With support of UN Women and the People of Japan, RSPN is implementing the project titled, “Women’s Socio-Economic Resilience in Pakistan, (Improving access of women to essential services in nine flood- districts of three provinces)”. The project will be implemented in nine districts, (Balochistan: Lasbela, Naseerabad and Sohabatpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Swat, Charsadda, D.I.Khan and Sindh: Sukkur, Khairpur, Dadu) through our implementing partners Balochistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP), Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO) and Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP). The project has commenced on 14th April 2023 and will end on 31st January 2024.
Approximately 33 million individuals in Pakistan have been impacted by the floods caused by the destructive monsoon rains, which have engulfed a significant portion of the country. Among those affected, rural women, much like their male counterparts, heavily depend on the agriculture sector for their sustenance. Tragically, the floods have not only deprived them of their lands but also resulted in the loss of livestock, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty among women. The combination of limited decision-making authority, restricted access to economic resources, and the prevailing lack of recognition of women’s contributions in the labor force has exacerbated the hardships faced by women in the aftermath of the floods.
RSPN and UN Women have entered a partnership, to empower women and girls affected from floods by enhancing their participation and capacity to become leaders in their communities and enabling them to take the initiative in raising awareness about rights and local development needs.
Through this project, they will be encouraged to assert their rights and accessing services that address gender-based violence, aiming to improve their overall voice and empowerment.
Project objectives
Supporting capacitated women to take their own initiatives to raise awareness on rights and local development needs, claiming their rights from local administrations and political leadership.
Increasing participation and capacity development of women who have potential to become leaders in their respective communities.
Engaging women to raise their voices and access to the redressal services of gender based violence.
The project will establish and support multi-purpose centers as a safe space for women to organize themselves around women-friendly initiatives. 90 multi-purpose centers will be equipped and supported as per the needs identified by local women groups (10 in each of nine districts) with regularly monthly meetings.
The project will also enhance awareness of community women on gender concepts, discrimination, and mechanisms for redressal of their complaints. For this purpose, 900 women and youth groups will be formed and strengthened in leadership, communication, advocacy, community mobilization and public engagement skills through the multi-purpose centers.
The project aims to sensitize more than 18,000 women and help flood affected women and GBV survivors with psychosocial support and referrals to services where needed.
Finally, to enhance the capacity of women leaders’ participation in local level planning and decision making, 20,000 women and girls who have been affected by floods will be assisted in acquiring National Identity Cards for improved access to social services. 90 union council and nine district level alliances will be built for the prevention of violence and protection of survivors and women.
