Donor/partner: OPP-OCT / Orangi Charitable Trust

Period: January 2014 onward

Location: Rawalpindi, rural Islamabad and Chakwal

Status: Ongoing

AZM Foundation’s Islamic Microfinance Programme was established to support low-income microentrepreneurs who face limited access to finance, markets and skills. Through Shariah-compliant financing and community-based group lending, the programme supported livelihood activities in production, livestock, agriculture and small enterprise development. The approach combined financial assistance with social mobilization, needs assessment, poverty screening and peer support, with a strong focus on women and rural households.

Key activities:

• Community mobilization and needs assessment
• Formation of small borrower groups
• Shariah-compliant Murabaha and Mudarabah financing
• Support for livestock, agriculture, production and enterprise activities
• Linkages with markets and opportunities for skills enhancement

Reported results:

• More than 3,000 borrowers served by June 2019.
• Women reportedly represented 70% of beneficiaries.
• Recovery rate of 98.3%.