South and South-East Asia - Pakistan
The “Communication for Effective Social Service Delivery (CESSD)” project was a three-phase, 17-year, CAD 35.9M initiative (1999-2016). The first two phases of the project were undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC). Building upon the success of the project, the Government of Pakistan requested further support in improving service delivery in education, health and drinking water in 11 of the 25 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulting in a third phase funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The initiative sustained, supported and monitored Social Service Committees (SSCs), and increased the transparency and mutual accountability of government and civil society. By building a relationship with government partners, including five provincial departments (Health; Public Health Engineering; Education; Planning and Development; and Local Government, Elections and Rural Development), the project assisted in the development and implementation of customized local plans and standards, reflecting national legislation and policies. The project additionally built government-mandated community-based organizations, or SSCs, that include Parent Teacher Committees; Primary Care Management Committees; and Water User Committees; to support and oversee the management of primary schools, primary health care units and water supply schemes. Women’s participation in SSC decision-making was a major thrust of the project’s approach. Increasing the gender-responsiveness of governance mechanisms and institutions was a critically important element in the project’s efforts to strengthen the transparency, accountability, and effectiveness of district government line departments.
