Nestlé Pakistan and Akhuwat have partnered to empower Nestlé’s Rural Women Sales Agents enrolled under the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). A Memorandum of Understanding was signed under which, Nestle has provided a grant of PKR 2 million to Akhuwat to extend interest-free loans to Nestle-affiliated BISP beneficiaries in expanding their businesses, in districts of Renala, Okara, Sheikhupura and Pindi Bhattian.
Speaking on the occasion, Freda Duplan, CEO Nestlé Pakistan, said, “Today is a big day for our Rural Women Sales Agents. The Nestlé-Akhuwat partnership will allow our Sales Agents to avail interest free micro-loan facility. It has been proven time and time again, that when women have the power to make, spend, save, and control their own money, they make gains not only for themselves but also for their families and communities.”
Nestlé’s BISP Rural Women Sales Program focuses on graduating women benefiting from BISP out-ofpoverty. The program is based on Public Private Partnership that emphasizes on creating sustainable solutions for addressing some of the key issues being faced by rural women in Pakistan such as malnutrition and lack of livelihood opportunities. It has to date graduated 500 beneficiaries and this number will increase to 5,000 in the next three to four years.
Dr Amjad Saqib, CEO Akhuwat, while sharing his views said, “We are glad to partner with Nestle and are confident that it will enable women under Nestlé’s BISP Rural Women Sales Program scale up their entrepreneurial ventures and eventually graduate out of poverty.”
Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nestlé Pakistan, said, “Our philosophy of creating shared value (CSV) is unique and a long term approach through collective action, partnerships and support of stakeholders can generate sustainable economic value, in line with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”
“The Nestle-Akhuwat partnership is a transformative collaboration which will help us build rural women as social entrepreneurs with Akhuwat over the next three years and enhance Nestlé’s BISP beneficiary base,” he added
About Nestlé Pakistan
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. It is present in 191 countries around the world, and its 328,000 employees are committed to Nestlé’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide portfolio of products and services for people and their pets throughout their lives.
About Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance
Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance, a non-profit company established in 2001, aims to alleviate poverty by creating a bond of solidarity between the affluent and the marginalized. Their goal is to develop and sustain a social system based on mutual support. It extends a helping hand to the poverty-stricken by providing interest-free loans so they can start a business and become self-reliant.
For further information, please contact:
Muhammad Rahat Hussain
Manager Public Affairs | Nestlé Pakistan
Contact Number: +92-345-2059682
Email: [email protected]
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