Women / Mothers Entrepreneurship Program
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Across Pakistan and Beyond
In 2012, the World Bank initiated efforts to launch a Women Entrepreneurship Program in Pakistan by partnering with several leading institutions. After reviewing traditional entrepreneurship curricula, the World Bank sought a more innovative approach and was introduced to the Entrepreneurship Plus Model developed by Dr. Shahid Qureshi.
This model had already demonstrated remarkable success in various entrepreneurial programs such as Agriculture Entrepreneurship, Technology Entrepreneurship, and other business initiatives, with a startup success rate reaching as high as 60%. Based on these results, the World Bank chose the Entrepreneurship Plus Model as the foundation for the Women X Program.
This program uniquely combines the Effectuation Theory with local knowledge, wisdom, and values, offering a highly practical, hands-on approach to business growth. Over 300 women entrepreneurs, who had already initiated small ventures, participated in this rigorous four-month training program. The course placed a strong emphasis on gender-sensitized training, focusing on opportunity recognition, business modeling, resource management, and ethical sustainability.
Throughout the program, participants benefited from mentorship and networking opportunities that enriched their learning, allowing them to draw on the diverse socio-economic experiences of their peers. The course culminated in the creation of Business Growth Action Plans, empowering women to further develop their ventures sustainably.
Key Outcomes
- Over 1000 women entrepreneurs successfully trained across Pakistan.
- Significant improvements in business growth and sustainability for participants.
- Enhanced networking and mentorship opportunities fostering long-term collaboration.
- A unique entrepreneurial mindset focused on social, environmental, and ethical sustainability has been instilled in participants.
Program Benefits
- Comprehensive business skills training with a focus on growth strategies.
- Access to a diverse network of mentors and fellow entrepreneurs.
- Hands-on, practical learning through a combination of case studies, real-world applications, and networking.
- Certification upon successful completion of the program.
- Opportunities to engage in socially responsible and ethical business practices.