Cooperating countries: Pakistan, Austria

Coordinating institution: FH JOANNEUM

Project coordinator: Mag. Thomas Winkler, MSc PhD

Partner institution: Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology

Project duration: 01.10.2026-30.09.2028

Budget: 39.800,00 €

Across South Asia, women represent only 8–10% of formal entrepreneurs, and in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, fewer than 5% of registered businesses are owned or managed by women. Despite rising internet access—now reaching over 42% of the population in KP—most women lack the digital skills, market access, and confidence needed to participate in online economic ecosystems. E-WEAVE – Empowering Women Entrepreneurs through Digital Tools responds to this development gap by promoting digital literacy, mentorship, and inclusive innovation as pathways for women’s economic resilience. The project explores how social, cultural, and infrastructural factors shape women’s use of digital tools for entrepreneurship, particularly micro- and home-based ventures. Using a mixed methods and participatory design, it will combine surveys, interviews, and co-design workshops with existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs in urban and semi-rural areas of KP. Comparative insights from European contexts will help identify adaptable strategies for scaling digital inclusion. A core element of the project is the close cooperation between FH JOANNEUM and PAF-IAST, enabling joint research, capacity-building, and adaptation of digital training approaches. Beyond research, E-WEAVE will co-create a Digital Literacy and Mentorship Toolkit tailored for women entrepreneurs with limited connectivity and formal education. The initiative will yield open-access data, policy briefs, and training materials aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). By addressing structural inequalities through locally grounded yet globally informed solutions, the project strengthens women’s agency in the digital economy and advances inclusive, sustainable development.