Latest news with #SindhCommunityFoundation
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- General
- Business Recorder
Women Economic Development Forum for action against climate-induced poverty
HYDERABAD: Address-ing the urgent need to combat climate-induced poverty through women's economic empowerment, speakers at the Women Economic Development Forum, organized by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) under the SURMI project with support from Pathfinder International, called for coordinated efforts from the government, civil society, and private sector. The forum marked the completion of adult literacy programs, vocational skills training, and livelihood asset distribution that benefitted over 250 women from 35 villages in District Thatta. In his keynote remarks, Javed Hussain, Executive Director of SCF, stressed that while rural women possess the skills and determination to succeed in traditional crafts and micro-enterprises, they often lack access to markets and institutional support. He warned that the growing impacts of climate change are intensifying poverty, placing a double burden on women and their families. He said that SCF has established a Women Economic Empowerment Fund to help tackle poverty and respond to climate shocks through livelihood restoration among rural women, aiming to institutionalize long-term support mechanisms beyond project-based assistance. Other prominent speakers at the event included Ghulam Dastgeer, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I; Khuda Bux Bahrani, Additional Director of the Social Welfare Department; Fayaz Wagan, Deputy Director of Livestock Management; Hira Arain, Manager of Economic Empowerment at SCF; Humera Ali, Project Manager at SCF; Noor Serai, District Education Officer (Primary); and journalist Javed Lateef. Civil society representatives Irshad Ahmed, Niaz Muhammad, Junejo, and Lateef Soomro, Asmat Bibi also addressed the gathering. All emphasized that sustainable change requires more than training women must have access to seed capital, incubation support, marketing channels, and enabling infrastructure to grow their enterprises. The event also celebrated the achievements of 30 Women Climate Champions, who were supported with livelihood assets such as goats, sewing machine kits, grocery shops, crockery stalls, and traditional Manyari items. These resources enabled the women to launch or expand their small-scale businesses, helping them build economic resilience in the face of growing climate challenges. Total of 86 women received certificates for completing six-month adult literacy classes, while an additional 110 women were awarded certificates for completing advanced vocational and skills training. These achievements underscored potential of grassroots development initiatives when supported by structured programs and strong partnerships. The Women Economic Development Forum served as both a celebration of success and a call to action. Speakers urged the government and private sector to build on the momentum created by the SURMI project and scale up support for women's entrepreneurship, especially in climate-affected rural areas where economic resilience is urgently needed. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Women cotton workers demand justice, fair wages
HYDERABAD: More than 90 participants including women cotton workers, trade union leaders, progressive growers, civil society representatives, and officials from the labor, social welfare, health, and environment departments gathered in Hyderabad Thursday to demand justice, fair wages, safe working conditions, and climate resilience for over one million women cotton workers across Sindh. Organized by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Foundation, the day-long event featured a powerful Women's Assembly held at Indus Hotel under the theme 'Claiming Safe Working Conditions and Climate Justice.' The forum served as a vital platform for women agricultural workers and labour advocates to raise concerns about exploitative wages, exclusion from labour protections, and the worsening impacts of climate change on women's health and livelihoods. Opening the assembly, Javed Hussain, Executive Director of SCF, called for the accelerated implementation of social protection programs for women in agriculture, particularly in light of their disproportionate exposure to both labor injustice and climate shocks. 'Climate change is not just an environmental issue it's a growing threat to the health and dignity of rural women workers,' he said.' The government must act urgently to recognize and protect them.' Hussain also highlighted the lack of enforcement of the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act (2019), which mandates ensure minimum wage healthcare, maternity benefits, and social security, but remains slowly unimplemented in rural districts. Nadeem Shah, representing the Sindh Abadgar Board, noted that over 70% of agricultural labor in Sindh is performed by women, who are still not formally recognized under labor laws. He called for the legal classification of agriculture as an industry to ensure enforceable labor protections. Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, an agricultural and climate expert, warned that only 65% of the expected cotton yield was produced this year due to water shortages, with women workers suffering the most when productivity falls. From the grassroots, Ms. Zubaida Solangi, President of Sujagi Women Cotton Workers Trade Union from Meho Machi, Matiari, voiced workers' frustrations: 'We are still excluded from welfare boards and compensation funds.' Dr. Muhammad Aslam Memon, of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, raised alarms over harmful agro-chemical use, urging a shift toward sustainable farming, tree plantation, and training for women in food preservation. Other speakers including Shahnaz Sheedi, Pushpa Kumari, Gufrana (HRCP), and Pirah Syal (EPA Hyderabad), Sajid Soomr of Social Protection Department also shared, their views on gender-sensitive enforcement of labour and environmental laws and better coordination between departments to protect women in the fields. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
31-07-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
'Women's Assembly' demandsjustice for women cotton pickers
Organised by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Foundation, a Women's Assembly was held under the theme "Claiming Safe Working Conditions and Climate Justice." Over 90 participants gathered for the event, which served as a platform for women agricultural workers and advocates to raise concerns about exploitative wages, exclusion from labour protections, and the worsening impacts of climate change on women's health and livelihoods, disproportionately impacting over one million women cotton workers across Sindh. SCF Executive Director Javed Hussain called for social protection programmes for women in agriculture, particularly in light of their disproportionate exposure to climate shocks. He stated, "climate change is not just an environmental issue, it's a growing threat to the health and dignity of rural women workers." Hussain also highlighted the lack of enforcement of the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act (2019), which mandates minimum wage, healthcare, maternity benefits, and social security, but remains unimplemented in rural districts. Meanwhile, representing the Sindh Abadgar Board, Nadeem Shah noted that over 70 per cent of agricultural labour in the province is performed by women who are still unrecognised under labour laws. He called for the legal classification of agriculture as an industry, to ensure enforceable labour protections. The assembly concluded with a set of demands, including the immediate enforcement of the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act, 2019; monitoring of minimum wage compliance; universal health insurance and social protection coverage; inclusion in welfare boards and compensation schemes; labour rights awareness campaigns targeting landlords and contractors; climate adaptation measures; and expanded outreach.
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
SCF equips rural women with livestock, entrepreneurial skills
HYDERABAD: Sindh Community Foundation (SCF), with the support of Pathfinder International under the SURMI project, organized a two-day training workshop on Climate-Smart Livestock Management and Entrepreneurship Skills for 30 rural women from coastal districts of Sindh. The workshop aimed to equip selected women beneficiaries with practical knowledge and skills to enhance their resilience and livelihood opportunities in the face of climate change. On the first day, the training focused on various aspects of climate-smart livestock management, including disease prevention, vaccination animal care practices, habitat management, and adaptive strategies to cope with changing environmental conditions. The second day was dedicated to building the women's capacity in entrepreneurship and small-scale business development, particularly in the areas of livestock-based and home-based food security income-generating activities. These women have been identified under the project's livelihood component to receive support in initiating their own small-scale businesses. Ms. Hira Arain and Lateef Soomro facilitated the sessions as trainers, delivering technical and practical insights to the participants. A concluding ceremony was held and attended by M.B. Khaskheli, Cluster Coordinator, Pathfinder International; Javed Hussain, Executive Director, SCF; and Fayaz Wagan, Deputy Director, Livestock Department, Thatta and Humera Ali SCF. Speaking at the event, Fayaz Wagan, Deputy Director of the Livestock Department, Thatta, emphasized that women are the primary caretakers of livestock in rural areas. He stressed the need to raise awareness among women about modern techniques of livestock management, especially in the context of changing disease patterns due to climate change. He noted that vaccination, timely disease prevention, and proper animal care are essential for maintaining healthy livestock and ensuring sustained livelihoods. Javed Hussain, Executive Director of Sindh Community Foundation, stated that while Pakistan remains one of the leading producers of milk and meat, the livestock sector faces growing threats from climate-induced diseases and environmental stressors. He underlined the urgent need to promote climate-smart livestock practices to protect rural economies and strengthen national food security. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
05-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
SCF launches Women's Green Skills Initiative
HYDERABAD: Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to promote women's economic empowerment through green skills training in three climate-vulnerable districts—Thatta, Matiari, and Sanghar—as part of a broader strategy to tackle the escalating impacts of climate-induced poverty. This initiative builds on SCF's commitment to gender-responsive climate adaptation and economic justice. Supported by the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) under Round 2 of the Asia Gender Equality Fund, the program aims to benefit 3,500 women in cotton-producing and climate-affected areas of Sindh. Over the next two years, 1,800 women will receive training in green skills and off-season livelihood diversification. To address immediate economic vulnerabilities, 350 of the most affected women will also receive seed support—including materials, tools, and tailored business development assistance—to establish small-scale enterprises linked to market opportunities. 'Climate change continues to disproportionately affect women in rural areas, particularly those relying on seasonal work like cotton picking,' said Javed Hussain, Executive Director of SCF. 'This initiative equips women with practical, climate-resilient skills such as sustainable farming, eco-product manufacturing, food preservation, and micro-entrepreneurship, enabling income stability throughout the year.' Hira Arain, Manager for Economic Empowerment at SCF, noted: 'In earlier program phases, SCF trained 1,025 women, resulting in a 30% rise in off-season income. Another 100 women received seed capital to launch successful businesses.' She added that SCF has also integrated literacy education into its approach. 209 women recently completed six-month literacy classes, boosting their confidence, communication, and business management skills. SCF urges government, corporate, and financial stakeholders to streamline access to micro-loans and economic services to help women scale these climate-resilient livelihoods. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
