The second batch of the SDG Bootcamps—on the subjects of Education, Health, Climate Change, and Digital Transformation—is now complete, thanks to UNDP Pakistan and Jazz. In the second cohort, which was coordinated by the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF), 131 social businesses took part, including 42 women-driven ventures. Four ethical companies came out on top.
Bechlo.pk from Sindh, a multi-vendor app store created for and by women to sell new and prelove products online; Perwaz from Sindh, a healthcare company that provides drone services to deliver medical aid; Crop Care from Sindh, a mobile app that helps farmers detect crop diseases and recommends solutions; and Edibles from Punjab, which is working to reduce single-use plastic cutlery by introducing sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives; and Edibles from
This second round of bootcamps also included one regional boot camp in Islamabad with a total of 25 social enterprises, including participants from Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Malook Enterprise won the regional bootcamp. This social enterprise is creating income opportunities for communities in Gilgit Baltistan by harvesting and selling local organic produce, like herbs, dry fruits, vegetables, etc.
Mr. Knut Ostby, UNDP Resident Representative in Pakistan, talked at the end of the second cohort. “It’s truly inspiring to see the youth, especially young women, opting for social entrepreneurship as a viable career option. The UNDP-Jazz SDG Boot camps are helping aspiring entrepreneurs to navigate and develop business models. Enhancing the social entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pakistan will not only empower the youth of the country but will also contribute towards achieving Pakistan’s SDG targets.”
Jazz’s Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer, Mr. Syed Fakhar Ahmed, stated, “I would like to congratulate the winners, and I am confident that the insights gained through the bootcamps will help social enterprises scale their businesses. We look forward to upcoming cohorts empowering the youth, especially from rural areas, to make a positive impact on the society.”
The national boot camp winner will get an invitation to join Young Co:Lab, Asia and the Pacific’s biggest youth social entrepreneurship network, co-founded by UNDP and Citi Foundation, as well as mentorship opportunities from Jazz.
In December 2020, Jazz and UNDP Pakistan launched the SDG Boot camp to foster social entrepreneurship and boost Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. By December 2022, 20 boot camps will be held around the county to train 800 young social entrepreneurs, 50% of whom will be women.
