The Northern Areas and Chitral (NAC) regions are amongst the poorest and most isolated of Pakistan. Unemployment is very high, and a majority of households depend on subsistence agriculture or honeybee production. Moreover, while women are 55% of the honeybee producers in this area, they only account for 35% of the total income generated by honeybee production. In 2007, at the Clinton Global Initiative’s Annual Meeting, the Hashoo Foundation (HF) made a Commitment to Action to support the advancement of women within this region, and improve their livelihoods with the Women Empowerment through Honeybee Farming project.

Originally aiming to reach 50 women, this initiative has already exceeded its target, training and engaging 90 women in honeybee production and benefiting 600 dependants in the span of just two years. Although previously marginalized, women participating in this project have been able to take leadership positions within key Honeybee organizations and increase their production by 12%. "The women’s share of income will increase by 30% by 2009," states Cristal Montañéz Baylor, Executive Director of the Hashoo Foundation USA. CGI recently had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Montañéz Baylor, who is responsible for coordinating this project in the U.S. with the lead team at the HF’s headquarters in Islamabad:

Q. In two to three sentences, how would you describe your commitment?

A. Our commitment empowers women through training which enables them to generate a stable source of income to provide for themselves and their dependants. Women also feel more socially integrated in a male-dominated enterprise, primarily because this project addresses the discrepancy between male and female beekeepers.

Q. In what ways have the women beekeepers improved their living conditions as a result of this commitment?

A. In a recent interview for a BBC World Challenge documentary, the women revealed that they had gained skills and income that allowed them to better meet the needs of their children. The women spend 60% of their additional income on education, 10% on health, and 30% on food.

Ms. Jamila, who five years ago started a honeybee farming business with only two beehives, now has 20. "The honey I produce pays for my children’s education," she said. "The Hashoo Foundation has helped us find new markets for our honey."

In addition to expanding their market from a local scale to Five Star Hotel clients, beekeepers will also learn to utilize major honey by-products such as beeswax, royal jelly and pollen to generate supplemental income.

Q. What kind of impact do you think this commitment could have in the region?

A. This project is helping reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of rural women. Honeybee farming is emerging as one of the most prominent and profitable business activities that can promote the local economy. Since women also receive training for improved beekeeping practices, the honey they produce is of superior quality.

HF buys the women beekeepers’ honey at market price and is responsible for identifying sustainable markets where the honey can be sold.

Q. What sort of relationship does HF have with the five star hotels in Pakistan?

A. The Five Star Hotels are part of the Hashwani Family business, the Hashoo Group. These hotels have discontinued their contract with commercial suppliers. The price hotels pay for the women beekeepers’ honey is 69% higher than what they paid commercial suppliers. The hotels choose to purchase this honey due to its high quality and to enhance economic conditions for rural farmers.

Furthermore, HF collaborates with the hotels through the Hotel Management Training Program (HMTP). The youth trained through this program are in a good position to find jobs in and outside the country. Hotels provide a platform for young people to acquire training and leadership skills for free.

Q. What are your plans for scaling up?

A. HF is in the process of identifying more sustainable markets in Pakistan, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. We have already exceeded our two year (2007-2009) commitment projections. However, a measurable amount of resources is still needed for this project. We would also like to develop partnerships with other NGOs and improve quality control mechanisms in order to strengthen this project.

Photos courtesy of the Hashoo Foundation

To learn more about the Hashoo Foundation, visit their website or view a short BBC documentary about their commitment here .