Output-2: Citizens and communities better able to resolve disputes peacefully, and work together for common solutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab
Peace and harmony is much desired goal for Pakistani society progressively crippled by extremism, violence and fragmentation. Citizens’ in general and youth in particular who are prone and can deflect to extremist agenda were engaged through various activities to strengthen communities’ collective voices.
AAWAZ Voice & Accountability (V&A) Program (2)
As its name insinuates, AAWAZ is a program that invokes people’s clamor for social justice, peace and vertical accountability. Its programming supports an empowered, mobilized and participatory-minded citizenry and creates robust and critical voice channels in the form of active civil society and other non-traditional voice channel actors. The goal of AAWAZ is a stable, tolerant, inclusive, prosperous and democratic Pakistan which meets the basic needs of its people and achieves the MDGs. AAWAZ’s outcome is strengthening fragile democratic processes by making them stable, more inclusive and accountable with a view to enhancing citizens’ voice. Over the years, the Pakistani State has been unable to allocate sufficient resources to meet the development and security needs of the majority of its citizens, especially women, young people, low status castes and religious and ethnic marginalized groups. Objectives of AAWAZ program are profoundly driven by credible assessment of the state of governance, economy and socio cultural context of Pakistan. The program undertakes to address manifest and deep rooted structural issues of our society. By and large, the program aims to increase and strengthen participation of women and excluded groups in political and social spheres. It promotes enhancing social cohesion and conflict resolution. Moreover, AAWAZ program strengthens citizens’ voices for access to social services especially education and health by demanding accountability and good governance. As a result of the implementation of this program, violence against women will become less socially acceptable, incidences will drop, and women and other excluded groups will be better able to participate safely in politics and in public spaces at local levels and articulate demands on the issues that affect them. With effective oversight, communities will be better able to resolve disputes peacefully and work together for improved service delivery. Funded by DFID and rolled out in May 2012, AAWAZ V&A is a 5-year long project to benefit roughly 9 million people in 45 districts of Punjab and KP provinces. The program is a joint venture of a consortium of an international and five (5) leading rights based national organizations. This gigantic effort is built on the long standing experience, skills and strengths of AAWAZ program’s consortium partners. Consortium partners and Stake Holders AAWAZ Partners & Stake Holders Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), Sungi Development Foundation (SDF), South Asia Partnership (SAP-PK) and Aurat Foundation (AF) are responsible for implementation of this program at village, UC, Tehsil, district, provincial and national levels. Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) is to generate evidence through M&E, research and analysis for policy advocacy in collaboration with other consortium partners. Development Alternative Initiatives (DAI), an international development organization coordinates overall project management. AAWAZ complements and builds on other programs of similar nature. The program seeks to develop synergies, linkages and partnerships. For strengthening citizens’ voices, AAWAZ involves effective participation and collaboration of a large range of stakeholders including communities, human rights activists, academia, civil society groups and organizations, legal fraternity, trade unions and teachers associations, political parties, minority groups, media and government. AAWAZ ForumA bottom up structure of AAWAZ forums at village, UC, Tehsil and district levels is linked up, mobilized, capacitated and facilitated through awareness raising, capacity building, lobbying and policy advocacy activities. Moreover, AAGAHI centers to be established at each Union Council level are to become locus of awareness and capacity building activities. Each AAWAZ forum is mandatorily represented by 50% women and excluded groups.
Output-3: Women and other excluded groups better able to demand improved delivery of services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab
Output 3 of AAWAZ program refers to introducing and strengthening inclusive and accountable democratic processes by encouraging accountability of all governing tiers by citizens regarding provision of services. Citizen engagement throughout the programme also refers as a cross-cutting thematic area where inclusive approaches are embedded.
Output-4: Improved evidence generated, synthesized and communicated/ championed to political leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab
AAWAZ is an investigative as well as an implementing programme. It will need rigorous monitoring and evaluation to test the actual effects and assess the potential for scaling up. A Programme Analysis, Research and Results (PARR) facility will be established to conduct on-going independent analysis and assessments of the three substantive outputs of the programme (gender equality in politics, community cohesion and tolerance and demand for services) to identify good practices and key lessons to be used to advocate for government reforms
Composition
The ANF will comprise renowned personalities from Parliament, relevant state institutions, academia, media, lawyers and civil society organizations who work towards strengthening democracy and supporting more open, inclusive democratic processes and accountable governance in Pakistan. AAWAZ National Forum (ANF) will be Islamabad based representatives of program partners, elected representatives, nominee from elected representatives
Role and functions
The ANF will serve as the interface between the rights holders and duty bearers. It will develop a concrete evidence based advocacy campaign at the national level around national and international commitments on gender equality in decision-making and protection from violence in the private and in public space. The ANF will develop a comprehensive advocacy plan after strategic priority setting to boast women’s political participation and representation and ensure their safety and security in public life.
Background
AAWAZ-Voice and Accountability a five-year (2012 to 2017) Programme is striving to strengthen stable, inclusive and tolerant democracy in Pakistan. The Programme views democracy through a gender lens, and intends to contribute to women’s political empowerment, resolution of conflicts across the communities that it works with, and better public service delivery in the areas of health and education through informed and active engagement of citizens. AAWAZ is being managed by Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and implemented by Pakistan’s prime civil society organizations: Aurat Foundation (AF), South-Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK), Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO), Sungi Development Foundation (SDF) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
AAWAZ Voice & Accountability (V&A) Program
As its name insinuates, AAWAZ is a program that invokes people’s clamor for social justice, peace and vertical accountability. Its programming supports an empowered, mobilized and participatory-minded citizenry and creates robust and critical voice channels in the form of active civil society and other non-traditional voice channel actors. The goal of AAWAZ is a stable, tolerant, inclusive, prosperous and democratic Pakistan which meets the basic needs of its people and achieves the MDGs. AAWAZ’s outcome is strengthening fragile democratic processes by making them stable, more inclusive and accountable with a view to enhancing citizens’ voice.
AAWAZ Structure
A bottom up structure of AAWAZ forums at village, UC, Tehsil and district levels is linked up, mobilized, capacitated and facilitated through awareness raising, capacity building, lobbying and policy advocacy activities. Moreover, AAGAHI centers to be established at each Union Council level are to become locus of awareness and capacity building activities. Each AAWAZ forum is mandatorily represented by 50% women and excluded groups.