ISLAMABAD: A United States funded ‘The Citizens’ Voice Project’ concluded after eight years.

The project not only monitored general and by-elections, but made efforts to convince every woman to get identity card.

The project began in May 2011 with the funding of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the amount was transferred to the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA) and different projects were completed by various organisations including the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen).

Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar applauded the work of USAID in facilitating engagement between citizens and state institutions.

Thanking the American people for their assistance, he said the project had enabled the citizens to become part of the solution for accountable governance.

“The voices from organisations can enrich dialogue and help ensure that the needs of local populations are taken into account in policy making and development programmes.

This interplay can foster peacefulness in societies, build successful economies and improve how people experience their daily lives,” noted USAID Pakistan’s Mission Director Julie Koenen.

Since 2011, The Citizens’ Voice Project has worked to strengthen democracy in Pakistan through sustained investments in citizen engagement with public and elected institutions on transparent, responsive and accountable governance.

One of the major highlights of the project was its work on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Women National Identity Cards (NIC) and Voter Registration Campaign for reducing the gender-gap between male and female voters on the electoral rolls. As a result of the campaign, the enrolment of women voters increased by 4.3 million between October 2017 and May 2018.

In the concluding event, more than 200 representatives from civil society organisations gathered to celebrate the achievements, which advanced citizen engagement with public and elected institutions to promote transparent, accountable and responsive governance.

The project highlights US and Pakistani commitment to strengthen democracy and governance in Pakistan through citizen-led activities.

Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability Director Shahid Riaz said that the project had created awareness of transparency and solution of people issues.

“It has encouraged masses to raise voice for their rights and ensure accountability,” he said.

Fafen representative Hamid Kakar said because of the project not only staff was trained but it also improved the capabilities of the employees.

“I suggest that the efforts should be continued as these are steps towards bringing improvement in the society,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2019