Since 2008, Zarfaam Kish Commercial Development Company began operations as a subsidiary under the overarching policies of the Mostazafan Foundation, and as part of the Alavi Foundation. From 2018 to 2023, this company served as the main operational arm of the Alavi Foundation for implementing employment projects in underprivileged regions. In 2023, with a restructuring of the Alavi Foundation, the company was rebranded as the Alavi Economic Empowerment Institute, focusing on economic empowerment in deprived and rural areas with a sustainable employment and income approach. Its economic empowerment programs are designed and implemented based on the following strategies:
- 1.Creating sustainable added value by completing production chains and forming economic clusters centered on strengthening local capacity.
- 2.Encouraging public participation and strengthening national resolve by empowering local entrepreneurs and supporting the development of local businesses based on regional capacities.
- 3.Maximizing the use of human, social, physical, and natural capacities in underprivileged areas.
- 4.Revitalizing infrastructure and natural resources in deprived areas such as qanats, farmlands, and irrigation system improvement.
- 5.Providing training and enhancing applicants’ knowledge and skills via standardized educational content and utilizing networks of technical consultants and business clinics.
- 6.Diversifying the rural economy considering the ecological capabilities of each region.
- 7.Developing marketing and sales platforms for products produced in deprived areas.
- 8.Assisting in the revitalization of idle or semi-operational industries in deprived and rural areas based on regional advantages and spatial planning documents.
- 9.Supporting the development of knowledge-based and technology-driven businesses in deprived areas.
- 10.Ensuring the provision of sustainable financial resources through leveraging and revitalizing dormant assets.
Hayat Model
Implementation and Stages of Economic Empowerment
To achieve inclusive economic advancement and empowerment where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and contribute, the Alavi Foundation has designed and implemented the innovative “Hayat” Model as a comprehensive roadmap. This model is carefully founded on the following core principles:
1. Leveraging and Productivizing Resources
Pursues optimal use of all available resources—financial, human, natural—turning them into productive, value-generating assets.
2. Utilizing Existing Structures
To avoid redundancy and waste, the model prioritizes synergy and coordination with existing governmental and regional structures.
3. Alignment with National and Regional Planning Documents
The model respects higher-order national and regional development documents (e.g., national development plans, spatial planning) and leverages local competitive and comparative advantages.
4. People-Centered and Participatory Approach
Emphasizing authentic and informed participation of local people in all planning and implementation phases. Local views and actual needs are identified and incorporated into decision-making processes.
5. Network of Local Jihadi Facilitators
Effective implementation in target areas relies on a robust network of local facilitators familiar with cultural, social, and economic characteristics and closely connected to local communities.
Implementation Stages of the Hayat Plan
Hayat System – Technological Infrastructure
To support integrated information management and implementation of the Hayat Plan, the Hayat System has been developed as a comprehensive platform for business development and employment creation. Its key features include
Comprehensive and Integrated Processes
Covers the full employment development cycle from applicant identification to business monitoring
Integration with National Platforms
Capable of exchanging data with national government systems for streamlined processing.
Real-Time Bank Connectivity
Online integration with banking systems to facilitate financial transactions and loan disbursement.
Achievements and transformative steps and milestones from March 2024 to March 2025
338
Formation of Economic Empowerment Councils counties
338
Drafting of Economic Progress Documents counties
63,245
Creation and expansion plans for small and home-based employment
1,017
Creation and development workshop-scale employment projects
26,813
person-hours of training, skill-building, and career counseling
92,212
Creation direct job opportunities
46,106
Creation indirect job opportunities
10
Final documentation qanat systems as part of the qanat restoration support program
Strategic Themes and Programs
Strategic Theme 1
Business Creation and Development
Programs:
- Small businesses (up to 2 persons)
- Workshop-based businesses (up to 7 employees)
- Enterprise businesses (up to 20 employees)
Strategic Theme 2
Business Support
Programs:
- Training, skill development, and career counseling
- Market development for businesses
Strategic Theme 3
Small-Scale Financial Resource Gathering
Programs:
- Establishment of community zero interest loan funds
Major Completed Plans and Projects
Since 2015, Alavi Foundation has prioritized economic empowerment with a focus on employment. Based on its experience, the foundation continues to enhance these programs and currently carries them out through the specialized Alavi Economic Empowerment Center.
