Activities

On October 8, 2005, a massive earthquake hit the northern parts of Pakistan with its epicentre in Pakistan Administered Kashmir. Despite the massive challenges of rapid scale up, difficult access to remote locations and logistical barriers, Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) provided relief and early recovery support including food, drinking water, and temporary shelter to number of communities during the emergency phase of its earthquake response program. In addition, SPO also facilitated and formed a wider network of national level civil society organizations to respond to this great challenge jointly. The network joint and generate resources at national and international level to help and support the communities in early recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Once the emergency relief phase was over and long-term recovery and reconstruction efforts were initiated, SPO, through one of its partner organization and volunteers in Muzaffarbad , developed its psycho-social program for affected children at six different places in AJK. SPO run the program for one year. Later, the program was converted into a formal project supported by Open Society Institute Foundation (OSIF). Under the project, SPO provided educational support, incorporated psychosocial activities into the government schools, train teachers and organized mobile medical camps in the project areas. The program benefited about 10,000 inhabitants including teachers, children, government officials and parents.

In October 2006 the Government of Pakistan acknowledged the transition from an emergency relief phase to long-term recovery and reconstruction, SPO played a crucial role in the reconstruction phase. SPO was selected as one of the leading organization to train Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) partner organizations in both AJK and NWFP. Under the project, more than 400 social organizers of 112 local and international organizations were trained and provided follow-up support in social mobilization. The trained social mobilizers, later, formed Village Reconstruction Committees (VRCs) which led reconstruction process in the EQ affected areas.

In November 2007, Oxfam’s “Pakistan Earthquake Reconstruction Program” was approved by CIDA as part of the Canadian government’s contribution to reconstruction efforts. The ooverall goal of the program is “to increase opportunities for earthquake affected people to find safe and sustainable solutions to the effects of the disaster.” This shall be done by facilitating children, women and men affected by the earthquake to claim their rights through (i) dignified livelihoods, (ii) strengthened capacity on disaster preparedness and (iii) improved access to education and health facilities.

In early 2008, SPO decided to develop a partnership with Oxfam, another right-based organization, to implement a program developed by Oxfam in districts Bagh and Neelum. The program focuses on an integrated development program that builds the capacity of earthquake affected communities to restore the lives and livelihoods of households through a set of inter-linked interventions in livelihoods, disaster risk reduction and education. Particular emphasis is placed upon engagement of women and girls, so that gender inequalities do not exacerbate girls’ and women’s current and future vulnerabilities. The programs approach is rooted in its understanding of a rights-based approach that builds the capacity of women and men to advocate to “duty bearers” for the realisation of their rights. Key elements of this approach are community participation and the promotion of gender equality.