Shahnawaz Chachar served as the project manager for AWARE, a peace and interfaith harmony project funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Office UK through DAI and implemented by Marvi Rural Development Organization in two Sindh province districts. The project aimed to promote peace and interfaith harmony among 169,000 people. He conducted baseline studies, oriented staff, designed the methodology, and engaged with stakeholders. He managed project scope, budget, timeline, and resources, and communicated with the donor and partners. (Location: Sindh, Pakistan; Dates: Sep 2014 — Aug 2015)
Tag: Sukkur
Training on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
As a recognized PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) expert, Shahnawaz Chachar delivered multiple training sessions on PRA methodologies. Participatory rural appraisal is a powerful approach that actively involves local people in the planning, implementation, and management of development projects that directly affect their lives. While working with Cavish Development Foundation in Islamabad, and also conducting training sessions in Sukkur and Larkana, he trained more than 50 community mobilizers, development practitioners, and NGO workers in the principles and practical application of PRA. These training sessions covered a wide range of PRA techniques, including social mapping, resource mapping, seasonal calendars, transect walks, and focus group discussions. The training emphasized the importance of community participation, local knowledge, and empowerment in the development process. Participants learned how to facilitate PRA exercises, gather information from communities, analyze data, and use the findings to inform project design and implementation. This training aimed to build the capacity of development professionals to engage communities effectively and ensure that development initiatives are truly participatory and responsive to local needs.
Trained District Peace Committees in Upper Sindh.
During 2014 and 2015, Shahnawaz Chachar played a key role in designing, forming, and training district peace forums in Sukkur and Ghotki districts of Sindh province, Pakistan. These peace forums were established as part of the Marvi Rural Development Organization’s AWARE Project, funded by DAI (Development Alternatives, Inc.). The forums brought together diverse representatives from various segments of the community, including religious leaders from different faiths, prominent political figures, journalists, business leaders, women’s representatives, and tribal leaders. Shahnawaz designed and delivered training programs for these peace committees, focusing on conflict resolution, interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding strategies, and human rights awareness. The training aimed to equip committee members with the skills and knowledge to effectively address local conflicts, promote interfaith harmony, and advocate for the rights of all community members, particularly religious and other minorities. The peace forums were designed to serve as platforms for regular meetings, allowing members to discuss local issues, identify potential triggers of conflict, and take collective action to maintain peace and social cohesion at the district level.