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We catalyze women-led solutions that strengthen communities — enabling women to navigate change, shape their own futures, and lead healthy lives.

We catalyze women-led, locally grounded, sustainable solutions that strengthen communities—enabling women to navigate change, shape their own futures, and lead healthy lives.

10/29/2026

How are women reshaping the future of climate finance and sustainable infrastructure? 🌍

On the sidelines of , Episode 4 of our podcast, The Springboard, tackles this head-on with a powerful conversation between a top-tier climate funder and a breakthrough transit founder.

About our guests:

May Liew (CEO of OCTAVE Capital / Asia Ocean Fund), who is deploying private capital into scalable, high-impact ocean resilience solutions across the Asia-Pacific.

Maha Shahzad (Founder & CEO of BusCaro), who scaled a ride-share platform in Pakistan that has completed over 30 million bookings, taken 8,000+ vehicles off the road daily, and slashed carbon emissions by over 29 million kg.

Together, they discuss how to weather early-stage startup rejection, build inclusive products, and shift venture capital underwriting to back women-led climate infrastructure.

Catch the full episode when it airs November 9 on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.

10/27/2026

What happens when you invest in young people and women?

🔹 8,500 adolescents equipped with knowledge, skills, and confidence through Act With Her
🔹 4,500+ parents and caregivers engaged as champions for their children
🔹 Women and youth turning practical skills into economic opportunity through the Livelihoods Program

Under the patronage of H.E. Wafa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development, Pathfinder International brought together 150+ government representatives, partners, donors, and community leaders in Amman to celebrate both programs, funded by the Elsa and Peter Soderberg Foundation.

Exhibitions showcased youth-led initiatives on gender equality, health education, and digital safety, alongside products made by Livelihoods participants, proof of what young people and women can achieve when given the opportunity.

Thank you to the Ministry of Social Development, the Institute for Family Health (IFH), and all our partners, mentors, and donors for making this possible.

10/26/2026

We are so excited that our Board member and former Springboard podcast guest, Shirley Machaba, has a new book out!

“Belief Model – A Story of Resilience” details Shirley's personal journey as a renowned leader in Southern Africa and is a practical blueprint for women and young people’s leadership journeys.

Join us this Wednesday on Instagram live as we dive deeper into the book.

The book was released on October 24! Get your copy here: https://books2read.com/b/4jlgzX

10/23/2026

We are so excited that our Board member and former Springboard podcast guest, Shirley Machaba, has a new book out!

“Belief Model – A Story of Resilience” is a practical blueprint for women and young people’s leadership journeys. The book details Shirley’s personal story as she overcame immense challenges to become CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Southern Africa, and a well-recognized voice for women’s leadership in the region.

For every woman, youth, leader, mother, and dreamer who has ever questioned her self-worth, this book will remind you: you are still standing for a reason, and your comeback will be stronger than your setback.

The book will be released on October 24! Get your copy here: https://books2read.com/b/4jlgzX

10/21/2026

Uganda’s frontline health workforce has received a major boost with support from the UK in Uganda-funded EMPOWER Programme. The national programme has focused on building health worker capacity to deliver quality reproductive and maternal health services.

Through EMPOWER, 53 health workers have graduated from the Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute after completing intensive training in Point-of-Care Ultrasound.

The graduates now have critical skills to deliver quality reproductive and maternal health services. These include early detection of pregnancy-related complications, timely clinical decision-making, and better referrals, all of which save lives at health facilities.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Dr. Ritah Waddimba, Country Director of Pathfinder Uganda and Team Leader of the EMPOWER Programme, was joined by Dr. Doreen Kenyangi. Dr. Waddimba highlighted Pathfinder’s work under EMPOWER to strengthen health systems, and tackle misinformation and harmful gender norms that hinder women from accessing care. She also thanked programme partners for their role in delivering quality services and strengthening national health systems.

To explore more about the programme, visit: https://www.pathfinder.org/events/empower/

10/21/2026

The women who co-designed Women&Co Kenya are founders, financiers, health workers, climate innovators, policy leaders and community builders. Together, we're shaping something new: a platform built on their decisions, their data and their collective voice.

In Co-design 1, we mapped what Kenyan women entrepreneurs need and face at every stage, from start-up to scale. They identified the obstacles holding women-led enterprises back and set out a clear mandate: continuity, coordination and connective tissue. They asked for one platform that brings together peer support, credentials, advocacy and market access, and serves as their collective voice.

Co-design 2 is now underway. Women entrepreneurs are working alongside investors, lenders, buyers and ecosystem partners to build that platform together. In this model, women make the decisions, own their data and have the backing to advocate for women's entrepreneurship as a key driver of Kenya's economic growth and community resilience.

Read the report here: https://bit.ly/4yVHIo2

10/20/2026

In Obongi district, mothers search for a scan meant a long costly journey before sunrise. Belle Health Centre III had no ultrasound and referred all mothers to Adjumani, 20 to 30km away costing about UGX 30000.

Many never made it. Through EMPOWER, implemented by Pathfinder with support from the UK Government in collaboration with Ministry of Health and District Local Governments, that is changing. Level III facilities now have AI-enabled point of care ultrasound.

Jackline Kojoki, a nurse from Belle Health Centre III was selected by the District Health Office and trained at Ernest Cook University in theory and hands on scanning with the portable probe. Her facility was equipped and she received mentorship to train fellow nurses.

"Before we had to refer mothers far for scans. Now I have been equipped and will be able to support mothers here while transferring skills to my fellow nurses," said Jackline.

Expectant mothers in Obongi no longer need to undertake risky, expensive cross-district water travel to Adjumani for ultrasound scans, eliminating a life-threatening barrier during night-time emergencies.

About the AI-enabled ultrasound technology: It is a handheld ultrasound device that is connected to an application on a tablet (or smartphone) that guides a health worker through using the device to obtain information on the fetus size, position, gestational age, and any potential irregularities that could indicate further testing is needed. Instead of requiring specialized skills to read ultrasound scans, the application has AI integrated to analyze the images and identify multiple gestations, fetal presentation, and estimated fetal weight.

More detail available here: https://delftimaging.com/solutions/ultrasound/babychecker/

10/19/2026

At the Women’s Health Roundtable at the World Health Summit in Berlin last week, Pathfinder International’s Vice President for Strategic Engagement and Innovation, Madiha Latif, joined global health leaders to discuss how we can accelerate progress for women’s health.

Drawing on Pathfinder’s experience, Madiha highlighted what it takes to turn women’s health commitments into meaningful action at the country and community level.

Across the discussion, a clear theme emerged: the challenge is often not a lack of ambition or vision, but the capacity to deliver locally. Achieving lasting progress requires strengthening frontline health systems, making better use of existing resources, and recognizing the critical leadership role women play throughout the health workforce.

Thank you to all the partners and advocates working to advance women’s health and ensure solutions are grounded in the realities of communities.

10/17/2026

Kenya has an abundance of initiatives for women entrepreneurs. Women move between them in repeating cycles, re-sourcing support, re-making connections and often losing their credentials and data along the way. The women we spoke to described a system working against them: many women-led enterprises stay stuck at micro scale, unable to reach the finance and markets they need to grow.

The women who co-designed with Women&Co Kenya asked for continuity, coordination and connective tissue: one platform that brings together peer support, credentials, advocacy and market access, and serves as their collective voice.

Co-design 2 is now underway, with women entrepreneurs, investors and partners building the Women&Co platform together. In this model, women make the decisions, own their data and advocate for women's entrepreneurship to be treated as a key driver of Kenya's economic growth and community resilience.

Explore more findings from the Women&Co Kenya report here:https://www.womenandco.pathfinder.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Kenya-WomenCo-Report-October-2026.pdf

10/15/2026

Women in rural areas are growing possibilities.

From strengthening food security, helping communities adapt to a changing climate, advancing health, and opening doors for the next generation, these women are leading from the front.

Yet, the women driving this change still face barriers to the resources, opportunities, and decision-making power they deserve.

This International Day of Rural Women, we're celebrating their leadership and calling for greater recognition, equal opportunities, and investment in their futures.

Because when women have the resources and opportunities to thrive, entire communities benefit.

Swipe to explore how she's leading progress. And learn about how Pathfinder works with women to build climate resilience: https://www.pathfinder.org/impact-stories/climate-champions-how-women-in-pakistan-and-bangladesh-are-leading-the-fight-for-resilience/

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