South Asia Partnership Pakistan

South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-Pakistan or SAP-PK) is a right-based advocacy organization and a network of participatory development-support organizations operating under the same name and for the same purposes in Canada and five South Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka. Through an International Council (SAP-International), the six national organizations work together in the context of a common charter. Peace, Regional Cooperation and Conflict Resolutions are core themes on SAP-PK’s agenda.

As its institutional mission, SAP-Pakistan aims to develop most marginalized communities, mainly rural poor population. This includes peasants and rural workers, especially women, religious minorities and other marginalized groups. The group has worked in nearly all of Pakistan for the past 26 years. Currently, its development program reaches out to more than 5,000 villages, spread across four provinces, FATA and PATA.

SAP-Pakistan's work includes programs on poverty alleviation, agriculture development, livestock and dairy development, building rural infrastructure and creating livelihood solutions for the rural poor. Its development schemes have benefited around 3.5 million people, mainly women, ultra poor, landless, home-based workers and other marginalized groups. Some of its successful rural development models include efficient use of irrigation water, transformed in to community schemes, in nearly 150 villages in the districts Layyah, Rajanpur, D.I.Khan, Gawadar, Ormara, Khyber Agency, Bhakkar and many more.

SAP-Pakistan has a countrywide network of community groups, peasants and workers’ groups (PWGs) in 5000 villages in all provinces. Union Council, district and provincial level networks of these community groups, an advocacy network of 2500 civil society organizations (CSOs) and 850 trained social activists have undergone extensive development management training with SAP-Pakistan to build their skills.

Mission

The mission of SAP–Pakistan is to create an enabling environment for participatory governance and sustainable collective action for peace, human security and regional cooperation at the South Asian level, through organization of the marginalized sections of society and development of their capacities.

Goals

SAP-Pakistan claims the following goals.

  • Create enabling environment for democratic governance and effective citizens’ participation through informed and effective voice of the poor, especially workers and peasants.
  • Facilitate pro-people civil society initiatives at national, regional and global levels promoting collective actions for peace, justice, human security and livelihood.
  • Increase sensitivity and harmony among people through actions against structural violence in society through peaceful means and movements.
  • Contribute to pro-people collaborations between and among international organizations on important international concerns.

Strategic Thrusts

SAP-PK’s initiatives are based on its development philosophy that people are at the center. This understanding helps SAP-PK design its programs around the basic and strategic needs and fundamental rights of the people, especially who are disadvantaged and unheard. The following thrusts are the basis of SAP-PK’s national and regional programs:

  • Democratic Governance
  • Poverty and Sustainable Livelihood
  • Human Security and Safe Environment
  • Peace and Regional Cooperation
  • Gender and Development

Major Stakeholders

The major groups served by the organization are

  • Workers (including those who are semi-employed or employed in the informal sector)
  • Farmers
  • Religious Minorities
  • Elected Representatives and State Officials
  • Civil Society Groups, especially Media and Lawyers
  • Youth Groups