Pakistan Trade
Client: USAID
Year Completed: Ongoing
The World Economic Forum ranks Pakistan 127th out of 130 rated countries on key gender issues. For example, women’s participation in the workforce ranks 117th. These depressed rankings result, in part, from very low female literacy and primary education enrollment rates. They also reflect a society which limits women’s involvement in economic activity. Efforts to increase women’s roles in the trade sector must address sensitive and difficult matters of access, opportunity, and capacity.
As a subcontractor to Deloitte Consulting, IBI is implementing the gender component of the Empower Pakistan – Pakistan Trade task order. Our gender component seeks to fully understand the current situation regarding women’s export potential, ensure an enabling environment backed by sufficient political will to create real access and opportunity, and work with USAID and donor projects to provide the resources and skills that enable women to take advantage of those opportunities. The present modest support in the society for female participation in business creates a self-perception among women that they should not enter, or cannot succeed, in the business world. The opening of Pakistan’s export sector to greater female participation will require shifts in perception and practice in society and its institutions.
We are emphasizing the building of strong individual businesses and women-to-women business networks. We are enhancing the roles of women in male-owned trading firms. This assistance will provide the opportunity for women to learn the skills and build the confidence that may one day lead to the creation of their own enterprises.