Pakistan: Call for Consortium Partnership, United States Institute for Peace Funding Opportunity

Youth in Action Balochistan is not for profit, non governmental, youth led organization working at Balochistan province.

In 2007 a group of educated, dynamic and like-minded youth working in the development sector, got together to establish an organization, for addressing the most urgent and pressing needs of the people of Baluchistan. True to this spirit the organization was named Youth In Action Baluchistan (YIAB).

Considering their association with the development sector the group was cognizant of the plethora of problems plaguing the province. Consequently, the organization’s focus was not kept limited either in in terms of geography or sector. Whilst operating in different districts ofthe province, YIAB has been carrying a range of interventions in the areas of education, child protection and child rights, health & hygiene, youth & women empowerment, emergency response & preparedness, governance, free legal aid, human rights, etc.

The type of activities undertaken by the organization range from capacity building to service delivery, with focus remaining on the deprived and marginalized segments of the society. Whereas in terms of operations what characterizes YIAB’s functioning are its efforts to (a) enlist involvement of the locals when initiating activities at the grass root level; and (b) mobilize women for bringing peace, tolerance, and development in society.

Although a somewhat new entry in the development arena, YIAB – owing to the linkages of its members with national & international funding agencies – enjoys a diverse portfolio, characterized by partnership with organizations like USAID, UN-FAO, UN-Habitat, UN-WOMEN, Ministryof Human Rights & Rural Development Department, Government of Baluchistan, Baluchistan Education Foundation

USIP Funding:

Further, recently we come to know about funding opportunity South and Central Asia Grant issued by United States Institute of Peace which aims to test new ideas and pioneering approaches to peace-building efforts through education, training, research, and the media.

Priorities include:

• Strengthening the capacity of civil society actors and communities to promote peaceful social change through activities such as, advocacy, knowledge sharing and networking that increase tolerance and encourage conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution. This is based on the assumption that intolerance (and extremism) is a major driver of violent conflict, and that incentivizing civil society networks to promote tolerance and the peaceful resolution of conflict advances local, national and collective peace and security in the region.


• Promoting dialogue among dissenting parties to foster shared interest in and collective responsibility for maintaining local, national, and regional peace. This is based on the assumption that the peaceful exchange of views and ideas builds understanding, empathy and tolerance and identifies new possibilities for peaceful coexistence among nations and peoples of the region.


• Informing the assumptions and decisions of policy makers and practitioners through relevant research, analysis and high-level dialogue. This is based on the assumption that informed decisions and awareness of policy options increase the prospects for policy choices that promote peaceful outcomes.

Deadline for submitting concept note is at ongoing basis. More information about at http://www.usip.org/grants-fellowships/grant-opportunities/south-and-cen…

YIAB is working for peace building in Pakistan and has specific, strong and relevant experience of working with youth groups to promote peace building and conflict resolution.

Proposal demands international organization as leading partner and different consortium implementing partners from South Asia countries I thought it is very good opportunity for interested NGOs to jointly bid for this concept on title “Sights and Sounds of South Asia from Youth’s Perspective” through story telling of youth groups at community levels project YIAB matured.

I think it seems like excellent opportunity if we bid together for this concept. On your confirmation, we will discuss and devise plan for developing this concept.

I hope you find this opportunity useful and I will be waiting for your reply in this context.

YIAB organization profile is attached herewith for your consideration and review