Impact of United Nations Development Program's initiated projects on socio-economic development of women: a study of rural Punjab, Pakistan

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Central China Normal University

Impact of United Nations Development Program's initiated projects on socio-economic development of women: a study of rural Punjab, Pakistan

R.D. Nisar

Abstract

Women are half of the world's total population. Their condition around the globe is drastic. Women's empowerment is much underscore issue of the 21^st century. The West, which got phenomenal prosperity, is a direct result of empowering their women. It is a proven fact that without empowering the half of the population, a country cannot achieve prosperity in any field. Several governmental and non-governmental organizations are working intensively on women's empowerment issue, but the United Nations (UN) contributions are above all, as its charter ensures the basic rights of women. During the last two decades, the UN has held many conferences, seminars and workshops on women rights to launch a global strive. A number of the UN agencies are working on this issue, but most effective work on women's empowerment has been carried out by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It works throughout the world by advocacy, partnerships, and provides technical support and financial aid to government and non-governmental organizations. In Pakistan, women are 51.73 percent of the total population. The condition of female population specifically in rural areas is adverse. Women are deprived of their basic human rights, and the literacy ratio among women is also alarmingly low. Being a developing state, Pakistan depends upon financial aid and technical support from international agencies. After the 18 ^th amendment to the Constitution, provinces receive all sorts of aid directly from the donor agencies. The UNDP operates throughout the country known as “the UNDP Pakistan”. Because of dire situation in rural areas, the UNDP is working for rural uplift. This study has highlighted the socio-economic impacts of UNDP initial program on women in detail.

Keywords: UNDP Projects, Pakistan, Rural Punjab, Socio-Economic Women Development

Аннотация

Влияние инициированных ПРООН проектов на социально-экономическое развитие женщин: исследование сельских районов Пенджаба, Пакистан

Р.Д. Нисар

Центральный китайский педагогический университет

Женщины составляют половину всего населения мира, при этом их положение по всему миру резко различается. Проблема расширение прав и возможностей женщин в XXI веке приобрела гораздо большую важность, чем прежде. Является доказанным фактом то, что без расширения возможностей половины населения страна не может достичь процветания в любой области. Целый ряд правительственных и неправительственных организаций интенсивно работают над вопросом расширения прав и возможностей женщин, не вызывает сомнений особый вклад Организации Объединенных Наций (ООН) в этой области, прежде всего заключающийся в том, что ее устав гарантирует основные права женщин. В течение последних двух десятилетий ООН было проведено много конференций, семинаров и практикумов по правам женщин в рамках глобального движения. Ряд учреждений ООН работают над этим вопросом, но наиболее эффективная работа по расширению прав и возможностей женщин была проведена Программой развития Организации Объединенных Наций (ПРООН). Она работает по всему миру путем пропагандирования, партнерства и предоставляет техническую поддержку и финансовую помощь правительственным и неправительственным организациям. В Пакистане женщины составляют 51,73% от общей численности населения. Положение женского населения, особенно в сельской местности, является в целом неблагоприятным. Часто женщины лишены своих основных прав, и уровень грамотности среди женщин также угрожающе низок. Будучи развивающимся государством, Пакистан зависит от финансовой помощи и технической поддержки со стороны международных агентств. После 18-й поправки к Конституции провинции страны получают всевозможную помощь непосредственно от учреждений-доноров. Сегодня из-за тяжелой ситуации в сельской местности страны «ПРООН Пакистан» работает в том числе над подъемом уровня жизни сельского населения. В этом статье подробно освещены социально-экономические последствия программы ПРООН для женщин.

Ключевые слова: проекты ПРООН, Пакистан, сельский Пенджаб, социально-экономическое развитие женщин

Introduction

Women's empowerment and gender equality fall under Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). All the work of the UN agencies particularly the UNDP is in the direction of meeting these MDGs. The MDGs are the most lucrative worldwide anti-poverty step taken in the history. Under these continuous efforts, significant and substantial development has been put forward to accomplish many targets that include halving the number of people living in extreme poverty and the proportion of people without sustainable access to improved sources. A significant decline in the proportion of urban slum dwellers has been seen. Remarkable gains are made in the fight against violence against women. Visible improvements have been observed in all health areas as well as in primary education of women. The achievement of the MDGs has been uneven among countries. The UNDP is working hard through expediting the actions so that MDGs can be achieved and drive the world for a striving and inspirational post-2015 development framework. It is the time for the UNDP to speed up efforts to build sustainable and secure environment for women [1]. The UNDP promotes transformational change by fostering strategic partnerships with national counterparts in federal, provincial and regional governments, civil society and the local and international community. The UNDP is helping Pakistan to coordinate activities on behalf of the UN's development system since 1960s. Its outstanding and neutral presence in Pakistan is a platform upon which trust is built. It forgoes constructive relationships and devises practically integrated responses with national and local partners which make it ideally positioned to take the lead in building capacities for sustained development. Pakistan is one of the eight countries which are selected for “One UN Pilot Program” that aims to provide development assistance in a more coordinated way. The UNDP leverages its comparative strengths by working through its national and local networks. It links ideas and best practices to develop localized solutions that support transformative change in Pakistan's development status [2]. The UNDP Pakistan has helped to attract aid and proper use of aid in effective manner while promoting the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women. The agency has the highest standard of accountability, transparency and integrity in monitoring and evaluation of its programs, human resources, procurement and financial management procedures. It has facilitated the provision of gender justice and protection services to nearly 60,000 women across the country. Over 8,000 households received energy efficient cooking and heating equipment under environmental initiatives. The UNDP has strengthened peace and development through livelihoods and cash-for-work programs, community infrastructure rehabilitation, social cohesion and peace building activities. Early Recovery Program benefited more than 4.8 million people in 3,811 villages which were affected by the floods. Pakistan has adopted 16 targets and 41 indicators towards achieving the Eight Goals of the MDG's including women empowerment's goal. Time series data available for 33 of these indicators reveal that Pakistan is on track to achieve the targets on nine indicators, whereas its progress on 24 indicators is off the track. In the MDGs area of promoting gender equality and empowering women, Pakistan has achieved one of the highest ratios of women parliamentarians in the South Asia Region. The proportion of women in the national parliament (National Assembly and Senate) stands at 22.2 percent. It can also be noted that on three out of the four indicators related to MDG 3, progress is lagging. These three indicators include the GPI for youth literacy, secondary and primary education [2].

Social Impact of the UNDP's Work

Women Representation and Contribution in Politics

Women in Pakistan are deprived of their political rights. Especially, in rural areas they are refrained from participating in country's political process as voters. In rural areas, feudal system has barred women from voting, or taking part in election as candidates. Without the participation of women in electoral process, it causes serious doubts on the legitimacy of the election, as women account for more than 50 percent of the total population. Political empowerment can be achieved by increasing the number of seats in legislative assemblies. Pakistan has much better representation of women in assemblies and in local bodies as compared to the region. Assemblies should seek an increase in women representation in local bodies as well. But they have less representation in governments in as compared to assemblies. Pakistan has shown remarkable performance in recent years in terms of women participation in political arena, particularly with the reservation of almost 21 percent seats for them in the parliament. The ratio of vote casting among women is high in rural areas than urban areas. Same is the case with women candidates as majority of them contests from the rural areas. Legal reforms and the allocation of reserve seats in parliament have brought an improvement in women's political participation. A strong forum for vigorous support to women issues has emerged by this women parliamentarians' caucus. On the other hand, the transparency in an electoral system is very important for the sustainable development of any country. Credible and sound leadership emerges through the transparent electoral system which devises effective policies for country's development. The polling staff in Pakistan is not trained on the higher standards. Therefore, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) improved electoral system by seeking the help of the UNDP. The UNDP has laid its support to strengthen the ECP to enable it to hold credible, transparent and inclusive elections. The UNDP Pakistan supported the ECP in the training of 330,000 polling staff officials to ensure credibility of the polling process for the 2013 General Elections and more than 18,000 police officials were trained in election security. Around 40 million people were reached through a voter education campaign through the electronic, print and social media, and civil society organizations [3]. For the first time in Pakistan, an election result database was created containing results from polling stations. It also educated one million voters emphasizing women voters to exercise their right of vote given under the constitution. Women often waste their votes because they are not properly trained. The UNDP carried out training sessions to properly educate them so that they can play their role in political system of the country. Under these efforts a sharp increase in women voter is seen in 2013 general elections [4]. The vote casting ratio increased to 58 percent in 2013 as compared with 2008 which stood at 48 percent [5]. A woman named Zameer Akhtar, 28, had a maiden participation in the electoral process of 2013. As a part of a joint family it wasn't easier for her. The UNDP's advocacy campaign and due to lack of public confidence in previous elections she was compelled to participate in election and election trainings organized by the UNDP. “Our vote is our voice. If we do not vote, we will not get the leadership that we need to reduce inflation, eradicate poverty and provide access to good quality education,” said Zameer Akhtar. This shows that women were inspired to vote under different campaigns from the UNDP and ECP [6]. In 2008 elections, 179 women contested for general seats. Whereas in Punjab 69 women contested for provincial seats and 47 for national assembly from Punjab (The Researchers, 2008). Talking about 2013 elections, 448 women contested for general seats from which 169 contested for general seats from Punjab and 116 for provincial assembly [7]. These statistics show a surge in women participation in politics and this number may rise with each of upcoming election as every eve of election is bringing more and more women candidates to contest for elections on general seats and more votes casting ratio among them.

The table 1 shows the active participation of women in political arena of the country which is on the rise.

Table 1 Political Participation of Women