Aurat Foundation organized an annual learning and review meeting with stakeholders under the Institutional Capacity Strengthening of Women Development Department (ICSWDD) project on 25th of June 2016 at Nathia Gali. The meeting was aimed at the overview of the project, learning of the inception phase, future strategy and planning of activities to generate support at district level for a Gender Based Violence (GBV) free district keeping in mind the project extension with further inclusion of Rawalpindi and Muzaffargarh, all being done in cooperation with Oxfam GB.

In the meeting, Ms. Shamaila Tanvir, National Programme Coordinator, presented a comprehensive review of GBV situation in Punjab with inclusive insight into the purpose and functioning of the project.  She said that project is designed to facilitate a process that leads to women empowerment and inclusion while exploring the possible modes for carrying out some reinforcing initiatives to collaborate with the Women Development Department of Government of Punjab. The programme is centered on bringing change at three levels: household, civil society and the state systems. This institutional capacity building initiative will direct to better prioritization, ownership, oversight and impact. The project is envisioned to bring about a sustainable change through a set of activities including sensitization of government officials, filling staff gaps, providing equipment, developing measurable impact indicators about their gender role in development initiatives and their impact on both men and women, ensuring women gain access to and control over financial resources, and leadership opportunities.

Furthermore, Mr. Anjum Rafiq, Regional Coordinator, Punjab and Ms Uzma Idrees, Secretary District Resource Center, Kasur, shared project implementation strategies and lessons learned during project’s initial implementation phase in district Kasur. She highlighted the major achievements of the project and shared some challenges faced during the implementation of the project.  Ms. Komal Zahra, Secretary District Resource Center, Muzaffargarh, shared findings of SWOT Analysis.

For better implementation of the project at district level, SWOT analysis was conducted and each team of three districts presented their findings keeping in view the contextual background of their area.  After a discussion on SWOT findings, Mr. Asim Malak, Director Outreach and Network, Aurat Foundation, shared the strategies required for implementing the project in accordance with approved work-plan. Mr. Muhammad Ayaz, Assistant Manager M&E Aurat Foundation, explained monitoring, evaluation and reporting technicalities required for reporting activities and outcome achieved during project implementing.