SoLF empowers community organisations through capacity building

Islamabad:In collaboration with the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF), Netherlands and UNFPA Pakistan, successfully hosted the concluding event of The Learning Network, marking the culmination of a transformative initiative that empowered 165 women and youth-led organisations across Pakistan. The event celebrated the achievements of this collective effort, which has directly impacted thousands of lives through innovative capacity-building and community-driven interventions.

Launched to address the pressing need for capacity-building among organisations working with vulnerable populations, The Learning Network aimed to enhance the skills and leadership capabilities of local organisations. Many of these organisations face challenges such as limited resources, lack of structured training, and difficulty addressing critical issues like reproductive health, mental health, and climate resilience. By offering a comprehensive capacity building programme, The Learning Network bridged these gaps, enabling its participants to lead impactful initiatives in their communities.

Over the course of the project, the Network addressed themes such as mental health, SRHR/STI/HIV, life skills-based education (LSBE), climate resilience, and gender-based violence (GBV), with a focus on safe programming. The initiative conducted 11 digital training sessions, equipping participants with expertise in social media strategies, financial management, project management, organisational governance, and advocacy. These sessions empowered 165 organisations, including 16 working with refugee communities, to expand their reach and improve their operations.

Dr. Luay Shabaneh, Country Representative of UNFPA Pakistan, lauded the project’s impact, saying, “The Learning Network has strengthened the leadership and operational capacity of organisations that are at the forefront of community development. By investing in their growth, we are not just supporting their efforts—we are amplifying their ability to create lasting change in the lives of people they serve. This initiative has set a new benchmark for collaborative development in Pakistan.”

A key highlight of the initiative was the intensive bootcamp held in Islamabad, where 16 organisations from 12 districts gathered for in-depth training. This bootcamp provided a platform for organizations to engage in focused discussions on pressing issues, such as reproductive health, mental well-being, and climate change. Supported by grants, these organisations launched Community Action Projects (CAPs) that have directly benefited over 165,000 community members, including 2,208 refugees, by addressing local challenges with targeted interventions.

To amplify the reach of these efforts, 64 social media personnel from participating organisations completed an SBCC e-modules course. This training enabled them to design and execute impactful digital campaigns tackling stigma and raising awareness on social media. A total of 64 campaigns were launched, which have successfully engaged thousands of individuals across Pakistan on key social issues. The concluding event brought together stakeholders, including representatives from the participating organisations, development professionals, and government officials. Attendees reflected on the initiative’s successes and discussed strategies for sustaining the momentum created by the Network.