Citizens Voice Project

Program Description
Cycle-10

Thematic Area: Enhancing the Capacity of

Elected Representatives and Strengthening
Citizens Engagement for Transparent,
Responsive, Efficient and Accountable Local
Governments

Thematic Area: Enhancing the Capacity of Elected Representatives and

Strengthening Citizens Engagement for Transparent, Responsive,
Efficient and Accountable Local Governments
I.

Background

Local government election is a legal obligation of the state under Article 140-A (1) of the Constitution of
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 which states, Each province shall, by law, establish a local
government system and developed political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to
the elected representatives of the local governments. A new Article, 170(2), ensures independent audit
of local governments by the constitutionally appointed Auditor General. The public expectations from
the new local government systems and the reinforced oversight structure under article 170(2) demands
capacity and performance from the elected representatives including the ones that are/will occupy
elected offices for the very first time.
In Pakistan, local government (LG) elections have been conducted in two provinces i.e. Baluchistan and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after almost 10 years. The temporal gap and variations in the respective provincial
LG systems underline the need for multipronged interventions to help the system work optimally for the
citizens. Newly elected representatives especially women, youth and minorities are comparatively less
likely to have familiarity with the new or amended laws, rules and procedures of the LG systems;
administrative hierarchy and delegation of powers. It is imperative to build the capacity and enhance
understanding of the elected representatives to promote effective and efficient local government
systems. As elected representative of the marginalized and under-represented segments of the society,
the need for enhanced capacity of LG members on reserved seats for women, labor, youth and
minorities cannot be overstated. Sensitization of the LG systems, structure, functions and policies to the
needs of these segments is critical for improvements in resource allocation and service delivery for
ensuring responsive, inclusive and representative LG systems.
The grants cycle 10 aims to contribute to the capacity building of elected LG representatives from
female, youth, labor and minorities segments in key areas i.e., participatory planning, financial resource
generation, transparent budget processes and developing formal and informal engagement platforms
with citizens. These will contribute to transparent, responsive, efficient and accountable democratic
systems as per the established standards.
II. Grant Cycle Objectives
Projects will be funded in support of the grant cycle objective 1 and objective 2 and/ or 3 .The
interventions under objective 1 are mandatory.
Objective 1:
To strengthen and support the local government system by capacitating the newly
elected LG representatives ( female, youth, peasants/workers/labors and minorities) by building their
capacity preferably by engaging LG related training/research institutions in the public or private sector.

Objective 2:
To enhance transparency and accountability in the LG systems by capacitating the
citizens understanding of the LG system.
Objective 3:
To enhance the responsiveness of the LG system to citizens needs by strengthening
formal and informal mechanisms for citizens engagement with LG representatives and in LG processes.
III. Results and Intermediate Results Expected
Grants under this cycle are being awarded to contribute to the following higher level results:

Citizens confidence in political and electoral processes; and

Improved governance as characterized by accountability, greater inclusivity, enhanced public
participation in decision- making; and stronger legal, administrative and policy frameworks.

The applicants must design their projects with a clear focus in order to achieve intermediate results
contributing to serial number i and ii below (mandatory) and at least one of the rest of the following:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.

Newly elected local government representatives have enhanced capacity on participatory

planning, financial resource generation, and transparent budget processes;
The female, youth, peasants/workers and minorities elected representatives at all tiers1,
have better understanding of their respective local government system;
Citizens have greater knowledge of rights, responsibilities and working of local government
system;
Citizens have greater capacity to discuss local issues and key governance challenges being faced
by them and are able to engage in advocacy with community and the local government;
Improved interaction between civil society, academia and private sector to institutionalize local
government/citizen engagement;
Broadened citizens participation and inclusiveness in law-making and executive oversight
functions at all tiers;
Greater transparency in the activities and performance of elected representatives as well as
local government bodies; and
Voice and complaints of citizens related to LG system are more easily heard and responded by
relevant local government representatives/officials through effective complaint redressal
mechanisms.

Number of trainings is subject to the number of members elected for the reserved/designated seats at all tiers
of LG in the proposed district.

IV. Illustrative Activities

Several broad categories with illustrative activities for achieving the objectives are listed below. Please
note that the applicants must remain within targets, where specified.
Illustrative Activities under Objective 1 (Mandatory)

Building capacity of the newly elected LG representatives for respective tiers of LG in each province
by conducting three trainings each. All relevant training material (manuals /modules) will be
provided by TDEA;
Facilitating training workshops for the elected LG representatives (female, youth,
peasants/workers/labor and minorities); and
Engagements/Partnerships with LG training institutes or rural development academies.

Illustrative Activities under Objective 2

Facilitating the formation of citizens groups;

Establishing local workshops/seminars to educate citizens on their rights and roles and
responsibilities as well as the working of LG system;
Conducting awareness raising activities about citizen and LG accountability;
Organizing public forums to provide opportunities for positive citizen-government dialogue,
developing citizen/community reports on local issues and key governance challenges being faced by
the citizen; and
Facilitating citizens voice and demands, as articulated through evidence-based and participatory
methods.

Illustrative Activities under Objective 3

Advocacy for the adoption of mechanisms by the relevant LG tiers to allow for public hearings on
important issues of local development, proceedings of important committees, among other key
decision making processes;
Advocacy for adoption of mechanism for pool of experts and key stakeholders input in the
development and assessment of development plans, public oversight of development and service
delivery systems, etc.;
Developing government/civil society working groups;
Using Information and Communication Technology (such as websites etc.) for increased
transparency;
Creating or strengthening of linkages between academia, private sector and NGOs to institutionalize
government/citizen engagement;
Evidence based research for developing and strengthening complaint redressal mechanisms;
Developing performance metrics for line departments in conjunction with government and civil
society; and
Developing citizen reports on performance of LG representatives, budget tracking etc.

Note: In all above activities wherever applicable, the applicants will focus on marginalized populations
including women, youth, religious minorities and people with disabilities.
Activity types that will not be supported under this solicitation include:
Partisan activities or the ones which encourage or support sectarian, linguistic, religious and racial
divides;
Legal fees for court cases against public bodies;
International travel;
Scientific non-applied research;
Direct service delivery;
Activities that are in violation of national laws; and
Any other activities, which cannot be justified in view of the selected theme or project objectives.
V. Preferred Organizations
Civil society groups, academic/training institutions, other professional organizations, NGOs and
organizations with established capacity building track record in similar interventions/areas. Due to the
distinctive nature of this solicitation with respect to local government systems, it would be important to
maintain non-partisan policy and TDEA will not fund entities where staff and management are affiliated
with political parties. Awards will be subject to undertakings by heads of organizations submitting
applications that neither the organization nor its key staffs are engaged in active political activity on
behalf of any political party.
VI. Geographical Focus
Applications are invited from organizations working in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab,
Balochistan, Sindh as well as Islamabad Capital Territory. The applicant shall specify ONE district in
which it would implement the project. If an applicant is interested in more than one district, a separate
application for each district is required although TDEA will finally decide the district where the successful
applicant should work. This cycle does not cover Gilgit-Baltistan, PATA, FATA and Azad Jammu and
Kashmir.
VII. Number of Grants
It is expected that 50 grants will be awarded.
VIII.

Average Grant Size

Up to PKR 5,500,000 on average per grant.

IX. Duration
Up to 5 months.