Purpose of This Presentation
• Share the context
• Touch on some of the key factors that
influence entrepreneurship
• Suggest a way forward for a broader policy
discussion
• Introduce Hashoo Foundation
• Share a case study … and hopefully finish
within the allotted time
The Context
Comments, ideas, views and suggestions are
being shared in an organizational capacity and
are based on Hashoo Foundation’s working
environment: the poorer and disfranchised
sections of urban and rural communities with a
clear focus on women and the youth.
Key Factors That Influence Scaling-up of
Entrepreneurship in Pakistan
• Awareness
– A huge difference between the rural and urban poor
– It becomes even more marked when education and gender are factored
in
– Many are unable to associate their work and livelihoods with
entrepreneurship
• Self Belief
– Lack of confidence
– Lack of role models
• Conducive Environment
– Theirs is a ‘put you down’ environment rather than one that encourages
and support
– Cultural and religious restrictions and taboos
– Security and access
Key Factors continued
• Access to Resources
– Technical
• Business plans, market research, basic product know-how business specific skills
and expertise
– Financial
• Lack of access to affordable financing; too much red tapism, unable to meet loan
requirements (savings, collateral, guarantors), burden of micro finance even before
ant returns are realized).
– Intellectual & Mentoring
• Lack of information on who else is doing what, Lack of access to role models and of
course mentors
• The Push
– No help the take that all important first step
Broader Policy Dialogue
There is a need for a strategic single forum
where:
Key players from public, private and development
sector along with international donors and
facilitating entities can come together and develop a
policy framework that would help ensure a more
conducive environment by creating synergies,
building capacity, promoting awareness, improving
access to technical and financial resources and
avoiding duplication.
Mission and Presence
Our Mission is to enable and empower communities to be
independent by facilitating equitable access to opportunities.
• HF is headquartered in Islamabad, Pakistan and registered
under Trust Act 1882
• It has two functional chapters: HF-USA, registered under
501(c) (3) of the US Internal Revenue Service; and HF-UK
registered with the Charity Commission in the UK
• The HF operations are overseen by a Board of Trustees.
Similarly both chapters have their own Board(s) of Directors
• HF Pakistan has program offices in Chitral, Gilgit & Rawalpindi
and project offices in Bagh, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Layyah &
Mansehra.
Our Core Programmatic Areas
Economic Development
Our programs in this area aim to
achieve greater financial
independence and self-reliance of
individuals, families & communities.
Partnering with communities at the
grass root level and exploring issues
of socio-economic development, we
seek to enhance the basic earning
capacity of the community partners
through value chain development,
thus improving access to existing
health, education, and nutrition
services.
Key Interventions
HF is working in three major areas of economic development:
1. Honey Bee Farming (Plan Bee)
2. Dairy Development
3. Marble Shine Associates (MSA)
Women’s Empowerment Through
Honeybee Farming: Plan Bee
Plan Bee was initiated by the Hashoo Foundation to
empower women in the remote areas of Northern
Pakistan by expanding employment opportunities and
generating a stable source of income through the sale of
high-quality honey.
Why This Project?
• We wanted to financially empower families to meet their
children’s education and health needs.
• There was a clear willingness within target communities.
• Flora and fauna were abundantly available and some women
had already received training in beekeeping from AKRSP
• Potential for women to adopt this as a cottage industry to
help their family
• Honey bee farming could be made culturally acceptable for
womenfolk
• As a business it was potentially profitable and viable
Achievements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
HF has provided honeybee farming training to 949 from GilgitBaltistan, Chitral and Mansehra.
24 of the 28 business groups HF established are sustainable.
Honey producers have sold over 50,000 Kg of honey through
HF’s “Mountain Honey” brand.
5000 Kg has been sold independently.
215 beekeepers working independently (i.e. two business
groups developed their own honey brand in Skardu)
There has been a 32% increase in average income per
participating household.
202 discontinued the honey business (i.e. primarily from Kalash
& Mansehra)
Our Clients
Access to Market
D. Dalton
Shaheen
Canteen Supply Department
Retail Market & Embassies and Ministries
Impact and Recognition
• With over 1,200 girls and boys having access to
quality education and 7,500 dependents having increased
access to better health and nutrition, it impact goes far
beyond the 949 direct beneficiaries.
 Recognised by the Clinton Global Initiative (at Poverty
Alleviation Session 2007)
 Clinton Global Initiative Featured Commitment 2008
 BBC World Challenge Award Winner 2008
 TEDx Talks Video 2010
 Jefferson Awards Youth Service Challenge Winner 2012
Challenges
Ongoing:
• Natural calamities and inclement weather
• Disease outbreak.
• Injection of regular funds for geographical expansion
• Quality assurance and benchmarking at the independent
business group level.
Strategic:
• Reduce dependency on HF.
• Turn the program into an independent social enterprise.
• Replication
Our Mountain Honey Served in Hotels and
PIA Flights