Integrated Regional Support Programme (IRSP Pakistan)

Context

Integrated Regional Support Programme (IRSP Pakistan) RSP being national civil society actor engaged in piloting/replicating different participatory approaches on different levels to promote civil society participation in improved governance system in all sectors. Pakistan like other developing nations is lagging behind in achieving the MDGs in its stipulated time. Conversely the govt. exchequer is heavily dented by the expenditure incurred in terms of providing medical facilities to the poor and vulnerable segments of societies.

The IRSP is a dedicated forum providing support to the stakeholders, whether in the form of capacity building, research, and advocacy or implementing project activities. Its mandate is to work exclusively with stakeholder to find out ways and means for the sector improvement. A participatory planning approach is the integral part of all activities. Some of the major activities for which IRSP is known as resource agency in country are as under:

Community Level:
  • Community Led Total Sanitation PRA meetings in all provinces of Pakistan
  • Menstrual Hygiene management awareness and trainings on women groups in Punjab, KPK and Gilgit Baltistan
  • Voters (M/F) education campaigns and trainings of community relation groups to promote democratic governance. KPK and FATA
  • Skill enhancement and leadership trainings to communal women groups to take active part in decision making at all levels. KPK
  • community score card, citizen juries, interface meetings and BBCMs to engage citizens for effective social services delivery. District Mardan, Mansehra, Swat, Khairpur (Sindh) and Sargodha (Punjab). 
                                
Website
www.irsp.org.pk
Area of Work
Pakistan, Asia
Contact Person
Ismail Hashmi

Approaches to implementing Community monitoring/accountability

IRSP Pakistan approach is overall based on nurturing and promoting participatory approaches on each level to reduce poverty in Pakistan. IRSP from last two decades engaged with citizens, VOs, CBOs, CCBs, NGOs and local media capacity development in i.e. WASH, MHM, CLTS, Education and Health on local, district and provincial levels. And We believe that through enhanced capacities of each stakeholders can easily understand their roles and responsibilities to perform. And after such initiative our strategy is for introducing Social accountability tools replication to widely engage citizens in improving social services delivery, improved policies and formulation.

So far, IRSP implemented several community score card exercises in KPK, Punjab and Sindh in water, sanitation and education sectors and planned to further scale-up in each district of KPK and Punjab. The Budget tracking, interfaces and citizens forums also exercised in district Mardan to promote civil society participation in democratic governance in Pakistan. The events/campaigns/ meetings and workshops reports used as advocacy tools for policies formulating and improvement.

After the approval of RTI Act KPK 2013 IRSP initiated different activities in 4 major areas i.e. Awareness, Advocacy, capacity building and Media engagement for its publishing and enactment.

Results and Lessons

IRSP in renowned for its systematic and successful participatory models replication in Pakistan and followed by many renowned International and National organizations from last two decades. IRSP as resource agency trained 700-800 INGOs and NGOs staff in the country and in Afghanistan on WASH approaches, Advocacy & Governance, Equity & Inclusion, SAc tools (CSC, Citizen forums and Social Audit) OCAT and long term organizational development Planning.

And as result IRSP elected as National secretariats of Two major networks i.e. FANSA Pakistan and SAN Pakistan.