Supporting human rights and social inclusion in Pakistan: Our new role in the Aawaz II Programme

Pakistan faces significant challenges in ensuring the rights and inclusion of its most vulnerable populations. Deeply rooted social norms, economic disparities, and institutional gaps have led to the marginalisation of many groups, particularly women, children, religious minorities, and persons with disabilities. These issues are further compounded by regional insecurity, poverty, and conflict.

In response to these complex challenges, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) established the Aawaz II programme. This initiative aims to work with government and local communities to promote the rights of children, women, youth, religious minorities and excluded groups to strengthen their control over their own development.

We're pleased to announce that we've been selected to play a crucial supporting role in this important initiative. Our organisation has been awarded the Independent Feedback, Operational Reviews and Monitoring (I-FORM) component of the Aawaz II programme over the next three years.

The Aawaz II Programme: goals and approach

The Aawaz II programme adopts a multi-faceted approach to create lasting change:

• Providing technical support for legislative and system reforms
• Empowering communities to access information
• Pre-empting community conflicts
• Implementing partners and collaboration with government

By addressing these areas, the programme aims to create a more inclusive society where all individuals, regardless of their gender, age, religion, or ability, can fully participate and thrive.

Expanding reach for greater impact

We're excited to be part of the programme as it expands its geographical scope. Initially focused on Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, Aawaz II now includes Sindh, with engagements at the Federal level to foster country-wide impact. This expansion reflects the programme's commitment to addressing these critical issues on a broader scale.

Our supportive role

Our role in this collaborative effort is to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the Aawaz II programme. Over the next three years, our team will contribute by:

1. Conducting independent operational reviews and assessment monitoring
2. Gathering feedback from stakeholders, including end users
3. Facilitating technical reviews, coordination, and alignment to promote shared learning

Through these activities, we aim to provide valuable insights that will help refine and improve the programme's strategies and interventions. During the last phase of I-FORM we successfully conducted operational reviews, process monitoring activities, and collected end users’ feedback on the selected themes of Inclusion and Gender-based Violence. The underlying principles of our approach were participation, learning & sharing, flexibility, inclusivity, and ensuring value-for-money (VfM) in programme operations.

Supporting government initiatives

A key aspect of our work involves monitoring and evaluating the technical assistance provided to the public sector under Aawaz II. This support aims to address capacity gaps that may hinder the implementation of existing legislation and critical reforms related to voice and accountability. By contributing to this process, we hope to play a part in advancing social justice and support for marginalised groups across Pakistan.

"We're honoured to contribute to this vital initiative that seeks to create a more inclusive and just society in Pakistan", says Fayyaz Mohammad, our Project Director overseeing this project. "Our role in monitoring and evaluation will help ensure that the Aawaz II programme's efforts are as effective and impactful as possible."

This engagement aligns with our commitment to supporting positive change in complex social environments. We look forward to applying our expertise to enhance the collective impact of the Aawaz II programme and its partners in Pakistan.

We'll be sharing updates on the progress of this collaborative initiative as it unfolds. For more information about our work in international development and how we support global initiatives, please visit our project pages.