USAID Training for Pakistan Project Final Report

The country lacks the technically qualified, professional workforce needed to address these issues. It is generally understood that extremism is rooted in and interlinked with these challenges. The U.S. government, in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, seeks to address these challenges through assistance focusing on education, energy, agriculture, and economic growth. The role of the Training for Pakistan project was to address these needs by providing training, capacity building, and other related services to support USAID's portfolio of assistance programming and the direct needs of major Pakistani stakeholders. The unique cultural context of Pakistan was an ever-present factor throughout implementation of Training for Pakistan. Opportunities for women are not always available as a result of the country's socio-cultural, political, and security environment. When afforded the opportunity, Training for Pakistan applied thoughtful and strategic criteria and approaches in order to increase the numbers of women in programs and increase the impact on women. Similarly, creative outreach and design efforts allowed the Project to reach participants and communities in underserved areas. Security concerns in Pakistan also influenced Project implementation, resulting in delays due to political volatility, NGO registration procedures, the Pakistan visa process, and USAID's partner vetting processes. The Training for Pakistan project pursued and achieved its goals by planning and arranging 112 training activities that reached nearly 7,000 participants. The project exceeded anticipated outputs, outcomes, and impacts. A selection of highlights of key achievements includes training 6,975 participants, with 4,024 participants being women, exceeding the 50% target by 16%. The project also arranged a total of 112 discreet training activities, with 50 taking place in Pakistan, 34 in the U.S., and 28 in 13 other countries. The project's major in-country activity, "Pathways to Success," reached 2,935 adolescent girls in Peshawar, Karachi, and Gotki with vocational training and related support. The strategies and approaches modeled and evaluated during the program have potential to inform and improve USAID's future activities for education and workforce development. A series of trainings for the Department of Auditor General of Pakistan built the capacity of 506 DAGP staff in prioritized areas for improved accountability within government operations and procurement. The project also contributed to improved access to reproductive healthcare services for women in remote areas through a community midwifery program for 185 women from KP and FATA. Additionally, the women who graduated from the program and are now serving their communities as midwives are earning crucial income for their families. Many boys who received scholarship support under the TFP FATA Scholarship activity went on to continue their education in engineering, medical, and business studies, and some reported pursuing a career with the Armed Forces of Pakistan. The project's training and technical assistance to Pakistan's Ministry of Commerce helped the Ministry to improve and expand its operations, management, and technical expertise. These investments will help improve the import and exports market as well as the business enabling environment in the country. Forty-four doctors, paramedics, and other health professionals who completed their Masters of Public Health degrees with TFP scholarships are continuing their work with communities in remote areas of Sindh and KP for improved health outcomes. The project's entrepreneurship programs at MIT strengthened participants' business models, approaches, and strategies, which in turn helped their enterprises achieve significant growth. One result is that the online store Symbios.pk and Sehat Kahani improved their business models and saw growth in services, products, and revenue. The project implemented a number of high-profile, logistically complex conferences and roundtables, including the Sindh Development Forum, which gathered local and international stakeholders in Sindh development for a candid analysis of development needs and opportunities.