S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL - KARACHI SUBMISSION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KARACHI 000046 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/GWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM AID CDC COM TRSY PK SUBJECT: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL - KARACHI SUBMISSION REF: 2009 STATE 132094 ¶1. (SBU) ConGen Karachi submits seven project proposals for the S/GWI small grants initiative for women's political, economic and social advancement. The programs detailed below address themes of Education, Climate Change, Gender-based Violence, Economic Opportunity and Political Empowerment in the developing Balochistan and Sindh Provinces of southern Pakistan. ¶2. (SBU) A summary of each proposal is detailed below in priority order, and additional proposal information is available for each upon request. AmConGen Karachi assures S/GWI that Post will be responsible for project oversight, monitoring and evaluation, and that each of these NGOs is known and credible. Karachi point of contact is Political Officer Dawn Schrepel, schrepeldm@state.gov. -------------- PROJECT 1: "Violence Against Women", Jaffarabad, Balochistan ¶3. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Society for Education Promotion and Rural Support (SEPRS) is a non-profit, non-political, non-ethnic, non-governmental registered organization that has been working in Balochistan since 1997 in the fields of Governance, Health, Gender and Development, Education and Information & Communication Technologies for Development. PROPOSAL: To conduct advocacy sessions and events with teachers, religious leaders, politicians, community notables and health service providers to change serious trends of violence against women in the District. The project has 24,100 direct beneficiaries and 85,000 indirect beneficiaries. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: Jaffarabad District has the one of the highest instances of honor killings and domestic violence in all of Pakistan, and is governed by tribal and feudal systems. Post has identified this District as a high priority for assistance in this issue area. FINANCE: A total budget of $99,602 is proposed, with a breakout of: personnel $44,320; transport $20,880; equipment $1,500, programs $23,200; and administration $9,502. MANAGEMENT: The fourteen member team will be led by project coordinator and includes four social mobilizers and a trainer for the social development center. -------------- PROJECT 2: "Combating Gender-based Violence", Quetta, Balochistan ¶4. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Society for Empowering Human Resources (SEHER) is a Rights Based Organization, focusing on vulnerable and marginalized segments of society including women, children, refugees and minorities, particularly living in difficult circumstances. SEHER has been managing various projects on sexual/gender-based violence against women in Balochistan over the last 10 years. PROPOSAL: Major activities include: Baseline Assessment and Situation Analysis; Awareness raising/sensitization campaign for community/stakeholders; Men and women leadership groups; Adolescent Boys/Girls leadership groups; Learning and reflection sessions for men/women and adolescent boys/girls leadership groups; Establishment of Women Friendly Spaces; Referral Mechanism for Survivors of the GBV; Skill development and support for women entrepreneurs; Developing Complaint Mechanism and Capacity building and sensitization sessions for police, lawyers, doctors etc.; and Advocacy through networking and coordination. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: Primary objectives include: to discourage GBV practices through awareness raising in Quetta; to improve GBV survivors access to medical and legal services in Quetta; to strengthen economic position of 400 refugee women through skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities; and to advocate with state institutions to improve their support mechanism in dealing with GBV cases in Quetta. Project beneficiaries include 40,500 direct and 200,000 indirect in both the indigenous and refugee populations. KARACHI 00000046 002 OF 004 FINANCE: A total budget of $99,702 is proposed, with a breakout of: personnel $44,320; transport $20,880; equipment $1,500, programs $23,500; and administration $9,502. MANAGEMENT: The fourteen member team will be led by project coordinator and includes four community mobilizers. -------------- PROJECT 3: "Vocational Training Center", Sukkur, Sindh ¶5. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) runs under the mission statement, "harnessing people's potential to fight poverty" and has concentrated on providing strategies, support and technical assistance to enable women in rural area to develop sustainable business models. Providing training in handicraft-making using endemic raw materials, SRSO has created a cadre of over 50 women entrepreneurs in remote villages surrounding their head office in Sukkur. PROPOSAL: SRSO has the basic infrastructure for a sustainable micro-finance organization. However, to truly empower women in their communities and to remain sustainable, they need resources to create a vocational training and productions center near their head office serving up to 1,000 women from the villages surrounding Sukkur and Khairpur, and benefitting 400 households. The center, equipped with technical training tools and production space would enable women to pass on and learn skills in sewing, patchwork and information technology as well as provide a safe space within Pakistani cultural parameters for women to congregate and work for their betterment. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: This proposal targets two of the main challenges facing women in Sukkur, the third largest city in Upper Sindh: a. A shocking percentage of men in this area are unemployed and women bear the responsibility to support their families' basic needs. However, religious and social boundaries in this community prevent women from securing the freedom to sustain their businesses as they have to conduct all activities in culturally appropriate but limited spaces like their homes. b. To sustain their artisanal businesses and pass on skills to more women, SRSO's entrepreneurs have identified certain machinery, tools and training that they need to be able to produce more, sell more and train more female entrepreneurs. FINANCES: A budget of $63,000 is proposed for the following, and includes sustaining funds for the 18 month duration: Vocational Center Space $15,000; Commercial and Domestic Sewing Machines $10,000; Computers $5,000; IT Training $8,000; Training $8,000; Administrative Cost $10,000; and Utilities $7,000. MANAGEMENT: SRSO CEO, Dr. Sonu Khangrani and Enterprise Development Consultant, Mehtab Tariq Pirzada work with a team of three women to develop skills in patchwork and indigenous crafts and make them marketable commodities. Pirzada holds an MA in International Relations, has volunteered with Karachi Vocational Training Center for 8 years. -------------- PROJECT 4: "Women's Literacy", Noshki, Balochistan ¶6. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Society for Promotion of Action, Research and Knowledge (SPARK) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization established established in 2001 with a view to resurrect the common ones for the collective good of society. SPARK is engaged in advocacy, campaigning, community mobilization, research, networking, challenging anti-poor policies, plans and actions at local, national, and international level with different coalitions. PROPOSAL: The project will include the following objectives: establish 25 Home Based Literacy Centers; increase literacy rate of females by seven percent in 12 months; enroll about 3800 out of school girls in different schools of the district; advocacy campaign will be launched provide educational facilities; capacity building for teachers in working with female students; advocacy to build the need for female education in the curriculum in all levels; and KARACHI 00000046 003 OF 004 through different incentive packages and as well through different innovative and interesting materials the enrollment and keeping of the girls in schools will be ensured. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: Increased female literacy enhance female social status and prestige in the society, and accelerate elimination of discrimination and extremism while improving tolerance, enlightenment and social justice. The project will escort the line departments and the policy makers to draw policies and provide facilities easily accessible to the girls for a safe and secure education. FINANCE: A total budget of approximately $100,000 is proposed, with a breakout of: assessment survey $5,747; personnel $15,448; equipment $4,137, programs $58,879; monitoring/evaluation $1057; and administration $14,735. MANAGEMENT: The eight member team will be led by project coordinator. -------------- PROJECT 5: "Women's and Children's Health", Gwadar, Balochistan ¶6. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Rural Community Development Council (RCDC). PROPOSAL: To pursue and execute the following activities in the area of maternal child health: advocacy campaigns; community health camps: awareness sessions with religious leaders; awareness sessions with stakeholders; commemoration of special days; awareness sessions in colleges and schools; awareness walks and rally; identification and training of Community Health Volunteer; identification of blood donors and their blood testing; display of the banners/posters; and formation of a community monitoring team. Also, service delivery via: orientation of technical staff, vaccinators; meetings with Government Health officials; meeting with DHOs; meetings with medical officers at Basic Health Units; meetings with female health supervisors and health workers; and test for apatite HVS and HVC and vaccination. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: Empowering women and increasing health education at community level; increasing access including emergency obstetric and newborn care to community; improving health service quality in both the public and private sectors; and improving management and integration of services at all levels. FINANCE: A total budget of $92,457 is proposed, with a breakout of: personnel $43,000; transport $20,880; equipment $1,650; medical instruments $490; programs $16,935; and administration $9,502. MANAGEMENT: The twelve member team will be led by project coordinator and includes four social mobilizers. -------------- PROJECT 6: "Democracy and Political Empowerment", Noshki, Balochistan ¶6. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Center for Social Nicety (CSN) is a non-government and non-profit organization, established by a group of Social activists and Development Professionals in 2003. Since its inception CSN is engaged in the empowerment of marginalized and vulnerable people with a specific scope on women, children and minorities through right based approach. The foregoing process has built the capability of CSN on promotion of Democratic Behavior, Human Rights, Peace and Tolerance in the area. PROPOSAL: Project activities include: -25,000 Male, Female community members of the ten communities in theRiUi/ $15,448; equipment $4,137, programs $58,879; monitoring/evaluation $1057; and administration $14,735. MANAGEMENT: The eight member team will be led by project coordinator. -------------- PROJECT 5: "Women's and Children's Health", Gwadar, Balochistan ¶6. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Rural Community Development Council (RCDC). PROPOSAL: To pursue and execute the following activities in the area of maternal child health: advocacy campaigns; community health camps: awareness sessions with religious leaders; awareness sessions with stakeholders; commemoration of special days; awareness sessions in colleges and schools; awareness walks and rally; identification and training of Community Health Volunteer; identification of blood donors and their blood testing; display of the banners/posters; and formation of a community monitoring team. Also, service delivery via: orientation of technical staff, vaccinators; meetings with Government Health officials; meeting with DHOs; meetings with medical officers at Basic Health Units; meetings with female health supervisors and health workers; and test for apatite HVS and HVC and vaccination. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: Empowering women and increasing health education at community level; increasing access including emergency obstetric and newborn care to community; improving health service quality in both the public and private sectors; and improving management and integration of services at all levels. FINANCE: A total budget of $92,457 is proposed, with a breakout of: personnel $43,000; transport $20,880; equipment $1,650; medical instruments $490; programs $16,935; and administration $9,502. MANAGEMENT: The twelve member team will be led by project coordinator and includes four social mobilizers. -------------- PROJECT 6: "Democracy and Political Empowerment", Noshki, Balochistan ¶6. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Center for Social Nicety (CSN) is a non-government and non-profit organization, established by a group of Social activists and Development Professionals in 2003. Since its inception CSN is engaged in the empowerment of marginalized and vulnerable people with a specific scope on women, children and minorities through right based approach. The foregoing process has built the capability of CSN on promotion of Democratic Behavior, Human Rights, Peace and Tolerance in the area. PROPOSAL: Project activities include: -25,000 Male, Female community members of the ten communities in the District will be provided awareness on political education and democratic rights in one year. -300 political workers of the 10 political parties of the District will be trained on Democracy, Good Governance, Human rights, Peace and Social Harmony. -Training sessions will be conducted for 20 political workers of 10 political parties on Organizational Management and Development. -To ensure the participation of Youths and Women in the political process Mobilization campaigns will be launched. -Different seminars at local and district levels will be conducted KARACHI 00000046 004 OF 004 to enchant the importance of Democracy. -On different public issues, political parties will be facilitated for the conduction of ten Public Forums. -Four Public Assemblies will be arranged to build coordination among Community and Line Departments. -By the cooperation of different stakeholders pressure will be built on Policy makers for policy reform on various issues. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: This project will impart awareness among 25,000 male and female citizens on their political rights and acquaint them with the importance of their participation in the political process for a better and smooth change in the society based on tolerance, tranquility and equity. Ten political parties will participate in capacity building, and democratic culture and norms will be accelerated. FINANCE: A total budget of approximately $90,000 is proposed, with a breakout of: personnel $17,000; equipment and supplies $53,000, network development $3,000; administrative costs $15,000; monitoring and evaluation $2,000. MANAGEMENT: The eight member team will be led by a project coordinator and aided by a finance officer, social mobilizers and supports staff. -------------- PROJECT 7: "Capacity Building on Community-based Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation", Khuzdar, Balochistan ¶6. (SBU) ORGANIZATION: Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) is a non-profit, non-governmental organizations found in 2009 by a group of young community development professionals, human rights activists, trade unionists, researchers, media professionals, political activists and concerned citizens committed to promoting community participation for environmentally friendly, sustainable and gender-balanced development programs. PROPOSAL: To raise awareness among affected communities, civil society and policy makers of the impacts of climate change in particularly vulnerable areas in Balochistan. Community outreach in twenty villages would bring together 2000 community groups; civil society activities would raise awareness and conduct capacity building workshops at the district level, and PDI's head office in Quetta would engage in provincial level advocacy. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED: Climate change is still a new subject in Pakistan and there is little understanding at the community, civil society and even governmental level. Through community mobilization, environmental education and providing environmentally sound alternatives to combat the climate change impact, PDI seeks to help the Khuzdar district deal with the current and ongoing biodiversity loss, rise in sea level, increased draught, changes in freshwater supply, shifts in weather patterns and increased flooding and extreme weather. FINANCE: A total budget of approximately $100,000 is proposed, with a breakout of: operations $9,000; personnel $7,000; equipment and supplies $3,000, programs $80,000; monitoring/evaluation $1,000. MANAGEMENT: The five member team will be led by a project coordinator and aided by male and female community mobilizers and an accountant. -------------- FAKAN