ABOUT THE PROJECT
AAWAZ II is a DFID funded programme in Pakistan, managed by the British Council, which will work with local communities in KP and Punjab provinces to promote the rights of children, women, youth, and other marginalised groups, to strengthen their control over their own development.
AAWAZ II Programme has four pillars and the British Council is leading on the delivery of the community pillars relating to community dialogue, awareness and social cohesion. As part of the delivery of these pillars, AAWAZ II will provide information referrals, facilitate citizen-state engagement for uptake of services and enhance capacities of local communities. In Phase I (Jan 2020- Dec. 2021) Aawaz II will work with civil society organisations to implement the community-based interventions in 22 selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, setting up Aagahi Centres and Village Forums. The thematic focus of the programme is on child labour, early and forced marriage, gender-based violence (GBV) and social cohesion.
Downstream Partnersin Punjab
British Council will implement AAWAZ II in partnership with a range of strategic, provincial and downstream partners which includes CSOs/NGOs. Accordingly 12 districts have been finalized in Punjab where 10 NGOs will implement Aawaz 11 activities in consultation with PMU. Society for Human Empowerment and Rural Development (SHER) has been awarded Aawaz 11 project for District Khushab.
Programme Deliverables
The programme’s key components are as follows:
- Community mobilization through Village and district forums on modern slavery including child labor, child marriages, gender-based violence, conflict and intolerance
- Community engagement through social action in support from Aawaz Young Volunteers on thematic issues as mentioned above
- Awareness raising and referrals to available services according to community demands through Aawaz Aagahi Centers
- Conflict prevention and pre-emption through dialogue between communities through the forums and social action projects by Young volunteers
Best Regards,
Rukhsana Sadiq
Director Programs – SHER
Society for Human Empowerment & Rural Development (SHER)