KARACHI: Role of civil society for democracy highlighted
KARACHI, June 9: USAID projects for Pakistan, being executed through reputable NGOs, are highly supportive of the Pakistan Government’s plan to reform health, education and population policies and services. US Consul General Douglas Rohn said here on Wednesday evening at the onset of a digital video conference on “NGO Management - Leadership and Fund Raising” between Washington and Karachi, jointly organized by Sada Welfare Association and the Office of Public Affairs, US Consulate General Karachi.
The consul-general highlighting significance of NGOs for any society said even in a country like USA these non-profitable organizations have a strong history of influencing masses and modifying their attitudes.
He specifically referred to the women movement that paved the way for their right to vote followed by gender equality at almost all levels.
Mentioning the importance of NGOs in the context of his home country, he said like-minded people feeling strongly for a cause take no time in forming an organization and work for promotion of the very motive.
Later, a dialogue ensued on the topic NGO Management - Leadership and Fund Raising, via digital video conferencing, between Panelists from Pakistan and guests from Washington comprising Sandra Trice Gray, President, Center Point for Leaders and Joan Kurainsky, NGO Management Consultant, Washington D.C.
The US based activists responding to queries raised by local panelists, including Barrister Shahida Jamil, Meher Afroze Habib (APWA National, Vice President for United Nation Affairs) and Fawzia Siddiqui (Chairperson, Sada Welfare Association) said NGO must focus on target oriented goals with prior situational analysis.
The experts from Washington minced no words in highlighting importance of transparency suggesting that donors and supporters along with media could be involved to assess the contribution of the NGOs towards the targeted community - and scale of success.
