Awards & Achievements

Kashf Foundation won the COVID-19 Action Award at the UN Women Asia Pacific’s Women’s Empowerment Principles Awards -2020

Kashf Foundation was the only Pakistani Microfinance Institution to win the COVID-19 Action for its program “ Don’t Let Corona Impact Your Business” which provides financial and non-financial products and services to women micro entrepreneurs to rebuild their businesses after the pandemic.

Outstanding Achievement Award by Pakistan Women Festival - 2017

Managing Director, Kashf Foundation, Ms. Roshaneh Zafar was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Pakistan Women Festival 2017 for the category of Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Kashf’s drama serial Udaari won at the IPPA Awards 2017

The Udaari movement continued with Udaari winning under the Best Drama Serial and the Best Actor category at the IPPA (International Pakistan Prestige Awards) held in London in 2017.

Kashf Foundation received its Second Smart Certification in 2017

Kashf Foundation was proud to have received its second Smart Certification for its adherence to client protection and meeting the international standards of care and treatment of its clients.

Kashf Client awarded N-Peace Award in 2016

Rizwana Bibi, Kashf client from Haripur, was awarded the prestigious N-Peace Award in 2016 for her relentless efforts to empower the women and girls in her community. She was recognized for her efforts on providing the girls with employability skills and for her advocacy work as an agent of peace in the patriarchal landscape of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The award was a testament of the work Kashf has been doing since 1996 to empower low-income households, especially women through micro-loans to sustainably improve and transform their lives.

Kashf Foundation awarded the Certificate of Recognition by Pakistan Microfinance Network for successfully undergoing Social Audit in 2016

An SPI4 social Audit was conducted for Kashf Foudation on Improving Social Performance Management (SPM) and Client Protection (CP). The audit was conducted by JCR-VIS Credit Rating Co. Ltd. in 2016

Kashf Foundation became the first Pakistani institution to win European Microfinance Award – 2016

Kashf Foundation was awarded the prestigious European Microfinance Award by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in 2016. The award was a first-time win for Pakistan and was a recognition of Kashf’s success on its credit and training facilities for low-cost private schools in the country.

Kashf Foundation won two awards at the HUM Awards 2016 for its drama serial Udaari – 2016

Kashf Foundation received two awards at the HUM Awards 2016 for “Best Drama Serial Jury Choice” and “Best Drama Serial Popular Choice” for its drama serial Udaari. This was Kashf’s second television production which became a trailblazer. The series had child sexual abuse as its main theme and explored other themes such as economic empowerment of women, legal hurdles and issues faced by low-income households, social taboos around music and differences between urban and rural life.

Kashf Foundation became the first Pakistani MFI to be Certified by the Smart Campaign - 2015

Kashf Foundation underwent the Smart Campaign’s Client Protection Certification Program with a licensed Certifier and was found to have met the rigorous standards of a Client-centered institution. This meant that Kashf had been recognized as having successfully met adequate standards of care in the treatment of its clients.

Mehergarh Award for Leaders of Change – 2015

Kashf Foundation received the Mehergarh Award for Leaders of Change on Working Women’s Day on 22nd December 2015. The Award was presented to Kashf for maintaining gender equality and opportunity at the workplace.

Savvy & Successful Women of Pakistan - 2014

Savvy & Successful Awards were launched by Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited (CCBPL) in 2013, as an annual event to celebrate Pakistani women achievers who have broken barriers to achieve success in their chosen field. Kashf’s Managing Director, Ms Roshaneh Zafar, was awarded for overcoming impossible challenges to achieve remarkable success not only in terms of her personal achievement, but more importantly, for her success in terms of positively impacting the larger society by promoting Pakistan internationally.

Fatima Jinnah Award - 2014

Kashf’s Managing Director, Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, received the Fatima Jinnah Award by the Government of Punjab for her social entrepreneurship in 2014. The Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah Awards are awarded to outstanding women for excellence in vocational and professional fields.

KFC Honored Kashf with Community Service Award - 2013

In a ceremony held at Crystal Hall, Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore on Saturday, 5th October 2013, Kashf Foundation was honored with the Community Service Award by KFC for its work in the field of providing microfinance services to low-income households, especially women. The Community Service Award by KFC lauded and recognized institutions and individuals which showed extraordinary dedication and contribution in the field of community development.

The Smart Campaign Award for Consumer Protection and Responsible Finance in 2012

The Smart Campaign is a global effort to unite microfinance leaders around a common goal: to keep clients as the driving force of the industry.

Women of Inspiration Award by National Hero Foundation - 2012

National Hero Foundation aims to enlighten and inspire people of all ages about the exemplary work and services of Pakistan’s national heroes and to acknowledge their heroic deeds by presenting them National Hero Award and National Medal of Honor so that the youth and future generations could recognize them and follow their footprints. Kashf Foundation received the award as a recognition of its contribution in the field of women empowerment and poverty alleviation.

Kashf’s Managing Director was placed on the PAK POWER 100 Prominent Pakistanis list - 2012

The Pakistan Power 100 honors only the very highest levels of achievement from within the international Pakistani community and positively promote the outstanding contribution made by Pakistani men & women on a local, national and international level. It is an initiative of the British Pakistan Trust. Kashf’s Managing Director, Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, was placed in the list for her relentless efforts in elevating the status of women from low-income households.

The Global Leadership Award for Economic Empowerment by Vital Voices - 2010

Vital Voices Global Partnership is the preeminent non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, enabling them to create a better world for us all. Kashf received the award for its contribution towards economic empowerment in the country.

The One Woman Initiative (OWI) USAID Award - 2009

The One Woman Initiative is an international women’s empowerment fund launched on May 12, 2008, with the Secretary of State, many from the diplomatic corps and NGO community at the U.S. State Department

Kashf Foundation ranked 34th in its top 50 MFIs of the World by Forbes in 2008

Forbes is an American business magazine owned by Forbes, Inc. published biweekly. It features original articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing, technology, communications, science, and law. Its headquarters are in New York City. Kashf was ranked 34th among the top 50 MFIs of the World by Forbes.

The Social Entrepreneur of the Year by Skoll Foundation USA in 2007

Skoll Foundation is one of the leading foundations in the field of social entrepreneurship. Over the past 13 years, it has awarded more than $358 million, including investments in 97 remarkable social entrepreneurs and 80 organizations on five continents around the world who are creating a brighter future for underserved communities. Kashf’s Managing Director, Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, was awarded the Social Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007 for establishing Kashf Foundation and working tirelessly towards financial inclusion of women in the country.

CGAP Financial Transparency Merit Award 2005 & 2006

CGAP is an independent policy and research center dedicated to advancing financial access for the world’s poor. It is supported by over 30 development agencies and private foundations who share a common mission to alleviate poverty. Housed at the World Bank, CGAP provides market intelligence, promotes standards, develops innovative solutions and offers advisory services to governments, financial service providers, donors, and investors. Kashf Foundation was recognized for its financially transparent practices of provide financial access to low-income households in the country.

Officer Nausheen Kanwal earns the Citibank PPAF Best BDO Award (urban category) 2006

The Citi-PPAF Micro-entrepreneurship Awards Program recognizes and rewards leadership, entrepreneurial skills and best practices of individual micro-entrepreneurs across Pakistan. It is a joint collaboration between Citi Bank Pakistan and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund. Kashf Foundation’s Business Development Officer, Ms. Nausheen Kanwal, was recognized for her persistent efforts in the field working tirelessly with Kashf for improving the conditions of women in the country.

Certified by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy 2005

PCP is an independent nonprofit support organisation registered under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 with a vision “to link the three sectors of society i.e. government, business and civil society organizations in a synergistic partnership for development” and mission “to promote the volume and effectiveness of philanthropy for social development in Pakistan”. PCP is the first Government authorized Certification Agency in Pakistan. Kashf Foundation was certified by PCP in 2005.

The AGFUND International Prize for Microcredit 2005

AGFUND Prize identifies successful development projects, rewards them and disseminates their innovative ideas to best contribute to the improvement of development work. Kashf received the international prize for microcredit in 2005.

5 Diamond Statuses (with regards to financial transparency) by MIXMARKET 2005

MIX is the premier source for objective, qualified and relevant microfinance performance data and analysis. Committed to strengthening financial inclusion and the microfinance sector by promoting transparency, MIX provides performance information on microfinance institutions (MFIs), funders, networks and service providers dedicated to serving the financial sector needs for low-income clients. On MIX Market MIX provides instant access to financial and social performance information covering approximately 2,000 MFIs around the world. Kashf was proud to have received 5 Diamond statuses in 2005 for its financial transparency.

Kashf’s Managing Director, Ms. Roshaneh Zafar, received Tamgha-i-Imtiaz from the President of Pakistan - 2005

Tamgha-i-Imtiaz which literally translates into Medal of Excellence, is a state organized honour by the State of Pakistan. It is one of the highest decorations given to any civilian in Pakistan based on their achievements and Kashf’s Managing Director was proud to have been one of the recognized ones for this award in 2005.

Social Entrepreneur Award by Schwab Foundation 2003

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship provides unparalleled platforms at the regional and global level to highlight and advance leading models of sustainable social innovation. It identifies a select community of social entrepreneurs and engages it in shaping global, regional and industry agendas that improve the state of the world in close collaboration with the other stakeholders of the World Economic Forum. Kashf received the Social Entrepreneur Award from the Schwab Foundation in 2003.

The Microfinance Excellence Award by the Grameen Foundation-USA 2002

Grameen Foundation was founded in 1997 by friends of Grameen Bank to help microfinance practitioners spread the Grameen philosophy worldwide. Kashf Foundation was awarded the Microfinance Excellence Award by the Foundation in recognition of its contribution in the field of microfinance.