CCHD's HISTORY
Specialized knowledge of Development Sector and Humanitarian Assistance
CCHD has vast experience in its four thematic areas. CCHD applies research, social mobilization and awareness raising, capacity/skills enhancement, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation to achieve best results. CCHD has successfully completed 33 projects in the past 12 years. We work in close collaboration with local communities, policy makers, elected representatives, local organizations and government officials. CCHD also have experience of working on USAID funded projects valuing US $ 4 million and have wide experience of various donor agencies and project close down.
Our strong linkages with local governments, press, radio, TV, research institutions, think tanks, women groups, bar associations and platforms like Rotary, Lions Club, NGOs networks, professional organizations, teachers association PMA, labour and trade unions, and private sector gives us edge over other CSOs.
CCHD is also privileged to become partners with Election Commission of Pakistan, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, and Local Government Department of Punjab on various occasions. Moreover, CCHD has exceptional collaboration with Line Departments, Bar Associations, Press Clubs and International Organizations.
Democratic Governance
Under the Democratic Governance Program of CCHD, we have imparted direct information & education on democratic processes, political participation, women’s rights, local government, roles & responsibilities of locally elected representatives, constituent rights, election management, electoral rights, roles of parliaments and parliamentarians, voters’ education and leadership skills to some 88,000 citizens, particularly to women.
Numerous national, provincial and local level public forums, advocacy seminars, consultative meetings and community seminars have been held on women political participation, voters, democracy, political parties’ manifestoes, decentralization by CCHD in 28 districts of Pakistan. The number of beneficiaries is approximately 100,000 men and women must have participated in these activities.
CCHD major interventions in this sector has been building capacity of parliamentarians, councilors, officials, journalists and NGOs on democracy, good governance, leadership skills, conflict resolution, negotiation skills, rights based advocacy, access to justice, etc.
Stop Violence against Women and Women’s Access to Justice
CCHD was the first to introduce a community based approach to minimize violence against women with the support from AusAid and UNICEF, in 2001. This approach included establishing of District Support Centers; establishing of Core Groups from communities, building their capacity on VAW and counseling techniques; sensitizing of local police officials, local government officials, probation and parole offers and journalists; monitoring and developing of yearly reports of cases/crime against women from hospitals, police stations, newspapers, courts; establishing of a helpline; developing and training of volunteers on counseling techniques and monitoring of VAW; establishing of support centers at the Union Council levels with the Union Council Nazim and women councilors; building capacity of the university students on minimizing VAW and supporting the victim; providing legal education to community women on their legal rights and justice providing institutions in Pakistan; and provision of legal aid/advice to disadvantaged women and victims.
The initiative was an immediate success, as never before such a comprehensive approach was applied to address VAW. Our efforts were recognized at the international level and the national level by the Hilton Award and Ministry of Women Development, Pakistan. Later the same approach was introduced by the local government department to institutionalize Musaliaht –I- Anjumans at the Union Council level.
Electronic Media Campaigns
CCHD has produced more than 300 Television and Radio Programs. CCHD’s production team has vast experience in making the electronic media programs viewer/listener friendly. Programs production is done at the CCHD production house and programs are aired and broadcasted in collaboration with the State TV Channels and Radio Station as public service programs.
We have produced drams, documentaries, talk shows, jingles and insertions for the television and for radio program; CCHD has produced features, talk shows, message campaigns and dramas.
CCHD has also trained electronic journalists in mainstreaming gender in electronic media.
Humanitarian Assistance
CCHD is active in eight districts of Punjab and Sindh Provinces to provide assistance to the flood affectees. CCHD has provided food and non food items to affectees of selected union councils, carried out Rapid Protection Assessments and has established Protection Centers in six districts in collaboration with UNHCR.
The protection centers are providing legal and psycho-social assistance to men and women of flood affected districts.
CCHD has also developed its own monitoring program to track progress of each Protection Centers and each case through development of exclusive software.
CCHD furthermore is addressing cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) through the Protection Centers in collaboration with UNFPA.
CCHD is also coordinating with NDMA, PDMA, DDRMA, UN Agencies, International Organizations, and local NGOs/CBOs.
CCHD also co-chair protection thematic working groups in the targeted districts.