Bi–Annual Review

2010-2011

Contents:

Message from the Director 01

Performance Snapshot 02

Capacity Building 04

Strategic Partnerships 10

Knowledge Sharing 11

Research 12

THE CIVIL SOCIETY RESOURCE CEN-

TRE (CSRC), FORMERLY KNOWN AS

NGO RESOURCE CENTRE (NGORC) IS

A PROJECT OF THE AGA KHAN

FOUNDATION (PAKISTAN). WE AIM

TO FORTIFY CIVIL SOCIETY BY ENA-

BLING CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISA-

TIONS (CSOS) IN PAKISTAN

THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING

WORKSHOPS, CONSULTANCIES AND

PROJECTS.

WE STAND AS A KNOWLEDGE-BASED

SUPPORT ORGANISATION FOR NGOS

AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANI-

SATIONS (CBOS). OUR PROGRAMMES

ARE UNDERPINNED BY OUR

RESEARCH INITIATIVES TO ENSURE

RELEVANCE AND INNOVATION. OUR

LEGACY OF 20 YEARS IS A HALLMARK

OF EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY

THAT OUR NAME PROMISES.

WE ARE GEARED TOWARDS CREAT-

ING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

FOR OVERALL ENHANCEMENT OF

CIVIL SOCIETY’S EFFECTIVENESS

THROUGH SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

MEASURES AND GENDER

SENSITIVE PARTICIPATION.

Message from Dr. Sadrudin Pardhan, Director CSRC

I am pleased to present to you CSRC’s bi-annual review for 2010-11. The last couple of years

have been truly eventful in the journey of CSRC as we explored new ways of engaging with civil

society organisations and forged strategic partnerships. Our initiatives have been guided by val-

ues of innovation, gender equity and implementing contextually relevant development solutions

for a sustainable future.

The focus has been to integrate innovative approaches in our development initiatives. We have

been particularly successful with our ‘community mobilisation techniques’ implemented in the

‘Education Development and Improvement Programme’. Other approaches involved working

with local government departments as a part of ‘Hum Qadam Project’.

In line with our commitment to serving civil society beyond the constituency of NGOs , we have

been studying the role of professional associations in Pakistan. Our cutting edge research also

involves developing a Civil Society Organisations Sustainability Index for Pakistan. Details of all

this and more are showcased in this publication.

As we celebrate the success stories of last two years, I am equally excited about our future plans

which involve interesting projects of engaging youth and media as key players to strengthen the

citizen sector in Pakistan!

I hope you enjoy this colorful bi-annual review.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sadrudin Pardhan

Director, CSRC

1

The Civil Society Resource Centre (CSRC) works to fortify civil society through its research,

capacity building initiatives, consultancies, and development projects. It remains uniquely

positioned to play a consulting role and to serve as a key knowledge partner to the gov-

ernment, donors and other key stakeholders about the civil society sector in Pakistan.

Following is a snapshot of CSRC’s work through 2010-11.

RESEARCH

A research study to understand the ‘Role

of Professional Associations in Paki-

stan’ was initiated.

A baseline study on ‘Civil Society Sus-

tainability Index’ was initiated.

CAPACITY BUILDING

120 Development Professionals were

trained through continuing professional ed-

ucation trainings on leadership skills, re-

source mobilisation, community mobilisa-

tion, project development and management,

finance for non-profit, gender awareness,

monitoring and evaluation, quantitative re-

search and governance.

Performance Snapshot

2

PARTNERSHIPS

• Microsoft Pakistan

• Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP)

• International Business Leaders Forum

(IBLF)

• International Finance Corporation (IFC)

• Karakorum International University (KIU)

• Aga Khan Rural Support Programme

• NOWPDP (Network of Organizations

Working for People with Disabilities)

KNOWLDEGE SHARING

Organized 03 development forums for

102 professionals from 63 civil society

organisations.

Organized NGO connection day in part-

nership with Microsoft Pakistan on the ‘Role

of ICTs for Development: Opportunities and

Challenges’.

PROJECTS

• Women Empowered through Citizens’

Community Boards (WECCB)

• Building Capacities for the Economic Em-

powerment of Women (BCEEW)

• Educational Development and Improve-

ment Programme (EDIP)

• AKDN Civil Society Programme

DONORS

• US State Department

• Royal Embassy of Belgium, Islamabad

• Australian Agency for International De-

velopment (AusAID)

• Department for International Develop-

ment (DFID - UKaid)

• Canadian International Development

Agency (CIDA)

3

Humqadam - Women Empowered through Citizen’s

Community Boards (CCBs)

The ‘Women Empowered through Citizen’s Community Boards

(WECCB)’ locally known as the ‘Hum Qadam’ project was a joint

initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the U.S. State De-

partment. The project was designed to build capacity of CCBs, in

particular of women in CCBs and other civil society organisations

(CSOs) with an aim to empower and enable them to effectively ad-

vocate for development issues and implement solutions to ad-

dress them.

The project was implemented by the Civil Society Resource Centre

(CSRC) in seven districts of Pakistan including Lahore, Karachi, Ra-

walpindi (Murree), Chitral, Ghanche, Gwadar and Badin. CSRC

developed the capacity of 187 selected CSOs through tailor-made

trainings on Leadership, Local Resource Mobilisation and Project

Development and Management along with provision of technical

assistance to translate the learning from the trainings into practice.

In addition, selected partner CSOs, particularly from rural areas

were provided with networking and peer learning opportunity

through a four-day event held in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

There they also interacted with donors and development experts

to broaden their perspective and enrich their learning experience.

Through the technical assistance component of this project, 67

most active partner CSOs were mentored through distance learn-

ing and face-to-face sessions. As a result of this, 44 CSOs devel-

oped at least one project concept for their community. While

CSOs are exploring resources to fund these projects, CSRC has

introduced them to intermediary support organisations and donors

through a series of networking events. Remarkably, four CSOs

have already received grants for projects and many are negotiating

with potential local and international donors to seek financial sup-

port.

HUM QADAM PROVIDED OP-

PORTUNITY TO MEMBERS OF

COMMUNITY BASED ORGANI-

SATIONS WORKING AT THE

GRASS ROOT LEVEL TO BE A

PART OF CAPACITY BUILDING

WORKSHOPS.

WOMEN BENEFICIARIES OF

HUM QADAM PARTNER CSOS

FEEL MORE CONFIDENT AND

INSPIRED TO CAPITALISE ON

THEIR VOCATIONAL SKILLS

LEADING TO IMPROVED

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDI-

TIONS .

Capacity Building

4

HUM QADAM PROVIDED PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO

PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATIONS.

BENEFICIARIES FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISA-

TIONS DELIBERATED TO PLAN DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS FOR

THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WOMEN FROM COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATIONS RE-

CEIVED A PLATFORM TO VOICE THE DEVELOPMENT CON-

CERNS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATIONS PARTCIPATED IN HUM

QADAM SYMPOSIUM TO NETWORK WITH LOCAL DONORS AND

PRESENT THEIR PROJECT CONCEPTS FOR FUNDING.

5

Education Development and Improve-

ment Programme (EDIP)

EDIP aims to enhance access, equity and

quality of education with increased gender

parity, participation and sustainability of

community interventions in selected parts

of Gilgit-Baltistan. The project focuses on

community engagement in education re-

form, physical infrastructure and outlook,

capacity building, policies and practices.

EDIP has been working with 106 schools

and will directly benefit 4,140 teachers,

head teachers and community members. In

this multi-partner project led by Aga Khan

Foundation (Pakistan), CSRC is focusing on

increasing participation of communities, es-

pecially women in the management of

schools in targeted areas surrounding the

project schools.

CSRC is undertaking community mobilisa-

tion through formation of Local Level Insti-

tutions (LLIs) including Mother Support

Groups (MSGs), Parent Teacher Associa-

tions (PTAs) and School Management Com-

mittees (SMCs); increasing women repre-

sentation in these LLIs, and building their

capacity through trainings and workshops

in five key arrears to perform their roles

effectively. In 2011, CSRC has formed 8

new LLIs and reactivated 104 LLIs.

A LARGE NUMBER OF WOMEN MEMBERS OF SMCS AND MOTHER SUPPORT

GROUPS PARTICIPATED IN THE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS.

MEMBERS OF SMCS ENTHUSIATICALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE CAPACITY DEVEL-

OPMENT WORKSHOPS.

6

Building Capacity for Economic Empowerment

of Women (BCEEW)

This project intends to build the capacity of wom-

en in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral (GBC) regions

enabling them to fully harness their productive po-

tential and become economically empowered.

The project is implemented in collaboration with

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP). 400

women from GBC will be trained in entrepreneur-

ship and ICT skills using the renowned Internation-

al Finance Corporate (IFC) training resources. En-

terprise development centres (EDCs) and IT labs

to facilitate these women to access necessary re-

sources will also be established.

The research component in the project will assess

factors inhibiting the economic empowerment of

women and produce a directory of potential en-

terprises for women in GBC.

The research findings will also be disseminated to

key stakeholders and community groups. MR. EMMANUEL RIXHON, DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSION OF ROYAL EM-

BASSY OF BELGIUM VISITING A PROJECT SITE IN SKARDU.

THE PROJECT WILL ENABLE 400 WOMEN TO ENHANCE THEIR ENTRE-

PRENEURSHIP SKILLS AND INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR EXIST-

ING BUSINESSES TO FUTHER EXPAND AND ENHANCE THEIR PRODUC-

TIVITIY.

7

The Civil Society Programme is an initiative of Aga

Khan Development Network (AKDN) to help build

the competence of the civil society sector in South

and Central Asia and, East and West Africa. Under

this programme, Aga Khan Rural Support Pro-

gramme (AKRSP) partnered with CSRC to enhance

the competency and sustainability of Local Support

Organisations (LSOs) in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral

(GBC) in Pakistan.

CSRC worked with the weakest LSOs in GBC to

strengthen their capacity for provision of quality

service to the community and acquiring self-

sustainability. Based on the findings of capacity

needs assessment, tailor-made development pro-

grammes were designed and conducted in the areas

of conflict management, good governance and stra-

tegic planning for 88 development professionals of

the LSOs.

CSRC also developed capacity of Karakoram Inter-

national University (KIU) as a future training partner

to serve development organisations in Gilgit-

Baltistan and Chitral. WORKSHOPS PROVIDED A PLATFORM TO LSOS TO CRITICAL-

LY ASSESS THEIR WEAKNESSES AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES

FOR SELF SUSTAINABILITY.

THE WORKSHOPS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO LSO MEM-

BERS TO STRENGTEHN THEIR CAPACITY TO PLAY THEIR DUE

ROLE IN SUSTAINING AND STRENGTHENING THE LSOS IN

THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS.

AKDN Civil Society Programme (CSP)

8

CSRC offers outcome based professional development

trainings to serve the capacity needs that are by and

large common across all civil society organisations.

Over 150 development professionals benefited from

training programmes conducted during 2010-11 in Kara-

chi, Lahore and Islamabad in the following areas:

• Project Management

• Governance

• Quantitative Research

• Monitoring and Evaluation

• School Evaluation

• Report Writing

• Fund Raising for NPOs (non-profit organisations)

Professional Development Trainings

9

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Under the partnership agreement between

AKF(P) and International Finance Corpora-

tion (IFC), CSRC’s capacity development

team has been licensed to use Business

Edge™ products to provide management

trainings based on Business Edge™ curricu-

lum and teaching methodology. CSRC team

will now customize and deliver Business

Edge™ courses according to the contextual

needs of the development organisations.

International Business Leaders Forum

(IBLF)

CSRC and Pakistan Centre For Philanthropy

jointly attended a Corporate Social Responsi-

bility (CSR) training that was conducted by a

senior IBLF faculty, Mr. David Murphy. The

training intended to develop capacity of both

organisations to lead the CSR initiative in Pa-

kistan which aims to create linkages between

the business and the citizen sector. Such part-

nerships will lead to increasing systematic

corporate giving practices and pave the way

towards the sustainability of non-profit sector

in the country.

Pakistan Center of Philanthropy (PCP)

CSRC entered into an agreement with PCP to

jointly develop and deliver capacity develop-

ment programmes. The aim is to enable CSOs

to strengthen their capacity and become eligi-

ble for certification.

Both organisations will also engage in research

and CSR initiatives aimed at enhancing the

knowledge base of civil society in Pakistan and

creating linkages between the business and citi-

zen sector respectively.

Strategic Partnerships

10

Developmental Forums

Development forums are a regular feature

of CSRC to foster linkages and networking

among CSOs for shared learning. The fo-

rums provide an opportunity to share con-

temporary knowledge about emerging de-

velopmental issues and trends with a di-

verse range of civil society professionals.

Over 100 professionals from 63 CSOs ben-

efited from the development forums cate-

gorically addressing critical themes including

Capacity Gaps among CSOs in Handling

Natural Calamities; Work-Life Balance and

Working for People with Disability.

NGO Connection Day

In addition to its regular interventions,

CSRC also organizes learning events for key

stakeholders of civil society to access infor-

mation about contemporary approaches to-

wards development. An NGO Connection

Day on the ‘Role of ICTs for Development:

Opportunities and Challenges’ was orga-

nized on December 24, 2010 in collabora-

tion with Microsoft Pakistan. The event

highlighted ways in which ICTs could be in-

tegrated into development initiatives to help

resource constrained local CSOs operate

efficiently and also promoted networking

among CSOs. A large number of profes-

sionals from CSOs, NGOs, private compa-

nies and academic institutions participated

in the event.

Knowledge Sharing

11

The Civil Society Resource Centre

(CSRC) has conducted a study on

Civil Society Organisations Sustaina-

bility Index (CSOSI) for the first

time in Pakistan – the final report

will serve as baseline for the country

in years to come. Under a grant sub-

contracted by Management Systems

International (MSI), the study

measures CSO sustainability based

on seven dimensions including legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advo-

cacy, service provision, infrastructure and public image.

As part of the methodology, CSRC conducted three regional panel meetings in Karachi, Lahore,

Peshawar and one national meeting in Islamabad in January 2012. A total of 43 development ex-

perts from a diverse range of civil society organisations including local NGOs, resource centres,

community based organisations, academia, CSO partners from government, think tanks, profes-

sional associations and international donors participated in the meetings.

A report elucidating the current state of sustainability of the CSO sector addressing the country

as a whole as well as regional variation in the sustainability will be published.

Civil Society Organisations’ Sustainability Index (CSOSI)

Research

12

VALUES OF CSRC

EXCELLENCE

INTEGRITY

EQUITY

INNOVATION

FOR INQUIRIES:

FOR INQUIRIES ON ANY PART OF THE BI-ANNUAL

REVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT SHAMSA KHOJA ON

EMAIL: SHAMSA.KHOJA@CSRC.ORG.PK

CONTENT AND DESIGN

SAFINA KOUSAR

SALMAN KHIMANI

SHAMSA KHOJA

FAST FACTS

20 YEARS OF EXISTENCE

500 CSO PARTNERSHIPS

5,000 PARTICIPANTS TRAINED

CIVIL SOCIETY RESOURCE CENTRE

A Project of Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) D-114, Block 5, Clifton, Karachi-75600, Pakistan.

Tel: 92-21-35865501-02, Fax:92-21-35865503 info@csrc.org.pk, www.csrc.org.pk