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Published in The News, December 7, 2010
KARACHI: Karachi The USAID (US Agency for International Development) has decided to provide funds worth tens of millions of dollars to non-governmental organisations so that they could launch projects aimed at improving basic social and economic conditions of the people of Pakistan.
Under the five-year USAID-supported grant programmes, the ‘Gender Equity Programme’ (GEP) and the ‘Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme, civil society groups, especially those at the grass-roots level, can apply for the funds.
The 40-million-dollar GEP is being launched in collaboration with two NGOs — Aurat Foundation and Asian Foundation — while the 50-million-dollar program is being implemented by the National Rural Support Programme.
At the launch of the grant programmes, which was organised at a local hotel, Arif Pervaiz of the USAID said that the US government had taken the initiative to introduce the programmes in order to assist the civil society in their social work. He added that the US believed that the civil society played an important role in the development of people and should therefore be supported.
Also speaking on the occasion, Simi Kamal of the GEP said that this grant programme was aimed at encouraging gender equality. The programme, which is specifically dealing with women’s issues, will enhance women’s rights to justice, work towards economic empowerment, help in their capacity building and focus on combating gender-based violence.
Kamal said more funds would be allocated to organisations working to eliminate violence against women. She said 400 sub-grants would be awarded to civil society organisations in the next five years during grant cycles. There will be up to three grant cycles in a year, and interested organisations have to apply for the grants before the deadline comes to an end.
Mahnaz Rehman of Aurat Foundation told The News that it was the first time that her organisation was providing the services of being a grant-maker. Representing the program, Shakeel Kakakhel said small organisations working at the grass-roots level in their areas would be encouraged to apply. The sectors for which grants will be awarded include education, health, governance, agriculture, energy, economic growth and social assistance.
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