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Australia Awards initiates collaboration to combat gender-based violence in Pakistan

Posted: 30 November 2023

Pakistan, Alumni, Impact, Inclusion,

Ahead of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign, on 6 November Australia Awards – Pakistan collaborated with the Lahore branch of AGHS Legal Aid Cell to facilitate an interactive discussion about gender-based violence, women’s rights and the relevant legal protections in place. The discussion was led by a panel of eminent speakers and was attended by an audience consisting of lawyers, civil society representatives and Australia Awards alumni.

The event culminated in the announcement of the creation of a joint support group formed by alumni members of the Women in Leadership Network and mentors from AGHS Legal Aid Cell. The group will offer gender-based violence survivors immediate assistance and emotional support, as well as guidance to appropriate legal, medical and psychological services—including free legal advice from AGHS Legal Aid Cell. Australia Awards anticipates that this support group can achieve sustainable and long-lasting improvements in Pakistan.

Co-founded by Pakistani human rights lawyer and social activist Asma Jahangir in 1980, AGHS Legal Aid Cell is the country’s first law firm to provide free legal representation to the vulnerable and remains Pakistan’s leading institution fighting for human rights for the marginalised.

Mentors from AGHS Legal Aid Cell in Lahore, Pakistan attending the event.

The discussion began with Nida Aly, Executive Director of AGHS Legal Aid Cell, speaking in detail about the organisation’s work and its sustained efforts to help vulnerable women. She highlighted that progress in Pakistan can only be made when the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign (an annual international campaign that begins on 25 November) is used as a springboard to push for safety on every day of the year. She also added that women need to be empowered to understand their rights and advocate for themselves, and victims need to be encouraged to report incidents and seek justice.

Rubina Shaheen, Women Protection Officer at AGHS Legal Aid Cell, then discussed the prevalence of gender-based violence in Pakistani society. She talked about the taboo that surrounds the subject, stressing the importance of ending this stigma. She added that it is equally vital to ensure that basic needs are met and that mental health services are strengthened and easily accessible by all.

Rubina Shaheen speaks with the audience about ending the stigma around gender-based violence.

Mudassar Malik, Director General of the Social Welfare Department in Punjab and Australia Awards alumnus, delivered a presentation about the facilities and services that the Punjab government offers for legal action against perpetrators of gender-based violence and how citizens can access this assistance.

Alia Malik, an Advocate in the High Court and Australia Awards alumna, advised participants about legislation in place to counteract gender-based violence, and discussed the struggles in implementing these laws. She also spoke about the constitutional rights of women in Pakistan, as well as the key laws and acts under the constitution that form the fundamental basis for women’s rights in the fight for child custody and for protection from rape, abuse, cyber-bullying and harassment.

Alumna Alia Malik attending the event.

The audience questions and discussion during this event highlighted the challenges of ending violence against women and girls, including by raising awareness about laws against gender-based violence. Participants urged the government to urgently push the issue of gender-based violence to the top of its agenda, and strengthen its policies and institutional capacity to respond.

 

 

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Alumna reflects on lifechanging scholarship experience

Posted: 30 November 2023

Pakistan, Alumni, Disability, Impact,

Saira Ayub is an alumna from Pakistan who completed a Master of Education from Flinders University in South Australia with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. Currently, she works as an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Government Graduate College for Women (Gulberg) in Lahore, Pakistan. While in Australia in 2021, Saira recorded a video outlining her experience studying and living in Australia as a person with disability.  

To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), we caught up again with Saira back in Pakistan to learn about her experience studying in Australia, her plans and her message for IDPWD.

What did you study in Australia?

I commenced my Master of Education (Leadership & Management) at Flinders University in 2020 and after completing it in 2021, I returned to Pakistan. I selected the Australia Awards Scholarship with great confidence, because it stood out as an exemplary and inclusive scholarship program.

What made you passionate about your area of study?

One of the primary reasons for my decision was the Scholarship’s strong commitment to catering to the needs of disabled scholars like myself. The Australia Awards Scholarship addressed all aspects of my needs, like providing an assistive device and accessible accommodation. Furthermore, the support I received from the Scholarship administrators, the faculty and fellow students helped to create a welcome and inclusive environment.

In my home country, the teaching methods, learning approaches, assessment techniques and curriculum design have all too often overlooked the unique requirements of disabled students. By immersing myself in a Master of Education (Leadership & Management), I aimed to gain the necessary knowledge, insights and skills to foster an inclusive classroom environment where every student is supported and given an equal opportunity to excel. Throughout the Master of Education program, I was eager to explore innovative and evidence-based approaches to develop inclusive educational practices.

Saira at Flinders University.

Can you tell us about your experience in Australia, both at university and outside of university?

In Australia, I really enjoyed inclusive education. Flinders University had a dedicated disability support unit called the Health, Counselling & Disability Service that provided a range of services to students with disabilities, including assistance with accommodation, equipment and technology. The university had accessible parking spaces, ramps and lifts, accessible bathrooms, and other features that made it easier for students with disabilities to navigate the campus. The university also promoted inclusive teaching practices that support students with disabilities. This included providing flexible assessment options, allowing extra time for exams and using accessible teaching materials. Flinders University also offered a range of accommodations for students with disabilities, including note-taking support and assistive technology. I stayed in the university accommodation called Flinders Living, which was committed to providing an accessible and inclusive environment for students with disabilities. I really relished independent learning. It was a wonderful time of my life.

In South Australia, the buses, trains and trams have wheelchair accessible ramps or lifts, and designated areas for wheelchair users to travel safely. They also have tactile indicators and audio announcements to assist passengers with visual or hearing impairments. The drivers of those vehicles are trained to assist people with disabilities with boarding and disembarking. I was able to travel independently and enjoyed using disability-friendly transport.

Additionally, Flinders University arranged excursions to Victor Harbor, Urimbirra Open-Range Wildlife Park, Menz Chocolate Factory, Cleland Wildlife Park, Hahndorf, Mount Lofty Summit, Adelaide Botanic Garden and Wittunga Botanic Garden during the semester break. All these daytrips were inclusive and students with disabilities were able to travel safely and comfortably on regular buses and trains. Visits to beaches and lakes in South Australia were also breathtaking experiences for me.

Can you share how your Scholarship helped you develop your professional network?

My area of research at Flinders University was ‘Obstacles faced by students with disabilities in colleges due to the lack of inclusive educational framework in Pakistan’. The research provided me with valuable insights into the challenges faced by students with disabilities in our educational system. Since disability and diversity are not part of our education [in Pakistan], social awareness can only be created through advocacy. In Lahore, I have shared my Australian experience of inclusive teaching practices and effective strategies for accommodating students with disabilities with the University of Education, the Government Graduate College for Women (Gulberg) and the Government Associate College for Women (Salamatpura). I am also part of the Able Plus Organisation, which is working to establish an inclusive school with the help of community engagement. It is a wonderful experience to train teachers how to use assistive devices in the classroom for teaching, learning and assessment of students with disabilities.

A group of university students from different countries, several with their arms raised in celebratory gestures, pose in front of some Australia Awards banners

Saira with other Australia Awards scholars at Flinders University

How has your Australia Awards experience supported your career enhancement?

As a teacher, I applied the knowledge and strategies I gained during my master’s degree program at Flinders University to create a more inclusive classroom environment in Pakistan. I also shared my learnings with my colleagues and the school administration, which will help foster a more inclusive and supportive educational setting.

What are your plans for the future?

I wish to arrange more training sessions and workshops with the help of the Higher Education Department to educate heads of colleges and teachers about inclusion. As a writer, I have a plan to write a book about my Australian journey. I want to share my experience as a student, and especially as a disabled individual, focusing on accessibility and the attitude toward people with disability in Australia. I want to become a policy advocate and work with different non-governmental organisations and organisations for disabled persons to influence policy development.

Saira working as an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Government Graduate College for Women (Gulberg) in Lahore, Pakistan

What is your advice for someone thinking about applying for an Australia Awards Scholarship?

Because Australia Awards offers a variety of Scholarship programs across different fields of study, it is essential to identify the programs that align with your academic and career goals. Select a course that will advance your knowledge and skills but also contribute to the development of your home country. Be honest about your impairment (if you have one) in your application, and be sure to explain how you plan to overcome obstacles to accomplish your objectives.

Finally, do you have a message to share about International Day of Persons with Disabilities?

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, let’s commit to inclusive education for women with disabilities. By removing barriers to learning, we not only enrich individual lives but also strengthen the fabric of our diverse society. Let every woman thrive, learn and lead. #EmpowerHerEducation.

 

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Alumnae working to eliminate gender-based violence in Pakistan

Posted: 8 December 2021

Pakistan, Alumni, Impact, Inclusion,

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that runs from 25 November until 10 December. Started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991, the event continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. The campaign has turned into a global call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the 16 Days worldwide campaign. The United Nations’ global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” In addition, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership is focusing on the issue of femicide (the gender-related killing of women), with the hashtag #LetsEndFemicide.

In support of this civil society initiative, we highlight the significant contributions of three Australia Awards alumnae: Fazeelat Jehan, Yumna Hasany, and Zahida Bukhari, who are each working to reduce gender-based violence across Pakistan.

Fazeelat Jehan

Fazeelat Jehan (featured above) is leading the Social Protection and Gender Mainstreaming Section of the Planning and Development Department in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

As Chief of the section, Fazeelat works as the focal person to provide a centralised coordination platform at a provincial level. She is responsible for collecting and sharing information; planning and strategically allocating resources; informing, training and educating staff; implementing planning and policy-making processes; and recommending informed and appropriate interventions in existing projects to maximise outputs.

“My section is working on developing systems that will sustain the efforts around gender mainstreaming and protection of rights of all communities,” Fazeelat says. She led her team to develop a multi-sectoral prevention and response mechanism against gender-based violence. This mechanism is currently under review; once approved, it will be implemented across the province.

“We are also developing a management information system at the P&D Department’s level that will maintain data for analytical purposes,” she adds.

As an example, her team has mapped and geo-tagged social services institutions such as shelter homes and women’s crisis centres in the province. This data will help inform the government facilities in the area and contribute to increasing efficiency and effectiveness.

Fazeelat received an Australia Awards Scholarship to study a Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne in 2017. After her return to Pakistan, in 2019 Fazeelat was promoted to Deputy Secretary in the Social Welfare Department. “I worked on policies and planning in areas such as women’s empowerment, orphans, disability services etc. I focused my attention on resource mobilisation and successfully enabled our department to launch effective programs and campaigns on social issues, e.g. gender-based violence, child protection and gender equality,” she says.

In November 2019, Fazeelat was also selected for a training course on ‘gender-responsive governance’ at the Hague Academy in the Netherlands. “I learnt to look at planning and budgeting processes through a gender lens,” she says of the course.

She hopes to work in the newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on women’s empowerment programs, since she is well-acquainted with those areas, and has no language barrier or gender clash. “I will be able to contribute with my full potential, towards the development goals which are not only the government’s priority but also resonate with me personally,” she says.

Yumna Hasany

Yumna Hasany has worked in the development sector for more than nine years, focusing on the themes of women’s rights, human rights, gender and women’s health. She completed a Master of Public Policy and Governance from the Australian National University in 2019, with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship.

Since returning to Pakistan, Yumna has been involved with various non-governmental organisations, working on issues ranging from economic empowerment and mentoring to planning and implementation of health programs. She is currently the lead mentor and trainer on leadership and communications for Girls4Girls Pakistan, a global leadership program of the Harvard Kennedy School. This program, which aims to empower young girls and women, was launched as a pilot in 2020 at Bahria University, Islamabad. There are currently 20 mentees enrolled in the program. Each week, the program facilitates a mentorship circle on topics such as leadership, communication, goal-setting, empowerment, ethics, negotiation and public service.

Australia Awards alumna Yumna Hasany

Yumna also works as a radio announcer and a podcaster at FM101 Radio Pakistan, where she hosts shows and produces content explaining harassment policies, gender and violence in the social context, and the relationship between economic empowerment and gender-based violence.

“This is my effort at awareness raising, advocacy and community engagement,” says Yumna. “I believe that through my radio shows and podcasts I can reach girls who need to be reached and to be reassured that they are not alone.” Yumna is on air on FM101 every Sunday from 6pm to 8pm on her show ‘Sunday Conversations and Music’.

“My radio shows focus on protection laws and policies with the aim to create a safe space in media to discuss issues of domestic violence and abuse, and to highlight stories of women survivors,” she says.

Yumna’s future plan is to establish a social enterprise that concentrates on communication strategies and audio/video content with a specific emphasis on issues relating to women. “I want to focus on domestic violence and safe spaces,” she says. “My goal is to collect local stories and narratives and to change mindsets.”

Zahida Bukhari

Zahida Bukhari, a career policewoman, is implementing reforms within the police force by advocating for gender mainstreaming and balance. Her advocacy work is also benefiting victims of gender-based violence.

As Deputy Director at Pakistan’s National Police Bureau, Zahida is working to cultivate a gender-sensitive work environment by coordinating an anti-harassment committee. The committee, which consists of officials from all provincial police organisations, aims to empowering employees to progress equally and perform effectively.

The work of this committee aligns with the ‘Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act’ of 2010, which criminalises harassment in work and public spaces.

Zahida completed a Master of International Development Practice at the University of Melbourne with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. After returning to Pakistan, she was deputed by the Government of Pakistan to work as a Law Enforcement Specialist at the Strengthening Rule of Law Programme (SRLP), an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Australia Awards alumna Zahida Bukhari

SRLP supports both the supply and the demand sides of the rule of law by strengthening justice institutions and citizen rights and deepening ongoing efforts to secure peace and stability in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Zahida provided strategic advice for the ‘designing interventions of law enforcement’ component, with special focus on gender-oriented reforms. She also led the ‘implementation of police/levies’ initiative, ensuring strong results-based management and intra-program coordination.

Zahida says that her work with UNDP is important to her because she can see the innovative ideas that she brought back from Australia gaining traction. “I believe working in an organisation where new ideas are accepted helps to build confidence in yourself to bring about a change in society that you hope to see one day,” she says.

Zahida is additionally working on ‘gender responsive desks’ for victims of gender-based violence with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and has designed the new gender policy for the Anti-Narcotics Force of Pakistan.

“I think my Scholarship has contributed a lot to broadening my vision and giving new directions to my desire to bring about change in society. I must say it’s a steppingstone towards my career diversifying from a local to a global context,” says Zahida.

Zahida plans to work for equity, equality and inclusion for marginalised and victimised groups on a national and international level by applying best international practices to society. “This transformation in my career became possible only because of my Australia Awards Scholarship,” she says. “Before that, I thought I could only bring about change through policing.”

Image of  top: Australia Awards alumna from Pakistan Fazeelat Jehan. 

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Alumnus safeguarding prison inmates and staff during COVID-19

Posted: 18 November 2021

Pakistan, Alumni, COVID-19, Impact,

Australia Awards alumnus Sajid Baig is a correctional officer specialising in law-enforcement. As Senior Superintendent at the Central Jail in Gujranwala, in the Punjab province of Pakistan, Sajid is currently waging a challenging battle to keep 3000 prisoners and 500 correctional facility staff safe and well during the coronavirus pandemic.

To achieve this, Sajid has implemented numerous preventive and precautionary measures, including the initial medical screenings of  new inmates and the imposing of restrictions on the movement of jail wardens. These public health measures help to reduce the risks of inmates and staff being affected by COVID-19.

“I am responsible for the management of the prison, which includes ensuring the security of inmates and prison staff by carrying out correctional and rehabilitative interventions. During COVID-19, it became a challenging but important task for me to ensure their safety,” Sajid says. “To create an environment conducive to housing inmates without overcrowding, I recommended that the government transfer some of the inmates to less crowded prisons. I also took measures to equip the prison with adequate handwashing facilities, enforced mandatory wearing of face masks amongst inmates and staff, gloves for staff on duty, and implemented social distancing rules as well as health and hygiene protocols in prison dormitories and cells. This has helped us significantly reduce the spread of the virus in the prison.”

Sajid also liaised with the District Health Authority to manage the health of inmates. He initiated a mass vaccination campaign for inmates and prison staff and established a field hospital in prison to treat those who tested positive for COVID-19. The combination of all these measures has proven to be effective. “Consequently, not a single death occurred in the prison due to the coronavirus,” he reports.

Sajid (right) with the Deputy Inspector General of Prison during a visit

Sajid completed his Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne in 2018 with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. Since his return, Sajid has been invited to work on the draft of the new Prison Act by the Government of Punjab. He has also worked to improve the living conditions of juvenile and women inmates. Other achievements include upgrading facilities for prison visitors and establishing clinical laboratories in two prisons.

“Interacting with some of the best professors of various disciplines of law and learning from their experiences was quite valuable to me,” says Sajid about his Australian study.

“Some have had the opportunity to represent their countries in drafting international legal instruments and have in-depth firsthand experiences in their respective fields. I learnt a lot from them. I am glad I can use this experience to make a difference in my home country,” he concludes.

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Alumna increasing COVID-19 awareness among Pakistan’s marginalised communities

Posted: 8 October 2021

Pakistan, Alumni, COVID-19, Impact,

Australia Awards alumna Rabia Rauf has been instrumental in implementing widespread COVID-19 awareness-raising campaigns in schools, health facilities and amongst marginalised communities in remote areas of Pakistan.

Rabia completed her Master of Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne in 2016 with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. She is currently the Senior Manager Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), heading up the Emergency and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) division at Action Against Hunger – Pakistan.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Action Against Hunger launched an awareness-raising project in Pakistan’s Sindh province, targeting the districts of Thatta, Tando Allahyar, Larkana and Shikarpur. Through the project – which was supported by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) – Action Against Hunger delivered information-sharing sessions to marginalised communities and schools, and distributed information packs to schoolchildren. In addition, the project created public education campaigns, which were broadcast on radio and cable television channels in each of the four districts. To help limit the spread of COVID-19, the project established handwashing stations in government schools, primary and secondary healthcare centres, and marketplaces in all target districts. The project also facilitated the COVID-19 response of frontline workers by distributing personal protective equipment to primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare centres. The project was successfully completed in May 2021, having reached more than 300,000 households.

Subsequently, Rabia and her team have successfully obtained funding from both ECHO and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for Thatta, Mirpur Khas and Badin districts, where underprivileged and vulnerable communities are already affected by floods and droughts. Food security in these areas has been significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project’s focus is on supporting communities through conditional and unconditional cash grants, disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction via community mobilisation actions. The SIDA-funded project was launched in June 2021, with the ECHO-funded project following it in July.

As the sector head for DRR, Emergency and WASH at Action Against Hunger, Rabia’s role includes developing programs for funding opportunities, providing technical support to field teams to implement activities and building the capacity of staff. She also develops research opportunities for synergies between WASH and undernutrition and represents Action Against Hunger at provincial and national forums for DRR, WASH and Emergency response.

“The Australia Awards alumni network has helped me during my work by linking me to experts for water, DRR and research,” Rabia says. “I have also used the alumni networks to approach Australian universities for partnership opportunities regarding a pilot project for water conservation in urban areas.”

Since returning to Pakistan following her Australia Awards Scholarship, Rabia says her proudest achievement has been developing and procuring funding for a three-year nutrition-sensitive program in 10 districts of Sindh, where pilot activities were introduced to counter climate change. These pilot activities include a food system mapping study in Sindh, bio-fortified wheat and paddy fish farming for food security, as well as promotion of rainwater harvesting in rural communities.

Rabia speaking at Action Against Hunger’s seminar that was funded under Australia Awards Small Grants Scheme

Rabia is also a beneficiary of the Australia Awards Small Grants Scheme. She received a grant that supported her and Action Against Hunger to launch a seminar advocating for Pakistan’s potential to produce ready-to-use therapeutic food locally rather than relying on imports from France.

“My Australia Awards Scholarship has helped my career in numerous ways,” Rabia says. Beyond the skills she gained from her master’s degree and her ability to access the Small Grants Scheme, she mentions that simply having the Scholarship on her CV has given her advantages. “My Australia Awards experience has opened doors for better working opportunities through its alumni network”, she adds.

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Alumnus working towards eliminating vaccine-preventable diseases in Pakistan

Posted: 28 May 2021

Pakistan, Alumni, COVID-19, Impact,

Australia Awards alumnus Muhammad Mossavir Ahmed is working to provide access to COVID-19 vaccination and strengthen childhood immunisation services in Pakistan. He is contributing to this vital work in his role as a Donor Coordinator for the World Health Organization (WHO).

As part of the core team working on COVID-19 response initiatives and advisory policies, Mossavir has been instrumental in successfully coordinating and negotiating with donors such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to mobilise resources that will strengthen immunisation services in Pakistan, particularly the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination. With the help of such proposals, negotiations and consultations with donors, Pakistan has been able to secure funding to purchase COVID-19 vaccines or procure vaccines free of cost.

“This will help immensely to vaccinate targeted populations against the COVID-19 virus in Pakistan,” Mossavir says of the support that has been secured. “Donors are also funding a significant portion of immunisation for another 11 vaccine-preventable diseases,” he adds. These diseases include tuberculosis, diphtheria, measles, rotavirus and influenza.

Importantly, Mossavir developed and submitted Pakistan’s successful application to become a donor-funded member of COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access), one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator. As a COVAX member, Pakistan will receive COVID-19 vaccines for up to 20% of its population free of cost via the COVAX Facility (the global procurement mechanism of COVAX), which is coordinated by Gavi. Mossavir also worked on a request submitted to the COVAX Facility for support for cold chain equipment in Pakistan. Such equipment (including walk-in cold rooms, refrigerators, freezers, passive devices such as vaccine carriers and cold boxes, temperature monitoring devices, and spare parts) is used to keep vaccines at suitable temperatures during all stages of the storage and distribution chain.

COVID-19 vaccinations are free of charge for Pakistani citizens, who are able to access the vaccine at Adult Vaccination Counters in all provinces and federated areas across the country. Mossavir played an influential role in developing policies and standard operating procedures for these Vaccination Counters, which were established by the Government of Pakistan with support from WHO. He also developed the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 vaccinations, along with guidelines and standard operating procedures for the different COVID-19 vaccines that are available.

Mossavir at the WHO annual immunisation review meeting in March 2021

In addition to Mossavir’s recent efforts in COVID-19 vaccine coordination, he is closely involved in the country’s immunisation program to protect children against preventable diseases. “Every day there are hundreds of thousands of children in Pakistan who suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases,” he says. He aims to remain with WHO’s immunisation program to achieve 100% immunisation coverage in Pakistan—and then has his sights set on an even bigger objective: “My plan is to continue working with international and national stakeholders to mobilise resources for achieving universal immunisation coverage.”

To contribute to this ambition of universal immunisation coverage, Mossavir’s work involves a significant degree of coordination and negotiation with WHO’s donors and partners. “My work primarily revolves around donor coordination, donor relations, planning, partnership building and proposal development,” he says. “In addition to this, I have been also involved in research, policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation regarding immunisation services in Pakistan.”

Mossavir (left) during a joint data quality audit by WHO and partner organisations in May 2021

Mossavir completed a Master of Development Studies at the University of Melbourne in 2019 with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. He believes his Australia Awards experience was integral to improving his professional, academic and personal life. “Through this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I was able to study in a well-reputed university, polishing my research, critical thinking and communication skills,” he says about his Scholarship experience.

“With the help of this Scholarship, I was also able to work for international organisations like the Australian Red Cross and UNICEF in an international setting,” he adds. “The diversity and interaction with students from across the globe enlightened me to think differently and innovatively. It has boosted my confidence and enabled me to connect with innovative and creative minds.”

This experience has contributed to Mossavir’s success in protecting the health of the people of Pakistan through equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine and childhood immunisation services.

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Alumni contribute to Pakistan’s COVID-19 response through disaster risk management

Posted: 7 April 2021

Pakistan, Alumni, COVID-19, Impact,

Three Australia Awards alumni—Idrees Mehsud, Tania Humayun and Faiza Rahman Syed—are leading contributions to Pakistan’s COVID-19 response and recovery through their roles at the National Disaster Management Authority. The efforts of these alumni in areas such as procurement, international and national coordination, and raising awareness and funding are having a direct impact on protecting the health and wellbeing of the nation’s population, including people from vulnerable groups.

In early 2020, the Prime Minister of Pakistan designated the National Disaster Management Authority as the lead agency for the country’s response to COVID-19, responsible for coordinating efforts with federal and provincial authorities to implement preventive and mitigation measures. The Authority adopted a proactive approach to its overall national and provincial COVID-19 response, and Idrees, Tania and Faiza have been at the centre of these efforts.

Idrees is a member of the Disaster Risk Reduction unit of the Authority and also leads the Authority’s administration and finance functions. Additionally, he is the President of the Authority’s ‘Composite Technical Procurement Committee’, which oversees and enables the flow of equipment needed to respond to COVID-19.

Australia Awards alumnus Idrees Mehsud during the United Nations Economic and Social Council meeting

Tania works in the same team as Idrees. As an Advisor/Programme Manager, she leads the Gender and Child Cell, which plays a pivotal role in addressing the needs and concerns of vulnerable populations in any humanitarian or development initiative, including the COVID-19 response. Tania is supported by Faiza, Programme Coordinator in the Gender and Child Cell.

One of the most important aspects of the Authority’s COVID-19 response has been ensuring quick and efficient supply chain management of crucial items for containment, protection, diagnostic and clinical management. This has involved timely provision of personal protective equipment, particularly to frontline healthcare workers at hospitals, and provision of biomedical equipment such as ventilators and diagnostic equipment such as x-ray machines, Polymerase Chain Reaction testing machines and tests, RNA extraction equipment and biosafety cabinets for laboratories.

Procurement of such equipment has been challenging due to the current worldwide demand, including in the countries where the equipment is predominantly manufactured. Idrees, Tania and Faiza have helped enable procurement of close to 370 tonnes of COVID-19 response equipment, including 2931 ventilators, 5.9 million face masks, 1.9 million protective suits and 2.2 million surgical gowns. This equipment has been distributed to hospitals and government departments across Pakistan.

Tania and Faiza are coordinating relief efforts with local and international technical partners, United Nations agencies, bilateral donors and civil society organisations through collaborations and partnerships, while ensuring that relief efforts are inclusive. The Gender and Child Cell has been developing guidelines and standard operating procedures for mainstreaming gender-sensitive adaptation of the COVID-19 response for the local population and healthcare workers, with a special focus on challenges such as mental health awareness, need for psychosocial support and the potential for increased gender-based violence.

Australia Awards alumna Tania Humayun, who works as Advisor/Programme Manager in the Authority’s Gender and Child Cell

The two alumnae are also leading a project called ‘Women and Child-Friendly Centres’ in Mirpur in Azad Kashmir. These centres were funded by the Australian Government to support rehabilitation efforts in earthquake-affected areas. The centres offer psychosocial support to vulnerable people in the local community, in particular women and children who were affected by the earthquake in September 2019. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, these centres were engaged to provide hygiene and protective kits, awareness sessions, and psychosocial counselling for the local vulnerable population.

“We want to make sure that no person is denied access to medicine or healthcare based on gender or ethnicity and we regularly send out messaging to enforce that,” Tania says. “This is important because the disease does not see colour or creed. To the virus, we are all targets, and we are all equal.”

Faiza has been leading the Authority’s communications campaign to educate the public about COVID-19. The campaign shared social media posts and animated videos to create awareness about the psychosocial wellbeing of women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

The Authority has also led the establishment of quarantine centres at Pakistan’s border entry points and near major international airports in the country. “We have established a 600-bed centre at the Taftan border, two centres of 300 beds each at Chaman and Torkham borders and many quarantine centres at private hotels for inbound international passengers,” Idrees says.

Initially, Idrees’s team helped enhance the capacity of health and other relevant authorities by conducting mock exercises at Islamabad international airport to simulate handling incoming passengers in such a way as to contain the spread of the pandemic. They then arranged thermal scanners and thermal guns to screen passengers arriving in Pakistan at the three airports designated by the Ministry of Health for international arrivals.

In order to align the Authority’s COVID-19 response efforts with the United Nations, the two organisations established an Emergency Coordination Cell, led by Tania and Faiza on the Authority’s side. This collaboration has proven to be increasingly effective in responding to the pandemic.

Australia Awards alumna Faiza Rahman Syed has been leading the Authority’s COVID-19 communications campaign

Tania, Faiza and other members of the Gender and Child Cell also formulated the Pakistan Preparedness and Response Plan in relation to COVID-19. The Plan was launched on 23 April 2020 by the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Economic Affairs and the Authority’s Chairman. Through the Plan, international agencies were invited to pledge donations, which have been distributed to different areas in need. Tania and her team also lead the international donor coordination committee and have negotiated pledges to support the COVID-19 response by raising awareness about various issues faced in Pakistan.

In 2018, the Gender and Child Cell formulated the Pakistan School Safety Framework, which was first implemented in Islamabad, the country’s capital, followed by its current roll-out in provincial areas. An additional chapter called ‘Pandemics and other infectious diseases’ is now being validated by relevant stakeholders before being added to the Framework. To ramp up relief efforts, the three alumni have successfully negotiated several Memoranda of Understanding with leading international bodies (including United Nations agencies and the International Rescue Committee) and government departments.

In their respective roles, Idrees, Tania and Faiza are making significant inroads in responding to and mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. Their efforts have been supported by knowledge and experience they gained during their time in Australia. Idrees completed a Master of Public Policy and Management at The University of Melbourne in 2016. Tania completed a Short Course in Women in Executive Leadership Development from the University of Queensland in 2019, and Faiza completed a Master of Education (Educational Management) at the University of Melbourne in 2015, all with the support of Australia Awards Scholarships.

Image on top: Faiza, Idrees and Tania photographed at the National Disaster Management Authority’s office.

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Female civil society leaders in Pakistan come together to develop leadership skills

Posted: 4 March 2021

Pakistan, Impact, Recipient,

Twenty-one female leaders from a variety of civil society organisations in Pakistan have enhanced their leadership capabilities through undertaking a recent Australia Awards Short Course in Civil Society Women in Executive Leadership. The course participants work in fields such as academia, media and advocacy.

The Australia Awards Short Course, delivered online by the University of Queensland, aimed to develop the leadership capabilities of current and emerging female leaders of Pakistan, with a particular focus on civil society organisations. Addressing gender equality is one of the key pillars of Australia’s support in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s diverse civil society plays an integral role in the social, economic and political empowerment of women. Its history can be traced back to Pakistan’s independence movement, when many female-oriented volunteer organisations not only vigorously participated in the freedom struggle, but also were at the forefront of Pakistan’s nation-building process. Yet despite the emergence of digital media, a widespread network of women-focused non-governmental organisations and the efforts of political parties on women-related issues, a large segment of the female population is still struggling to gain equal status in society.

The Short Course sought to broaden the participants’ understanding of the important role civil society can play as part of the development process, build their capacity to become more effective and influential in achieving social change and shaping civil society, enhance their confidence and ability to recognise and build on existing qualities, and help leverage their leadership capacity to improve the inclusion of disadvantaged and traditionally marginalised groups in decision-making in their respective sectors.

Participant Nazia Zahid, who works as a Project Coordinator at Simorgh – Women’s Resource & Publication Centre, a non-profit activist organisation, found the Short Course effective in enabling her to enhance her leadership skills. “As a human rights activist working for women’s empowerment and leadership rights, I am in a position where I can improve the capacities of other women in marginalised communities,” she says. “This course enhanced my leadership skills to produce more leaders, not more followers.”

Another participant, Sana Ahmad, is an emerging women’s rights activist and a strategic advocacy expert with an ambition to promote and work for social and economic empowerment of women and girls in Pakistan. She found that the course helped her to shape her approach to leadership and building influence.

“It was such a productive and wonderful opportunity for me to participate and learn in this Short Couse,” Sana says. “The course really helped me in acquiring motivational, strategic and executive leadership skills. It provided my organisation a young woman with increased leadership capacity and the ability to inspire, guide or direct others on a course of action, influence the opinions and behaviours of others, and serve as a role model.”

Participant Zara Zafar is Chairperson of Ajoka Theatre, a not-for-profit performance organisation based in Lahore. She was able to remodel her return-to-work activities to consider the new COVID-19 environment. “I want to be part of the vision of Ajoka Theatre, to build a team that provides meaningful theatre activities to support gender equality and equal rights for all, irrespective of class, gender, ethnic or religious affinities,” she says. Zara is currently working to increase the number of women, youth and ethnic minorities within her organisation, including in performing and decision-making positions, as a means of advocating for diversity, social inclusion and social change.

Participant Zara Zafar during the Short Course

Across the cohort, the participants’ Return to Work Plans detailed activities related to women’s economic empowerment, women’s rights, education, women’s leadership and mentorship, and advocacy through performing arts.

Participant Shanaz Begum is the Chairperson of Hope and Transformation against Poverty, a non-governmental organisation that is working for the socioeconomic empowerment of rural people. She says, “My workplan developed during the Short Course was all about looking for meaningful ways to impart and continue education in rural areas of Pakistan during a global pandemic.

“It was an amazing feeling seeing my course instructors, mentors and fellow participants come together to help me with my ambitious Return to Work Plan,” Shanaz says.

The Short Course participants featured in this article join women around the world who are leading innovative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are sharing their stories as part of Australia Awards – South Asia’s International Women’s Day 2021 series, which acknowledges the achievements of women leaders and progress towards empowering women in our region. 

Image on top of page – Participants during the closing ceremony of the Civil Society Women in Executive Leadership Short Course 

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World Refugee Day: Alumnus managing humanitarian response for Afghan women refugees in Pakistan

Posted: 19 June 2020

Pakistan, Alumni, COVID-19, Impact,

World Refugee Day is observed on June 20 each year and is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees around the globe. On this day, we highlight the efforts of Australia Awards alumnus Rasheed Ahmed, who is ensuring continuity of sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 crisis for Afghan refugee women and girls living in remote areas of Pakistan.

Rasheed is a public health specialist with more than 13 years’ experience in planning and managing public health programs during humanitarian crises. Currently, he is working for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Pakistan as a Humanitarian Program Analyst. Rasheed planned and implemented the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-funded integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health – Gender-Based Violence project for Afghan refugees and host communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He is currently involved in planning, implementing, and managing the COVID-19 response, with a particular focus on ensuring continuity of sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence information and services for women and girls.

For UNFPA Pakistan’s frontline health workers, one of the biggest challenges of the COVID-19 crisis was to ensure continuity of their humanitarian efforts for Afghan women refugees living in remote areas of Pakistan. Rasheed was able to overcome this challenge by providing personal protective equipment and training on infection prevention and control to these workers, so that they can continue to deliver services in Afghan refugee camps without interruption.

As a direct result of Rasheed’s efforts to protect the frontline workforce, UNFPA-planned sexual and reproductive health services at the DFAT-funded health facility have been able to continue unaffected. In Balochistan, this is reflected in the fact that there were 194 and 181 standard deliveries by skilled birth attendants in December and January respectively (before the first confirmed appearance of COVID-19 in Pakistan) and an average of 184 per month between February and May 2020 (after the virus reached the country). Other key indicators of reproductive health have remained similarly consistent before and during the pandemic.

Australia Awards alumnus, Dr Rasheed Ahmed

Rasheed completed his Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne in Australia after receiving an Australia Awards Scholarship in 2015.

“My experience in Australia was transformative. The education I received increased my ability to undertake critical thinking and analysis. This newfound skill is helping me do my job better,” he says.

After completing his study in Australia and returning to Pakistan, Rasheed started working with the Agha Khan Development Network and developed a social franchising model for community midwives working in remote mountains in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. He was also the first person in Pakistan to create and implement a plan to mainstream reproductive health services for Afghan women refugees through upgrading and strengthening existing public health systems.

While working in Balochistan for UNFPA, he facilitated and established a public-private partnership between the Population Welfare Department and People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI). Through this partnership, the Department has supported 652 PPHI health facilities with free contraceptive commodities for family planning. This has greatly increased the geographic reach and coverage of family planning services. Under the same partnership, the Department offered PPHI underutilised mobile service units that allowed mobile health interventions to be extended from basic health units to Afghan refugee camps.

Rasheed also introduced a Hub & Spoke Model for PPHI in Balochistan, which is a cost-effective and efficient way to serve remote populations through rational allocation of resources, especially to address the lack of female health workers. The model also introduced two-way referrals for reproductive-health-related complications.

“My immediate plan is to engage in high level advocacy with the Government of Balochistan to scale up the Hub & Spoke Model to other remote areas and districts in the province,” says Rasheed.

Through mobilising more resources, Rasheed is planning to expand and further mainstream reproductive health services for Afghan refugees living in camps and within host communities that are not currently covered by Pakistan’s reproductive health services.

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Alumni contributions aid Pakistan’s COVID-19 response

Posted: 11 June 2020

Pakistan, Alumni, COVID-19, Impact,

Pakistan, like many other countries, has been drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the country is going through trying times, Australia Awards alumni and other Pakistani graduates from Australian institutions are stepping up as volunteers and social entrepreneurs to help deal with the crisis.


Sadaffe Abid

Sadaffe Abid is a social entrepreneur and advocate for women’s empowerment in Pakistan. She is an Australia Awards alumna, having participated in the Women in Executive Leadership Development Short Course in 2019 through the University of Queensland. Sadaffe is the founder of CIRCLE, a leading social enterprise that aims to build and develop the entrepreneurial and leadership capacity of women in Pakistan. She was a founding team member, COO and CEO of Kashf Foundation, a Forbes 50 global microfinance organisation that disbursed AUD280 million in loans to women in Pakistan.

Her recent initiative through CIRCLE, Tech Karo, runs technological training for students from underserved communities, with a focus on young girls and women. The program aims to enable students to increase their livelihoods and generate positive impacts for their families and communities. Tech Karo provides an end-to-end approach that ensures students are trained, mentored and placed in internships. The initiative offers classes on coding, digital marketing and graphic design, combined with community building and life skills.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Tech Karo has expanded its reach to offer virtual training in web development, digital marketing and graphic design to students all over Pakistan. After receiving more than 3000 applications, Tech Karo has selected 250 students (65% of them women) for the current academic cohort. These students, representing 15 districts of Pakistan, will go on to join Tech Karo’s existing roster of more than 160 graduates.

Australia Awards alumna Sadaffe Abid expanded her training program for individuals from underserved communities in Pakistan to improve their livelihoods


Ehsam Ullah Baig

Ehsam Ullah Baig is a young social entrepreneur and activist from the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. In 2012, he founded Pakistan Innovation Summit for Education (PISE), a youth-led non-profit organisation. PISE has been advocating for and actively working towards youth engagement and development in remote regions of northern Pakistan through various projects. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, PISE initiated a ration drive for affected families in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Nagar Valley, which is the epicentre of the crisis in the region. This resulted in more than 250 affected families receiving rations. In addition, PISE arranged Personal Protective Equipment for around 600 medical staff, paramedics and rescue teams in Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad/Rawalpindi. The team is also volunteering with the city police in the capital of Pakistan to raise public awareness of COVID-19 protocols.

Last month, PISE launched its current flagship activity: a telehealth helpline named ‘SehatCall’. This free helpline provides a forum both for COVID-19 updates and advice, and for telephone consultations with a team of 40+ expert doctors. More than 10 psychologists are also available to help people facing mental health issues during these difficult times. The team is determined to contribute to the cause of development and welfare with the best of its expertise and abilities.

Ehsam participated in an Australia Awards Endeavour Fellowship on Human Centered Design: Local Innovation for Development at Unbound (formerly Laika Academy) in Melbourne in 2017.

Australia Awards alumnus Ehsam Ullah Baig launched a free telehealth helpline providing a forum both for COVID-19 updates and advice, and for consultations with a team doctors and psychologists


Sikander Bizenjo

In the province of Balochistan, a major food drive is helping the local community to cope with hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown. This initiative is the brainchild of Sikander Bizenjo, who completed a Bachelor of Business and Commerce from Monash University in 2014. He recently co-founded Balochistan Youth Against Corona (BYAC), an organisation that is providing support by delivering food and other vital supplies in the province.

Balochistan is known for its mountainous and inhospitable terrain, making it hard for development and aid organisations to reach remote villages and settlements. However, Sikander and his entire team are natives of the province and familiar with the reality of the local environment. Thanks to the donations of supporters, Sikander’s organisation has raised more than AUD13,000. These funds have been used to supply monthly food rations to more than 1200 families in remote and rural areas of Balochistan, with the help of local volunteers. His team has also been able to provide Personal Protective Equipment to more than 200 doctors in the province.

“In a crisis of this magnitude, everyone needs to play their part,” Sikander says. “This pandemic can go down in history as one that brought out the very best of humanity in difficult times of need.”

Australian alumnus Sikander Bizenjo is leading a major food drive in Balochistan, helping the the local community cope with hardships caused by COVID-19 and the resultant lockdown

 

Saadia Adnan

Saadia Adnan, an Australia Awards alumna from Pakistan, is leading one of her country’s most innovative responses to the COVID-19 crisis: TeleSchool. This nationally broadcast TV channel is designed to help Pakistan’s primary and secondary school students continue their education during the pandemic.

Learn more in our dedicated story on Saadia, here