International Development Grant

Support to the Pakistani NGO Strengthening Participatory Organization - Phase III

Project Number: CA-3-A032492001

Status: Closed

Country/Region:

Pakistan 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $3,595,737.00

Start Date: June 30, 2005

End Date: May 31, 2011

Duration: 5.9 years

Project Description

The Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) is a Pakistani non-governmental organization. It aims to enable civil society organizations to effectively address their communities' development needs in a sustainable manner. This phase of CIDA's support focuses on capacity-building for community and women's organizations and increasing the ability of institutions to carry out development planning for marginalized groups in 37 districts in Punjab Sindh and North West Frontier Province. CIDA-funded activities include: (1) Building development institution capacity for good governance: the goal is to increase sensitivity to local and national development issues improve management practices and increase the developmental planning ability of marginalized groups. (2) Civil society network strengthening: SPO endeavours to transform existing participatory development coalitions into civil society networks undertaking advocacy work in different sectors in order to promote better governance and more participatory development in the country. The SPO provides training and project support to community and women's organizations so the poor and the disadvantaged can contribute to development in their community. CIDA has been working with SPO since 1987.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of the end of the project (May 2011) include: 105 community-based organizations and 78 women’s organizations received training and technical assistance on rights-based approaches democratic behaviour gender and environment issues and succeeded in securing financial grants for 305 projects from different donors. The project contributed to a 60% increase of associate member organisations in civil society networks. 70% of the community-based and 60% of the women’s organizations were assessed and prioritized development needs of marginalized groups through participatory techniques. 29 civil society networks carried out advocacy campaigns on priority issues reflecting local needs and 650 social mobilizers were trained. Responding to the 2010 floods impact SPO provided 7 150 jerry cans reaching 23 360 beneficiaries completed 50 infrastructure rehabilitation projects installed 72 hand pumps and distributed 200 winter kits.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
SPO - Strengthening Participatory Organization

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
OGM Indo-Pacific

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Democratic participation and civil society 100%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP

Policy Markers
Level 1 Participatory development and good governance
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2005-04-01 to 2006-03-31 $3,595,737 CAD
Geographic Information
000";Budget Type:Original;Start Date:2006-04-01;End Date:2007-03-31;Value Date:2005-06-30;Value:"$1
Project Number: CA-3-A032492001