Country Director Francesco d’Ovidio emphasised the contribution women make to the economy, especially millions of women involved in small and medium enterprises. “The ILO recognises these enterprises as engines of growth and employment, especially in developing economies like Pakistan’s where jobs in the formal sector are limited.”
HEC Chairman Mukhtar Ahmad, while signing a formal agreement of support between the ILO and HEC, thanked the ILO for their support in strengthening their business incubation centres all around Pakistan with gender-mainstreamed business development expertise.
“The trainers that have been trained in SIYB and gender and entrepreneurship will now replicate this training in their own institutes’ business incubation centres. This way they will reach hundreds of women and men and help them bring their creative business ideas into reality,” said Ahmed.
The participants included teachers from universities across the country, including Malakand, Quetta, Sukkur, Lahore and Karachi, also shared their experiences with the audience and praised the participatory training sessions.
Receiving her certificate for successfully completing the SIYB training, a trainee from University of Engineering and Technology, Saima, said “This has been one of the most unique learning experiences of my life. I had several business ideas but didn’t know how to implement them. Thanks to this training I can now put my plans into action due to the skills that I have received.”
Another participant, Shah Muhammad from Balochistan University, said “The trainer kept the retention rate high. It was practical and interactive and we got the chance to deliver individual learning sessions to improve our training techniques.”
The SIYB training was delivered by Gemunu Wijesena, senior master trainer at SIYB Association of Sri Lanka. He was hopeful that the programme would be rolled out successfully as the trainers were all well-qualified professionals committed to making business centres the hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship in their areas. “There will be a second workshop in January next year where I will return to see how the roll-out is progressing and understand some of the challenges and successes.”
Shahnaz Kapadia, a renowned expert on gender and business development, who was the trainer for the gender and entrepreneurship sessions, was hopeful that a well-planned replication and outreach strategy, with an overt focus on women, “will change the entire landscape of entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2014.
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