Talk, Train, Campaign!
CSED understands the vital role of engaging with media and facilitating and promoting democratic norms to influence social change in Pakistan, particularly for youth. We are committed to supporting free and responsible media to highlight critical issues and fostering informed public discourse to generate the attention and understanding necessary for impactful societal transformation through democracy.
Our collaborative strategies to support free and responsible media and promote democracy are vital to advance Pakistan's social and economic progress. We believe fostering a culture of informed dialogue leading toward impactful actions on pressing issues is essential to make democracy work for the citizens and state.
National Alliance for Social Justice
In 2023, the CSED, with the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), launched the National Alliance for Social Justice (NASJ) project. The project began by conducting consultations in Sindh and Punjab provinces, which was the first phase to lay the groundwork for setting up a national alliance devoted to social justice. The project seeks to involve a broad range of stakeholders, including social, labor, political, and women leaders, particularly during its second phase in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These consultations are intended to refine the framework for the NASJ, ensuring that it reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of Pakistan's society. Once the provincial consultations are completed, the alliance will be officially established during a federal consultation, representing a significant milestone toward creating a cohesive and actionable social justice activity in Pakistan.
Media's Role in Local Development
In 2021, CSED, supported by the FES, initiated a unique partnership with South Asia Partnership-Pakistan to conduct a series of media-led public dialogues across 11 districts in Wasaib (South Punjab). These dialogues brought together civil society representatives, NGOs, media professionals, and political and religious party members, focusing on creating a media-centric manifesto addressing local development issues, especially education, climate, and water.
CSED's approach involved crafting research and evidence-backed content, leading to a "People's Manifesto for Local Development," driven by media collaboration and aimed at guiding local and provincial electoral agendas. This manifesto was also extensively circulated among regional political leaders, emphasizing actionable steps.
Digital Media Training
As a sub-recipient of DAI's Community-driven Local Development project in 2018, CSED managed the training portfolio of providing digital media training to active and aspiring journalists and local government officials in five districts, including Haripur, Swabi, Nowshera, Lower Dir, and Chitral.
Through this digital media training, we empowered local journalists, political leaders, and government officials with the knowledge and tools to champion girls' education and climate preservation. This training enhanced their digital fluency and amplified their advocacy efforts, accelerating the pace of change and fostering a culture of inclusivity in education and environmental stewardship in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Nearly 30 percent of the beneficiaries were women.
Connecting Politicians and Media
USAID, via the Ambassador Fund Program, provided assistance for the project (2016-17) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The project carried out trainings for the union council politicians on the subjects of understanding local government laws, conceiving education and water development projects with Tehsil and District Governments, understanding decentralization, and the powers of the provincial governments after the 18th Constitutional Amendment. Among the beneficiaries, women constituted 25 percent. They learned how to partner with local media for maximum impact of their efforts.
The project worked in six districts and also connected local leaders with media leaders in Charsada, Mardan, Mingora, DI Khan, Karak and Mansehra.