1️. Solar Sister (Kenya) – Women-led clean energy solutions.
2️. BRAC Ultra-Poor Graduation (Bangladesh) – Comprehensive poverty eradication.
3️. Medellín Transformation (Colombia) – Urban inclusion and innovation.
4. inland Circular Economy – Leading sustainable production.
5️. Vanuatu Climate Resilience – Indigenous knowledge-based climate action.
6️. Akhuwat Foundation (Pakistan) – Interest-free microfinance transformation.
7️. Indus Hospital (Pakistan) – Quality, free healthcare for underserved.
8. TCF Schools (Pakistan) – Transforming education through scale and impact.
9️. Sehat Kahani (Pakistan) – Telemedicine to bridge health inequities.
10. Dream Foundation (Pakistan) – Grassroots movement for girls’ education
1. Africa (Kenya) – Solar Sister’s Clean Energy Women Entrepreneurs
SDG Focus: SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) & SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
In rural Kenya, Solar Sister has empowered thousands of women entrepreneurs by equipping them with solar energy products like solar lanterns and clean cookstoves. This initiative addresses both gender equality and energy poverty, providing women with income-generating opportunities and clean, affordable energy for their communities. By leveraging a “women-centered direct sales network,” Solar Sister has improved lives, reduced indoor pollution, and contributed to climate resilience.
2. Asia (Bangladesh) – BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation Model
SDG Focus: SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
BRAC’s Ultra-Poor Graduation Program in Bangladesh focuses on lifting the poorest households out of poverty. Through a comprehensive approach—asset transfers, skills training, savings, healthcare, and social integration—the model has enabled millions of families to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Its success has inspired replication in countries like Ethiopia, Pakistan, and the Philippines, demonstrating scalable poverty alleviation solutions.
3. Latin America (Colombia) – Medellín’s Sustainable Urban Transformation
SDG Focus: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
Medellín, once notorious for violence, has transformed into a model of urban sustainability. Through projects like the Metrocable (cable cars connecting poor neighborhoods to the city), green corridors, and public libraries, the city has tackled inequality, enhanced mobility, and promoted environmental stewardship. Medellín’s transformation illustrates how urban planning, innovation, and community engagement can drive SDG progress in inclusive cities.
4. Europe (Finland) – The Circular Economy Roadmap
SDG Focus: SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) & SDG 13 (Climate Action)
Finland has embraced a circular economy strategy, promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns. From textile recycling innovations to nationwide resource efficiency initiatives, Finland is reducing waste and carbon emissions while fostering green jobs. Its Sitra (Innovation Fund) supports companies and communities in creating circular business models, showing a pathway to a low-carbon, resource-efficient future.
5. Oceania (Vanuatu) – Community-Led Climate Resilience
SDG Focus: SDG 13 (Climate Action) & SDG 14 (Life Below Water)
In Vanuatu, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, local communities are taking action. Projects like Reef Restoration and Mangrove Rehabilitation are restoring marine ecosystems while providing livelihoods through eco-tourism and sustainable fisheries. The integration of indigenous knowledge and science has empowered local communities to build resilience against rising sea levels and extreme weather.
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6. Asia (Pakistan) – Akhuwat Foundation’s Microfinance Revolution
SDG Focus: SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
Akhuwat Foundation, founded by Dr. Amjad Saqib, is a shining example of inclusive financial empowerment. Inspired by the principle of “Mawakhat” (solidarity), Akhuwat provides interest-free microloans to empower Pakistan’s poorest communities, enabling entrepreneurship, education, and healthcare access.
Operating through over 800 branches, Akhuwat has disbursed loans totaling billions of rupees, helping over 5 million families start businesses, escape poverty, and uplift their communities. Its innovative community-based model, where loans are disbursed in mosques and repayment is based on trust, demonstrates a sustainable, values-driven approach to poverty alleviation.
Akhuwat’s work exemplifies how local solutions rooted in cultural values can effectively address SDGs 1 and 8, fostering economic growth and financial inclusion while promoting social solidarity.
7. Asia (Pakistan) – Indus Hospital’s Free Healthcare Model
SDG Focus: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), founded by Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, is a trailblazer in providing completely free, high-quality healthcare to underserved communities in Pakistan. Starting as a single hospital in Karachi in 2007, IHHN has grown into a nationwide network of hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and public health initiatives.
Indus Hospital’s paperless, cashless, and private-sector-driven model embodies an inclusive approach to healthcare. The network serves millions of patients annually, offering services ranging from primary care to complex surgeries, maternal health, and disease prevention programs like tuberculosis control.
By mobilizing public-private partnerships, engaging philanthropy, and leveraging digital health technologies, Indus Hospital is demonstrating how SDG 3 can be realized in resource-constrained environments, reducing inequalities in health access and outcomes.
8. Asia (Pakistan) – TCF Schools: Transforming Education for the Underserved
SDG Focus: SDG 4 (Quality Education) & SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
The Citizens Foundation (TCF), established in 1995, has emerged as a pioneering model of providing quality education to underprivileged children in Pakistan. Operating over 1,800 purpose-built schools across the country, TCF offers affordable, quality education to over 275,000 students, with nearly 50% of them being girls—breaking long-standing barriers to female education.
TCF’s holistic approach includes:
🔹 Purpose-built, safe, and accessible school facilities.
🔹 Trained female teachers to foster inclusive learning.
🔹 Community engagement to ensure sustained enrollment.
🔹 Student mentorship and alumni programs for long-term impact.
By harnessing local talent, philanthropy, and technology, TCF is not only addressing SDG 4 (Education for All) but also SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Their model demonstrates how systematic, scalable, and community-driven interventions can uplift entire generations, empowering children and communities to break the cycle of poverty.
9. Asia (Pakistan) – Sehat Kahani: Revolutionizing Digital Healthcare Access
SDG Focus: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) & SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
Sehat Kahani, founded by Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga, is transforming healthcare delivery in Pakistan through telemedicine and digital technology. This women-led social enterprise connects patients in remote and underserved communities with qualified female doctors, many of whom were previously unable to practice due to cultural constraints.
Sehat Kahani’s network of e-health clinics, supported by online consultation platforms and mobile apps, provides:
🔹 Accessible, affordable healthcare for rural and urban populations.
🔹 Women empowerment, as female doctors reclaim professional roles.
🔹 Mental health services, maternal and child health, and chronic disease management.
By addressing both the digital divide and gender barriers in healthcare, Sehat Kahani is a stellar example of how innovation and inclusivity can accelerate progress on SDGs 3, 5, and 10. Their model demonstrates how technology-enabled solutions can bridge gaps in healthcare access, even in resource-constrained environments.
10. Asia (Pakistan) – Humaira Bachal’s Dream Foundation: Championing Girls’ Education in Pakistan
SDG Focus: SDG 4 (Quality Education) & SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
Humaira Bachal, a passionate advocate for education, founded the Dream Foundation Trust (formerly Dream Model Street School) in Karachi’s marginalized neighborhoods. Growing up in a community where girls’ education was discouraged, Humaira defied the odds by persuading families to allow girls to attend school. Starting with just a few students in a one-room facility, her efforts have blossomed into a thriving educational network.
The Dream Foundation now provides quality education to over 1,200 students, with a special focus on girls from low-income families. The foundation offers:
🔹 Safe and inclusive learning spaces.
🔹 Female teachers as role models.
🔹 Community engagement to change perceptions about girls’ education.
🔹 Holistic education, including life skills and leadership development.
Humaira’s relentless commitment has turned her school into a beacon of hope for communities where female education was once taboo. Her story has inspired global attention, including a documentary feature by filmmakers Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and the Malala Fund, highlighting how local champions can drive global SDG progress.
Through Dream Foundation, Humaira continues to empower girls to break cycles of poverty, gain economic independence, and transform their communities, addressing SDGs 4, 5, and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).