Upcoming FDA Project in Pakistan

"Pakistan Public Empowerment" project Project Information: Project Title: Pakistan Public Empowerment Project Location: Local: Pakistan: whole country (28 panels in 4 provinces and Islamabad) Project Summary: The FDA is the main grantee for the grant management purpose, and The Researchers (TR) is the (local) implementing partner. (The original idea and methodologies for the project stems from the FDA.) The FDA will not act as an Executing Agency. Summary of Pakistan Public Empowerment Project: Project to act as a bridge between the people of Pakistan and political representatives. Determine the basic overall priorities of Pakistanis (in terms of gov't policies and expenditure), and use those priorities as a basis to evaluate the expenditures and policies of the current Pakistan gov't. (Report) (28 citizen panels, reflecting a cross-section of society, will be formed to cover four Provinces and Islamabad. Other means will be utilized such as door to door survey to reach the people and provide better inclusion and access.) *An intent of the project is to use its results in a subsequent project on the next parliamentary and presidential elections. (2013) Main feature of the project: Democratic Dialogue and Constitutional Processes Gender considerations: Gender considerations are taken into account in the project design A main purpose of the project is to give greater voice to the Pakistan public about the actions and direction of government. The voice of Pakistan women is integral to this purpose. TR and the FDA will do everything in their power to ensure that women's voices are heard. Due to Pakistan's culture and social norms, TR and the FDA will seek a variety of ways to encourage women to participate in the project--such as private and even anonymous and/or confidential forums. Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups: Addressing the needs of marginalized or vulnerable groups is a key objective of the project. The needs of marginalized groups are critical to the project, because those needs will help form the basic, overall priorities of Pakistanis. To not include a segment of the Pakistan public in the project would weaken the credibility of the results. The more, diverse participation in the project, the more credible the project will be, and consequently the more impact the project will have. Hence, we have a significant interest in including all segments of the Pakistan public in the project. Project Description: Problem being addressed: Pakistan civil society has suffered from a disconnection between the Pakistan people and the government. The purpose of the project is to bridge that disconnection between the Pakistan people and the government. The connection of the people and government is a fundamental tenet of democracy, through the principle of government of, by and for the people. Without that connection, democracy is undermined. Objectives/Purpose: Promote greater inclusion of the Pakistan public in the political process. Encourage increased political empowerment of the Pakistan public. Help inform the Pakistan public about democracy and their political representatives. Create greater public accountability of political representatives Key Activities: 1. Formation of 28 citizen panels, comprised of a cross-section of Pakistan society--in terms of age, gender, occupation, and ethnicity. 2. 114 public forums held in four provinces and Islamabad. (Citizen panels will host events; one panel per event. 114 forums will cover all districts in the four provinces and Islamabad.) 3. Door to door survey (in addition to public forums) to access marginalized groups. 4. Evaluation of the public input by the 28 citizen panels. Produce a report on the Pakistan's public priorities (in terms of government policies and expenditure.) 5. 28 citizen panels' evaluate, rank, and grade the current Pakistan government based on the established priorities of the Pakistan people. Produce a report. 6. Release the evaluation report to the public, media, and government. Outputs/Deliverable Products: 1. Extensive data on the Pakistan public's priorities. 2. Report on the basic, overall priorities of the Pakistan people. 3. Report on the current Pakistan government, in the context of the basic, overall priorities of the Pakistan public. 4. A website which contains all the reports and public data, barring confidentiality and/or anonymity agreements. Results/Outcomes: Increased involvement of the Pakistan people in the political process. Established public mechanisms to hold political representatives accountable. Increased democratic empowerment of the people of Pakistan. Increased connection between the Pakistan people and the Pakistan government. Increased public accountability of political representatives. More informed Pakistan voters. Increased Pakistan voter turnout. Overall improvement of democracy in Pakistan. Monitoring and Evaluation: Measurement will be by comparative analysis techniques and survey/interview. The project will measure public participation in the political process and changes in government policies and expenditures. TR and the FDA will be responsible for measuring. Innovation: The project is innovative, because it is using evaluation as a means to improve and strengthen democracy. Also, the project utilizes innovative democratic mechanisms to empower and include the people, and hold political representatives accountable. Sustainability: The achievements will be maintained by performing subsequent evaluation reports on the next parliamentary and presidential elections, reassessment of the Pakistan public's basic priorities, and pushing for legislation to make the reports and mechanisms a permanent feature of Pakistan democracy. The FDA needs your help to advance democracy! The FDA is working to raise $20,000 CAN for this project. If you believe in the "Pakistan Public Empowerment" project, and the importance of advancing democracy in Pakistan, please donate to support this project: | Home | About the FDA | Donate to the FDA | FDA Membership | Affiliated Organization | Contact the FDA |