Pakistan has made a significant advancement in social enterprise education with the launch of a national Social Enterprise Development Leadership Program for faculty from public sector universities. The program, organized jointly by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Rizq, and the Yunus Centre at the Asian Institute of Technology, aims to integrate social enterprise as a tool for peacebuilding, youth empowerment, and social impact within higher education institutions.
The program brought together 26 faculty members from 19 universities across Pakistan for an 11-day immersive learning module held in Thailand from January 15 to 26, 2026. Participants engaged in academic sessions, applied workshops, field visits to leading social enterprises, and faculty-led project presentations, providing them with practical tools and conceptual frameworks to foster social enterprise initiatives in their universities.
During the experiential component, participants visited social ventures such as STEP Café, which supports neurodivergent youth, the Stingless Bee Honey Cooperative promoting sustainable livelihoods, and Wat Chak Daeng, which transforms plastic waste into useful materials. Visits also included the Population and Community Development Association and the Pakistan Embassy in Thailand, offering exposure to global social business models and facilitating cross-cultural exchange.
UNODC emphasized the role of social enterprise in creating opportunities for youth and addressing structural vulnerabilities, highlighting that engaging faculty across Pakistan helps cultivate responsible leadership and innovation among future generations. Rizq, a leading social enterprise in Pakistan, focused on embedding impact-driven models aligned with sustainable development goals, particularly zero hunger, into university programs and policy frameworks. The Yunus Centre at the Asian Institute of Technology provided exposure to international best practices in social entrepreneurship, reinforcing practical learning and strategic development of mission-driven social business leaders.
The initiative aims to integrate social enterprise into university curricula, support faculty-led innovation projects, and explore the establishment of social enterprise incubation hubs across public universities in Pakistan. Program participants gained insights into applying social enterprise principles to real-world challenges, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for social entrepreneurship in Pakistan. The program represents a first-of-its-kind effort to institutionalize social enterprise education, combining international expertise with local capacity to develop future social leaders capable of driving meaningful change.