New Initiative in Development to Support Widows in Pakistan

May 13, 2026

The Global Fund for Widows and Pakistan's Kaarvan Crafts Foundation are launching Khudi, a pilot program designed to empower 175 widows and disadvantaged women in Pakistan through microloans and economic opportunities. The initiative will utilize Widows Savings and Loans Associations, which are micro-banks owned collectively by groups of 25 widows who can access funds without collateral or male guarantors—a model that has already increased income and savings fourteenfold in several African countries. Kaarvan Crafts Foundation brings over two decades of experience operating more than 250 training centers that teach life skills, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy to women while connecting them to urban markets.

Who is affected

175 widows in Pakistan (initial pilot participants)
Approximately 6 million widows in Pakistan overall
Disenfranchised women in Pakistan
Women previously abandoned by spouses, affected by conflict, with incarcerated husbands, or who escaped abusive relationships
Children of widows who may face interrupted education or forced marriages
Women in African nations (Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania) already participating in WISALAs
Women who have participated in KCF's 250+ training centers over the past 22 years

What action is being taken

GFW and KCF are implementing the Khudi program through WISALAs (Widows Savings and Loans Associations)
KCF is operating more than 250 training centers to help women develop life skills
KCF is educating women and connecting them to urban markets
KCF is fostering entrepreneurial growth through embroidery businesses
KCF is training women in dairy and livestock farming practices
KCF is enhancing women's digital literacy to connect them to more markets
GFW is working to support women who come with their ideas and hopes

Why it matters

This initiative matters because widowhood affects millions of women globally (258 million worldwide, 6 million in Pakistan) and represents what organizers call a "root cause" for numerous developmental issues. Without addressing the specific challenges widows face—including economic exclusion, gender-based violence, and societal stigma that suggests their lives end when their husbands die or leave—development goals cannot be fully achieved. The program challenges systemic barriers by providing financial access without requiring collateral or male guarantors, enabling women to move from survival to economic agency and ownership. The WISALA model has already demonstrated significant impact, multiplying income and savings by 14 times in African nations and helping women reclaim assets and secure property rights for themselves and their children.

What's next

GFW and KCF plan to grow the pilot program beyond the initial 175 widows to reach all widows who need help in Pakistan
The program will officially launch (though no exact launch date has been announced yet)

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer