Project Details.

The Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP), with support from Welthungerhilfe and the European Union, implemented the CSO-BRIDGE programme aimed at strengthening civil society organizations (CSOs) to address social and economic challenges, particularly those affecting youth in Pakistan following the COVID-19 outbreak. The program focuses on enhancing community preparedness, economic empowerment, and local governance in Multan, Bahawalpur, and Hyderabad. 

Key objectives include reducing socio-economic vulnerabilities, improving public services, and empowering youth and marginalized groups. Major expected outputs are: Strengthening the mobilization and technical capacities of local CSOs. Enhancing collaboration and transparency between CSOs and local authorities. Enabling CSOs to support youth and other minority groups. 

To achieve these outputs, TRDP has selected 20 CSOs for capacity building, facilitated by HIMAT Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (HCLP). HCLP is conducting training in local languages focused on organizational governance, policies, leadership, and financial planning. The Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP) recently conducted a comprehensive three-day training for participants of the CSO-BRIDGE programme, which is supported by Welthungerhilfe and the European Union. 

The training, organized by HIMAT Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (HCLP), aimed to enhance the capacities of local civil society organizations (CSOs) to better address socio-economic challenges, particularly for youth in Multan, Bahawalpur, and Hyderabad. The sessions were designed to provide in-depth orientation and discussions on various critical aspects relevant to CSOs, ensuring that participants gained both functional and strategic knowledge. On the first day, the training commenced with an introductory session, setting the stage for the participants. 

This was followed by a detailed session on the laws governing CSO registration, providing crucial legal knowledge for operational compliance. The day concluded with a session on basic human rights, underscoring the fundamental rights that CSOs need to advocate for within their communities. 

The second day began with a review of the previous day's sessions, ensuring that participants could consolidate their learning. The focus then shifted to specific rights, starting with the Right to Information (RTI), which emphasized the importance of transparency and access to information. 

This was followed by discussions on the Right to Service (RTS) and the Right to Food (RTF), highlighting essential services and support mechanisms that CSOs can advocate for to improve community welfare. The final day of the training included a review of the second day’s sessions to reinforce the key takeaways. Participants then engaged in sessions on public grievances and redressal mechanisms, learning about the processes available to address community complaints effectively.