EU Roadmap for Civil Society Engagement Pakistan 2021-2027

EU STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN TO ENGAGE WITH CSOs

A. The strategy for engagement with Civil Society and how it relates to the EU country engagement and Agenda 2030/SDGs
Key challenges and opportunities Objectives Related EU MIP Related SDG
priority in Pakistan
1. Support reform 1.1.Promote a multi
efforts and stakeholder and evidence-
Persisting challenges in agreeing on a common
processes aimed at based approach to
workable definition of civil society, lack of SDG 16
developing a better support the reform of the
awareness of CS work and general climate of Governance, Peace,
understanding of legal and institutional and Security SDG 17
mistrust, particularly vis-a-vis advocacy and HR
CSOs roles in environment regulating
organisations
poverty reduction CSOs registration and
Lengthy and cumbersome registration and governance functioning in Pakistan
processes with multiple authorities involved. It and a streamlined
1.2. Contribute to raising
is difficult for CSOs to comply, also due to regulatory and
/deepening the awareness
limited knowledge institutional
of CSOs of the legal and
Barriers to assembly and international funding. framework allowing
regulatory framework
CSOs to effectively
Absence of an explicit and cohesive policy perform such roles. 1.3. Safeguard the space
articulated with respect to civil society for Human Right defenders
De facto barriers to advocacy. Advocacy CSOs and CSOs promoting
and HR activists are under close scrutiny rights-based approaches

Isolation of actors/lack of spaces to meet, share

and discuss
Yet, there may be an opening for reform with
the latest policy developments (e.g. 2021 NGO
Policy)

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Limited political will to engage CSOs actively 2.1. Deepen right based
and effectively in policy discussions. There are approaches within EU
2. Promote civil
however some entry points and ad-hoc bilateral sectoral Cross cutting within
society participation
experiences. programmes and trade the 3 MIP priorities
in domestic policy and integrated TEI: SDG1
agreements (in line with
Space to deepen public-private partnership processes and
the new policy “trade for Green Inclusive SDG 4
agreements in service delivery (also building deepen
all”) with a special Growth
on COVID experiences) partnerships with SDG 5
emphasis on women
other stakeholders, Human Capital
Nascent yet still limited and fragmented organisations, youth and SDG 8
(including PPP)
engagement of CSOs in EU bilateral marginalised Governance, including
within the key areas SDG10
programmes, where CSOs are fundamentally communities. the Rule of Law (ROL)
of EU engagement
considered service providers and no and Human Rights SDG13
in Pakistan in the 2.2. Deepen and promote
“institution-building” objectives of CSOs are (HR)
framework of the (also in terms of visibility) SDG 16
contemplated. There is space to deepen right
MIP 2021-2027 public private partnerships
based approaches SDG 17
within EU bilateral sectoral
Limited ability of CSOs to conduct evidence- programmes and blending
based research and advocacy and engage in instruments and
constructive dialogue. showcase the successful
cooperation experiences,
which can then be
replicated/upscaled by the
government.
2.3. Support CSOs’
capacities in evidence-
based research, analysis,
and constructive advocacy
and policy dialogue
2.4 Promote private-
private collaboration
between CS and business

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Accountability and transparency mechanisms to 3. Support CSOs’ 3.1. Promote the
self-regulate CSOs are underdeveloped or not efforts to enhance development,
properly implemented (i.e. they only serve a their collective enhancement and
minority of CSOs, certification is too expensive voice, deepen their implementation of self- SDG 16
Governance, Peace,
and/or not requested by donors, etc.) accountability governance standards, and Security SDG 17
systems and foster including codes of
Access to external funding is limited, especially
their credibility and conduct/certification
for grass roots organisations
legitimacy vis-a-vis mechanisms, etc. adapted
Emerging, both issue-based and geographic their constituencies, to the different types of
coordination/coalition and alliance the authorities, organisations at national
building/efforts, which need to be deepened in general public and and provincial level
order to strengthen the voice of CSOs and their donors.
3.2. Support
ability to efficiently approach decision-makers
organisational and
technical CS capacities
3.3. Promote the financial
sustainability of CSOs
3.4. Strengthen the
collective voice of
Pakistani CSOs at
provincial, national and
sectoral level around
public good agendas

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B. Action Plan
Objectives Indicative actions Suggested means of
implementation
1. Support reform 1.1.Promote a multi 1.1.1. Advocate for the preservation of CS space, based on the laws and
efforts and stakeholder and treaties which the government of Pakistan has signed.
1.1.2. Strengthen dialogue across MS and like-minded partners to discuss Political dialogue with
processes aimed evidence-based
relevant CS matters, namely the question of the EE, and to share the Government (joint
at developing a approach to support
information and good practices. endeavour with MS and
better the reform of the legal
1.1.3. Advocate for the set-up of a multi-stakeholder space for dialogue like-minded partners)
understanding of and institutional
where authorities, CSOs and donors are present to: (i) discuss the Coordination
CSOs roles in environment regulating
roles that Pakistan CSOs play in the different relevant sectors and
poverty reduction CSOs registration and mechanisms with MS
(ii) address the reforms required to enable such roles and promote
and governance functioning in Pakistan and like-minded partners
a conducive legal and institutional environment.
and a streamlined
1.2. Contribute to
regulatory and 1.2.1. Support/organise information and awareness raising
raising /deepening the Thematic CSO & LA
institutional sessions/drafting of adapted guidance/manuals (translated in the
awareness of CSOs of Programme
framework local languages) to enhance the awareness of the legal and
the legal and
allowing CSOs to regulatory framework among CSO EIDHR
regulatory framework
effectively perform 1.2.2. Support initiatives aiming at building up their compliance with the
such roles. 1.3. Safeguard the current regulatory framework and enhance their protection, also in
space for Human the area of digital security
Rights defenders and 1.2.3. Support initiatives aiming at communicating and raising awareness
CSOs promoting on CSOs roles and contribution to Pakistan development, vis-a-vis
rights-based the authorities but also Pakistani citizens/ promote the work of
networks/coalitions vis-a-vis their constituencies to comply with the
approaches
requirements/etc.
1.2.4. Support initiatives aiming at developing a stronger cooperation
between CSO and the media and strengthening CS capacities for
better communication (including “story telling”/”show-casing”,
“visualizing” etc.) and connection with the existing value system.
1.3.1. Continue providing support to HRD/CSOs promoting rights-based
approaches.

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 1.3.2. Exercise political advocacy in cases of HR violations/ attacks to
fundamental freedoms and right, including religious minorities’
rights.
2.1. Deepen right 2.1 Building on the engagement experiences to date, integrate whenever EU bilateral
based approaches possible, a “voice component” in the bilateral EU funded programmes in the programmes
2. Promote civil
within EU bilateral different sectors, to ensure that the voices of the citizens and communities
society Trade dialogue
sectoral programmes are heard and citizens’ capacity to hold authorities accountable are
participation in
and trade agreements enhanced. This can be done in different ways, depending on the type of Thematic programme
domestic policy
(in line with the new programme: CSOs & LA to support
processes and
policy “trade for all”) social accountability
deepen  Include, whenever possible, a “social accountability” component in
with a special initiatives/PFM
partnerships with EU sectoral programmes to support the capacity of
emphasis on women, monitoring/etc. led by
other actors/community/youth/women/ citizens to monitor the policies and
youth and marginalised services and provide their feedback (e.g. youth associations in the CSOs, in
stakeholders,
communities. TVET programme; networks working on PFM monitoring in the PFM complementarity to the
(including PPP)
programme, etc). Special emphasis should be placed on enhancing objectives of the
within the key
women, youth and marginalised voices. bilateral programmes.
areas of EU
2.2. Deepen and
engagement in  Facilitate/support connections between civil society and the
promote (also visibility-
Pakistan in the government (especially at local and provincial level) and promote
wise) public private
framework of the tripartite dialogue (including DPs) in areas where dialogue is
partnerships within EU nascent/there is space for closer cooperation.
MIP 2021-2027
bilateral sectoral
programmes and  Support the establishment of multi stakeholder spaces for dialogue
blending instruments  Strengthen the capacity and skills of CSOs in PFM/ provincial budget
and showcase the monitoring, expenditure tracking, etc.. Special emphasis should be
successful cooperation placed on enhancing women and youth organisations’ capacities.
experiences, which can
 Strengthen the capacity and skills of CSOs (particularly of women
then be
and youth organisations, as well as intermediary and local
replicated/upscaled by organisations) in the area of policy dialogue/evidence based
the government. research and advocacy. Earmark funds for the capacity
2.3. Support CSOs development of the women and youth organisations, CBOs and
capacities in evidence- intermediary CSOs engaged in the programmes.
based research,  Support both the Government and CSOs in strengthening their
analysis, and mutual understanding and capacity to interact

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 constructive advocacy  Support research efforts by CSOs to produce more and better
and policy dialogue evidence
2.4 Promote private-  Research and Disseminate good practices case studies
private collaboration 2.2. Building on the successful PPP experiences to date (e.g., support PPP
between CS and (existing PPP and new ones), whilst duly showcasing them to enhance their
business and industry visibility and CSOs roles.
and social enterprises.
2.3 Support evidence-based research, analysis, and constructive advocacy
and policy dialogue, including by building on existing expertise within civil
society, liaising with expertise at research centres and with Civil Society at
regional and global level and identifying and scaling-up good practices.
2.4. Support initiatives aimed at enhancing the collaboration between CSOs
and the private sector within the framework of CSR and to promote social
enterprises.
3. Support CSOs 3.1. Promote the 3.1. Promote self-regulations among CSOs so that they present a role model Thematic programme
efforts to enhance development, of good governance and democratic self-accountability. CSO & LA
their collective enhancement and
3.2. Support initiatives aimed at strengthening the organisational and EIDHR
voice, deepen implementation of self-
technical capacities of CSOs, including the development and
their accountability governance standards, EU bilateral
implementation of internal governance, transparency and accountability
systems and including codes of programmes and
systems, results-based management and reporting systems; digital
foster their conduct/certification projects
skills; M&E and reporting systems; communication storytelling and
credibility and mechanisms, etc.
relations with constituencies, etc.
legitimacy vis-a- adapted to the different
vis their types of organisations 3.3.1 Include, whenever possible, in EU-funded programmes and projects
constituencies, the at national and (both thematic and bilateral, where CSOs are involved at different
authorities, provincial level degree) provisions for block-granting (i.e. sub-granting), to ensure
general public and access to funding of CBOs and grassroots organisations/women and
3.2. Support
donors. youth organisations, etc.
organisational and
technical CS capacities 3.4. Support networks, alliances and joint efforts at national, provincial and
thematic level which aim to increase collaboration, networking, sharing
of information, constructive evidence-based advocacy, capacity

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3.3. Promote the building and exchange opportunities between CSOs in different parts
financial sustainability of the country around public good agendas.
of CSOs
3.4. Strengthen the
collective voice of
Pakistani CSOs at
provincial, national and
sectoral level around
public good agendas