The workshop facilitated by the Aurat Foundation and sponsored by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) was conducted from October 23-25, 2024 in Islamabad. This workshop included valuable insights from Mian Najeeb Aslam, former Director General of Local Government and Community Development in the Government of Punjab, and Governance Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, Pakistan.

This workshop aimed to empower CSOs and media personnel in effectively engaging with provincial government processes, monitoring budgets, and tracking government expenditures. The ultimate goal of the manual is to strengthen the role of CSOs and media in promoting transparency, accountability, and advocacy within governance. This exercise gave an opportunity to gather insights from experts in relevant fields to ensure the content aligns with project objectives and effectively meets the needs of the target audience.

The training approach emphasized interactive engagement, ensuring that participants not only received knowledge but also fully understood it. Trainers encouraged open discussions, creating a forum for feedback, questions, and suggestions. The training provided illustrative examples of successful public participation in budgeting and local development initiatives, showcasing best practices that can be replicated in other contexts.

In the closing ceremony, Mr. Najeeb Aslam expressed his gratitude to Aurat Foundation and NDI for placing their trust in him and offering the opportunity to develop the training manual on such an important topic. He thanked the organizers for their support and collaboration throughout the process, highlighting the significance of the manual in empowering CSOs and media personnel to engage effectively in governance processes.

Mr. Sagir Hashmi, Grants and Finance Manager at NDI expressed confidence that the skills developed would contribute positively to citizen-government collaboration and strengthen democratic processes within the community. He further emphasized that by equipping them with the necessary tools and skills to engage effectively with government processes, we are trying to lay the foundation for a more accountable, inclusive, and transparent governance system.

In the closing ceremony, Mr Naeem Mirza, Executive Director of Aurat Foundation, addressed the participants, stating that this workshop is just the beginning. He emphasized that the real work lies in how participants will take the knowledge gained here and apply it in their respective regions. He also expressed his gratitude to NDI, the trainers, and the participants for their valuable time and input, which has been crucial in improving the training manual.

At the end of the workshop, certificates were presented to the participants in recognition of their active involvement and contributions throughout the sessions. Souvenirs were also presented to the resource persons and guest as tokens of appreciation for their valuable contributions.