Communities for Change Project – Phase II

The second phase of the Communities for Change project started in May 2011. The project will be jointly funded by the British High Commission for one year, and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of German for eight months respectively.  The project will cover all seven agencies of FATA; Bajaur, Khyber, Kurram, Mohmand, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan.

The project’s target areas in FATA are going through one of the most turbulent times in its history. And while the overall population is affected due to the ongoing conflict, youth remains the most distressed and frustrated, with little or no opportunities for self development. Moreover, as the crisis deepens, there is need for the civil society in FATA to grow so that it can respond to issues emerging from the conflict. 

Like the last phase, the CFC project aims to empower communities from the FATA (residents and diaspora) to better understand local and regional governance issues, and to create momentum for needed change, which will ultimately help to stablise the border region of Pakistan.

CAMP envisions that FATA local leadership including youth, and sustained indigenous institutions will be further strengthened to confront challenges of development, governance and conflict in the seven Agencies of FATA. The project will achieve the following: 

1. Improved capacity of 202 Civil Society Organizations in two thematic areas and appropriate strategies developed to tackle various social issues at local and national levels.
2. 202 small-scale advocacy projects implemented by CSOs to help generate empowerment, interest, ownership, self-development and grassroots governance.
3. Over 400 local events organized by the CSOs (each CSO holds an average of two events).
4. Eight local, national and regional advocacy events held for increased lobby for legislative changes in favour of FATA people, particularly on governance reforms, FCR amendments, security, development, and human rights, etc.
5. Three FATA youth forums held to promote a culture of healthy debate and constructive problem solving among FATA youth.

The main activities will include development of two thematic manuals for CSOs capacity building which will be followed by a training programme; disbursement and monitoring of small grants to 202 CSOs for innovative advocacy ideas; three FATA Youth Forum including sports competition, youth conference/debates and poster competitions with students at national level; three network assembly meetings (on quarterly basis) of CSOs, organized for network strengthening, advocacy and coordination. The project will also arrange advocacy events including roundtables, consultative dialogues and a regional Jirga/Conference with Afghanistan; publishing 12 monthly newsletters “Voices from FATA” and the production of Information Education and Communication (IEC) Material including a documentary and other printed material.

CAMP believes that the CFC Project can continue to play an important role in preventing and ameliorating conflicts in the tribal communities by developing individual and institutional skills that can promote a culture of peace and lead to development and prosperity of the local people.