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Yearly Archives: 2024

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Quality and Accountability in humanitarian work are essential to ensure that aid effectively supports and empowers the communities it is intended to help. Community World Service Asia (CWSA) provides technical support and guidance to local humanitarian agencies in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and across the Asia-Pacific region to enhance quality and accountability by applying the Sphere Minimum Standards.

In partnership with Concern Worldwide, CWSA conducted a three-day workshop from 21 to 23 February 2024, in Umerkot, Sindh, titled “Integrating Sphere Technical Standards in Project Cycle Management”. Eighteen participants enrolled in the workshop, including 12 men and six women. The training focused on enhancing participants’ understanding and skills in applying the Sphere Minimum Standards throughout different Project Cycle Management (PCM) stages. It aimed to explain the philosophy and approach of Sphere and guide participants in navigating the Sphere handbook to help them integrate the standards into the humanitarian project cycle more effectively.

Local and national humanitarian practitioners were equipped with the technical, management, and programmatic skills required to enhance the quality of their internal operations and improve their effectiveness in disaster preparedness and response through the three days. Participants gained a thorough understanding of Sphere’s core principles and learned how to apply the standards across key themes such as water and sanitation, health, shelter, and nutrition. They also worked towards developing skills in needs assessment, response planning, and program implementation following Sphere guidelines.

“As humanitarian workers and development practitioners, we are all familiar with the various stages of project management. However, this training was especially valuable for understanding the practical application of Sphere standards during the project design and implementation stages,” said Harris Najeeb[1], Manager of Networking and Partnerships at ARTS Foundation, who participated in the training.

ARTS Foundation is a non-profit, indigenous civil society organisation based in Sindh. It focuses on capacity development, action research, policy advocacy, and humanitarian response. The foundation’s current projects are centered on flood recovery and response, particularly on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).

“The Sphere technical standards of WASH & Hygiene, have been particularly informative for me. After the training, I conducted a session on WASH technical standards, for my team of community mobilisers & hygiene promoters. We are now referring to the Water Supply Standard 2.1 (Access and Water Quantity), Excreta Management Standard 3.2 (Access to and use of toilets) and Hygiene Promotion Standard 1.2 (Identification, access to and use of hygiene items). Our teams are using these indicators while designing toilets for communities.”

Harris has also helped his team update the organisation’s Safe Programming Matrix document, incorporating protection principles, gender sensitivity, operational context, and environmental impact, all in line with Sphere guidelines.

Although ARTS Foundation has not yet initiated the Sphere or Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) accreditation process, they are keen to build their staff’s capacity on Sphere standards and integrate the Sphere approach into their grassroots community work.

Furthermore, participants acquired an understanding of accountability mechanisms, such as feedback and complaint systems, to promote transparency and community involvement. They also learned strategies to enhance coordination and collaboration with other humanitarian actors, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of emergency response efforts.

CWSA remains committed to supporting local NGOs and civil society in strengthening their knowledge and capacity on Sphere, to enhance the overall effectiveness of humanitarian and development responses.

[1] Interviewee: Engineer Haris Najeeb, Advocacy, Research, Training and Services (ARTS) Foundation, Sindh, artsf.haris@gmail,com, (03343317352)

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This comprehensive infographic outlines the impact of climate change in the region and our vision and strategic approaches to addressing climate change through sustainable practices, proactive anticipation, adaptation, and effective risk reduction. Join us in our commitment to creating resilient communities and a sustainable future for some of the most vulnerable, climate change-affected populations.

CWSA – Green Horizons Strategy DocumentDownload

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Life has taken a harsh turn for Lachhman, a 26-year-old father of two in a small village in Union Council Faqeer Abdullah of District Umerkot, Sindh. His family of five—two young daughters aged eight and seven, his wife, and his mother—depend entirely on agriculture as their primary source of income. On their five acres of rain-fed land, they once grew crops such as cluster beans, moth beans, and millet, which thrived in good rainfall seasons. This brought a yearly income of around PKR 70,000 to 80,000 (approximately 288 USD).

However, for the past five years, irregular and increasingly unreliable rainfall has made this a once-stable source of income precarious. The crop yield from their land has fallen by 50%, and rising inflation has made survival incredibly difficult for the family. Their total household expenditure, almost PKR 10,000 to 12,000 (approximately 44 USD), has become nearly impossible to meet for the couple. As a result,  the children cannot attend school—not just due to financial constraints but also because there is no school available in their village.

Recognising the challenges faced by agricultural communities like Lachhman’s, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) initiated a humanitarian project titled “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Communities in Rural Sindh, Pakistan”, supported by Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH). This initiative is specifically designed to support families whose livelihoods depend heavily on agriculture and have been severely impacted by unpredictable weather patterns and climate change impact, in terms of a significant drop in their income. The project aims to enable these families to adapt and survive in these challenging and evolving conditions.

Lachhman’s family was selected to receive assistance under this project, as their livelihood was 75% reliant on agriculture, and their income had drastically decreased due to poor crop yields. Lachhman received Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), distributed through mobile cash transfers (Telenor mobile wallet accounts). On October 8, 2024, he received his first installment of PKR 17,000 (approximately 62 USD). A total of five installments of the same amount will be provided, totaling PKR 85,000 (approximately 306 USD), during the project.

This first installment was a lifeline for Lachhman and his family. With the money, he bought new clothes for his children and met other essential needs, such as groceries. The timing of this assistance was important, as his crops were not yet ready for harvesting[1], and the family had no other source of income. Without this support, Lachhman might have had to borrow money, causing further financial difficulties.

For the future, Lachhman is already planning to invest the next installment in a small tuck shop. He requires PKR 15,000 to 20,000 (approx. USD 54 to 72) to fulfill this dream. He hopes this new business will provide his family with a steady daily income of PKR 200 to 300 (approx. USD 1 to 2), while also benefiting other villages, as there is currently only one shop in the area. In the meantime, Lachhman has also started cultivating his land again, planting cluster beans on two acres, moth beans on one acre, and millet on the remaining two acres. He managed to buy the seeds even before he received the financial assistance.

“I am very thankful to the whole team at CWSA for this immense support. If I had to borrow from someone, it would have caused a lot of difficulties going forward,” Lachhman said gratefully.

The selection of participating families in the project began in late August 2024, and CWSA had started providing much-needed financial assistance to those most in need by October. Through these efforts, families can survive the economic hardships brought on by climate change and maintain their livelihoods in the face of unpredictable weather conditions.

This initiative not only addresses immediate financial needs but also helps these vulnerable communities build resilience for the future. It helps reduce their suffering and survive challenging times with dignity. With support like this, families like Lachhman’s have hope for a more stable and prosperous future, despite the continuing challenges they face due to climate change and subsequent economic hardships.

[1] August is typically the harvest time for cluster beans and millet, but these had been severely affected

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Thirty-five-year-old Hasina, from the village of Khuda Bakhsh Dasti in Khairpur, suffered from severe lower abdominal pain, backaches, a burning sensation in her urinary tract, and vaginal itching. Her husband had spent a substantial amount of money taking her to clinics in Hyderabad and Larkana. Despite paying what were described as nominal fees to doctors and purchasing expensive medications from the clinics’ pharmacies, nothing seemed to work, even after multiple visits.

In late February 2024, Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched their first medical health camp in their village. Dr Tayyaba Iqbal recalls how about two hundred villagers swarmed their vehicle. Although the team had enough time to treat only around 50 patients on the day, Dr Tayyaba and her assistant, Lady Health Visitor Mumtaz Kahlon, managed to attend to 95 people. Many unwell or healthy villagers came out of curiosity to witness the new “hospital in a van”.

Among the patients was Hasina, who had nearly lost faith in doctors. The camp’s doctors guided her to take a urine test that revealed a urinary tract infection (UTI), while an ultrasound ruled out the presence of kidney stones. Hasina was sent home with the appropriate antibiotics, finally on the path to recovery.

Twenty-one days later, Hasina returned to the second health camp in the village to report that the medication had worked perfectly and she was feeling well. However, during her third visit during Ramadan, she complained that she experienced burning again due to fasting regularly.

Dr Tayyaba prescribed oral rehydration salts (ORS) and advised Hasina to drink plenty of water. She also explained that maintaining her health by staying hydrated was important and that missing fasts due to illness was permissible.

Dr Tayyaba noted that the most common ailments in the village were scabies, malaria, asthma, and respiratory tract infections, with the prevalence of scabies and malaria attributed to stagnant water left behind by 2023’s floods. In addition to these recurring diseases, she observed that most patients were anaemic, likely due to iodine deficiency in their diet.

After holding just three medical camps, each lasting a single day with three weeks between them, the number of out-patients had dropped to fewer than 50 per day. This reduction indicated that villagers were more confident accessing regular medical care. More importantly, the effectiveness of the treatment provided by the mobile facility stood in stark contrast to the high-cost private clinics they had previously relied on.

Rukhsar is another woman from the same village, with a similarly challenging story. When the CWSA health camp first visited the village in late February 2024, she struggled to reach the facility, walking with great difficulty while carrying her daughter, who was too young to be left unsupervised. Although Rukhsar said her daughter was eighteen months old, the child appeared no older than six months and was so weak that she couldn’t even sit up on her own.

By late March, Rukhsar was full-term pregnant with her third child and was experiencing severe bleeding. The doctor diagnosed her with vaginal bleeding, leukorrhea, anaemia, malnutrition, and lower abdominal pain. This had been ongoing for over a month, during which her husband, Ghaffar, had sacrificed two days’ wages to take her by motorcycle to a private health facility in Khairpur, a two-and-a-half-hour journey. The doctor charged the couple PKR 1,000 (Approx 3.6 USD) for an ultrasound, PKR 1,000 (Approx 3.6 USD) for her consultation fee, and PKR 1,500 (Approx 5.4 USD) for medication from the clinic’s pharmacy. Additionally, the motorcycle fuel for the journey cost PKR 600 (Approx 2.2 USD).

Strangely, the medication Rukhsar received was prescribed for only three days, and when the dosage ended, she felt no better than before. The couple then tried the government health unit in nearby Thari Mirwah, where she was given medication for five days. Yet again, it had no effect.

The night before this interview, Rukhsar’s discomfort worsened, prompting her and Ghaffar to visit the Thari health unit. Upon arrival, she was kept waiting for over an hour while the doctor tried to determine if her abdominal pain was due to labour. After the wait, they sent her home, informing her that the baby was not yet due.

Having modest means, both Rukhsar and Ghaffar were deeply concerned. If the delivery required a caesarean, despite her first two children being born naturally, they didn’t know how they would arrange such a large sum of money at short notice. Seeking clarity, they returned to Thari the next morning. Rukhsar was given a blood test, which cost PKR 800 (Approx 8.9 USD), only to be told that her haemoglobin level was dangerously low at just nine and that she needed urgent treatment. Speaking in a barely audible voice, Rukhsar expressed her frustration that neither private nor government doctors had ever explained her condition or answered her questions.

When she first visited the CWSA health camp in February 2024, Rukhsar informed the doctor that, despite being eight months pregnant, she felt very weak foetal movements. After a thorough examination, she was given a prescription that stopped both her vaginal bleeding and leukorrhea, and she was also provided with dietary supplements. Upon her return in late March, she reported that all her symptoms had been resolved. A follow-up blood test confirmed that her haemoglobin levels had improved.

As they were preparing to leave, Ghaffar disclosed that their sickly daughter, who looks much younger than her age, had been diagnosed with a heart condition. He did not know the specifics, only that she had “holes in her heart”. A doctor from Thari had advised him to seek help from a primary health care unit in Sukkur, but that visit yielded no results. Ghaffar wonders whether the CWSA health camp can help his daughter, but fears that her condition might be beyond the scope of the facility. 

Although Ghaffar still doesn’t fully understand his daughter’s illness, he feels relieved and optimistic now that his wife, Rukhsar, is doing much better. The improvement in her health has eased his worries. 

As for Hasina, the proper medication and thorough check-up helped her fully recover from her infections and she can once again support her husband in the fields. 

Both families are living examples of how timely, effective medical care can transform lives in communities deprived of such services.

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CWSA is thrilled to announce the launch of ‘The Status of Frontline Humanitarian Workers’ Research study that it has been a part of in its research and Steering Committee. This study set out to assess the working conditions of frontline workers, better understand their unique challenges and needs, and offer practical recommendations to enhance their wellbeing and effectiveness. Specifically, it aimed to address the following four questions:

  1. What are the environmental and working conditions of frontline workers?
  2. To what extent do frontline workers have access to resources, training and support systems?
  3. What contractual terms and conditions, compensation and benefits are available to frontline workers?

How do these factors affect the wellbeing, resilience, and effectiveness of frontline workers, and what can be done to improve support?

The report’s recommendations aim to guide funders, policymakers and humanitarian organizations to craft interventions that account for frontline workers’ welfare, ensuring that humanitarian responses are more resilient.

Download complete report here.

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Bangkok, 10-12 December 2024

The Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW) 2024, a flagship event co-hosted by the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN), Community World Service Asia (CWSA), and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is underway in Bangkok.

Bringing together over 400 participants from 300 organisations across 61 countries, the RHPW serves as a premier platform for humanitarian professionals, civil society, and private sector actors to share best practices, rejuvenate partnerships, and explore sustainable, community-driven solutions to pressing humanitarian challenges.

This year’s discussions hold heightened significance as the Asia-Pacific region faces escalating complexities in humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by climate change, political shifts, and funding constraints. Participants are delving into innovative and unconventional partnerships, beyond the humanitarian sector, designed to foster resilience and self-sufficiency, and champion locally led solutions.

“The numbers show disasters per year, per month, and per week soaring in Asia and the Pacific. It is a stark reality that busy times are ahead for humanitarians and our partnerships. So, it is important that I see so many of these good people here in the room today,” shared Vincent Omuga, Head of Office, a.i., OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in his opening address.

Rethinking Partnerships

Day one kicked off with vibrant conversations on rethinking partnerships to ensure they are equitable, inclusive, and diverse. Participants were encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and embrace partnerships that prioritise equity and local leadership.

The 2024 theme “Sparking Global Change through Local Solutions in Humanitarian Action” has resonated throughout the event, emphasising the importance of grassroots solutions.

Key Insights and Collaborative Solutions

RHPW 2024 is providing a platform to address urgent concerns voiced by humanitarian partners, such as leveraging technology for resilience and the pivotal role of communities and faith actors in driving climate action and anticipatory measures. Dedicated sessions explored gender inclusion, emphasising partnerships that amplify the voices of women, children, and persons with disabilities in humanitarian and climate programming.

A vibrant marketplace has been set up for the three-day event, offering participants a space to share insights, tools, and best practices while fostering cross-sector collaboration. Notably, sessions on technology, community leadership, and climate-focused initiatives have drawn significant engagement.

Driving Change, Year After Year

As the RHPW grows in scale and influence, it continues to be a vital space for dialogue, collaboration, and actionable insights. As co-organiser Keya Saha-Chaudhury notes, “Each year, RHPW pushes the boundaries of what is possible in humanitarian work, fostering partnerships and solutions that are both innovative and essential to addressing today’s global challenges. And it is the partnership between CWSA, ADRRN and ICVA that makes this important event possible.”

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Shireen Khalid[1], the Executive Director of Aid for Integrated Development (AID), was among the 21 participants (15 men and six women) at a three-day training conducted by Community World Service Asia (CWSA) on “Sphere In Practice: Integrating Sphere Technical Standards in Project Cycle Management”. The training held from January 2 to 4, 2024, in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was organised on behalf of Concern Worldwide and supported by USAID/BHA. It aimed to enhance the participants’ understanding and application of the Sphere Minimum Standards at various stages of Project Cycle Management (PCM).

The workshop aimed to guide participants through the Sphere Handbook, illustrating how to adapt its minimum standards to humanitarian projects. During the training, the concept of the Humanitarian Standards Partnership (HSP) was introduced, and various tools for ensuring quality and accountability were explored.

Reflecting on her experience, Shireen shared, “This training has been quite useful, as it helped me contextualize and integrate Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) in my work. The training gave me an opportunity to learn, reflect, and dive deep into the application of CHS standards and commitments in my organisation’s projects. Initially, Sphere was a mystery to me, but now I understand it more.”

Following the training, Shireen became a strong advocate for Sphere standards within her organisation. As part of her action plan, she began conducting information sessions on CHS, the Code of Conduct (CoC), and protection principles during their weekly meetings. Shireen was particularly impressed by the module on the importance of the CoC, Foundation Chapters, and its connection with Technical Standards.

One of Shireen’s favorite sessions centered on the Core Principles of the CoC, where participants reviewed staff behavior standards referring to page 385 of the Sphere Handbook. They worked in groups to evaluate which CoC principles their organisations adhered to and discussed areas for improvement, receiving detailed feedback from the facilitator. Additionally, a participatory exercise on protection principles led to practical suggestions, such as establishing psychosocial support and anti-harassment committees within organisations.

Shireen highlighted that her team is currently working through the Sphere Handbook, particularly focusing on the Shelter & WASH chapters. They are learning about access, protection, and the needs of displaced persons and persons with disabilities while designing homes and latrines for flood-affected communities in KPK province of Pakistan. Involving field coordinators and social mobilisers in these meetings has enriched discussions by linking concepts with actual program design and implementation.

Shireen also noted an increasing interest in Sphere standards among field staff, with more conversations centred on contextualising protection and Do-no-harm principles within their work. For instance, during a field visit to a school, a social mobiliser suggested considering the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) when constructing ramps, referring to the Sphere Handbook for guidance.

AID applied for CHS certification last year, and the process is ongoing. There is a growing curiosity and interest in Sphere among senior leadership, project managers, and community mobilisers. Some staff members have even started accessing the Sphere website and signed up for the basic introductory course on Sphere. Community World Service Asia, in collaboration with its partners, remains committed to strengthening the capacity of local NGOs to promote and enhance quality and accountability across Asia. Through initiatives ranging from capacity building and technical support to deploying quality and accountability teams to disaster-affected areas, CWSA believes in investing in the capacity of national and subnational NGOs. This investment contributes to an improved, timely, efficient, and effective humanitarian response, enhancing service delivery within Pakistan’s humanitarian sector.

[1] Interviewee: Shireen, Executive Director-Alliance for Integrated Development (AID), www.aid.org.pk | Email: shireenkwadud@hotmail.co.uk

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Pakistan—the fifth most populated country in the world—is extremely vulnerable to climate change and food insecurity. The Global Climate Risk Index ranks Pakistan as one of the most climate-affected countries in the world. With an economy heavily reliant on agriculture (almost 20% of GDP), even minor climactic incidences can have dramatic effects on food security.

To help build seeds of resilience in marginalised communities, CWSA implemented a humanitarian assistance, early recovery, and development (HERD) project, with the support of PWS&D, in highly food-insecure Sindh province.

The project, which supported 23,319 people, provided emergency food assistance during the first stage of intervention. Further stages provided families with seeds and training on climate-smart agriculture. Additionally, 300 women artisans received training to expand their livelihood opportunities.

Watch the Seeds of Resilience video, which documents the changes in the community, and then engage in discussion and dialogue using the provided discussion questions.

**This project received financial support from the Government of Canada through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

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Nestled between the irrigation provided by the Nara branch of the Indus on one side and the grey-white sand dunes on the other, Behram Mallah is a village of boatmen from an ancient time when the Nara was the most convenient mode of transport. Their sailboats with their high sabot-shaped prows, once cleaved the waters from its southernmost navigable point to Rohri, where it takes off from the mighty Indus. They transported food, agricultural produce and fruit to the many river ports whose remnants still dot the meandering route of the Nara.

However, as time passed, roads were built and buses began to replace the camels that once plodded along leisurely. The mariners of old were forced to adapt. About eight years ago, Mushtaq’s great-grandfather abandoned his boat to become a small-time farmer. By the time Mushtaq grew up, the small plot of land belonging to senior Mallah had been divided repeatedly and even sold off in parcels to enable his father to educate his three sons up to high school and run a tube well boring and installation service. Today, Mushtaq’s father is landless, except for the house where he lives with his sons.

In 2020, Mushtaq married Nafisa while he worked as a daily wage construction labourer. He did not confine his wife to housework but instead sent her to the nearby middle school, where she studied in grade nine. The couple knew that becoming wealthy was a distant dream, but they aspired to start a family that could one day improve their circumstances.

Three years passed and young Nafisa was still unable to conceive. They knew of a well-known gynaecologist in Khairpur, but getting there by local bus required a six-hour journey, followed by an overnight stay due to the long queue of patients at the clinic. Alternatively, they could hire a taxi for PKR 12,000 (approx. USD 43) for a round trip and return home the same evening after seeing the doctor. The couple opted for this option.

Nafisa shyly recounts her experience. “The doctor’s fee was PKR 800 (approx. USD 2.8) and she prescribed medication that was only available at her clinic’s pharmacy. This cost us PKR 8000 (approx. USD 29). We were told to return after a month.” Although the doctor’s consultation fees were modest the medication cost was substantial.

Mushtaq explains that they did not have ready cash and borrowed money from his father, brothers and uncles to cover these costs. Over nearly a year, the couple made around ten trips each costing them about PKR 22,000 (approx. USD 79). Each time they returned with a bag full of medication costing PKR 8000 (approx. USD 27), all on borrowed money.

Despite the doctor’s assurance, Nafisa did not conceive. The couple was also advised to undergo expensive tests at the doctor’s in-house laboratory.

Mushtaq then heard about a container stationed at the abandoned health centre in Choondko, staffed by a Lady Health Visitor (LHV) Rabia, who was on call 24 hours a day. In March 2023, the couple, unfamiliar with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and Community World Service Asia (CWSA) and their work, visited the centre. They were advised to return the next day for a consultation with Dr Sabeen. Choondko, just 12 kilometres from their home, was more accessible and affordable than the ardous trip to Khairpur.

Nafisa is unsure about the exact methods employed by Dr Sabeen and Rabia, but after the second visit, and with no medication expense and free ultrasound, she became pregnant. By March 2024, little Ramesha was two months old, bringing immense joy and hope to her parents. Mushtaq recounts that there was only so much his family could lend him, so he had to borrow PKR 80,000 (approx. USD 287) on interest to cover the cost of the trip to Khairpur. Although he has repaid PKR 110,000 (approx. 394), he still owes PKR 30,000 (approx. USD 107).

The final twist in Nafisa and Mushtaq’s story came when, at full-term, the expectant mother was told during her visit to the centre that she needed specialised care due to complications expected during delivery. The Choondko centre recommended a clinic in Sukkur, but the couple opted for the “well-known” doctor in Khairpur, paying an additional PKR 40,000 (approx. USD 143) for the delivery.

As the reputation of the doctors at Choondko and Nara Gate spread, the patient traffic to the “well-known” doctor’s clinic decreased. Even after having her delivery performed by the famous doctor, Nafisa has continued to visit Choondko for check-ups with Dr Sabeen.

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