ISLAMABAD: Speakers on Thursday provided a roadmap for a more strategic, coordinated and impactful future for philanthropy in Pakistan.
Exploring legal, financial, and social dimensions of philanthropy, and emphasising innovation and inclusivity, the speakers said with continued engagement from both national and international stakeholders, there was hope for creating a more resilient and equitable society.
Key leaders and experts in philanthropy came together for a high-level policy dialogue titled ‘Beyond the Bottom Line: Co-Creating Philanthropic Impact’ moderated by CEO of Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Tristan Ace, and chaired by Senior Joint Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Affairs Saeed Ashraf Siddiqui at the 27th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) 2024 organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination.
The speakers explored pressing issues in Pakistan’s philanthropic landscape and highlighted innovative approaches for maximising social impact.
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri delivered the welcome remarks, emphasising the need for collaborative and strategic philanthropy that went beyond simple charity.
Dr Suleri pointed out the growing recognition of philanthropy as a powerful tool for development and discussed SDPI’s ongoing work to shape the philanthropic landscape in Pakistan.
Several prominent speakers from diverse sectors shared their insights, each advocating for a more strategic and sustainable approach to philanthropy.
Tristan Ace highlighted the global scope of AVPN, which connected over 600 organisations from across the world, including corporate foundations, development institutions, and others.
He outlined AVPN’s mission to mobilise private philanthropy, focusing on areas like climate change and food security.
“We are trying to move beyond traditional charity to an approach that drives innovation and impact,” Mr Ace said.
He highlighted AVPN’s efforts to promote a gender-sensitive philanthropic approach in Pakistan, where there’s a strong focus on SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Former minister Senator Roshan Khursheed Bharucha shared specific challenges faced in Balochistan, where poverty, lack of access to clean water, and the impacts of climate change were particularly severe.
She called for increased local government empowerment, tax rebates for women artisans, and a more robust approach to address gender inequality.
She also stressed the importance of proper training programmes for marginalised communities to improve long-term economic stability.
Senior Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs Saeed Ashraf Siddiqui stressed the growing role of philanthropic organisations but acknowledged the difficulties in scaling these efforts and gauging their impact.
He called for better coordination among NGOs and philanthropies, noting the need for a unified registration mechanism and greater capacity-building for local organisations.
Mr Siddiqui further explained that the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) had been instrumental in streamlining foreign aid to local NGOs and ensuring better tracking of funds.
Director of the British Asian Trust Kamyla Marvi discussed the need for strategic, outcome-based philanthropy.
She emphasised the importance of collaboration and scale, citing the Trust’s approach to cost-effective, sustainable interventions that were measurable and impactful.
According to Marvi, focusing on results ensures long-term trust of donors and enhances the overall effectiveness of philanthropic programmes.
Joint Director at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Uzma Mansoor highlighted the crucial role of financial inclusion in the philanthropic ecosystem.
She shared SBP’s efforts to create a conducive policy environment for green financing, gender empowerment and financial literacy, including the development of a green taxonomy in collaboration with World Bank.
Ms Mansoor also discussed initiatives to empower women in the financial sector, with policies designed to increase female representation in banks and improve access to financial services for marginalised groups.
Chief Economist at the Bank of Punjab Saim Ali discussed the challenges of making philanthropic projects sustainable, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters such as floods.
He called for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to drive more impactful, long-term solutions in areas like climate resilience, healthcare, and education.
Saim Ali highlighted the bank’s own initiatives, including substantial investments in health, education and environmental sustainability projects, as well as efforts to enhance financial inclusion through services like the Kissan Card for farmers.
He also noted the bank’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges, citing projects like the promotion of electric vehicles to combat smog.
He emphasised the critical role of women in Pakistan’s agriculture sector, announcing that the bank had provided credit to over 75,000 women in rural areas this year.
