Rights Based Community Stabilization

SPADO implemented the “Rights Based Community Stabilization Project” in selected areas of Quetta in Baluchistan province with the support of UNDP Pakistan. The project adopted a community-based approach for the disengagement and rehabilitation of vulnerable youth and aimed to build resilience in local communities especially among the vulnerable and marginalized segments of the society.

Under the project Integration Support Groups (ISGs) of male and female members were formed & were utilized as a driving force of the project at the community level. These ISGs worked in collaboration with project team for the identification and rehabilitation of vulnerable youth whereas SPADO also developed linkages of the ISGs with relevant government departments to ensure sustainability and ownerships both at the government and community levels. 17 Integration Support Groups (ISGs) were established including 7 from Afghan Refugees Community.

SPADO adopted context specific approach both at individual and community levels to address key conflict and violent extremist challenges related to demographic, sectarian & religious settings of Baluchistan. The Implementation methodology was culture and gender specific to address the issues of marginalized and vulnerable segment of the communities including women and girls as well. Disengagement of the vulnerable and at-risk youth, along with building of community resilience against violent extremism was achieved by two pronged strategies. The first component focused on capacity building and engagement of the local government Institutions, ISGs, Women Advisory Group (WAP) and Girls Peer Groups (GPP) in target community whereas the second component focused on disengagement of targeted vulnerable and at-risk youth by providing them with mental health/psycho-social support services to re integrate them to the peaceful social fabric of the society.

A detailed capacity building training programme for selected key government and civil society stakeholders and other support groups was designed to strengthen their capacity on Rights Based Governance, Community Stabilization and promoting peace, tolerance and nonviolence. SPADO project team along with key stakeholders i.e. UNDP, line departments, academia, local CSOs/NGOs, Community representatives and training institutions supported the training and engagement of ISGs. These ISGs further identified the target vulnerable and at-risk Youth including women and girls in the project area.

SPADO’s team of psychologists facilitated the selection of most vulnerable and at-risk youth through detailed psychometric risk analysis and provision of psychosocial support services. After identification of the youth, detailed psycho social interventions were designed focusing on addressing the vulnerabilities and behavior patterns of youth to deprive their extremist tendencies and brining positive behavior change and build resilience against violent extremism. Regular advocacy meetings and events were held with potential stakeholders including a panel discussion and conference.