MIDTERM REVIEW: Economic Empowerment of Women Home-Based Workers and Excluded Groups in Pakistan 2017-2020

Synopsis:

The “Economic Empowerment of Women Home-Based Workers and Excluded Groups in Pakistan” project, implemented by UN Women, aimed to empower women economically, with a particular focus on Women Home-Based Workers (WHBWs) from marginalized groups, including those with HIV/AIDS, from religious minorities, ethnic groups, persons with disabilities, and transgender individuals. The project was an extension of previous initiatives and expanded its reach to more conservative provinces. Mera Maan Pvt. Ltd. was engaged to conduct the Mid-Term Review (MTR) to assess the project’s progress, impact, relevance, and effectiveness. The review included recommendations to enhance the project’s quality and provide guidance for future interventions.

Narrative of the Project Description:

Background:

UN Women, with support from the Government of Norway, led two initiatives from 2008 to 2016, aimed at empowering women home-based workers and addressing their strategic needs. These projects focused on awareness, policy interventions, and support for WHBWs to improve their income and quality of life. Building on the success of previous projects, the current initiative (2017-2020) expanded its scope to more conservative provinces and included WHBWs from various marginalized groups.

Objectives:

– Assess the outcome and output results achieved by the project.
– Evaluate the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact of the interventions.
– Provide recommendations to enhance the project’s quality and relevance.
– Offer directions for future project interventions.

Project Impact:

The project’s impact was significant as it extended economic empowerment opportunities to marginalized women, including WHBWs from diverse backgrounds such as religious minorities, ethnic groups, persons with disabilities, and transgender individuals. The initiative aimed to improve their socio-economic conditions, enhance their income, and promote their inclusion in the labor market. The review and recommendations by Mera Maan Pvt. Ltd. have contributed to strengthening the project’s impact and guiding future endeavors in advancing the economic empowerment of vulnerable women in Pakistan.