Women Economic Development Initiative Punjab (WEDIP) & Kisan Ki Beti

According to some estimates, one billion women -- roughly one- seventh of the world’s population --are unable to achieve their full economic potential and ensure their own well-being, due to barriers to entering the workforce and engaging productively in the economy. Women face unique economic challenges and therefore require support which is responsive to their specific challenges and needs Women’s unequal access to/control of resources and economic opportunities, in addition to socio-political and economic contexts which discriminate against women, entrenches and sustains gender inequality. In order to mitigate such challenges for the rural area women in the 36 districts of Punjab, Pakistan, The Shahid Javed Burki Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) in collaboration with Community Development Foundation (CDF) launched a social initiative – Women Economic Development Initiative Punjab (WEDIP).

This initiative is aimed at identifying, creating opportunities and better businesses for women. WEDIP is also envisioned to create collaborations with other development partners to transform the economic choices available to women by providing them with the tools to build their own economic success. Some of the local development partners include CDF, AgriByt, CSDM, Paigham e Pakistan, and Layyah Chamber of Commerce and Investments. Following the same spirit of developing the women to join work force of Pakistan, BIPP has initiated a project on the same lines by the name of Kisan ki Beti under the banner of Khalid Sherdil Research & Development Program, which focuses on the welfare of the rural women in Punjab. This project aims to improve the living standards of rural women especially (KISAN KI BETI) through imparting skills & training, building business competencies, providing educational and entrepreneurial support.

This project will entail training 1500 rural women in Punjab, based on modern capacity building methodologies and regular monitoring to create socio-economic equity in work force, promote gender equality and inclusion in rural landscape, stimulate entrepreneurship for women, and create an environment of attaining self-actualization for women. The launch of this project took place on 14th August 2020 at BIPP.