Beyond Emergencies: Reframing Humanitarianism for a Changing World
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CWSA Concludes Regional PACDR Workshop, Strengthening Local Climate Action in Pakistan
Islamabad, 30 January, 2026 – Community World Service Asia (CWSA) successfully concluded a three-day Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risks (PACDR) workshop, held from January 28 to 30, 2026. The workshop, part of the Regional Enhancement of Climate Adaptation and Partnership (RECAP) Project, equipped development professionals with practical tools for community-led climate resilience planning.
Led by lead facilitator Dr Manzoor Ahmed, the training fostered a dynamic exchange among professionals from seven partner organisations working across climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development. Participants included representatives from Christian Study Centre, Labour Education Foundation (LEF), Pakistan Partnership Initiative (PPI), Roots for Equity, South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP PK), Taangh Wasaib Organisation (TWO), and Sojhla for Social Change.
The workshop gained a valuable regional perspective from Ashik Sardar, RECAP Coordinator from CCDB Bangladesh, who shared insights on the application and impact of the PACDR process in various countries.
Participants highlighted the training’s practical value for grassroots work. Jalwat Ali, a participant, noted, “This kind of training will help grassroots organisations reach communities effectively. I will apply this learning to support informal workers in Punjab.” Asher Shehzad from PPI emphasised the collaborative spirit, stating, “Working as a consortium is a need of the time in shrinking civic spaces.”
Rubina Shaheen, a community social worker from Hunza, shared that nature-based solutions are vital for tackling climate change, adding, “I have learned practical tools for disaster risk reduction planning that will be immensely helpful.”
The closing ceremony was honoured by Dr Roomi Saeed Hayat, CEO of the Institute of Rural Management (IRM) and Chairperson of the Climate Action Forum, as the Chief Guest. DrHayat commended the joint efforts and underscored the critical importance of localised, participatory approaches in building lasting climate resilience.
Over the three days, attendees engaged in hands-on modules covering climate risk and hazard analysis, participatory mapping, adaptation option evaluation, and the development of actionable Climate Adaptation Plans (CAPs). The workshop emphasised field-ready methodologies to integrate climate action into sustainable development programming.
CWSA remains dedicated to advancing community-led adaptation and disaster risk reduction through strategic capacity building, partnerships, and inclusive planning processes.
Power of a Kitchen Garden: Murad’s Path to Stability and Hope
Imtiaz Bibi: Rebuilding a Livelihood After Loss
Imtiaz Bibi, a mother of four from Talidas village, represents the experience of many women whose livelihoods and homes were completely destroyed by the 2025 floods1 in various villages of district Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan. Before the disaster, she worked in agricultural fields and orchards, cultivating crops and selling fruit and wood to cover her household expenses and her children’s education.
Despite the challenges her family faces, Imtiaz Bibi ensures all four of her children remain in school. Her youngest attends Early Childhood Development classes, while the older three are progressing through Grades 10, 9, and 6. Together, their education costs amount to around PKR 15,000 (approximately USD 54) each month, a significant expense for the family. With her husband, Ijlal Hussain, currently unemployed, the couple works side by side in the fields, relying on farming as their primary source of income to sustain their family and keep their children’s education on track.
“Before the floods, we worked on our fields and orchards and sold fruit and wood. The income covered my children’s education and our yearly household needs,” she shared.
The couple sold fruits such as apples, cherries, pears, apricots, almonds, and grapes. Their total earnings before the flood amounted to PKR 450,000 (approx. $ 1,600). This income was sufficient to cover her basic household needs, including kitchen expenses and construction costs, as well the children’s monthly school fee of about PKR 28,000 (approx. $100-101).
The floods washed away her home, farmland, orchards, and all sources of income. They had two houses constructed with cement. One house consisted of four rooms, while the other had six rooms. Like many families in Ghizer, Imtiaz Bibi and her family took shelter in tents on higher ground for several days before moving in with relatives for sometime, who live in a nearby village, due to fear of further flooding. However, due to limited space, they later moved to a tent.
“We lost everything; our house, crops, and orchards. We lived in a tent for 10 days and then moved to our relatives because we were afraid the flood would return,” she said.
Humanitarian assistance played a critical role in helping her family stabilise. Community World Service Asia (CWSA) provided food and cash assistance, with funding from ACT Alliance.
The project was implemented in coordination with Agha Khan Development Network (AKDN) to obtain primary data on flood-affected communities. At the start of the project, the CWSA project team coordinated with district-level stakeholders, including AKDN, Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), the Social Welfare Department, and NGOs/civil society organisations, to collect primary data and avoid duplication of assistance.
The food assistance by CWSA comprised 100 kg of flour, 7 liters of cooking oil, 4 kg of sugar, 1 kg of salt, and 8 kg of pulses. Currently, the family is eating two meals a day, which consist of a balance of staple foods supported through humanitarian assistance. The family also received multipurpose cash assistance in three installments of PKR 30,000 PKR (approx. USD 108) each, totaling PKR 90,000 (approx. USD 324) over a period of three months.
The project supported a total of 264 families across three Tehsil Headquarters (THQs) in District Ghizer including 157 families in THQ Gupis, 83 families in THQ Ishkoman, and the remaining families in THQ Punyal.
“CWSA supported us with food and cash. We used the cash to hire labour and cover construction costs. At that time, my husband had no work, so this support helped us begin rebuilding our lives,” Imtiaz Bibi shared.
The construction of a new house was made possible through the University of Lahore (UOL), which invested PKR 200,000 (approx. USD 720). Although the house has been rebuilt, the family has not yet moved in due to extreme cold weather and the unavailability of water. Currently, they are temporarily living in their shop, which they vacated for this purpose.
Since receiving assistance, their living conditions have significantly improved. The new house, financial support, and food rations have greatly reduced their hardships and enhanced their overall well-being.
Despite ongoing uncertainty, Imtiaz Bibi remains hopeful. Her story reflects the resilience of women who, even after losing everything, continue to prioritise their children’s education and work steadily towards recovery. The children have resumed attending school, which is within walking distance of their relatives’ house. During the floods, the school was submerged, and the children were unable to attend classes for two months. Once the water receded, the school reopened and classes resumed.
Imtiaz Bibi’s path to recovery involves continued financial support, access to basic necessities such as food rations, and having a stable home. These things are essential to improving her living conditions and reducing hardships. Although it is not yet clear whether the damaged land can be fully restored, agriculture remains their main source of income, so they plan to try again. When the next agricultural season arrives, they intend to resume crop cultivation and replant their fruit orchards.
Breathing Life Back into Jumo Norhi’s Healthcare
In its fresh whitewash and with its newly painted doors, the dispensary of village Jumo Nohri looks as if it was built recently. But it first opened in 2003 with staff, including a doctor (man), Lady Health Visitor (LHV) and dispenser. Riaz Ahmed, of the same village, says that the arrangement worked well for only about three years. At that time, though the dispenser attended daily, the doctor was assigned for only two days a week. “Even when he was here, he hardly ever worked in the dispensary. Instead, he went around the village to see patients who called him. That was not free; we paid what we could afford,” alleges the man.
Though there is no data of health issues in the area, Noor Muhammad of Community World Service Asia (CWSA) says that at the time of rehabilitating the dispensary they heard of cases of diphtheria and measles because of lack of immunisation. Allah Dad, the government dispenser who has served at the facility since June 2025, explained that past immunisation efforts were poorly managed and ultimately ineffective.
In the brief years when the dispensary functioned in the early 2000s, the absence of a lady doctor meant that women, particularly expectant mothers, had no access to proper care. Families relied entirely on the village midwife, often untrained. For serious complications, patients had to travel nearly forty kilometres to hospitals in Umerkot or Chhachro. While public transport was affordable, emergencies required hiring a private vehicle, an expense of around PKR 10,000 (USD 36), far beyond the reach of most families. Those unable to bear the cost were left without options, often resigning themselves to fate.
By 2006, the dispensary had fallen into disuse. For nearly two decades, it remained largely defunct, staffed only by a part-time dispenser and offering no meaningful services to the community.
In mid-2025, the District Health Officer at Umerkot requested CWSA to revitalise the Jumo Nohri dispensary. CWSA taking charge meant a full staff headed by Dr Misbah Marri, two LHVs, namely Musarat who also doubles as counsellor and social mobiliser and Farkhanda, with medical technician Waqas Ahmed. This staff divides their week in two-day shifts between this dispensary and two others in nearby villages. However, before operations could begin in August, the building being almost ramshackle required a facelift. New doors and a fresh coat of whitewash changed the aura of the facility.
Dr Misbah Marri says that she treats some 40 to 50 patients a day on her two days in this dispensary. The most common complaints she has to deal with are skin and gastro-intestinal problems which she attributes to contaminated water. Then there are respiratory tract infections, especially during the colder months of the year. Her patients come from about a dozen nearby villages whose collective population is between 10,000 to 12,000. Since this catchment is covered by the three dispensaries that CWSA manages, patients are within range of medical assistance six days a week. According to the doctor, she and her staff focus on mother and child health, ante and post-natal care, women in general and elderly and special persons.
“We have many antenatal cases of severely malnourished women,” says Dr Marri. “Deficiencies such as in B complex and folic acid result in malformed babies. As well as that, for the same reason, we hear of so many miscarriages.” The doctor who has been with CWSA since 2023, is of the view that Thar is particularly affected by these disorders. Between the months of August 2025, when the CWSA team began work here and November, she noticed a marked improvement in general health of women, especially pregnant individuals, because of the supplements they are being administered on a regular basis. However, she says there are still cases that have to be referred to the government’s Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative.
Waqas Ahmed, a medical technician with Community World Service Asia (CWSA), explains that poverty has long prevented local families from accessing even basic health supplements. Many relied on traditional home remedies, which offered little relief. Under previous government arrangements, essential medicines such as the antibiotic syrup Augmentin were available only at a cost of PKR 800 (approximately USD 3) per pack, far beyond the reach of most villagers, who endured their illnesses in silence. Today, with these medicines provided free of charge, the community has seen a marked decline in respiratory tract infections.
Lady Health Visitor (LHV) Musarat, who also serves as a social mobiliser, has been conducting regular health awareness sessions in the area. In her four months of service, she has observed a troubling pattern.
She narrates the case of a woman brought in on a camel cart because she was unable to walk even if assisted, leave alone walking on her own. She was bleeding heavily when Dr Marri and LHV Farkhanda provided her first aid for high blood pressure. During treatment the patient fainted but was soon stabilised and referred to Civil Hospital, Umerkot. In November, the woman was in the pink of health, according to Musarat.
Farkhanda relates the case of a woman named Zainab who was so weak from under nourishment that she could not even speak. She was severely anaemic and the doctor suspected heavy intestinal helminth infection. She was administered a drip and given necessary anti-helminth drugs as well as vitamin supplements. She too visits the health facility on her own now along with her two children.
Riaz Ahmed of the village says that since the CWSA intervention, the Jumo Nohri dispensary has been a boon for local women. He says it is a first-class facility right at their doorsteps. Earlier, the nearest facility for them was the Umerkot hospital, almost 45kilometres and a considerable expense away. But that does not mean that men are not benefitting, he adds. “We too get quality medication and for which we pay nothing.”
Every Tremor, Every Tear: Healing Together
When the earthquake struck Chupurson Valley in January, lives were shattered. Homes split open, families endured nights at –20°C in scattered tents, and fear became part of daily life.
CWSA’s frontline team journeyed across mountains to stand with communities in their darkest hour. In just four days, the team has facilitated structured mental health and psychosocial support sessions for over 230 participants so far— men, women, children and elderly who bravely shared their stories of trauma, resilience, and hope.
But survival needs remain urgent: warm insulated tents, winter clothing, bedding, medicines, hygiene supplies, and dignity kits for women and girls.
This response was made possible through the solidarity of our partners, Week of Compassion. Together, we are helping families heal and rebuild with dignity.
▶️ Watch the full story in our video.
Three Days of Action: Advancing Disaster and Climate-Resilient Governance
A three-day training workshop titled “Building Disaster and Climate-Resilient Governance: Integrated Approaches for Disaster Risk Management and Preparedness” was successfully organised by Community World Service Asia (CWSA) from 17–19 December 2025 in Lahore, Pakistan, for officials from the District Government Administration and the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA).
The workshop brought together senior officials from Gilgit-Baltistan, including Mr. Zakir Hussain, Director General GBDMA; Mr. Wali Ullah Falahi, Additional Commissioner Gilgit Division; Mr. Ghulam Hassan, Deputy Secretary Home; and Mr. Zahiruddin Baber, Deputy Director GBDMA, along with Assistant Directors representing all 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Hunza/Nagar, Ghizer, Skardu, Ghanche, Diamer, and Astore.
The workshop was formally opened by representatives of Community World Service Asia (CWSA), who warmly welcomed the participants and expressed sincere appreciation to officials from the District Administration, representatives of GBDMA, resource persons, and partner institutions. CWSA highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional systems, fostering cross-learning, and enhancing coordination to address increasing disaster and climate risks, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan.
Throughout the three days, the training focused on strengthening disaster risk governance and climate resilience within public institutions. Participants enhanced their understanding of integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change considerations into development planning, policy frameworks, and operational decision-making, with a strong emphasis on practical, field-oriented applications relevant to mountainous and climate-sensitive regions.
A significant component of the training emphasised the use of technology and data-driven approaches to support effective disaster risk management. Participants received hands-on exposure to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing applications, digital tools, and early warning systems, enabling them to strengthen risk assessment, hazard mapping, anticipatory action, and evidence-based planning at district and provincial levels.
The training also underscored the importance of nature-based solutions, community-centered approaches, and anticipatory action to reduce disaster impacts and enhance local resilience. Through interactive discussions and group exercises, participants explored practical ways to strengthen community engagement, ecosystem-based risk reduction, and early action mechanisms within existing government systems.
Sessions on climate and disaster risk financing strengthened participants’ understanding of risk-sensitive investments, financing instruments, and institutional mechanisms required to support sustainable and resilient development. These discussions highlighted the importance of aligning public investments and development programs with long-term climate and disaster risk considerations. The workshop featured contributions from experienced national experts and practitioners. Mr. Falak Nawaz, CEO National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) Islamabad, served as the Lead Trainer and facilitated key sessions on risk-informed governance, GIS and remote sensing applications, anticipatory action, digital preparedness, and mainstreaming climate resilience into development planning.
Mr. Muhammad Ajmal Shad, Chief Meteorologist (Retd.), Pakistan Meteorological Department, delivered an in-depth session on flood forecasting, climate trends, and early warning systems, enhancing participants’ understanding of hydro-meteorological risks and preparedness measures.
Ms. Shehnaz Akhter, Provincial Lead Rescue 1122, shared valuable insights on emergency preparedness, inter-agency coordination, and effective response systems.
Mr. Mubashir Hussain, Manager Disaster Risk Financing at NDRMF, presented on nature-based disaster risk reduction and climate and disaster risk financing mechanisms, highlighting pathways to strengthen district-level resilience.
On the final day, participants received an exposure visit to the Rescue 1122 Emergency Services Headquarters and Emergency Services Academy, Government of Punjab, facilitated by Ms. Shehnaz Akhter and senior Rescue 1122 officials. The visit provided comprehensive insights into command-and-control systems, emergency response operations, simulation-based training, and rapid response mechanisms. Participants observed live demonstrations and learned about the Academy’s initiatives to strengthen institutional preparedness, responder capacity, and inter-agency coordination.
As part of this initiative, CWSA and GBDMA teams visited the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), where officials shared insights into provincial-level disaster preparedness planning, coordination mechanisms, risk assessment processes, and response operations. The visit provided valuable exposure to institutional models and standard operating procedures, supporting cross-provincial learning and adaptation to the context of Gilgit-Baltistan.
During the concluding reflections, Mr. Zakir Hussain, Director General GBDMA, emphasised that regional coordination and preparedness are essential for Gilgit-Baltistan, given its fragile geography and increasing climate-induced risks. He underscored the importance of strengthened inter-provincial and inter-agency collaboration.
Representatives from the District Administration highlighted the importance of coordination among district administrations, particularly in aligning planning and implementation processes. They stressed the need to integrate climate change considerations into district-level programs and development initiatives and commended CWSA’s efforts in bringing together diverse government stakeholders on a single platform, enabling shared learning, alignment of priorities, and strengthened institutional coordination.
The workshop concluded with commitment from all participants to apply the knowledge, tools, and insights gained to strengthen coordination, integrate technology and climate considerations, and advance disaster- and climate-resilient governance within their respective institutions and districts.
Water, Work, and Resilience: Abdullah’s Journey to Disaster Preparedness in Rural Sindh
Initiatives for the empowerment of women and girls and promoting gender equality
Community World Service Asia signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) for collaboration on initiatives for the empowerment of women and girls and promoting gender equality.
A School Reborn
Though Kumbhar Bhada lies only 45 kilometres east of Umerkot town, its setting among vast sand dunes gives it the feel of a remote desert settlement. Home to around a hundred families, all of whom are Muslim, the village has long struggled with limited educational facilities. Two government schools exist, one co-educational and another for boys, but opportunities for girls have remained scarce. In the early years of this century, the government allocated a single room to function as a girls’ school. For a community where families often have ten or more children, this provision was far from sufficient, leaving many girls without access to meaningful education.
No official teacher was appointed, however. In this vacuum, an NGO sent a woman teacher to work in the village. This private project lasted some five years and with its end the school closed down in 2007. Though some rare girl students joined the boys school, most simply dropped out and became their family’s help in household chores or in the fields. In a nutshell, since about 2007 there was no girls’ school in the village. For parents, themselves generally uneducated, this was no significant setback. Girls at home meant they could be gainfully employed with the parents to help at home and in the fields. However, there were also those rare parents who wanted their daughters to be educated.
In January 2024, community elders appealed to Community World Service Asia (CWSA) to revive the abandoned girls’ school and bring it back to life with a dedicated teacher. Responding to this call, CWSA appointed a qualified woman teacher and equipped the school with resources to make learning both meaningful and enjoyable. Children were introduced to sports equipment such as hoops and balls, and delighted in the novelty of a steel frame fitted with two swings. Classrooms were enriched with colourful teaching aids, foam blocks marked with alphabets and numbers, along with picture books, transforming lessons into engaging experiences.
Another highlight, under a sister project also implemented by CWSA, was the introduction of a school feeding programme, ensuring that every child received a nutritious lunch. The menu varied daily, with vegetables and lentils forming the staple, and chicken biryani served once a week, a meal that not only nourished but also brought joy to the students. This initiative helped safeguard children from malnutrition and encouraged regular school attendance.
As the single classroom could not accommodate cooking and serving, the community rallied together to expand the facilities. A hut was built beside the classroom to serve as a dining area, while a small shed became the cookhouse. The village community centre was also handed over to the school, repurposed as a pantry. These collective efforts created a welcoming environment where children could learn, play, and thrive.
Rather tentatively the attendance register listed some 35 students in the first week. Numbers slowly ticked upward and soon there were 80 until the rolls now stand at 120. As the students take their classes in the single room, two local women in the hut adjacent to it prepare lunch. During the break, the students take turns, 20 at a time, to be fed.
Gulshan, third among five sisters and seven brothers, is in Grade 2 and says she is eight years old. She started classes some years ago in the coeducation school, but soon dropped out. She has no idea if her parents thought it improper to her, a grown girl even at the age of eight, to be studying with boys, but she says she was put to work helping her mother with household chores. During the farming season, she went with her parents to their small holding where she minded her younger brother while the parents worked.
Though one of her older brothers takes local transport to Kaplor, six kilometres away, to attend school in Grade 5, none of her other sisters are in school. Some of her younger siblings do attend the local mosque for religious lessons, however. Quite clearly her family is not one that lays any great merit on girls’ education.
Gulshan has been in school since it restarted in January 2024 and in almost two years has worked her way to Grade 2. In between, her attendance became irregular and she relates that her parents would take her to work in the fields. Outside of farming season, when her father goes to work in a confectionery shop in Karachi, her mother insists she stays home to help with housework. She says she wanted to be in school and it was only after much pleading with the elders that she was able to resume classes. She affirms that she will continue to attend school even if the lunch programme comes to an end when the CWSA project ends in 2026. She has to fulfil her dream of being a doctor one day.
Eleven-year-old Ayaza, the third among three sisters and six brothers, carries a story marked by resilience. Living with a polio-affected leg that causes her to walk with a limp, she refuses to let this challenge define her. In fact, she considers herself fortunate compared to one of her brothers, who suffers from polio in both legs and can only crawl. When her parents are busy tending their small plot of land , where Ayaza also lends a hand, her father supplements the family’s income by working as a labourer on construction sites. For the family, however, education has never been a priority. Only one of her brothers attends the local boys’ school, leaving Ayaza and most of her siblings without access to formal learning.
When asked about her future, eleven-year-old Ayaza speaks with quiet conviction. After completing Grade 7, she dreams of becoming a teacher. Her heart is firmly set on this path, and she insists she will do whatever it takes to achieve it. For Ayaza, the daily school lunch is not the only motivation to attend classes; she carries with her higher ambitions and the hope of shaping young minds one day.
For Grade 2 students, both girls read surprisingly well from their primers. Even random pages are read fluently. This surely is a reflection on the efficiency of the teacher and her teaching methods.
In the two years since CWSA rehabilitated the school, a Children’s Day and a Cultural Day festivals have been held. Both events were fun-filled days of games and eats attended by students of the other two schools as well. According to the parents, despite the schools functioning since the mid-1990s, these events were the first such to have ever taken place in the village. It seems this might be the reason parental interest in their children’s education has risen and the students are not being withdrawn to help at home.
As the CWSA project draws to an end in late 2026, the school will be handed over to the government and a lady teacher appointed here. Going by the yearning for education seen among the students, it is clear that the village committee will raise a clamour in the event of government apathy. Surely children like Gulshan and Ayaza and all the others who dream of being useful adults need to be given the chance to prove themselves.
