RSPN is continuously striving to achieve thematic and geographical depth and quality in RSPs programme. Approaching programme depths while bringing development resources to RSPs also creatively adds to RSPN sustainability. The process of the creation of Special Project’s Wing received further impetus during the early period after the 8th October earthquake. RSPN had approached various donors for providing relief and rehabilitation funds to earthquake affected areas. These funds were channeled through RSPN and through two of its member RSPs; NRSP and SRSP. For further information on special projects contact Mr Aadil Mansoor, Manager Special Projects at aadil@rspn.org.pk

List of Special Projects

• USAID-District Grants Program:

RSPN has recently completed a USAID/Pakistan funded US$ 2 million programme called ‘Rewarding Innovations at the District level in Pakistan’. It has implemented this program in all four provinces through its partners RSPs – NRSP in Sindh, BRSP in Balochistan, PRSP in Punjab and SRSP in NWFP. The purpose was to create new opportunities for local governments at district, town, tehsil and union levels to address priority development challenges within their communities in partnership with the private, for-profit sector. Non-profit NGOs and community-based organizations can be a third member in such partnerships. The physical outcome of this program was the successful completion of 38 projects while the institutional outcome was a process of effective and frequent interaction between the local governments, private parties, local CBOs/NGOs, RSPs and USAID/Pakistan that resulted in capacity building of local governments for working under different kinds of partnerships.

• US-AID funded Reviving Education in Earthquake-Affected Areas of NWFP and AJ&K through Tent Schools and Cash-for-Work Programme:

This project was funded by the USAID and implemented by RSPN from December 2005 to June 2006 with the NRSP and SRSP in districts Abbottabad, Mansehra and Battagram of NWFP and districts Muzzafarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot of AJ&K. The key achievements of this project were revival of 228 government schools in AJ&K and NWFP by: a) rebuilding school infrastructure through the concept of cash for work; b) active involvement of local communities in education through school management committees and Parent-Teacher Association; c) creating joyful learning environment for approximately 36,500 children through child-centred teaching methodologies and by distributing school supplies such as furniture, teaching and student bags, libraries etc.; and d) providing training to 1,368 teachers for psycho-social counselling of students to cope with earthquake trauma.

• OSI funded Reviving Education in Earthquake Affected Areas of AJ&K through Community Schools and Cash-for-Work Programme:

This 6-month project was initiated in March 2006 and ended in August 2006. The Open Society Institute (OSI) has provided funds while RSPN is implementing this project in partnership with the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) in Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawalakot Districts of AJ&K. The project aims to revive education in 30 primary schools in collaboration with the communities in AJ&K to benefit approximately 4,050 children through involvement of the community in the Cash-for-Work Programme to provide a temporary means of livelihood lost as a result of the October 8, 2005 earthquake. A well trained School Monitoring Committees were established, communities provided land for schools and an environment of joyful learning for children in shelter schools was created.

• Winter Shelters and Livelihood Support Programme – DFID Pakistan and DFID-UK CHASE:

This four-month project (UK£ 405,000) was aimed to provide temporary shelters for 300 families in AJ&K and 300 families in NWFP, and providing them cash-for-work opportunities in clearing of debris and reconstruction activities.

• Building Community Capacity Reconstruction Project – Japan Social Development Bank through the World Bank / International Development Association:

This-15 month project (US$ 1 million) aims at building community capacities in order to prepare them a) to effectively take part in reconstruction of houses and social infrastructure and b) reinvigorate their livelihoods by employing these skills. RSPN will sub-contract its implementation to NRSP, which will set up 5 community training centers and train about 5,000 community members from 10 selected Union Councils of District Muzaffarabad, AJ&K in skills construction-related skills, including masonry, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing and steel fixing.

• Humanitarian Relief Work for the Victims of Earthquake, Emergency Response for Pakistan Earthquake Affectees and Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Response in NWFP Phase II, Transitional Shelter Project – IDRF Canada:

IDRF supported RSPN’s earthquake relief activities through three grants (Canadian $ 985,924) which concluded in April/May 2006 and were aimed at providing relief to the earthquake affectees.

• Immediate Relief to Victims of the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake and Distribution of Relief Kits – CARE:

This project (US$ 82,100) concluded in March 2006 and included distribution of relief items in the earthquake affected areas of NWFP and AJ&K.

• IIDRC Research Project 'Gender, Power Relations and Decentralization in Pakistan

The Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) has been awarded a research grant by the International Research Development Centre (IDRC), a Crown Corporation of the Government of Canada. The research theme is 'Decentralization and Women's Rights in South Asia' launched by the Gender Unit of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The competition was to support empirical research in a South Asian country that will document and analyze state-specific decentralization reforms that have worked to promote women's rights, and/or reforms that have created barriers to the protection and realization of these rights.

The proposed research at RSPN 'Gender, Power-relations and Decentralization in Pakistan' will address the fundamental question: to what extent has the experience of electoral 'affirmative action' (33% quota for women) in Pakistan granted legitimacy to women as political actors with voice, agency and the capacity to respond to the expressed needs of their constituents? The Study, which began on July 2006, will conclude in December 2007. It will cover 5 Districts: one in each province and one in the Northern Areas. RSPN has partnered with the local organizations/institutions in each district in order to carry out the field activities. The partners are: Young Sheedi Welfare Organization in Badin Sindh, Aurat Foundation in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Meirman Women Development Centre in Kohat, NWFP, Sardar Bahdur Khan Women University in Quetta, Baluchistan and AKRSP in Skardu, Northern Areas.

For project specific details please contact Ms. Shakila (Gender Focal Person) at Shakila@rspn.org.pk