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UNDP, JS Bank and IBA join hands to finance Climate-resilient SMEs

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UNDP

KARACHI: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with IBA’s Center for Entrepreneurial Development (IBA-CED) and JS bank conducted the finale of the SDGs Innovative Financing Challenge Cup to promote sustainable and climate-resilient businesses in Pakistan.

In line with the United Nations Day of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (UN MSMEs Day), the initiative also underscored UNDP, JS Bank, and IBA’s commitment to supporting MMEs in Pakistan.

This first-of-its-kind initiative, the SDGs Innovative Financing Challenge Cup aims to pioneer a unique blended financing approach combining a public-private partnership to identify and support climate-resilient projects tackling social and environmental challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs Innovative Financing Challenge Cup attracted over 200 applications across the country. Through a rigorous selection process, 30 SMEs and projects were shortlisted, and participated in capacity-building workshops.

This workshop equipped participants with valuable skills in areas like product design, financial planning, and marketability and SDGs related blended financing.

Following the workshop, the competition intensified as the 30 projects were further narrowed down to the top 10 finalists.

The event finale culminated in the announcement of the winning projects, chosen by a panel of evaluators from UNDP Pakistan, JS Bank, and IBA.

The top four SME’s & Projects received a unique blend of financial support – a combination of grants from UNDP Pakistan followed by financing from JS Bank to propel their impactful solutions forward.

The event welcomed a diverse audience of over 350 attendees, including students from IBA and other universities, vocational training institutes, startups, along with representatives from IBACED, JS Bank, UNDP Pakistan and Business Incubation Centers (BICs)

Ammara Durrani, Assistant Resident Representative, Development Policy Unit, UNDP Pakistan, said, “This initiative marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time that such blended financing is being offered”.

Dr. Lalarukh Ejaz, Director CED welcomed the guests and participants and briefed about the project and shared that “the collaboration between UNDP, JS Bank, and IBA CED to organize an SDGs Innovative Finance Challenge Cup, aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs with SDG-aligned projects to pitch their innovative solutions”.

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UNDP launches Pakistan National Human Development Report 2023/2024 on Digital Transformation for Development

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Digital Transformation for Development

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first-ever Digital Development Index (DDI) measures digital development progress across Pakistan’s provinces and districts, placing the country in the ‘moderate’ digital development category with a cumulative DDI of 0.205, in the Pakistan National Human Development Report (NHDR) 2023/2024 ‘Doing Digital for Development: Access, Adopt, Anticipate, Accelerate’ launched here today. The Report shows a … Read more

UNDP continues its efforts to break HIV/AIDS Stigma

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UNDP
  • Media professionals participated in training workshop.
  • Experts spoke about scope, spread, and success about HIV.
  • Experts stressed how media can actively address stigma in society.

KARACHI: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a two-day interactive workshop and consultation session to sensitize media professionals about HIV/AIDS.

Following successful workshops in Islamabad, Peshawar, and Lahore, the latest two-day sensitization workshop in Karachi sought to connect with and empower the media professionals, predominantly covering health issues, with the tools to tackle misconceptions, report ethically, and create a more empathetic narrative about HIV/AIDS-affected communities in Pakistan.

Media professionals from various print, electronic, and digital outlets actively participated in the training workshop, vigorously interacting with the trainers and speakers on issues about HIV/AIDS.

Speaking at the inauguration of the activity, Dr. Sikandar Memon, Manager CDC HIV, Communicable Disease Control Center, spoke about the scope, spread, and success of the AIDS Control Program in Sindh. He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and strongly underlined the importance of collaborative efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.

Waheed Ahmed Khalfe, a seasoned journalist with extensive experience in national media, shared his insights on the issue of HIV in Pakistan. He highlighted the historical context and challenges associated with HIV in the country and stressed how the media can actively address the stigma in society.

He said that by presenting accurate and compassionate stories, journalists can contribute significantly to changing public perceptions and reducing discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected communities in Pakistan.

Ms. Sheher Bano, a distinguished journalist and senior trainer, led a profound session on building empathy towards HIV/AIDS-affected communities.

She highlighted, “Empathy is the key to dismantling stereotypes. We must understand that individuals living with HIV/AIDS are living, breathing human beings, and our support could help them live normal, healthy, and productive lives.”

Ghulam Mustafa Buledi, senior journalist and an expert in media-related ethical reporting and behavior change communication issues, took the lead on the second day. He emphasized the importance of maintaining ethical standards while reporting sensitive health issues like HIV/AIDS.

Summayyah Rasheed provided an overview of the project’s objectives and activities. “Our goal is to reshape the narrative around HIV/AIDS, and this workshop is a significant part of that effort,” she explained.

Dr. Umar Riaz, Program Specialist, said that media professionals play a pivotal role in dispelling myths, reducing stigma, and fostering a more inclusive society for individuals with HIV/AIDS. He said that collaboration with the media is critical in shaping the lives of the HIV/AIDS-affected communities toward a brighter, stigma-free future in Pakistan.

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UNDP-UNAIDS organises consultative session on HIV/AIDS

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UNDP-UNAIDS organises consultative session on HIV/AIDS
  • The session aimed to address critical issue of HIV stigma.
  • Approximately 85 officials participated in the session.
  • Tarik Malik highlighted crucial role of raising awareness among LEA.

KARACHI:  In a collaborative effort, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP)- United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS) organized a consultative session at the CPO in Karachi.

The session aimed to address the critical issue of HIV stigma and discrimination, with the valuable support of law enforcement agencies.

Attended by approximately 85 officials, including representatives from the Motorway Police, Railways Police, NAB, IB, Sindh Police, CDS HIV, UNDP, UNAIDS, and various healthcare professionals, the event proved to be an important platform for discussions on strategies and the way forward.

Under the skillful moderation of Ms. Fahimda from UNAIDS, the session generated fruitful discussions centered around combating stigma and creating a secure, supportive environment for individuals affected by HIV. Ms. Fahimda underscored the significance of understanding the spread of HIV and implementing effective measures to curb it.

Furthermore, Mr. Rajwal, also from UNAIDS, emphasized the pillars of “awareness, effective communication, and inclusivity” as crucial elements in countering stigma.

Earlier, the session was inaugurated by IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, who stress the urgent need for comprehensive guidelines to enhance the sensitivity and responsiveness of law enforcement agencies towards HIV-related stigma. He expressed his commitment to including awareness programs in policing and training institutes, recognizing the importance of law enforcement personnel’s role in tackling the issue.

Dr. Syed Kaleem Imam, a law enforcement specialist, advocated for a thoughtful and innovative approach towards HIV victims, stressing the necessity of a comprehensive curriculum, a cohesive national plan, and a uniform mechanism to alleviate stigma and discrimination.

Zubair Habib, Chief of CPLC, emphasized the importance of building an inclusive society that treats individuals living with HIV with dignity and respect.

Dr. Junaid and Tarik Malik highlighted the crucial role of raising awareness among law enforcement personnel and the public regarding HIV. They recognized the potential of the police in curbing the HIV epidemic and stressed the need for their active engagement.

Ms. Yuki Takemoto, Country Director of UNAIDS, proposed a holistic and multisectoral approach to address the issue. She emphasized the importance of understanding the spread of HIV and the necessary steps to combat it.

The closing session featured Ghazi Sala-Uddin, renowned journalist as the chief guest, who emphasized the pivotal role of first responders in battling stigma and discrimination. He underscored that informed and compassionate actions by law enforcement can significantly contribute to reducing HIV-related stigma.

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Dar appreciates UNDP’s role in achieving SDGs

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Ishaq Dar

Ishaq Dar reiterated commitment on achieving SDGs UNDP Resident Representative Knut Ostby called on him. UNDP officials briefed on the Climate Resilient Pakistan plan ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Ishaq Dar has reiterated the commitment of the government on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and extended full support. He … Read more

Pakistan should halt debt repayments, UN policy paper

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UN policy paper
  • Pakistan should halt foreign debt repayments, UN policy paper
  • country’s creditors should explore debt relief, the UN policy paper noted
  • Pakistan has requested that the World Bank redirect $1.5 billion to $2 billion in money from slow-moving projects

Citing a UN policy note, Pakistan should halt foreign debt repayments and restructure debts with creditors after recent rains exacerbated the country’s financial situation, according to the Financial Times. 

According to the newspaper, the memorandum, which the UN Development Programme (UNDP) will share with Pakistan’s government this week, urges that the country’s creditors should explore debt relief so that policymakers can prioritize disaster response funding above loan repayment.

The damage in Pakistan has been estimated at $30 billion, and the government and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have blamed the flooding on climate change.

According to the Financial Times, the memo also offered debt restructuring or swaps, in which creditors would waive repayments in exchange for Pakistan committing to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.

Floods have affected 33 million Pakistanis, caused billions of dollars in damage, and killed over 1,500 people, raising fears that Pakistan may fail to meet its debt obligations.

In light of the country’s catastrophic floods, Pakistan has requested that the World Bank redirect $1.5 billion to $2 billion in money from slow-moving projects to areas where the deluge has inflicted destruction through the repurpose program.

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Fawad Khan joins hands with UN sustainable development

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Fawad Khan

Fawad Khan has become the new face of UNDP. He will be assisted in increasing awareness and implementing the agenda. The ceremony for the deal was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Sustainable Development Goals provide us with a roadmap for peace and prosperity, for people and the planet, says Fawad Khan. The United Nations Development … Read more

UNDP, Jazz conclude second cohort of SDG Bootcamps

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jazz

KARACHI: UNDP Pakistan and Jazz concluded the second cohort of the SDG Bootcamps on the themes of education, health, climate change, and digital transformation, a statement said. Four social enterprises emerged victorious whereas 131 social enterprises including 42 women-led initiatives participated in the second cohort, implemented by the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF). United Nations … Read more

UNDP, NICL host innovators in plastic waste recycling at SolutionsFest

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UNDP NICL

KARACHI: The National Incubation Centre Lahore (NICL) at LUMS collaborated with the Innovation-Acceleration Lab at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan to host SolutionsFest 2.0: Reimagining our relationship with plastics in Pakistan, a statement said. The three-day event, which aimed at discussing, strategising and creating solutions for plastic pollution, was held from November 29 to … Read more

Afghan banking system on brink of collapse: UNDP

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UNDP

UNITED NATIONS: A UN agency has warned that Afghanistan’s banking system is on the verge of collapse because of consumers’ inability to repay loans, fewer deposits, and other liquidity problems, leading to a social crisis in an already fragile economy. “Afghanistan’s financial and bank payment systems are in disarray. The bank-run problem must be resolved … Read more

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