Digitalization for Women's Economic Empowerment

Pakistan's digital economy is growing rapidly, with over 300,000 IT professionals and rising global freelance rankings. Yet this transformation remains deeply unequal: women represent only 14% of the tech workforce and face a 65% internet access gap compared to men. Cultural barriers, limited mobility, and lack of gender-responsive training continue to exclude young women from digital opportunities.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), launched the Digitalization for Women Economic Empowerment (D4WEE) project (2024–2028) to bridge this digital gender divide. Operating across six districts in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—including Peshawar, Swabi, and Mardan—the initiative empowers young women through digital skills training, mentorship, community-based tech hubs, and partnerships with the private sector and public institutions.

Project Overview

The D4WEE Project, led by TiE Islamabad in partnership with Akhter Hameed Khan Foundation (AHKF) and Code for Pakistan, aims to accelerate economic engagement of young women (ages 18–35) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, through digital skills training, mentorship, and private sector linkages. The initiative spans 27 months (Oct 2025–Dec 2027) with a total budget of PKR 266.6 million.

Key Objectives & Targets

The program's primary outcome is to enable 5,940 young women (90% of those trained) to generate income through digital skills in freelancing, employment, or entrepreneurship. To achieve this, we will train 6,000 women in ICT, software development, and data analytics across Peshawar, Mardan, and Swabi. Following their training, 600 graduates will be inducted into industry mentorship programs, while 12 multi-purpose centers will be established as district-level tech hubs to support ongoing learning and collaboration. The initiative also seeks to engage the private sector, with 5 large companies and 4 MSMEs adopting gender-responsive workplace policies.

Technical Approach

Our approach combines community mobilization, structured mentorship, innovative training delivery, and private sector linkages. AHKF's extensive network mobilizes and recruits women while respecting local cultural dynamics. TiE Islamabad leverages a network of over 2,000 mentors to provide structured, goal-oriented mentorship cycles. Code for Pakistan develops and delivers tiered, inclusive curricula through blended learning, supported by local trainers and digital platforms. A custom digital job portal connects graduates to employment and freelance opportunities, while formal partnerships and career fairs facilitate job placements and provide ongoing industry feedback.