Key Takeaways
- The Gates Foundation plans to support 170,000 women and 450,000 children in Pakistan.
- The initiative includes cash transfers, nutrition support, and livelihoods training.
- The program aims to enhance maternal and child health, nutrition, and women’s economic participation.
The Gates Foundation has announced plans to financially support 170,000 women and 450,000 children in Pakistan through a comprehensive program that combines cash support, nutrition assistance, and livelihoods training.
During a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and a high-level Gates Foundation delegation, the foundation outlined its engagement in Pakistan, which is expanding across human capital, child health, nutrition, maternal health, and women’s economic participation.
The South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa program, which is part of this initiative, will provide cash transfers, nutrition support, and livelihoods training to women, aiming to reach 170,000 women and 450,000 children this year.
The Gates Foundation also highlighted its nationwide nutrition efforts through UNICEF’s “Livelihood 2.0” facility, which aims to improve access to nutrition commodities and address childhood stunting.
Dr. Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation, briefed the minister on the foundation’s maternal health initiatives and the use of artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes.
The LUMS AI Hub is working with provincial governments on personalized solutions for women and families during pregnancy and delivery, including solutions with local-language capabilities.
The meeting also covered population growth and its impact on maternal and child health, nutrition, poverty, and girls’ education. The finance minister discussed the government’s economic reform agenda, including privatization, expenditure reforms, and the use of digital technology to improve government efficiency.
Aurangzeb highlighted efforts to expand access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture, and other underserved sectors through digital financial channels, improved data sharing, and cash-flow-based lending.
The Gates Foundation expressed interest in supporting greater access to finance for SMEs by improving information flows, digital footprints, and cash-flow-based lending.
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in human capital, health, financial inclusion, and digital innovation, aiming to enhance the overall well-being of Pakistani women and children.
