Gender & Socially Inclusive Public Services
From 2019-26 the Foundation assisted vulnerable groups included in citizen-government village and district forums in 37 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to develop social accountability action plans (SAPs) to improve services like darul amans (shelters) for survivors of gender-based violence and expand and equip Child Protection Units. Funds were allocated for GBV helplines, training medical and police first responders, and increasing birth registration facilities. Dialogues between vulnerable groups and the government helped enhance budgets for worship and funeral places for non-Muslims, protection centres for transgender persons, PWD-accessible public buildings, and increased education and employment opportunities for vulnerable groups.
From 2019-24, efforts led by the Foundation and its partners resulted in government officials positively responding to 717 social accountability action plans (SAPs) pursued by 730,000 women leaders and 640,000 male allies in 11 districts of Pakistan. Actions prompted by the SAPs included zero-tolerance of sexual harrasment in healthcare facilities for women, interfaith community actions to improve solid waste management, and, reconstruction of girls schools damaged by militancy or natural disasters. Government responses benefitted over 5 million people, including more than 2.5 million women in almost half a million households.
Since 2024 the Foundation is assisting women leaders and male allies in two talukas of Sindh’s Khairpur District to exercise their agency through social accountability to make healthcare responsive to their needs. Participatory assessments by women are defining improvements that they negotiate with public representatives and government officials. Early achievements include improved attitude of doctors towards women patients, especially from Hindu communities, installation of streetlights and repair of roads.