Strengthening ecosystems, one conversation at a time
By Bushra Amin, Project Officer (Pakistan), British Asian Trust
“When women thrive, communities prosper, but only when they have the means to turn ideas into action.” Kofi Annan.
For many women in Pakistan, the dream of starting a small business often meets a hard stop, not from lack of ambition or ideas, but from the lack of access to finance, networks, and opportunities. Yet, despite these barriers, women continue to carve out spaces for themselves in an entrepreneurial landscape that isn’t always built with them in mind.
To support this growing wave of entrepreneurs, the British Asian Trust’s Livelihoods team brought together women from our Thriving Futures programme, along with partners from the microfinance sector, the State Bank of Pakistan, and the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund, for a virtual roundtable in September 2025. The objective was clear: to exchange perspectives on the accessibility, suitability, and impact of existing microcredit schemes for women- and youth-led nano-enterprises.
What followed was an open and thoughtful discussion that reaffirms progress made and the existing barriers to financial inclusion. Entrepreneurs shared their experiences of navigating lending systems that are often complex and costly. Challenges such as high markups, extensive documentation and limited mentoring support post-loan acquisition came up throughout the conversation. Social constraints also remain a significant barrier, with women’s financial decisions continually influenced by household dynamics and reliance on male members to access institutional loans.
From the policy and institutional side, representatives from the State Bank of Pakistan and the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund highlighted ongoing efforts to expand subsidised lending, offer first-loss guarantees, and pilot schemes that could reduce borrowing costs for small enterprises. Our partners and practitioners underscored the importance of coupling financial products with capacity-building and mentoring support – particularly for women and youth nano-entrepreneurs.
Despite the many persistent challenges and barriers, the roundtable was marked by optimism. Practical ideas were shared: expanding community-based revolving funds, developing tailored lending products aligned with agricultural and home-based business cycles, and strengthening information flows about existing credit schemes. The discussion also emphasised the potential of digital finance to reach underserved entrepreneurs and the need for more sustained collaboration between financial institutions, NGOs, and entrepreneur networks.
While the session was online, it felt connected and collaborative. There was a shared recognition that improving access to finance is not a single-actor effort; it requires coordination across the ecosystem and a continuous exchange between grassroots realities and institutional priorities.
This conversation is part of a larger journey. Over the next three years, through the Thriving Futures programme, supported by the Standard Chartered Foundation and implemented by Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and Shirakat-Partnership for Development, our focus remains on enabling enterprise growth for women and youth-led businesses. Strengthening the ecosystem through advocacy, learning, and collaboration will be central to this effort.
The roundtable sets an important tone for us on what comes next: building a stronger, more inclusive financial landscape that supports lasting, practical change for women and youth-led enterprises.