Islamabad, April 1, 2009: The OneWoman Initiative announced today that Pakistan's Kashf Foundation received a $100,256 grant funded by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. This grant will be used to launch a microfinance program catering to rural women, allowing them to become self-sufficient and financially independent.

"This grant will bolster the organization's ongoing efforts to promote Pakistani women's access to economic opportunity and participation in the global economy," said Jacob J. Lew, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. "Empowering women to participate politically, socially, and economically will have lasting, positive impact upon their families and communities."

Upon completion of the Kashf Foundation's 12 month grant, 10 new rural microfinance branch offices will be opened and new managers for each of the branch offices will be trained. In addition, 40 theatre performances and 100 video presentations will be conducted to educate rural clientele about social issues, including gender discrimination and violence, the importance of educating women, family planning, and health care. The project will also conduct an empowerment study of new clients.

"The OneWoman Initiative exemplifies a dynamic public-private partnership of which the U.S. government is proud to be a part," Deputy Secretary of State said.

The OneWoman Initiative, launched in May 2008, is an international women's empowerment fund administered by a public-private sector effort that includes bipartisan private sector co-chairs, the U.S. State Department, and USAID. The OneWoman Initiative provides seed investment to existing grassroots organizations with the proven capacity to measurably enable justice, opportunity, and leadership for women in countries with large Muslim populations.

For more information about the OneWoman Initiative, visit http://www.onewomaninitiative.org.