Annual Report 2009-10 - Sustainable Development Policy Institute

Annual Report2009 - 2010AdvocacyThe main objective of the advocacy unit is to engender dialogue, advocate for SDPI's Policy Advocacyand Outreach Unit and engage in public-interest campaigns, some of which are longterm,and others tend to respond to an emerging issue of public interest on an immediate basis.Raising awareness, stakeholders' mobilization and partnerships on environmental, economic,political, and social sector issues are SDPI's main goals and consistent themes include democraticgovernance, globalization, peace, human rights, regional inequalities and provincial autonomy,South Asian regional consciousness, environment and climate change and women'srights. The Institute undertakes policy advocacy, networking & partnerships and litigation on issuesof public interest. SDPI's policy advocacy and outreach campaigns are people-centeredespecially pro-poor and pro-vulnerable demanding more stakeholders' participation, transparency,accountability, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness, equality and equity, rule oflaw, and national debate aiming public policy related decision-making and implementation processat different levels.SDPI engages two types of advocacy;1 First is reactive and focuses on issues falling w ithin SDPI's mandate such ashuman rights, religious tolerance, globalization, environmental activism, reli giousminority rights, issues of national public policy, governance and academic f r e edom.2 Second is proactive, and is based on research findings; it involves lobbying by the researchand advocacy staff through participation in conferences, workshops, and seminars,writing in journals and newspapers, appearing on the electronic media as well as servingon important committees and commissions.Given the dearth of advocacy in Pakistan, the purpose of SDPI's efforts is both to support specificcauses and be a role model to set a precedent in an attempt to make up for the lack of activeadvocacy in Pakistan. The ultimate destiny of SDPI's Policy Advocacy and Outreach is people'sempowerment with, as mentioned above, a greater focus on poor and socially-excludedsections of the society.Weekly Seminar SeriesA main goal at SDPI is the creation of broad awareness of, and active support for, sustainabledevelopment in the Government, the private sector, NGOs, academia and the general public. Inconsonance with this goal, SDPI organizes a weekly seminar as part of its advocacy efforts toeducate and engage stakeholder groups on various aspects of sustainable development. Theseseminars provide valuable public space for open debate and intellectual discussion on varioussustainable development issues.The Policy Advocacy and Outreach Unit contributes in the research process and facilitates SDPIresearchers in the process of conducting research-based seminars. In addition to ensuring SDPIstaffs' interviews to the media, the Unit facilitates SDPI researchers in organizing as well as mediaparticipation and coverage of different events.The SDPI seminar series mainly covers specific issues under the broader thematic areas givenbelow;Climate Change/Environment/ Energy/WaterEndangered water resources of PakistanSDPI in collaboration with Sungi Development Foundation organized a joint seminar on the44S u s t a I n a b l e D e v e l o p m e n t P o l I c y I n s t I t u t e