Kashf Foundation

Kashf Foundation is a microfinance institution in operations since 1996. It focuses on gender empowerment and poverty alleviation of low-income households, especially women, in a difficult context. It provides them with microloans, coupled micro-insurances, and trainings. In 2020, the company had a portfolio of USD 108 M, insured 2 M and provided over 35,500 trainings. Kashf is focused on supporting underserved microentrepreneurs. The main products are productive loans which provide financings to small business owners in the country. Kashf has several initiatives in terms of capacity building that include trainings to build vocational skills, financial management capability and business management acumen. Kashf has a network of 325 branch offices and 3,060 employees. Highly digitalised MFI compared to close competitors. Focused on poor women, providing them with lending and health/life insurance services. Kashf has an active client base of around 500k low-income microentrepreneurs and expects to significantly increase it over the coming years, through an expanding branch network and the development of digital e-wallets. Kashf provides individual loans with an average ticket of USD 330 over 12 months (almost) exclusively to women, 60% of which 1st time borrowers. Kashf is the leading micro insurance provider in Pakistan with 2 M policyholders (1.25 M health insurances, 868 k life insurances, and 7,912 livestock insurances at the end of 2020). Certified by the SMART campaign for client protection, Kashf is a key player in the microfinance sector promoting ESG best practices. There is a strong gender focus, as shown by the 2X Challenge qualification. The Gender Empowerment Advocacy Team counts 6 experienced people which design trainings that are given in the field and in Kashf’s 11 training centres. The CEO is a woman and a cofounder. 70% of the board, 43% of senior management and 41% of middle management are women, as well as 49% of the entire staff. Kashf provides 2 weeks of fully paid paternity leave and has on-site childcare facilities in 6 branches. 99.8% of the clients are female, with 62% of the loans used by purely women-led businesses. Services focusing on gender empowerment and social advocacy programs in diverse topics, e.g. creating awareness and advocacy against child marriage, are also provided to women.