Empowering Rural Women in Pakistan through Literacy and Micro-Credit

Women in CWS-supported project in Pakistan earn small incomes by making quilts and embroidering. Photo: CWS-Pakistan

Lower Sindh Rural Development Association (LSRDA)

Many women in rural Mirpurkhas District, Lower Sindh Province, Pakistan, live a life of extreme poverty, faced with food insecurity, lack of access to basic services (water and sanitation, health and education), persistent droughts, and gender inequality. And, they lack access to income-generating activities.

The Lower Sindh Rural Development Association (LSRDA), a CWS-Pakistan partner, is working with 750 women in Mirpurkhas-- women who are illiterate, without skills, and suffer from a lack of self-esteem.

Boys and goats
Children taking care of the goats their families received via the CWS-supported income-generation project. Photo: CWS-Pakistan

The micro-credit enterprise has organized the rural women into 25 self-help groups (SHGs) with 30 members each from 25 selected villages. The women learned various income-generating strategies and took part in literacy training (basic mathematical calculations and signature writing). In addition, they were exposed to leadership development exercises. At the end of training, they received goats, and loans to start their own businesses. LSDRA provides continuing business services to these first-time entrepreneurs through product quality control and linkage to the local market.

Among the program's signs of success: 150 well-established savings and credit groups in different villages in the lower Sindh area; an increase in income and savings levels for the participating villages, more goats and other livestock being raised by families, and increased literacy for women.

Your support of Church World Service helps make this program possible.

Updated 3/8/2007

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