PrintRecent Priority Grant Competition Awards
The Grant Program wishes to congratulate the following recently approved award recipients:
Afghanistan | Pakistan | Sudan
AFGHANISTAN
BBC WORLD SERVICE TRUST-AFGHAN EDUCATION PROJECTS, Kabul, Afghanistan (Project Director(s): Mohammad Asif Omar ): This project will produce a total of 90 radio programs (45 in Pashto, 45 in Dari) of 'New Home, New Life', produce 20 'Learning for Life' educational feature programs (10 in Pashto and 10 in Dari), make the above radio programs available online on Afghan Education Project's (AEP) website, www.bbcnazer.com. The project will also publish some 16,000 copies of the 'New Home, New Life' quarterly illustrated magazine, and reprint some 10,000 (5,000 Pashto and 5,000 Pashto) copies of the illustrated book 'When There Is Peace'. The goal of this project is to increase awareness about peaceful conflict prevention and resolution. The specific objective of the project is to raise awareness and create a better understanding among rural audiences of the peaceful alternatives to violent resolution of conflict through AEP's package of educational drama, feature radio programing, and print material. $140,000
DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICES FOR AFGHANISTAN/THE KILLID GROUP (DHSA/TKG), Kabul, Afghanistan (Project Director(s): Ricardo Grassi): The project activities include building the capacity of transitional justice communication/advocacy officials of NGOs and investigative reporters from media organizations through a series of 5-day workshops, a 4-day seminar with representatives of NGOs from three countries engaged in TJ processes, a 9-month media mentoring program, a public awareness campaign that includes the production of 18 life stories of survivors of war crimes, and the production of guidelines on radio communication/advocacy work for media and TJ personnel. The project's main objectives are to develop the advocacy skills of Afghan civil society organizations focused on TJ issues and improve their interactions with media, decision makers and the Afghan population. The project will also enhance the understanding among investigative media of the relevance of TJ to reconciliation and peace, provide access to Afghan TJ civil society organizations to the lessons learned in relevant other countries, and increase international awareness about the importance of a transparent and efficient TJ process to reconciliation and peace in the country. $199,720
HELP THE AFGHAN CHILDREN (HTAC), Fairfax, VA (Project Director(s): Suraya Sadeed): This project will develop a national school-based peace education curriculum and delivery model targeting some 4 million Afghan boys and girls from grades 7 through 12. In collaboration with the Afghanistan Ministry of Education, the initiative will identify subject material for courses at each grade level, develop and assemble learning materials and teacher guides, test the efficacy of the material at several pilot schools, and finally develop a peace education delivery model. The project's goal is to create a national school-based peace education curriculum for public schools- grades 7 through 12. Its specific objectives are to develop: 1) an approved set of peace education curriculum standards; 2) a set of grade-specific peace education courses with tested and evaluated learning materials and teacher guides; 3) peace education guides for parents and local community Shuras; 4) an approved plan of implementing peace education in all Afghan public schools; and 5) metrics to measure and evaluate the performance of the peace education program during nationwide implementation. $147,019
ORGANIZATION OF AFGHANISTAN WATCH (OAW), Kabul, Afghanistan (Project Director(s): Ahmad Zia Mohammadi): To bridge the information gap between Afghans and the international community working in the country, this project will produce a monthly English newsletter and organize a series of dialogue groups among Afghan civil society, other key actors, and international organizations working in the field. The newsletter will analyze Afghan print media with a thematic focus on justice and reconciliation, negotiations and political settlement, corruption, and lack of transparency in the Afghan government. The dialogue groups will address the above themes in the context of the ongoing military transition and reconciliation with the armed insurgent groups. The project will also produce a report in Dari, Pashtu, and English providing a comprehensive analysis of Afghan print media on the priority project themes. The project's goal is to contribute to an improved understanding of Afghan debates on issues related to transitional justice, reconciliation, and corruption among national and international policymakers, practitioners and analysts. Its specific objectives are to monitor how Afghan media discuss issues of justice, reconciliation and corruption, and expand and broaden Afghan debates on peace and reconciliation issues through a structured dialogue process. $158,520
PAKISTAN
BARGAD SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, Rahwali-Gujranwala, Pakistan (Project Director(s): Sabiha Shaheen): The project will create a trained pool of young faculty members and youth activists in peacebuilding and non-violent methods of countering extremism within 20 universities across Pakistan. The trained alumni will use mass and social media tools to inspire other youth to work against extremism and lay the foundations for a nation-wide hub against youth extremism and intolerance. To reinforce this effort, the initiative will also develop and air 8 radio programs and 4 TV talk shows, and produce an information leaflet on youth extremism. Other activities include a national youth essay contest, the subsequent publication of the writings, six media forums, and guidelines for establishing a national advocacy hub against youth extremism and intolerance in Pakistan. The project's goal is to reduce youth extremism in Pakistan by mobilizing youth through training and media programing, ensuring the implementation of relevant principles of national youth policy to curb political support of extremism and religious fanaticism, and strengthening links between pro-peace work with pro-peace clauses of the national youth policy. $100,076
CAVISH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, Islamabad, Pakistan (Project Director(s): Aumir Abbas): This project will strengthen the peacebuilding and conflict management capacity of police in four sub-districts in Rawalpindi through training sessions for 20 police trainers and 80 police officials at the Sihala National Police Academy. The initiative will include a series of local and provincial dialogues to improve relations between police and the public, the formation of a District Peace Committee, training for 20 community based organizations on promoting minorities' rights at the community level, and the airing of a 12-part radio series on minorities and the rule of law. The project's goal is to promote peace and interfaith harmony, diversity, and social coexistence through public awareness and training of police officials and civil society actors. The project's specific objectives include: a) increasing public awareness on the rule of law, the rights of minorities, interfaith harmony, and non-violent means of conflict resolution; b) initiating regular dialogues between the public and police; and c) developing a sustainable training course on peace-building and conflict resolution for all police officials in Pakistan. $142,613
CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND SECURITY STUDIES (CRSS), Islamabad, Pakistan (Project Director(s): Imtiaz Gul): A radio campaign titled "Aman Ki Awaz" or "A Calling for Peace" will offer a counter narrative to extremist radio propaganda by providing alternative, moderate information and cultural entertainment. The initiative will utilize seventeen radio stations in KP, Punjab and Sindh Provinces in collaboration with the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and several private FM stations. Through six different weekly programs, the programming mix will convey rights-based education on the values of peace, social pluralism, tolerance, coexistence and diversity, especially targeting women and youth. This project will: 1) promote peace, nonviolent approaches, and understanding of cultural diversity; 2) help de-radicalize youth and women through an alternative narrative based on informed discourse on religion, Pashtunwali, and socio-political dimensions of life; and 3) raise awareness among youth and women about the benefits of a democratic and developed society. $140,096
COLLEGE OF YOUTH ACTIVISM AND DEVELOPMENT, (CYAAD), Islamabad, Pakistan (Project Director(s): Raziq Fahim): The project cultivates leadership and youth-driven community actions to promote peace, tolerance and diversity. The project will engage 600 youths of diverse backgrounds through a three-tiered process of training, dialogue and community action in two districts of Baluchistan. The participants will learn about issues related to identity formation, conflict prevention, citizenship, counter-extremism, and will apply their knowledge and skills to participate in community based peacebuilding processes. The project's goal is to improve young people's understanding of and ability to address the causes and consequences of conflict in their own communities and beyond. Its specific objectives are to: a) enhance youths' role in conflict prevention through improving their understanding of issues such as identity formation, social diversity, and tolerance, b) increase empathy and understanding among youth by facilitating dialogue and sharing; and c) reinforce the roles and responsibilities of young people within their communities by assisting them in launching meaningful action-oriented community-based peacebuilding projects. $119,997
EQUAL ACCESS INTERNATIONAL, San Francisco, CA (Project Director(s): Gordon Shettle): Complementing community engagement activities in the FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhaw province, this media project will foster dialogue among at risk youth and women who are marginalized from the ongoing political process. Project activities include: the production and broadcast of 48 Pashto radio episodes (30 minutes each) to a potential listening audience of 30 million; the training of 20 women and 20 youth as Community Reporters and content contributors to the radio programs; the creation of a network of 40 Community Reporters; and the organization of 15 listening groups in 5 districts meeting monthly over 5 months (75 meetings total). The project's main objective is to provide a trusted forum for dialogue and alternative methods for addressing grievances and to contribute to building a more inclusive and less violent society in Pashto-speaking communities in Northwest Pakistan. It also aims to strengthen civil society partners for nonviolent conflict resolution, elevate the voices of women and youth in public dialogue, and popularize and promote nonviolent approaches to solving conflict and reducing violence. $99,532
INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE RIGHTS INITIATIVE, New York, NY (Project Director(s): Salih Mahmoud Osman): This project will support the mediation work of a small team of Darfuris who will coordinate five consultations with Darfuri civil society and other leaders in order to raise awareness about the Doha Agreement, solicit feedback on aspects of it that may require modification, and monitor its implementation. The views that emerge in these sessions will be compiled and shared with key interlocutors engaged in implementing and guaranteeing the agreement. The project team will also maintain a dialogue with the non-signatories to the agreement, and will update key Darfuri leaders, political parties, and other officials about the positions of these parties. The objective of the project is to increase support for a just and sustainable peace in Darfur by building on the momentum created by the Doha Agreement. $160,446
SUDAN
NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE SOUTH SUDAN, Brussels, Belgium (Project Director(s): Tiffany Easthorn): This project will deploy a field team to War Awar town to support the implementation of peace agreements and migration Codes of Conduct. The initiative will: (1) support the efforts of local chiefs to inform their communities about the agreements, and monitor agreement implementation; (2) collaborate with security actors and provide protective presence to deter immediate threats of violence; and (3) facilitate the development of Community Protection Teams (CPTs) that can independently reduce the likelihood of potential conflicts. The proposed project aims to increase the safety and security of civilians affected by dry season migration violence in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. Specific objectives include: (1) improvement in security through the effective implementation of intercommunal peace agreements and migration Codes of Conduct; (2) reduced risk of violence, allowing for sufficient stability to implement durable solutions; and (3) an improvement in affected communities' capacity to independently prevent violence and increase their own security. $110,000