Sustainable development goals 2030 and women empowerment in Pakistan: a case study of women entrepreneurs, Dr Nasim Mahsud

Dr Nasim Khan Mahsud
Allama Iqbal Open University
Pakistan

In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. This research focused on various targets of SDG 5, specifically 5.4 (recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work), 5.5 (full and effective participation in the economy), 5.a (equal rights to economic resources, access to ownership, financial services) and 5.b (use of ICT in providing effective participation and equal opportunities). The study assessed the impact of these targets on empowering Pakistani women in economic spheres.

A quantitative cross-sectional research design was implemented to enlist 200 women entrepreneurs aged between 20 and 50 years, using non-probability, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Standardised assessment tools were administered to collect the data. The main statistical tools employed in this study were descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation and regression analysis.

Results revealed a significant positive association between economic participation and ICT provision, access to financial services and economic empowerment. Similarly, ICT provision, equal rights to economic resources, access to ownership and access to financial services were predicted in economic empowerment. All variables significantly predicted economic empowerment in female entrepreneurs except economic participation.

Findings are discussed considering relevant literature, and recommendations are suggested for future studies.

KEYWORDS: SDGs; Women Empowerment; ICT; Entrepreneurs; Economic Sphere.