Project Briefs – second

SPO successfully implemented its project titled ‘Resilient, Informed and Safer Schools and Communities Project’ with the financial support of UNICEF. The project started in December 2017 and concluded in November 2018 and was implemented in the most vulnerable and disaster-prone districts of Sindh which included Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Sanghar.

The overall goal of the project was to carry out a vulnerability and child-centered assessments of 47 schools in four target districts of Sindh.

SPO conducted vulnerability and child-centered assessments of 47 schools. In addition, four projects covering launching and closing ceremonies were also organized. District Disaster Coordination Forums were reactivated, trained and received endorsement from respective District administrations. School Disaster Management Committees (SDMCs) were also reactivated, trained and endorsed by the SELD department. Other important activities of the project included capacity-building trainings, sensitization and awareness sessions. However, those who obtained trainings included 86 head teachers and Government officials, 121 teachers, 94 school wardens, 684 members of SDMCs, 707 Rescuer Group members, 2015 people including teachers, students and communities trained in utilization of DRR kits. In addition, 1916 people participated in theatre performance activities in ten events, 1780 participated in quiz competition activities, 1057 were trained through mock-drill exercises, and 13725 were reached through awareness-raising sessions.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Making Provincial Governments in Pakistan more accountable for Human Rights’ project with the financial support of Foreign & Common Wealth Office from June 2016 to March 2017 in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

The overall goal of this project was to inculcate and strengthen the Universal Human Rights in the provincial Human Rights Policies for improved social and economic well-being of people. The year-long initiative was based on a multi-pronged approach which comprised of orientation meetings with stakeholders, training workshops for the legislators and relevant departments and developing linkages between federal and provincial Human Rights departments and committees.

SPO mobilized and sensitized government office bearers and political representatives to create four provincial ‘Task Forces on Human Rights’ under the appointment of the respective Provincial Chief Ministers. The Task Forces on Human Rights have the responsibility of implementing human rights policy frameworks adopted by provincial government departments owing to the cross-cutting nature of human rights. SPO also established Civil Society Watch Groups on Human Rights to act as watch dogs to ensure implementation of these policies. As a result of concentrated advocacy and lobbying with Provincial Human Rights Departments, Punjab and Sindh have adopted and promulgated the human rights policies in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Citizen First’ project with the financial support of the Royal Netherland Embassy and Oxfam from April 2015 to October 2016. The project covered the districts of Khairpur, Larkana, Shikarpur and Sukkur in Sindh.

The overall goal of the project was to facilitate long-term stability in Pakistan through strengthened local and national governance structures. The project interventions intended to contribute to human security by specifically strengthening the dialogue between government and civil society, and increasing the engagement of civil society in structural advocacy at different levels to foster more efficiency, accountability and transparency in the delivery of basic services by the government.

SPO facilitate to sensitize and educate 14,000 community members about their fundamental human rights and responsibilities as citizens. In districts Khairpur, Sukkur, Shikarpur, and Larkana, 14 citizen groups were established which continue to function and engage with local authorities for the demand of equal and inclusive access to social services. SPO ensures that these 14 CSOs / CBOs across Pakistan will continue to campaign and lobby with federal/national assemblies in order to protect the rights of citizens.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Strengthening the Rights & Justice Framework Agenda in Pakistan’ project with the financial support of TFP and USAID. The project covered all four provinces of Pakistan from October 2015 to February 2016.

The overall goal of the project was to enhance the capacity of the employees working at the Ministry of Human Rights by equipping them with skills sets in report writing, advocacy, outreach, lobbying and hosting employees to ensure fundamental rights of all citizens, especially marginalized section of the society; enhance report writing skills of Ministry’s employees; and capacitate the Ministry’s employees for better advocacy, outreach, lobbying, reporting and hosting events related to human rights in Pakistan.

SPO under its ‘Social & Economic Development’ programme conducted several training sessions which were designed on the specific needs identified during FGDs, status of HR violations in Pakistan and their respective PPC/CrPC provisions in the law, current status of reporting on core UN conventions & global best practices. The training content was designed to realize the above mentioned objectives in a series of trainings conducted across Pakistan with the Ministry’s staff, aligned departments and other pertinent stakeholders. Around 47 individuals were trained from MoHR, other relevant government line departments, and members of Academia & Civil Society.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Access to Education for All’ project in collaboration with Punjab Education Support Programme -2 (PESP-2) and with financial support of DFID from March 2015 to March 2016. The project covered district Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar in Punjab.

The overall goal of the project was to improve the literacy rate in the districts of Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar through enhancing enrolment and retention of out of school children in schools.

In order to achieve this target, SPO collected the gender segregated data of Out of School Children (OSC) for age groups (4 – 9 years and 9 – 16 years) from all identified villages in both selected districts and compiled and made it accessible for each stakeholder.  Around 30,000 out of school children were enrolled and retained in schools and a tracking mechanism to evaluate the progress in terms of enrollment and retention in all schools (primary & middle) were developed in collaboration with District Education Departments.

SPO ensured that major number of out of school children, specially girls, are enrolled and retained in both primary and middle schools of targeted districts. SPO also established school management committees to involve community to look after management and progress of students. The community forums played key role in project outreach at village, UCs and district level that represented members from all segments of society including School Management Committees (SMCs), marginalized groups such as women, children, youth, religious minorities and differently able people.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Promoting Access to Justice’ project” across Pakistan with the financial support of USAID-Gender Equity Programme. The project started in January 2015 and concluded in March 2016.

The overall goal of this project was to improve the access of women to the formal justice system, and to address gender based violence through sensitization of district bar associations and through establishing a kiosk in the courts for women accessing formal judicial system.

SPO collaborated with the Bar Associations in order to take gender sensitive measures so the women can gain access to the formal justice system without any hindrances. The project enhanced knowledge and sensitivity of the members of Bar Associations across Pakistan on themes like gender, legal approaches to equality, pro-women laws, family and minority laws (including Qisas and Diyat) and international legal instruments and obligations related to women’s rights. SPO’s efforts have helped reduce gender-based violence through increased sensitization among judicial system and awareness amongst communities.

SPO implemented ‘Enhancing Capacities for Transparent and Accountable Local Governance’ under Citizen Voice Project initiated by USAID. The project started in March 2015 and concluded in February 2016 covering districts Thatta, Badin and Karachi in Sindh and districts Multan, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal in Punjab.

The project successfully capacitated Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and developed linkages among CBOs and politicians in order to increase their interaction with the related departments of Health, Education, Local Government, and Women Development.  The office of Ombudsman and Information Commission were closely involved in the project interventions. The broad strategy of the project revolved around disseminating information on complaint mechanisms to enhance citizen’s and politician’s knowledge and to strengthen CBOs.

I order to ensure transparency and accountability in public service delivery SPO strategized to work in close coordination with different public institutions and made sure that both local and provincial government representatives are accessible to all citizens in their respective constituency.  As a result of this project, more than 60 advocacy action plans were prepared by the local communities, which were later shared with the relevant departments for implementation.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Capacity Building of Women’s’ Organizations’ project in collaboration of USAID-Gender Equity Program from July 2012 to February 2015. The project capacitated Women’s Organizations (WOs) in Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit- Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK).

The overall goal of this project was to build the capacities of 60 WO’s in the area of ‘Organizational Development’ in order to help them to play an effective role in their respective communities and manage women-related community-based projects.

SPO trained two batches of master trainers from select Women’s Organizations. Total, 30 trainings were conducted on skills such as Project Cycle Management, Gender Sensitization and Financial Management. The project benefitted 47 women rights activists from 60 organizations based in targeted districts.  SPO successfully implemented this initiative by utilizing its extensive country-wide outreach and linkages with Women’s organizations. SPO aims to strengthen more partners in future for an equitable and just society.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Improving Education Profile of Sindh & Balochistan’ project in collaboration with Alif Ailan and DFID from July 2014 to June 2015. The project covered Sindh and Balochistan provinces.

The overall goal of the project was to rollout a multi-­tiered rights-­based advocacy campaign seeking structural improvement in the education profile of the targeted districts of Sindh and Balochistan province. A grassroots mobilization campaign was carried out to strengthen voices of citizens. This approach was effective because citizens learnt to articulate their unmet demands such as provision of appropriate school buildings and surrounding environment, teachers and grants to maintain, update and upscale the facilities through focused advocacy campaigns in the target districts. The tools such as protest rallies, teachers’ enrolment drive by the citizens, mobile/sms and electronic media campaigns were employed as part of grassroots activism to notify and to hold to account the elected political leaders and education department officials against malpractices in the education system.

SPO continued to draw on its unique strengths of engaging the district-wide civil society networks (CSNs), partner organizations and District Steering Committees (DSCs) which led to successful execution of project activities.

The project resulted as a huge success which enhanced commitment of the respective Member National Assembly and Member Provincial Assembly towards the cause of education, and a tour of at least ten government schools in his/her constituency in the target district were arranged. Also the issue of teachers’ absenteeism was addressed to an extent that maximum 100 government school teachers were brought back to their appointed places in the schools in the target districts. The mass awareness among the citizens about the district education indicators was created for holding the provincial and district education functionaries accountable for their roles and responsibilities.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Promotion of Human Rights through Human Rights Policy Framework’ project in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights, Government of Pakistan. The project started in May 2014 and concluded in April 2015, covering all provinces of Pakistan.

The three major objectives of this project were to a) prepare a draft National Human Rights Policy Framework (NHRPF) for discussion and incorporation of recommendations; b) consolidate stakeholder recommendations in the draft NHRPF; and c) present a consolidated NHRPF to the government for adoption. SPO held a National Consultation to devise the National Human Rights Policy Framework and policy principles in collaboration with Ministry of Law, Justice & Human Rights. The objective of the consultation was to devise National Human Rights Policy Framework and policy principles for the Government of Pakistan which would ensure that the State of Pakistan has a dignified and responsible image, ensuring the protection of the human rights provided in the constitution and pledged by the State through ratification of the international conventions.

SPO managed to engage relevant stakeholders such as government representatives, legislators, civil society, human rights activists, lawyers and journalists in series of provincial consultation meetings.

In order to review and present final draft of the NHRPF, a national consultation meeting was held on 24th & 25th February, at Islamabad and a large number of human rights activists, philanthropists, environmentalists, academia, representatives from civil society organizations and officials provincial and federal government departments were present. The draft was presented to Ministry for adoption and SPO successfully attained project goal.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Political Parties Development Programme’ with the financial support of National Democratic Institute (NDI). The project started in October 2011 and concluded in February 2015and engaged political parties across Pakistan.

The overall goal of the project was to strengthen the relationship between civil society and political parties in Pakistan in order to foster a participatory political milieu aligned with the principles of democracy. Through this project, SPO sensitized political parties to incorporate the voices and concerns of the common people into their policies and manifestos and also supported individuals and ensured their inclusion in democratic processes.

SPO under its ‘Social & Economic Development’ programme, identified key experts to make them part of the CSO forums, which were organized for all the mainstream political parties.

Two CSO forums were arranged in Islamabad with the aim to initiate political discourse between civil society and PWGs. The speakers at the forum included prominent civil society activists and subject specialists who deliberated at length upon key policy issues. These forums provided a much needed platform for both the civil society as well as the political parties to understand and benefit from each other’s perspective.

SPO successfully implemented ‘Quality Family Planning and Reproductive Healthcare Through Community Mobilization from Rhetoric to Reality’ project in collaboration with the Packard Foundation. The project started in January 2013 and concluded in December 2015, covering Districts Lodhran and Khanewal in Punjab and Matiari and Tando Mohammad Khan in Sindh.

The overarching goal of this project was to strengthen the implementation and quality of Family Planning (FP) and Reproductive Health (RH) services by establishing a functional community oversight and advocacy mechanism for strengthening the overall management and monitoring mechanisms of Public FP/RH services for improved health and population outcomes. A comprehensive model was applied using public sector community based workers, Lady Health Workers and also Community Midwives. Male involvement was made mandatory in order to build consensus within the ambits of the families.

SPO involved communities in the oversight of family planning and reproductive health services through use of existing structures i.e. health committees and linking them up with the district health and population authorities. Monitoring of health services has been a weakest area of Public Sector, so the formed Network Health committees conducted review exercises and  used service quality checklist to identify issues and gaps and make recommendations on monthly basis SPO developed linkages at district level which led to timely corrective actions taken by local authorities based on recommendations compiled by the community.

SPO successfully implemented its project named ‘Promote Social Justice, Democratic Governance and Peace’ with the financial support of the British High Commission (BHC) from October 2011 to September 2014. The project covered 42 districts in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The objective of the project was to build the capacity of Community-­Based Organizations CBOs, Civil Society Networks (CSNs) and political representatives as to enable them towards better practices in democratic governance, social justice and social harmony. SPO designed knowledge-based programs on human rights and conflict management. SPO also trained staff and members of target CBOs to improve their organizational management skills. SPO also built the capacities of political representatives and CSNs in order to launch nationwide advocacy campaigns in social cohesion and harmony.

SPO under its ‘Social & Economic Development’ programme trained 240 Community Organizations (CO) on themes which included the rights-based approach, democratic governance, gender and women rights and conflicts resolution. SPO also facilitated COs in developing 480 action plans to further support democratic governance and human rights while keeping a special focus on minority rights. SPO held 90 advocacy campaigns on peace building and conflict prevention measures.

As a result of SPO’s efforts, 15000 complaints related to governance issues were lodged in the ombudsman’s office,100 human rights violations were responded to by SPO partner organizations, 25000 women acquired CNICs and became registered voters, and around 960 awareness raising/advocacy events were held.

SPO successfully implemented its project named ‘Promote Social Justice, Democratic Governance and Peace’ with the financial support of the British High Commission (BHC) from October 2011 to September 2014. The project covered 42 districts in Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The objective of the project was to build the capacity of Community-­Based Organizations CBOs, Civil Society Networks (CSNs) and political representatives as to enable them towards better practices in democratic governance, social justice and social harmony. SPO designed knowledge-based programs on human rights and conflict management. SPO also trained staff and members of target CBOs to improve their organizational management skills. SPO also built the capacities of political representatives and CSNs in order to launch nationwide advocacy campaigns in social cohesion and harmony.

SPO under its ‘Social & Economic Development’ programme trained 240 Community Organizations (CO) on themes which included the rights-based approach, democratic governance, gender and women rights and conflicts resolution. SPO also facilitated COs in developing 480 action plans to further support democratic governance and human rights while keeping a special focus on minority rights. SPO held 90 advocacy campaigns on peace building and conflict prevention measures.

As a result of SPO’s efforts, 15000 complaints related to governance issues were lodged in the ombudsman’s office,100 human rights violations were responded to by SPO partner organizations, 25000 women acquired CNICs and became registered voters, and around 960 awareness raising/advocacy events were held.

SPO successfully implemented ‘We Care; Financial Empowerment for Women for Increase of Access to Maternal & Newborn Health Care’ project with the financial support of Research Advocacy Fund (RAF).The project started in January 2012 and concluded in July 2014. This project was implemented in district Quetta in Balochistan, district Badin in Sindh, district Faisalabad in Punjab and district Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The project comprised of a research component aimed to assess efficacy and relevance of existing Social Safety Nets (SSNs) in Pakistan and review globally tested models to advocate most pertinent recommendations, policy directives and feedback to key stakeholders. The second component focused on advocacy to sensitize women about their Maternal & Newborn Health (MNH) needs, and create awareness regarding relevant cash transfer options, so that they can utilize cash payments to pay for services at healthcare facilities. Public oversight mechanisms were proposed through this project to enhance the accountability of public cash transfer initiatives, including BISP, for more effective and transparent implementation of cash transfer schemes.

SPO under its ‘Social & Economic Development’ programme has been successful in establishing the importance and need of Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) in MNH related interventions in the country.

The biggest success of the project was the large scale mobilization of parliamentarians, line department officials and civil society in the target districts for spreading awareness and bringing all the stakeholders to unite on issues such as benefits of CCTs vs Non Conditional Cash Transfers (NCCTs), significance of MNH and how to use CCTs for this purpose and participation of BISP and discussion on outstanding issues and their way forward.

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