This effort draws on community engagement, fostered through interpersonal mobilisation efforts, to enhance awareness of, and understanding about, devolution and the role of local governments (LGs), particularly among women. Between September 2004 and March 2005, a total of 41 awareness forums were conducted at the union council level. A local non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) was the implementing partner in these initial awareness raising efforts. The main objectives were to enhance awareness on the part of women and men about roles and responsibilities of LGs, to educate people about the role of Citizen Community Boards (CCBs) in devolution at the grassroots level, and to mobilise groups of women and men to form CCBs for the development of their respective areas.

Community participation in democracy and governance is a core principle shaping this initiative. For instance, in order to prepare for the above-described campaigns, initial meetings were held with the union council administration, community groups, heads of educational institutes, and active citizens to facilitate orientation, arrangement of the meetings, and full involvement of both women and men in the campaigns. Theatre performances and quiz programmes were used to convey key messages to the audience. A gender equality checklist was developed with the SPO team to strategise for gender sensitivity and gender-balanced participation. At the end of each campaign, active and interested groups/individuals were provided with guidance about CCBs; subsequently, visits were conducted to these same communities to mobilise community members to form CCBs.

Research is a core component of this campaign. At the completion of the above-described phase of awareness raising, an assessment was made; the results showed that a total of 13,946 men and women participated in the 41
campaigns, but that only 22% of participants in the discussions, theatre, and quiz programmes were women. As a result of these campaigns, 241 CCBs were formed and registered in the two districts; again, though, only 14 women's CCBs were formed, as compared with 93 joint (men and women combined) CCBs. Following the deliberate suspension of awareness campaigns from April-October 2005 due to the local government elections, a post-election assessment was conducted to once again evaluate the level of overall awareness and understanding as a result of election campaigns and media's role in information dissemination and awareness raising. Consultations with different stakeholders (women and men of the community, CCBs and councils) in selected union councils were conducted, and 1,787 questionnaires were distributed. The results of this research were used to inform the shaping of the next component of the initiative.

To begin, 11 NGOs from the 2 project districts were selected and trained to conduct
awareness campaigns at the village level. What emerged was the "LG Information Mela", a day-long edutainment-type (fair) activity at the village level, focusing on LGs and communities and their respective roles in the local area development. The format design for the village mela was carried out through discussions with local groups, and emphasised using communication to provide just a few messages in a simple way. (The planning group also chalked out a set of gender equality indicators to gauge the success of new campaign on women's participation and their future role.) It was mutually decided to select a primary or middle school in the village as venue since these are usually central in location and have large spaces.

At the events themselves, volunteers register participants and
give out basic information about the event. After registration, a group of about 25-30 participants is led by a woman or a man (depending on the group of
participants) who is a member of the partner NGO. This person then facilitates the group visit to all the stalls, briefing them about LG and citizens' responsibilities - using illustrated posters, video shows, and recorded audio programmes. The facilitator is expected to have good command of the LG system, and good facilitation skills.

Democracy & Governance, Gender, Women.

According to organisers, CDSP seeks innovative Pakistani solutions to problems while at the same time introducing appropriate Canadian knowledge, expertise, and values. It seeks to create an environment open and enthusiastic
towards new ideas where individuals and groups traditionally on the outside feel they are welcome to contribute. Visit the CDSP website to learn more.