Professional Fellows Program/Legislative Fellowship Program
To strengthen the understanding of the U.S. legislative branch and civil society’s role in the political process, and foster relationships among Asian and American institutions, World Learning (WL) is implementing Professional Fellows Program/Legislative Fellowship Program (LFP) since 2010 till now for the South and Central Asia-Region. LFP is a two-way exchange program for mid-career professionals and young leaders between Pakistan and the U.S. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State. WL is an American educational and development organization with decades of training, exchange, and youth leadership development experience. The President of PakAID selected as the first fellow of this program from Pakistan in 2010 and since then himself and later PakAID have been supporting the program voluntarily. Later PakAID has become the official partner of the program in year 2018 and start providing assistance to US Embassy and the World Learning officially till 2020. During the three years the program achieved unprecedented successes through following activities;
- Publicizing LFP program in Pakistan through number of tools social media, internet, emails, peers, friends, professionals, alumni, Pakistan US Alumni Network, and other networks and groups.
- Close collaborations with the US Embassy, Islamabad in the selection, visa and departure processes.
- High level of experience sharing and presentations during Pre-Departure Orientations (PDOs) for selected participants.
- Organized events for US delegates in Pakistan like roundtable with civil society organizations, LFP alumni reception and get together, field visits to some charity projects, etc.
- Large Professional Fellows Alumni Reunions and cultural activities.
(note: few pics are attached below of these activities).
CELL Project, Exchange Component, Funded by US Embassy, Islamabad
PakAID has been the successful partner with the learning organization Shahoor Foundation for Education and Awareness on US Embassy, Islamabad funded project on Capacity Enhancement, Leadership, and Linkage Development Program. In the Project PakAID was the partner on the exchange program in US component for the selected participants. Following major activities were conducted successfully;
- Be part of recruitment/selection activities including interviews and final selection for up to 12 principle and alternates (the number will be defined later) for the exchange program to United States.
- Provide complete assistance to all 12 candidates for the Visa Application Preparations.
- Lead successful submission of Visa Applications and scheduling interviews with the US Embassy, Islamabad.
- Trouble shooting and provide support to the candidates during the Visa application process.
Lead/assist Pre Departure Orientation (PDO) for the exchange visitors in Pakistan.
Pakistan US Alumni Network (PUAN) Activities
PakAID has been managing PUAN Islamabad Chapter accounts and helping in disbursement of funds to its alumni. PakAID has also been assisting PUAN alumni of US Embassy in seeking proposals, preparing their financial and narrative reports, submission of financial receipts on the funded activities and further submission to the USEFP, Pakistan. During this period PUAN alumni conducted huge number of events and activities.
Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund – Women Political Empowerment Project funded by the State Department/US Embassy.
PakAID has implemented a Women Political Empowerment Project funded by the Department of State, USA under Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund. The goal of the project was strengthen democracy in Pakistan through political education and capacity building of women leaders, parliamentarians and young female becoming first time voters. The project was based on a unique and innovative idea and hence it got fourth position out of 700 projects from across the world under the State Department competition. The project was submitted by President & CEO Mr. Haseeb Kiyani being State Alumni/ Professional Fellow Program Alumni.
Women Political Empowerment Project (WPEP) addressed the democratic need and right of women at various levels covering from women leaders to first time female voters in universities/college and out of college youth. The project has tremendously outreached to over 10,000 young women as first time voters on their political education.
Adapting a unique model idea which wasn’t implemented in the history of Pakistan the Project trained over 100 women political leaders and potential candidates on Election Campaign Development. After the project 13 trained women became the member of the parliament at national and provincial levels.
At third level, the Project also trained 1,000 uneducated women at grassroots level on political education and importance of elections.
The Project also produced few publications i.e. a comprehensive training book on election campaign development, educational booklet for first time voters and newsletter. During the project implementation number of senior US Embassy officials, government officials, politicians and political parties’ leaders participated.
Gender Sensitive Governance Project, funded by USEFP/US Embassy.
Although the overall system of Pakistani politics and governance is improving however there is still a huge lack of recognizing the importance of women in the development process. Ignorance of women in the development process is because of two fold reasons; one is to see women as a second class citizen and the other is lack of training and awareness not only at institutional levels but also at leadership level.
Government runs number of projects and programs at grassroots level for the development of the citizens and almost every district government has a development committee who plans for the district development with the district administration but unfortunately during this process women are always neglected either developing a project or as members of such committees.
To address this issue and to ensure women participation in the development process at local level PakAID launched Gender Sensitive Governance Project in Districts Islamabad and Rawalpindi through US Embassy alumni funding. The project was aimed to involve women in the development process at grassroots level. The project was focused on the trainings of the local administration representatives, local government employees and elected local body members from across the departments on the role of women in the district planning, their importance as equal citizen of the country, and involve them in the development process at all levels, either its street construction, building of schools, hospitals, community centers, street cleanliness, water, and other municipalities issues. These all issues are directly related to common women.
The project conducted 5 training programs for local administration departments’ representatives and local women leaders particularly young female on the gender sensitive governance. Over 100 people were trained during these training programs in Rawalpindi and Islamabad districts.
Pakistan Governance Strengthening Program (PGSP)
Pakistan is passing through a transition of strengthening its democratic and governance systems. The Democratic and Governance systems in Pakistan is strengthening with the passage of time and after the general election year 2013, the swift shift of the government in Pakistan is an encouraging element for the stakeholders struggling for strengthening democracy. Although the elected governments striving their best to deliver in the country and improve the life standards of the people but unfortunately even with the willingness they are unable to perform at the optimum levels. Keeping in view the current situation it is a dire need to work with the governmental institutions to improve their capacity for a better performance. PakAID believes that a program like Pakistan Governance Strengthening Program can be a solution to work with federal institutions on improving their efficiency through trainings and capacity building programs. A trained, true, effective, democratic, people oriented, transparent and accountable governance system is the key to success of any country.
PakAID has initiated Pakistan Governance Strengthening Program to support and provide training assistance to the federal ministries and departments, autonomous institutions and public sector entities in Pakistan. To assess the need of such a national level program PakAID has officially conducted a baseline research with federal ministries in Pakistan. PakAID targeted senior and mid-level permanent government officers and obtained their feedback through questionnaires through official channel. 23 Federal ministries, departments and autonomous institutions positively responded to PakAID and submitted their feedback through filled questionnaires. 99% of the government officers were agreed with the need of such national level program in Pakistan and was in the favor of the execution of Pakistan Governance Strengthening Program by PakAID. After the research PakAID is in process of resource mobilization to initiate training programs for ministries.
Legislative Strengthening Program Pakistan (LSP)
Constitution and Legislation are the forces behind all the policies and priorities of a democratic country. Without an effective constitution and an effective legislative process a country cannot achieve the goal of prosperity.
The overall legislative life of Pakistan is very short, the enactment of the first constitution of Pakistan was happened almost 42 years back but during these 42 years the overall Pakistan’s parliamentary legislative life is around 20 to 25 years. During these 20 to 25 years and high scope of legislation in the country; the political parties have not been able to focus on legislation according to their promises with the public according to their manifestos.
The lack of legislative strengthening is due to number of reasons including interrupted parliamentary system, lack of capacity, lack of interest of political parties and lack of constitutional and legislative education. A weak legislative process has created a negative impact on the life standards of the people of Pakistan. Moreover the society is not itself inclined with the laws, rules, legislations and generally, people in Pakistan feel disgraced if they follow the law, again this is because they were away from legislation and laws processes and lack of awareness.
Keeping in view the current situation of the county PakAID intends to strengthen and enhance the legislative process in the country at the national and provincial levels through transforming the manifestos of the political parties into bills for legislation. These legislations could be on common issues of all political parties like Education at any levels, Health at any levels, Women, Youth, Labor, Trade, Energy, Crimes, Security, Employment and many more. To achieve the goal of the program PakAID will work closely with the political parties and will build their capacity in legislative process and on transforming a manifesto into legislation. LSP program is at beginning stage.
One MY (One Million Youth)
Pakistan is known as a “Young Country” where 130 Million of population is youth which is higher than the population of 150 countries in the world. Although this is a great and huge human resource available for the development of Pakistan but on the other hand if this huge young population is not directed or trained properly this may cause destruction of the country as well. The sixth biggest populated country; ‘Pakistan’ depends on its youth and the youth depends to the guidance, direction and encouragement of seasoned and trained people from all segments of lives. To address this challenge for the country PakAID in collaboration with Green Management established a concept of ONE-MY which is One Million Youth. This joint venture is ultimately going to network One Million Youth in Pakistan through number of events, activities and projects that will volunteer for national causes. One MY will take up different national issues and will act at same time throughout the country like energy saving, giving cause, save water, do well campaigns, climate change, etc. The first 2 days National Youth Leadership Conference and One MY launching is planned this year targeting over 2,000 youth from different parts of the country.
PakAID Conferences. Awards and Speakers Series
PakAID organizes periodical Conferences and speakers’ series on various topics and themes of national interest. The purpose of conferences and Speakers’ Series is to generate a discourse on important issues and provide a platform to experts, speakers, students, media and politicians to talk on these important issues. These are the series of the events in which normally PakAID forms a panel of experts from different background and starts interactive discussions on themes.
PakAID also motivates and acknowledges the contributions of individuals and organizations in their fields through awards and certificates through a competitive process.
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