Back in June 2025, Assadaqaat Community Finance (ACF) was grateful to take part in a panel at the Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summit, held in the UN headquarters in Geneva. Themed ‘Harnessing Entrepreneurship and Inclusion as a Pathway to Global Peace’, the panel brought together leaders in policy, enterprise, and community development to explore how inclusive economic participation can foster stability, equality, and lasting peace.

ACF’s perspective on entrepreneurship and peace

For our founder and CEO, Akmal Hanuk, the theme of the summit couldn’t be more personal. As he shared during the panel:

“Peace is not the absence of war or conflict alone – it is the presence of opportunity. Inclusive entrepreneurship is how we create that opportunity.”

At ACF, we see entrepreneurship as more than starting a business. It is about agency; the power to imagine a better future and to act towards creating it. When women, youth, migrants, refugees, and low-income communities are given equal access to this power, the ripple effects reach far beyond economics. They foster dignity, confidence, social cohesion, and ultimately, peace.

Akmal reflected on what this means in practice:

“When people are financially empowered — when they have the skills and tools to support their families, contribute to their communities, and build a future — they become active participants in peacebuilding. We’re not just offering training, skills, advice, mentoring and interest-free finance. We’re restoring agency, hope, and belonging to communities who have been left behind.”

Why inclusion must be built in, not added on

A key message Akmal emphasised at the summit was that inclusion cannot be something that comes later. Mainstream business and finance systems are often built for the few, excluding those with the greatest potential. By contrast, ACF’s model is deliberately designed to remove barriers, whether that’s access to finance, culturally sensitive support, or space for personal growth and confidence.

“Our philosophy is simple: we empower the entrepreneur, not just the business idea. Any idea can thrive if the individual behind it has the confidence, the self-esteem, and the right support.”

Policy and partnership call

Akmal also used this platform to issue a call to action to governments, corporations, and civil society. To create peace through entrepreneurship we can’t rest on good intentions alone; it requires systems that are inclusive, practical, and resilient. He highlighted four priorities:

– Investing in underserved entrepreneurs with financial tools tailored to their realities, from microfinance to community-based investment platforms.

– Building inclusive ecosystems through education, incubators, and regulatory systems that lower barriers to entry.

– Encouraging global South-South collaboration, so knowledge and resources are shared horizontally, not only through North-to-South aid models.

– Integrating peacebuilding frameworks into entrepreneurship programmes, embedding trauma-awareness, reconciliation, and healing into economic empowerment.

Looking ahead

For ACF, the summit was an opportunity to connect with global partners, share our community-rooted model, and demonstrate how inclusive entrepreneurship can be a genuine pathway to peace.

As Akmal closed his remarks:

“Inclusive entrepreneurship is not an optional extra. It is a foundational pillar of socio-economic justice — and a pathway to lasting, sustainable peace.”

ACF now looks forward to building on this momentum: expanding our global collaborations, influencing policy, and scaling our ethical finance and training model to empower even more communities worldwide.

Join us in growing a movement where entrepreneurship empowers people and strengthens communities. To find out how you can support or collaborate with ACF, please contact us here.

We are deeply appreciative to have shared the stage with inspiring leaders including Duchess Nivin ElGamal of Lamberton, Dr Alison Edgar MBE, Joy Macko, and Scarlett Allen-Horton — each bringing powerful perspectives on how entrepreneurship and inclusion can drive global peace. A special thanks also goes to Bernie Davies (Mastering Diversity), who hosted and facilitated the summit, and whose mission to bring the message of inclusivity to the UN has been unwavering. We also extend our gratitude to everyone who supported and contributed to making this summit such an important and impactful gathering.