South and South-East Asia - Pakistan
The goal of this complex seven-year (2003-2009) project was to promote democratic local governance through support to the Government of Pakistan’s program of devolution and effective citizen participation. DSP worked with national, provincial, district and sub-district governments and community organisations to enhance local government planning and management and to improve demand-driven service delivery. Cowater managed the project’s USD 2M Punjab Initiatives Fund, a responsive mechanism that supported district, sub-district and community-based initiatives to strengthen democratic governance policy and practice; institutionalize citizen participation in local planning; promote democratic and transparent local government decision-making and implementation; support citizen priorities regarding socio-economic development; and create accessible, client-oriented, pro-poor and accountable social services. The project was centered in the province of Punjab and worked with provincial and district governments, village councils and community organizations to strengthen demand-driven service delivery. All project activities reflected Pakistani interests and needs in order to ensure local ownership, while focusing on pro-poor and participatory democratic reform.