Supporting SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

To support the economic empowerment of rural communities, OSDI launched the Small Rural Enterprise Project (SREP) under its Livelihood Assistance Program. SREP targets educated but unemployed youth, as well as vulnerable individuals such as widows and differently-abled persons, in OSDI's focused rural communities enabling them to establish small businesses and create sustainable, long-term income streams.

Grants are provided to beneficiaries to initiate small businesses such as grocery or mobile shops, transport services, dairy businesses, fish farming, handicrafts, and stitching enterprises. OSDI also assists with feasibility planning and provides Financial Literacy Training to help beneficiaries develop essential business and management skills, including bookkeeping and finance handling.

To date, 80 beneficiaries have been financed under SREP in Sindh, Balochistan and KPK. .

Objectives of the Small Rural Enterprise Project:

• o Poverty alleviation through diverse, sustainable sources of income for rural households
• o Sustainable change by supporting vulnerable individuals such as widows and differently-abled persons
• o Capacity building through training in business planning, bookkeeping, marketing, and financial literacy