Citizens’ Engagement and Accountability for an Effective Local Government System in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Citizens’ Engagement and Accountability for an Effective Local Government System in Punjab and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Project Title
Citizens’ Engagement and Accountability for an Effective Local Government System in
Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Donor
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Duration
115 months - Starting from January 13, 2014 till April 12, 2015
Geographical Coverage
12 districts of Pakistan; 6 districts of Punjab (Lahore, Sialkot, Multan, Muzaffargarh,
Vehari, Faisalabad), 5 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(Peshawar, Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan, Abbottabad) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT)
Description
This program aims to adopt a synchronized approach to advocacy for concerted citizens’
engagement and accountability for an effective local government system. To unlock the
potential demand for effective local governance, awareness and information campaigns,
capacity building, concerted
efforts need to be carried out with foci on aligning strategies for policy level mobilization
and mobilizing target communities to take “ownership” of their rights and development needs,
without duplication of efforts and multiple routes charted by different organizations creating
conflict and confusion.
DTCE intends to play an instrumental role in public awareness raising along with engaging provincial
policy makers in a focused and consistent manner to motivate them to properly implement 18th amendment
reforms, hold local government elections, introduce favorable legislations for strengthening local
democracies and improving transparency and accountability in local government affairs.
Objectives
Creating awareness and developing informed public opinion about
respective local government laws of the target provinces
Engaging with political parties and provincial governments to mobilize them for devolving political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority
in the spirit of 18th amendment
Support and strengthen citizen advocacy that feeds into policy making regarding 18th
amendment particularly Article 140-A at the provincial level
Building linkages with non-state actors for more effective accountability and
providing forum to public where they can demand performance,
lodge grievances and make suggestions
Direct Expected Outputs
A 2-day training session for capacity building of project staff on provincial
local government acts will be
conducted at start of the 1st quarter of the project.
Radio campaigns in 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th Quarter of the program will be
aired on local radio stations covering all the 12 target
districts including adjoining districts.
720 general citizens and civil society members will be sensitized through 12
orientation sessions in the target districts.
Overall 8 quarterly meetings for first 4 quarters (in the two provincial headquarters i.e.
Peshawar and Lahore) will be convened in the presence of total 160 participants.
A total of 12 events (2 in provincial capitals and 10 in remaining districts)
will be arranged and 800 citizens will be engaged in these events.
A total 6 seminars (02 national level seminar at Islamabad and 04 sub-national seminars
at provincial headquarters) will be organized with a total of 600 participants, including MPAs.
Three (03) policy analysis reports will be published on three distinct albeit related
thematic areas, 150 copies of each report will be published for a total of 450 copies.
A two day training session for capacity building of project staff on new Right to Information
Act of target province will be conducted in 1st quarter of the project.
About 50 local journalists, lawyers and civil society members in each target district will
be given orientation sessions. A total of 24 workshops will be organized,
two in each of 12 target districts while directly benefitting 1200 citizens.