Aahung

To address these concerns, a national alliance is established by bringing together a network of local organizations working on LSBE across Pakistan called the Pakistan Alliance on LSBE(PAL). The alliance will promote dialogue and sharing of learnings, improve CSO capacity to deliver a more standardized and impactful product, and generate more partnerships to bolster the current work being done on LSBE.  The concept for this LSBE alliance stems from a CSE task force, which was active from 2011-2013, in which Aahung was a member. However, in the past decade, recognition of the value of LSBE for young people has continued to grow, and a greater number of local organisations have either initiated programming or shown interest in working on LSBE projects. With this growth, there has also been an increasing diversification in capacity, and a lack of communication regarding new initiatives and learning outcomes. Aahung, along with LSBE partners who have been operating in the field for some time, has communicated about frequent requests from organisations for capacity strengthening in areas of LSBE programming, as well as the need for a forum in which organisations can communicate in a more streamlined manner and find opportunities for collaboration. Moreover, there has also been consistent feedback provided by LSBE partners that organisations appear to be working in silos, resulting in the replication of materials and frustration expressed by the government for overlapping advocacy efforts.

The concept for the LSBE alliance arose from these needs in order to develop better communication and collaboration potential, streamline advocacy efforts, and improve the quality standards with which LSBE is being implemented. Taking inspiration from the positive outcomes of the CSE task force with which Aahung had experience in the past, the idea of a new alliance – one in which local CSOs take the lead in strategy and planning was conceptualized

About Pakistan Alliance on Life Skills-Based Education-PAL

The Pakistan Alliance on LSBE (PAL) network will be led by a steering committee of organizations that have maturity in LSBE programming and will work collaboratively to develop the regulations related to recruitment and membership, network operations, governance, and sustainability.

The Steering Committee (SC) is comprised of four organizations namely Aahung, Dastak Foundation, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), and Blue Veins, who will oversee the development of the alliance’s operating guidelines, including governance and membership procedures. Led by the SC, the network will conduct check-in meetings for learning and sharing, establish a centralised digital knowledge hub for resource sharing and visibility, and generate ideas for improved collaboration based on areas of LSBE expertise and the geographical presence of partners. The network will also create comprehensive minimum standards for LSBE delivery to ensure there is greater unity and quality within LSBE programming moving forward. To facilitate capacity strengthening, needs assessment exercises will be conducted, and relevant workshops organised based on findings. Bi-annual learning and sharing forums will be facilitated for alliance members to exchange best practices. Additionally, the alliance will aim to strengthen the programming and fundraising capabilities of local CSOs to ensure the sustainability of LSBE initiatives. The SC will make sure programs and advocacy are more consistent, rooted in local realities, and it’s sustainable to last within national and provincial systems.

The goal is simple but powerful:

• Reduce duplication of efforts across organizations,
• Enable resource sharing so no one is reinventing the wheel,
• And to amplify joint advocacy for integrating comprehensive LSBE into provincial and national curricula.

This alliance will serve as a central hub for CSOs, which will enable us to present a united front in our dialogue with the government and education bodies.

PALs envision a multi-stakeholder alliance of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), education actors, advocacy networks, and technical experts working collectively to promote comprehensive LSBE and strengthen young people’s life skills, well-being, and rights.

2. Purpose of this Call

This EOI call invites applications from eligible Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that demonstrate commitment to advancing LSBE in their respective provinces. Selected CSOs will become formal alliance members of the PALs and contribute to its shared advocacy goals.

Value/Benefits for Alliance Members

1. Access to a learning & sharing platform

Alliance members will join check-in meetings and bi-annual “learning & sharing forums”, enabling them to exchange best practices, challenges, and solutions with peers.

A centralised digital knowledge hub will be available for resource‐sharing and visibility. This helps organisations avoid working in isolation or duplicating efforts and allows them to benefit from others’ experience.

2. Capacity strengthening support

The alliance will conduct a needs assessment for members and organise relevant workshops based on those findings. This means CSOs will have opportunities to strengthen their LSBE programming skills: e.g., quality design and delivery, monitoring & evaluation, advocacy, and fundraising.

3. Minimum Standards & Quality Assurance

A set of comprehensive minimum standards for LSBE delivery will be developed by PAL. By aligning with these standards, member organisations benefit from improved legitimacy, consistency, and better outcomes. It also helps make programmes more scalable and more acceptable to government/education systems.

4. Stronger collaborative & advocacy power

As a network, members will have a united front when engaging with government bodies, education departments, and policy‑makers. This means greater leverage in advocating for LSBE integration into provincial/national curricula, or influencing policy and practice.

Collaboration across organisations means shared resources (e.g., joint advocacy events, joint proposals) and avoiding “siloed” work.

5. Better visibility and resource‑sharing

The digital knowledge hub gives visibility to members’ work, which can help attract partnerships, donors, and cross‑organisational cooperation.

6. Networking & partnership opportunities

Being part of this national alliance opens doors to connect with other CSOs, technical experts, advocacy networks, and education actors across provinces.

This can lead to joint initiatives, geographic reach expansion, and possibly access to provincial/national level stakeholders.

7. Sustainability support

The alliance emphasises strengthening CSOs’ programming and fundraising capabilities, so members may get training or support in developing proposals, mobilising funds, and designing sustainable models.

This helps member organisations reduce dependency on short-term funding and build longer-term viability.

Commitment:
Membership in PALs represents a long-term commitment to collective action, transparency, and knowledge sharing. Member organizations are expected to actively participate in alliance activities, uphold the guiding principles of PALs, and contribute to sustaining the network beyond the project period.

Terms of References (ToRs):

Selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) will actively contribute to the collective mission of advancing LSBE across Pakistan.

1. Participate in LSBE advocacy and coordination efforts within their province

• Engage in provincial coordination meetings and advocacy dialogues to promote LSBE integration.
• Collaborate with government departments, education authorities, CSOs and youth networks.
• Represent provincial perspectives and contribute to a unified national LSBE agenda.

2. Contribute evidence, lessons and best practices to strengthen provincial and national advocacy

• Document and share learnings, success stories and data from LSBE programming.
• Support the development of alliance-wide advocacy briefs and position papers.
• Contribute resources and materials to the PALs Digital Knowledge Hub.

3. Engage in learning and sharing platforms, policy dialogues and network-led campaigns

• Actively participate in learning forums, alliance workshops and advocacy campaigns.
• Provide feedback, recommendations and insights to shape collective alliance strategies.
• Collaborate with other members to implement coordinated LSBE activities.

4. Receive mentoring and technical support to strengthen LSBE programming and advocacy capacity

• Participate in capacity-building sessions on LSBE delivery, advocacy and communications.
• Apply technical guidance and tools provided through the alliance in their local programming.
• Strengthen internal systems and staff capacity for sustainable LSBE implementation.

4. Eligibility Criteria

Organizations applying to become Alliance Members of the PAL must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• The organisation must be independent of direct political party control (i.e., not a political party affiliate) and committed to non-discrimination, equality and rights‐based principles.
• Be a registered CSO/CBO with legal status in Pakistan. The organisation must be a legally registered, which may include provincial-level registration as applicable. Organizations that are currently under the registration process are also eligible to apply, provided they can submit proof of in-process registration.
• INGOs are not eligible for membership under this call.
• Have at least 1 years of experience in LSBE/CSE and/or SRHR. The organisation should have at least 2 – 3 years of operational experience in Pakistan (preferably in LSBE or youth development) to demonstrate capacity and a track record.
• The organisation should have a mandate or track-record in education, sexual & reproductive health and rights (SRHR), life-skills-based education (LSBE) or closely related fields.
• Understanding of LSBE approaches and best practices relevant to Pakistan’s social and educational context.
• Understanding of reproductive health indicators and familiarity with key concepts such as gender equality, consent, stigma, and social justice.
• Understanding of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and its importance for adolescent and youth well-being.
• The organisation should have appropriate geographic presence or experience (either across the province where it intends to operate, or specific district/regional presence) and a willingness to collaborate with other CSOs and stakeholders.
• The organisation should not have any unresolved issues of misappropriation, corruption or serious governance/litigation matters that would affect the credibility of the alliance.
• The organisation should be willing to actively contribute to the alliance: sharing resources, engaging in joint advocacy, monitoring/learning, and supporting the network’s objectives (reducing duplication, enhancing quality, etc.).
• The organisation should commit to maintaining communication, providing relevant information to the alliance (e.g., programme updates, data as requested), and participate in peer-learning and networking
• Have a functional office setup and management capacity to engage in alliance activities. The organisation must have demonstrated governance and accountability practices (e.g., board oversight, financial management, audited accounts or equivalent transparency).
• The organization should demonstrate Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religious and social diversity.
• Adherence to confidentiality and ethical engagement standards

Selection Priority Considerations

• To prioritise among eligible organisations, the alliance may give preference to:
• CSOs with strong work in under-served provinces or districts (remote or marginalised regions).
• CSOs with demonstrated youth engagement, with evidence of engaging young people in design/implementation of LSBE.
• CSOs with proven partnerships with government, education bodies, or capacity to influence policy/advocacy at provincial or national level.
• CSOs demonstrating capacity for expansion/scale or replication of quality LSBE programming.
• CSOs led by or with significant participation of women, or other marginalised groups, promoting inclusion (gender equality, social inclusion).

Disqualification / Grounds for Removal

• Organisations found to be involved in mis-appropriation of funds, serious governance failures, or activities contrary to the alliance’s mission may have membership revoked.
• Organisations failing to attend three successive required meetings or failing to engage with alliance processes may be reviewed for suspension.
• Organisations whose registration is revoked or non-compliant with legal/regulatory requirements.

5. Application Requirements

Interested organizations are invited to apply online by completing the EOI Application Form available through the Jotform link provided below. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered for evaluation. Applicants will be required to upload the following supporting documents in PDF through the form:

1. Copy of valid organization registration certificate.(if available)
2. Most recent annual report or brief summary of activities (if available).
3. Copy of NTN certificate (if available).
4. Names and contact information of two organizational focal persons.

6. Selection Process

• All submitted EOIs will be reviewed by the Steering Committee of PAL based on the scoring criteria outlined below.
• Shortlisted organizations will be contacted for an interview to assess alignment with the alliance’s goals.
• A verification visit will be conducted to confirm the organization’s existence and operations.
• Final selection will be based on consensus within the PAL Steering Committee.

Important Dates

7. Evaluation and Selection Criteria

All applications will undergo a first-round review by the Steering Committee of PALs based on the following scoring framework:

Shortlisted organizations from the first round will be invited for an interview with the PAL Steering Committee. The second-round assessment will focus on the following:

8. Disclaimer

Submission of an EOI does not guarantee selection. Selection will depend on evaluation outcomes and the PAL Steering Committee’s decision. PAL reserves the right to accept or reject any submission without assigning a reason.