Facebook launches #SheMeansBusiness program in Pakistan
At the launch of the program in Lahore Beth Ann Lim the Head of Community Affairs at Facecbook Asia Pacific said, “The flexibility offered by digital technologies is enabling a new generation of women entrepreneurs around the world to make positive contributions to their families and communities. However, women still face a number of obstacles such as a lack of funding and networks that can help them grow and scale. With this partnership, we want to nurture current and future generations of Pakistani women business leaders by providing access to a series of workshops and online learning tools,” The Future of Business Report – a collaboration between Facebook, the World Bank and the OECD – noted that female entrepreneurs in Pakistan face significant funding challenges. Less than 1 in 5 report that they currently have a bank loan or a line of credit. 3 in 4 of these women shared that social media helps in growing their brand. Dr. Faaiza Amjad, President of the WCCI also said that social media such as Facebook does serve to be extremely beneficial for the entrepreneurs and stated that, “When women are successful in business, it drives social growth too: more women are employed, more diverse role models are created and there is stronger diversity. Successful female entrepreneurs invest in their communities and in educating children.Through our partnership with #shemeansbusiness, we will be able to help equip Pakistan’s women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, connections, skills and technology required to build and grow their businesses online,”
Importance of female entrepreneurs
A number of studies carried out by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, OECD and the World Bank confirm that harnessing the economic potential of women promotes substantial socioeconomic gains. According to a recent study by the Clinton Global Initiative published on the United Nations Economic and Social Council site, when women work they invest 90 per cent of their income back into their families, compared with 35 per cent for men. Run in collaboration with business leaders, civil society, NGOs and the public sector, #SheMeansBusiness is active in 21 countries around the world, including Pakistan. It has trained more than 130,000 women in digital skills across Asia Pacific and reached over 130,000 online through the #SheMeansBusiness resource hub. Suggested Reading: Tariq App Allows You To Keep Track of Your Companions During Hajj.
