July - September 2013

Transcription

1 July September

2 Celebrating 30 Years of the Rural Support Programmes On the 1st of July, the RSPN celebrated 30 years of the Rural Support Programmes. To mark the occasion two events; a National Convention of Community Civil Society Organisations as well as the book launch of Man in the Hat The story of Shoaib Sultan Khan and the rural poor of South Asia written by Australian author Mr. Noel Cossins were held at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad: The event was attended by over 500 people representing community organisations, local, provincial and federal government, members of the donor community and persons associated with the RSPs since the last 30 years. The National Convention of CSOs marked the achievements of the community based organisations, i.e. Local Support Organisations (LSOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) of the European Unionfunded project titled Capacity Building of Local Grassroots Organisations in Governance, Transparency and Gender Sensitisation. This 18 month project was implemented by RSPN and three of its partner Rural Support Programmes; namely the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP). The project aimed to strengthen 160 grassroots organisations in 12 districts across Chitral, Mardan, Mansehra and Turbat regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. 18 month strengthening and capacity building project has helped 160 LSOs and CSOs in 12 districts across the aforementioned regions in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. These LSOs and CSOs were strengthened in areas such as gender sensitisation and budgeting, development and resource mobilisation planning and financial recordkeeping. Most importantly, the Convention was attended by community members from over 180 LSOs and CSOs from across the country. The Chief Guest of the Convention was Mr. Berend De Groot, Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation to Pakistan. He started his Key Note Speech by saying that he was impressed by the presentations that day and said he was honoured to be addressing a group of distinguished Pakistanis who had given leadership to the RSP movement in their common aim to reduce poverty. He received the applause of the crowd when he said that all the participants today have carried on the experiences that started 30 years ago; something that had become a countrywide movement and an autonomous local civil society. He said that something of this scale is rarely seen anywhere in the developing world. He also said that the partnership of EU with Pakistan was cognizant of the achievements and the potential of the RSP movement. Mr. De Groot continued by saying that the EU had funded various projects of the RSP movement regarding social mobilisation activities as a means of delivery of activities. He further praised the concept of the RSP in terms of its delivery, and declared their capability to strengthen the Panel of Speakers at the book launch of Man in the Hat structure of village organisations in the regions with any donor as commendable. The 30th anniversary celebrations also consisted of the launch of the biography of Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan, Chairman RSPN and his work with the Rural Support Programmes. The author of Man in the Hat: The story of Shoaib Sultan Khan and the rural poor of South Asia, Mr. Noel Cossins gave his views on the writing of the biography to the audience consisting of government dignitaries, development workers, rural community representatives and international guests he said that the book should make us all think about a simple realisation, the fallibilities, we are all capable of, the heights that can be scaled, and the seemingly bottomless troughs that we can climb out of, if only we believe in ourselves and the value of what we want to achieve. He further said he wanted the readers to be left with three ideas, after reading his book and he concluded with these ideas: The power of One though the RSP movement was all about the power of many as demonstrated in different regions of Pakistan, but in retrospect, it started with the power of one, Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan himself, who was able to light the fire and activate people into believing that they can really do the impossible. The Power of Love if you trust somebody, they will be trustworthy. People who are not conscious of their own selfimportance and people who can be humble like Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan understand this concept. The Power of Achievement to build on the achievements of predecessors, and stand on the shoulders of giants, just like Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan had stood on the shoulders of his mentor, Dr. Akhter Noel Cossins, Author of the book

3 Hameed Khan. Mr. Cossins remarked that today Mr. Khan himself had become a giant on his own and that his shoulders were ready for people who were willing to step up. Other highlights of the book launch consisted of impressions of the book from a distinguished set of speakers. Dr. Amjad Saqib Executive Director, Akhuwat, said that Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan s philosophy had help further development throughout South Asia. The Man in the Hat, he said, was a depiction of Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan s struggle to eradicate poverty in the region and that his message was that of love and struggle, and not of any personal fame or greed the main aspiration was to remove the stain of poverty from the faces of the poor somehow, poor who don t beg, but merely ask for their right. According to the speaker, the uniqueness of the book owed to the fact that the book did not revolve around one person, rather it revolved around a philosophy a philosophy that aimed to bring a change in this current corrupt system. Mr. Ejaz Rahim ExCabinet Secretary, Government of Pakistan said that this was a book about leadership, we all understand the state of our state, and the state of our society, and therefore a small still voice tells us that there is relevance and the kind of leadership that is the subject of the book. Mr. Rahim declared two heroes in the book, the Meeting first Mr. of Khan, LSO and RCDF, the Kotli, other, AJK the cause to which he devoted his entire life. He continued by saying that this book was most important for the policy cadres and managers and especially the youth of Pakistan and affirmed the message for them the will should fashion environment; the environment should not be allowed to fashion the human will. Amidst applause, he concluded, This is not only a book about a man in the hat, because this is a book about the head in the hat, and this is a book about the heart in the man, and therefore the head; the heart and the hat come together and make up Shoaib Sultan Khan. Mr. T. Vijay Kumar (IAS) Joint Secretary SGSY & Mission Director, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India., who flew in especially from India for this event. He briefly read out a letter from his Minister, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, a friend of Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan, who praised Mr. Khan and said that India s Bank linked up with the women s selfhelp movement had greatly benefitted from constant advice, suggestions and support from Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan. The speaker shared his affiliation with Mr. Khan, which started in He said that when you see Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan in action in the villages and see him bond with the poorest, you realise that the word great is an understatement. He concluded by telling the guests about the achievements of the programme implemented in India that actually began and later flourished with the guidance of Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan. The Chief Guest of the book launch was Dr. Ishrat Husain ExGovernor, State Bank of said he had the privilege to learn micro finance from Mr. Khan at AKRSP, and had the chance to regulate it when he became the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. He further said, eventually, Pakistan became the first Mr. Berend De Groot, Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation to Pakistan

4 325,565 5,397,155 5,574, ,690

5 The Outreach of the Rural Support Programmes Across Pakistan C HIT R A L G HIZE R G B G IL G IT G HA NC HE E S K A R DU C H A G A I WA S HUK K HA R A N NUS HK I K HUZDA R QILA AB DULLAH P IS HIN MA S T UNG B A L O C H I S T A N QUE T TA ZIA R AT S IB I B OL A N ZHOB QILA SAIFULLAH L OR A L A I K OHLU K A L AT DER A B UGTI B A HAWA L P UR NA S E E R A B A D JHAL MAGSI J A FA R A B A D K A S HMOR E J A C OB A B A D R A HIMYA R K HA N S HIK A R P UR G HOT K I L A R K A NA S HA HDA DK OT S UK K UR DIR K OHIS TA N S WAT DIA ME R T IMUR G A R A B AT G R A M NE E L UM B A J A UR S HA NG L A MA L A K A ND B UNE R A J K MA R DA N MA NS E HR A MOHMA D C HA R S A DDA MUZA F FA R A B A D S WA B I A B B OT TA B A D P E S HAWA R HA R IP UR B A G H J AMMU & K AS HMIR K HY B E R NOWS HE R A P OONC H Disputed Territory K HUR R A M OR A K A ZA I F R P E S HAWA R IS L A MA B A D AT TOC K S UDHNUT I HA NG U K OHAT K OT L I K A R A K R AWA L P INDI MIR P UR NOR TH WAZIR IS TAN B HIMB E R B A NNU C HA K WA L J HE L UM FATA MIA NWA L I G UJ R AT LAK K I MAR WAT MA NDI S IA L K OT B A HA UDDIN S OUTH WAZIR IS TAN S herani MUS A K HE L B A ZA R TA NK DE R A ISMAIL KHAN B HA K K A R L AY YA H K P K K HUS HA B S A R G ODHA J HA NG P U N J A B L A HOR E FA IS A L A B A D TOB A TEK SINGH G UJ R A NWA L A HA F IZA B A D S A HIWA L NA NK A NA S HE K HUP UR A K A S UR OK A R A K HA NE WA L PA K PAT TA N MUZA F FA R G A R H B A R K HA N DE R A GHAZI K HAN V IHA R I MULTA N B A HAWA L NA G A R L ODHR A N R A J A NP UR NA R OWA L A S TOR E K HA IR P UR G WA DA R T UR B AT PA NJ G UR AWA R A N DA DU NAUSHAHR O FIR OZ NAWA B S HA H S I N D H MAT IA R I L as bella J A MS HOR O S A NG HA R TANDO ALLAYAR MIR P UR K HA S HY DE R A B A D UMA R K OT K A R A C HI TANDO M. KHAN T HAT TA B A DIN T HA R PA R K A R

6 Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) in Pakistan, Cumulative Progress as at June

7 Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) in Pakistan, Districtwise RSPs Coverage/Outreach as of June S. No. Name of District Total rural and PeriUrban UCs in the District Union Councils Having RSPs Presence Total rural HHs in the # as of March # as of June % increase during Qtr % coverage as of June District (1998 Census) Households Organised Community Orgnisations Formed # as of March # as of June % increase during Qtr % coverage as of June # as of March # as of June % increase during Qtr RSP ISLAMABAD 1 ICT ,884 25,415 26, ,535 1, NRSP 1 Sub Total ,884 25,415 26, ,535 1, BALOCHISTAN 1 Awaran ,144 9,890 9, NRSP 2 Barkhan 8 13,787 3 Bolan ,003 2,434 2, BRSP 4 Chaqhi 10 13,570 5 Dera Bugti 12 27,337 6 Gawadar ,691 19,310 19, NRSP 7 Harnai 10 8 Jhal Magsi ,184 9,708 9, BRSP 9 Jaffarabad ,664 8,739 8, BRSP 10 Kallat ,396 28,829 28, ,870 1,870 BRSP 11 Kech / Turbat ,164 48,560 48, ,244 2, NRSP 12 Kharan ,328 15,739 15, BRSP 13 Khuzdar ,032 34,100 34, ,060 2,060 BRSP 14 Killa Abdullah 25 44, Killa Saifullah ,796 19,117 19, ,220 1,220 BRSP 16 Kohlu 8 15, Lasbella 22 34,637 1,739 1, NRSP 18 Loralai ,770 2,588 2, BRSP 19 Mastung ,831 18,831 18, ,389 1,389 BRSP 20 Musa Khel 10 19, Naseerabad 24 34, Noshki , BRSP 23 Panjgoor ,703 16,949 16, ,042 1,042 NRSP 24 Pishin ,654 22,340 23, ,459 1, BRSP 25 Quetta , BRSP 26 Sherani ,608 2,520 2, BRSP 27 Sibi 11 19, Washuk 9 18, Zhob ,118 21,125 21, ,227 1, BRSP 30 Ziarat 10 4, Sub Total , , , ,209 16, KHYBER PUKHTUNKHWA (KPK) 1 Abbottabad ,585 48,996 48, ,650 1,650 SRSP 2 Banu 49 65,010 3 Battagram ,053 36,501 36, ,496 1, SRSP 4 Buner , NRSP 4 Buner (overlapping) ,591 3,733 4, SRSP 5 Charsadda ,361 12,926 12, NRSP

8 5 Charsadda (overlapping) ,361 36,196 37, ,549 1, SRSP 6 Chitral ,879 34,914 34, ,439 1, AKRSP 6 Chitral (overlapping) ,879 24,883 25, SRSP 7 Dir Upper ,230 31,623 31, ,482 1,482 SRSP 8 Dir Lower ,626 2,781 9 D.I.Khan ,528 1, SRSP 47 SRSP 10 Hangu ,536 14,204 14, SRSP 11 Haripur ,383 6,969 7, GBTI 11 Haripur (overlapping) ,383 41,322 41, ,331 1,331 SRSP 12 Karak ,734 49,483 49, ,997 1,997 SRSP 13 Kohat ,911 69,685 69, ,129 3,129 SRSP 14 Kohistan ,041 34,916 35, ,238 2, SRSP 15 Lakki Marwat 33 48, Malakand P.A ,731 29,040 29, ,848 1,848 NRSP 16 Malakand P.A (overlapping) ,731 3,235 3, SRSP 17 Mansehra , , , ,836 3,836 SRSP 18 Mardan ,386 53,799 53, ,781 3,781 NRSP 18 Mardan(overlapping) ,386 42,732 42, ,838 1,838 SRSP 19 Nowshera ,851 18,069 18, SRSP 19 Nowshera (overlapping) ,851 2,163 2, NRSP 20 Peshawar ,070 15,460 16, SRSP 21 Shangla ,994 27,671 27, ,546 1, SRSP 22 Swabi ,083 7,828 8, GBTI 22 Swabi (overlapping) ,083 26,117 26, ,660 1, NRSP 23 Swat ,377 6,488 6, NRSP 23 Swat (overlapping) ,377 19,748 22, SRSP 24 Tank 16 22, Sub Total ,889, , , ,189 38, SINDH 1 Badin ,266 99, , ,469 5, NRSP 2 Dadu ,849 37,116 37, ,545 1,545 TRDP 3 Ghotki , , , ,957 6, SRSO 4 Hyderabad ,856 11,959 11, NRSP 5 Jacobabad ,682 84,893 84, ,074 5,074 SRSO 6 Jamshoro ,816 26,725 26, TRDP 7 Karachi 8 Kashmore ,969 80,708 80, ,787 4,787 SRSO 9 Khairpur ,270 70,400 70, ,078 4,078 SRSO 10 Larkana ,639 37,589 37, ,605 3,605 SRSO 11 Matiari ,026 23,129 23, ,770 1,770 NRSP 12 Mirpur Khas ,973 69,505 69, ,143 4,143 NRSP 13 Nausharo Feroz ,715 24,710 24, ,729 1,729 SRSO 14 Nawabshah ,671 3,092 3, NRSP 15 Shahdad Kot ,408 29,475 29, ,221 2,221 SRSO 16 Sanghar ,191 16,500 16, SGA 17 Shikarpur , , , ,997 5,997 SRSO 18 Sukkhur ,458 36,343 36, ,613 2,613 SRSO 19 Tando Allahyar ,082 12,702 12, ,025 1,025 NRSP 20 Tando Muhammad Khan ,648 17,546 17, ,065 1,065 NRSP

9 21 Tharparkar , , , ,455 11, TRDP 22 Thattha ,554 37,210 37, ,124 2, NRSP 23 Umer Kot ,515 42,962 43, ,651 2, TRDP 22 Sub Total ,816,903 1,149,234 1,153, ,009 71, PUNJAB 1 Badin ,266 99, , ,469 5, NRSP 2 Dadu ,849 37,116 37, ,545 1,545 TRDP 3 Ghotki , , , ,957 6, SRSO 4 Hyderabad ,856 11,959 11, NRSP 5 Jacobabad ,682 84,893 84, ,074 5,074 SRSO 6 Jamshoro ,816 26,725 26, TRDP 7 Karachi 8 Kashmore ,969 80,708 80, ,787 4,787 SRSO 9 Khairpur ,270 70,400 70, ,078 4,078 SRSO 10 Larkana ,639 37,589 37, ,605 3,605 SRSO 11 Matiari ,026 23,129 23, ,770 1,770 NRSP 12 Mirpur Khas ,973 69,505 69, ,143 4,143 NRSP 13 Nausharo Feroz ,715 24,710 24, ,729 1,729 SRSO 14 Nawabshah ,671 3,092 3, NRSP 15 Shahdad Kot ,408 29,475 29, ,221 2,221 SRSO 16 Sanghar ,191 16,500 16, SGA 17 Shikarpur , , , ,997 5,997 SRSO 18 Sukkhur ,458 36,343 36, ,613 2,613 SRSO 19 Tando Allahyar ,082 12,702 12, ,025 1,025 NRSP 20 Tando Muhammad Khan ,648 17,546 17, ,065 1,065 NRSP 21 Tharparkar , , , ,455 11, TRDP 22 Thattha ,554 37,210 37, ,124 2, NRSP 23 Umer Kot ,515 42,962 43, ,651 2, TRDP 22 TOTAL ,816,903 1,149,234 1,153, ,009 71, Mianwali ,486 73,167 73, ,166 4, NRSP 22 Multan ,678 35,212 35, ,382 2,382 PRSP 22 Multan (overlapping) ,678 17,654 17, ,958 1,958 NRSP 23 Muzaffargarh , , , ,862 8, PRSP 23 Muzaffargarh (overlapping) ,647 NRSP 24 Nanakana Sahib* , PRSP 25 Narrowal , , , ,074 5, PRSP 26 Okara ,191 31,099 32, ,053 2, PRSP 27 Pakpattan ,888 21,722 22, ,404 1, PRSP 27 Pakpattan (overlapping) ,888 12,295 12, ,486 1,486 NRSP 28 Rahim Yar Khan ,677 74,190 74, ,801 6, NRSP 29 Rajanpur ,182 98,421 99, ,620 6, NRSP 29 Rajanpur (overlapping)* ,182 18,650 18, ,218 1,218 PRSP 30 Rawalpindi ,911 83,303 88, ,558 6, NRSP 31 Sahiwal ,413 41,222 42, ,584 2, PRSP 31 Sahiwal (overlapping) ,413 12,414 12, ,201 1,201 NRSP 32 Sargodha ,958 45,190 46, ,834 2, PRSP 32 Sargodha (overlapping) ,958 8,735 10, NRSP 33 Sheikhupura ,805 23,004 23, ,502 1, PRSP 34 Sialkot , , , ,665 6, PRSP

10 35 Toba Tek Singh ,555 35,797 36, ,371 2, PRSP 35 Toba Tek Singh (overlapping) ,555 13,594 13, ,545 1,545 NRSP 36 Vehari ,583 39,089 39, ,149 3,149 NRSP 34 Sub Total 2,635 1,773 1, ,367,781 2,635,781 2,713, , , AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR (AJK) 1 Bagh ,470 22,661 23, ,205 1, NRSP 1 Bagh (overlapping) , AJKRSP 2 Hattian ,296 12,914 12, NRSP 2 Hattian (overlapping) ,296 16,770 16, AJKRSP 3 Kotli ,483 38,032 39, ,202 2, NRSP 3 Kotli (overlapping) ,483 13,807 13, AJKRSP 4 Muzuffarabad ,712 21,451 21, NRSP 4 Muzuffarabad (overlapping) ,712 45,689 45, ,192 2,192 AJKRSP 5 Neelum ,649 7,213 7, NRSP 5 Neelum (overlapping) ,649 6,722 6, AJKRSP 6 Poonch (Rawalakot) ,319 38,589 39, ,990 2, NRSP 6 Poonch (Rawalakot)(overlapping) ,319 4,523 4, AJKRSP 7 Bhimber ,333 5,541 5, AJKRSP 8 Sudhnoti ,849 13,171 13, NRSP 9 Mirpur ,208 8,596 8, AJKRSP 10 Forward Kahuta ,651 10,680 11, NRSP 10 Sub Total , , , ,356 13, GILGITBALTISTAN (GB) 1 Astore ,000 6,444 6, AKRSP 2 Diamir 9 3 Ghanche ,452 10,401 10, AKRSP 4 Ghizer ,563 12,420 12, AKRSP 5 Gilgit ,721 10,924 10, AKRSP 6 HunzaNagar ,779 11,965 11, AKRSP 7 Skardu ,134 23,627 23, ,010 1, AKRSP 6 Sub Total ,650 75,781 75, ,248 3, FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREA (FATA)/Frontier Regions (FRs) 1 Bajaur Agency 37 65,410 SRSP 2 Khyber Agency 28 55,225 3 Kurram Agency ,293 4,668 4, SRSP 4 Mohmand Agency 21 37,161 SRSP 5 North Waziristan Agency 22 39,697 6 Orakzai Agency 15 25,618 7 South Waziristan Agency 29 50,570 SRSP 8 T.A.Adj Lakki Marwat Distt T.A.Adj Bannu Distt 1 2, T.A..Adj D.I.Khan Distt 3 5, T.A.Adj Kohat Distt 5 9, T.A.Adj Peshawar Distt ,118 1,738 1, SRSP 13 T.A.Adj Tank Distt 2 3,581 5 Sub Total ,650 6,406 6, G. Total 5,565 3,649 3, ,890,448 5,327,893 5,397, , ,

11 Doing while learning: collaborative models for scaling innovations BRAC and RSPN entered into an MoU on a joint research project for documenting RSPN s role in scaling up the social mobilisation model of RSPs in Pakistan. As part of this project, BRAC s Social Innovation Lab has created a learning network with 6 other NGOs in Bangladesh and India. The goals of the research project are: 1. To deliberate intermediation in realtime scale up efforts to capture experience, insights and reflections and incorporate it with existing social innovation theory, 2. Create and connect networks to enable peer sharing and support about intermediation, and 3. Developpractitionerfriendly tools for intermediation as part of an effort to raise awareness and appreciation for its value. Through peer learning visits, quarterly partner update calls, knowledge management and documentation, local networking meetings (with local stakeholders), and publications, this research project aims to capture learnings from scaleup efforts across South Asia and do a thorough, thoughtful realtime documentation of the innovative projects of each of the partner organizations. RSPN is now working with NRSP and SRSP to provide monthly updates ( logbooks ) of social mobilisation scalingup related activities from the field unit and the head office. As part of the research project, BRAC has produced a case study under the title Advocacy in Action: Scaling Social Mobilization in Pakistan. TAHAFUZ Project s Provincial Experience Sharing Workshop US Aid OFDA funded Tahafuz: Building Resilience Through Community Based Disaster Risk Management in the Sindh Province of Pakistan Project held a National Experience Sharing Workshop in Islamabad on the 24th of September,. This project was implemented by RSPN and two of its partner Rural Support Programmes; namely the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and the Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP). The project aimed to build resilience through community based disaster risk management in the Sindh province of Pakistan, in doing so it strengthened 232 grassroots organisations in 4 districts across Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar and Umerkot. The National Experience Sharing Workshop brought together RSPN s two regional implementing partners, project beneficiary community members from all four of the project districts, representatives from USAIDOFDA, NDMA, and other stakeholders including government representatives and civil society organisations. The workshop included a welcome address by RSPN CEO Ms. Shandana Humayun Khan followed by a background of the project and its achievements by Tahafuz project manager Mr. Akbar Raza. This was followed by sessions of the Project Coordinators Adnan Hussain NRSP and Gulab Rai TRDP, where they summed up the context in their individual project areas and highlighted the difficulties faced. This was followed by sessions from Ghulam Rasul Focal Person DDMA Badin and Malji Rathore EDO Social Welfare Tharparkar, who both stressed the importance of collaboration at times of disaster and also spoke of how this project has helped bridge a communication gap between the government and grassroots community members. Mr. Khalid Ishaq, Senior Manager Social Sector, TRDP and Ms. Shama Shaikh Program Coordinator also addressed the gather and shared their views. The final session included four presentation by community organisation from each of the four project districts, they shared their experience of the project, and how it had already impacted their lived. They also spoke about how to sustain and spread their new found knowledge of Disaster Risk Management. World Population Day Celebrations and End Line Survey Conducted in Dadu, Sindh RSPNRAF Research on Removing the Three Delays in Accessing Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care in NonLHW Covered Areas of Pakistan July : A rally was held in Dadu to celebrate World Population Day, the theme of which was Preventing Adolescent Pregnancies. A walk was jointly organized by the Department of Population Welfare (DoPW) and civil society organizations working in the area, in which a number of government and nongovernmental agencies participated. Members of the Local Support Organization of Khudabad were also present at the rally. After the walk, a seminar was held where the issue of adolescent pregnancies was discussed by participants and ways to tackle the issue were suggested. As part of RSPN s RAF funded research on removing the three delays in access to emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) in nonlhw covered parts of Pakistan, an end line survey was conducted in the project s intervention union council of Khudabad as well as the control union council of Kamal Khan to analyze the knowledge levels, attitudes and practices regarding EmONC. The end line survey will be compared with the base line survey results to track changes in mindsets and behaviors surrounding pregnancy related healthcare since the project s inception. The information gathered will provide a clear picture of the activities which take place before and after childbirth and facilitate a detailed analysis of the decisionmaking process for maternal and neonatal healthcare. It will also highlight the degree to which health seeking behavior prevails in rural communities, and what perceptions and experiences people, particularly pregnant women, have regarding institutional healthcare. The end line survey will also offer insight into the efficacy of the community based systems which have been employed by the project, namely Community Resource Persons and Village Health Committees. Changes in the uptake of EmONC services as a result of the intervention will also be measured and recommendations will be made with respect to the sustainability and scaleup of the interventions children (693 boys and 661 girls) get enrolled into school under the ALIF AILAANRSPN project Mobilizing Communities to Demand Education (Article 25A) and Local Accountability The LSOs of the project Districts have each formed a District Education Network (DEN) and Parent Itihad in their Mr. Joseph Tritschler Senior Representative from USAID/ OFDA at the Tahafuz National Experience Sharing Workshop

12 VO Convention being held in District Bahawalpur respective Districts. To put more pressure for improvement in school situations LSOs have engagement with the officials of Department of Education for allocation of resources on principal of justice and equity and proper use of resources through District Education NetworkDEN & Parent Itihad in each project District. The outcome of these meetings is following promises by Education Department; They will take actions/measures to improve the school conditions in their District and specially in our 8 UCs in Each District They will use LSOs data of out of school children during enrolment campaign With support of RSPs, they will call a meeting of SMCs at UC level to discuss the education related issues and will restructure the SMCs (where necessary) and LSOs and VOs members will be encouraged to become members of SMCs. Research on the role of Community Spaces and Mechanisms in Health Promotion amongst the Poor in Rural Pakistan To explore the ways in which community spaces empower or inhibit women, poor persons, and marginalized groups the Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) with support from the Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF) initiated a qualitative research study in Pakistan s most vulnerable districts of Thatta, Rajanpur and Ghizer. Community spaces were defined as places or social settings for dialogue. The community spaces may be broadly categorized into formal spaces, that is those created by external actors or agencies like healthcare projects and the informal spaces that are indigenous mechanisms for dialogue among people. The project adopted the action oriented epistemology framework and the case study design for studying the selected village in each study district. Over the last 3 months, the project team worked with a group of almost 15 women and 15 men in each village and overall conducted more than 30 group discussions using the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. The group discussions helped in identifying the vulnerable groups, types of community spaces, the maternal and child health issues and the impact of formal spaces on the health and empowerment of the rural and poor women. The scope and effect of informal spaces for dialogue was studied by collecting 15 life stories (5 from each village) during a brief ethnography, while three government and nongovernment health projects working in each of the selected villages were studied by conducting 3 key informant interviews per project. Currently, the data gathered is being analyzed to extract themes and lessons learnt that can be used to improve the planning and implementation of future health projects. Enrolment Campaign: The Chief Minister of the Punjab province on 14 August,, announced a campaign for the enrollment of children in schools all across the province. This call for campaign from the provincial government was to alert all stakeholders, including government educational institutions, civil society organizations, grassroots organizations and common citizens to make more efforts to improve school enrollment rates. The announcement of the enrollment campaign was basically wake up call from provincial government for all stakeholders in the education sector to play their due roles to improve enrollment. Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) and the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) launched enrolment campaign in South Punjab with support of LSOs & VOs. As a result, 1354 children (693 boys and 661 girls) get enrolled into school. Endline Survey Being conducted for the RAF project Ayesha Amina Askari Cover Image: Jameel Ahmed