USAID CVP Conducts Post Award Orientation of Partner Organizations under Grants Cycle 11: On September 12, 2017, USAID Citizens' Voice Project (CVP) conducted a post award orientation session of 02 selected partner organizations from Balochistan, under Grants Cycle 11 on the thematic area 'Improving Women Participation in Electoral Process'. Two staff members each of these partner organizations – Legends Society (Killa Abdullah), and Center for Peace and Development (Quetta) – attended the sessions on understanding the Letter of Grant, Statement of Work, Financial Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation Reporting Requirements, and Communication Protocols.
With award of these two grants, CVP has launched the campaign for listing and facilitation of eligible-aged women in Balochistan province for obtaining Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). Under Grants Cycle 11, CVP aims to facilitate up to one million eligible-aged women from 24 districts across Pakistan in the registration of CNICs with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
USAID CVP Initiates Curriculum Development Workshop for Election Observation: On September 11, 2017, USAID CVP initiated a 08-day Curriculum Development Workshop in order to support Citizens' Observation for Transparent and Accountable Elections in Pakistan. A total of 24 participants (19 male; 05 female) are attending this workshop which includes staff of TDEA-FAFEN, CVP, and external consultants. This workshop has been organized to: discuss the long-term observation and reporting strategy; develop framework for long and medium term pre-election observation; review the FAFEN's observation methodology and lessons learned from 2013 Election observation; and finalize the content development strategy and manuals for the trainings of Project Managers, District Coordinators, Constituency Coordinators, and Election Day Observers. This is the first phase of curriculum development and will cover only the long-term observation. Curriculum for Election-Day observation will be developed later after assessment of the efficacy of tools developed in first phase as well as the finalization of draft election law.
Under this grants cycle, CVP aims to build the capacity of 130 District Coordinators, 236 Constituency Coordinators and 19,000 Citizens Observers regarding General Elections 2018 legislative framework and FAFEN's election observation methodology in order to effectively monitor and report 2018 General Elections in all districts of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, all Agencies of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
USAID Nationwide Campaign for Identifying Unregistered Eligible-age Women for CNIC Registration gains Momentum: From September 07 to 13, 2017, as reported by USAID CVP partner organizations, 7,068 eligible-age unregistered women from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh were identified for facilitation under Grants Cycle 11. Following the completion of the identification and listing phase, CVP will facilitate the identified eligible-age unregistered women in registering themselves for acquiring their CNICs. Through this nationwide intervention, CVP aims to facilitate up to one million eligible-age women to enhance citizens' confidence in political and electoral processes by generating greater support for increased women political participation.
USAID Focuses on Facilitating Eligible-age Women in Acquiring CNICs: From September 07 to 13, 2017, USAID CVP partner organizations directly facilitated 746 eligible-age women from 04 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Dera Ismail Khan, Lower Dir, Nowshera and Swat); 02 districts of Punjab (Bahawalpur and Faisalabad); and 02 district of Sindh (Jamshoro and Qambar Shahdadkot) in acquiring CNICs. Through targeted CVP interventions, these women were initially identified and listed as not possessing CNICs- despite being of eligible age. CVP, through its nationwide campaign, is increasing the registration of women voters by facilitating their CNIC registration process in order to increase the female voter turn-out in 2018 General Elections.
USAID Engages with District and Local Authorities for Women's CNIC Registration: From September 07 to 13, 2017, USAID CVP partner organizations conducted 29 meetings with NADRA; Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP); District Government officials; Civil Society representatives; and District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) members. These strategically planned sensitization and coordination meetings were held in 04 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Dera Islmail Khan, Hangu, Lower Dir and Nowshera); 01 district of Punjab (Faisalabad); and 02 districts of Sindh (Karachi South and Karachi West). These meetings, which were attended by a total of 79 men and 24 women, aim at enhancing coordination between CVP's partners and key state institutions. In doing so, CVP continues to engage with NADRA and ECP so as to mitigate any operational challenges that may arise towards the successful achievement of its women CNIC registration targets.
USAID Leverages Support of Religious & Community Leaders for Registering Women with NADRA: From September 07 to 13, 2017, USAID CVP partner organizations conducted 08 community meetings by engaging religious and community leaders in 02 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Hangu and Nowshera); 02 districts of Punjab (Gujranwala and Faisalabad) and 01 district of Sindh (Karachi West) to seek their support for women CNIC identification and registration in their respective districts. These meetings, which were attended by a total of 83 men and 55 women, highlighted the need and sought community support for realizing equal rights of women to participate in political and electoral processes.
