Social accountability for better public services

Omar Asghar Khan Foundation assisted 14 women leaders, including one transperson, and 10 male allies from 17 CSOs of District Haripur to present more 100 public petitions demanding improvements in schools, roads and other public services as well as payment of minimum wages in a series of five meetings with senior district government officials of the education (female and male), social welfare and labour departments as well as with the Mayor of Tehsil Haripur. These public petitions were prepared as part of the Social Accountability Plans (SAPs) pursued by local activists trained by the Foundation in using social accountability to improve citizen engagement in governance. These efforts are made under the Foundation’s project: Fempower Pakistan. “We have now realised that working collectively in groups ensures better response from the government. We feel very encouraged by the manner in which government officials engaged with us,” said a local woman leader.

The government officials and Tehsil Chair Haripur took some immediate actions to resolve issues of drinking water and garbage disposal. On other petitions they promised to take appropriate action. They appreciated the efforts made by the women leaders and male allies in identifying ways in which public service delivery may be improved in the district. “It is very encouraging to see women from local communities taking such initiatives,” appreciated a senior government official.