It is both humbling and energizing to continue serving as Chief Executive of SPO as we move through 2026. I appreciate the Board of Directors for their confidence in me, and I remain committed to building on our progress, strengthening institutional performance, and leading the organization toward greater impact in the years ahead.

In October 2019, I assumed the role of Chief Executive, becoming the first woman in SPO’s history to lead the organization. During this period, SPO entered a phase of exceptional institutional growth and performance. The organization implemented 32 projects within a single year, the highest annual portfolio to date, and reached an annual budget of PKR 2.5 billion, reflecting a significant strengthening of operational scale and partner confidence.

Since 1994, SPO has remained steadfast in its mission, by reaching nearly 25 million people through 452 projects. To date, we have managed a cumulative portfolio of PKR 16.288 billion (USD 58 million) with the invaluable support of 105 national and international partners. Currently, our total financial portfolio as a management organization stands at PKR 1.455 billion. While 16% of our projects have addressed immediate humanitarian needs, 84% have remained focused on long term development, reflecting our deep seated commitment to inclusive and sustainable change.

In response to the evolving sector dynamics following the 2020 pandemic and subsequent climate shocks, SPO strategically expanded its role. We transitioned from a focus on direct implementation to becoming a robust management organization. This shift has allowed us to strengthen localization by building the technical and operational capacity of smaller, grassroots, and women led organizations across Pakistan.

Our success as a management organization is best reflected in our diverse project portfolio. Through the Women’s Voice and Leadership WVL with Global Affairs Canada and Oxfam initiative, SPO supported 14 Women’s Rights Organizations WROs and several activists across five regions in Pakistan, advancing gender equality through women leadership and responsive funding. Similarly, our Grassroots Action to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage CEFM with Save the Children empowered 14 local Civil Society Organizations CSOs to lead community-based interventions against harmful social norms. In Sindh, our partnership with IRC, strengthened over 20 CSOs and improved nutrition access for over 50,000 women and children.

We have also remained agile in the face of emergencies. Our Flood Emergency Response with Oxfam prioritized community led decision making through 20 Village Committees and institutional strengthening of downstream partners, while our work with OGDCL provided flood resistant shelters to highly vulnerable women led households. Furthermore, our rapid response during the pandemic with the help of Dawood Hercules Group DHG and Colony Textiles facilitated a 16 bed ICU HDU facility at Nishtar Hospital, significantly boosting critical healthcare capacity in Multan.

Today, SPO operates with a dual mandate, acting as both an implementing and a management organization. We are grounded in strong Governance, transparent Financial Systems, and a bridge building approach that connects Global Funders with Grassroots realities while advancing localization and strengthening women led institutions. At the heart of SPO remain our people and our values. We stay committed to integrity and inclusion, ensuring that marginalized communities, especially women and youth, are empowered as true agents of change. Leaving no one behind is not just an aspiration; it is our collective responsibility.

Arifa Mazhar
Chief Executive
SPO