Background
Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) is a women’s rights NGO working for the promotion and protection of women rights and economic empowerment of rural women since 2004. PODA’s work include raising awareness about women’s right to legal identity, girls and women’s access to education and protection from child marriage and violence, facilitating job skills, digital literacy, entrepreneurship training, climate education and connecting rural women with markets.
PODA involves alliance of rural women from all parts of Pakistan including rural women activists, university students, business women, teachers, and health workers to join the hands for women empowerment, skills development and prevent violence in Pakistan.
PODA is currently implementing a project “Beyond Barriers” in the selected districts of KP and Punjab. The objective of the project is to build the capacity of organizations of women with disabilities and women-led organizations to support the improved policies and practices on gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace, and inclusive training and employment opportunities for women with disabilities.
The specific objectives of the project are:
- Women’s organisations and Organisations of Women with Disabilities (OWDs) capacities are strengthened
- Women with and without disabilities are provided with more accessible environments and disability inclusive policies and practices by training institutions, employers and Business Development Support (BDS) providers
- Gender based violence and harassment (GBVH) and Small medium enterprise (SME) policies are strengthened through evidence generated, disseminated and utilized for improved policy implementation on the inclusion of women with disabilities
Under this Project, PODA invites eligible OPDs and Women Org to submit their expression of interest and capacity statement for work aimed at strengthening the capacity of CSOs and OPDs for promoting disability rights, gender equality, inclusive employment opportunities, and prevention of gender-based violence and harassment in workplaces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
Purpose of the assignment
The purpose of this activity is to conduct a comprehensive mapping of organizations of women with disabilities (OWDs) and women-led organizations in the target districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to identify and engage grassroots actors best positioned to advance gender equality and disability inclusion.
Anticipated Engagement
The selected local NGOs will be engaged to perform or assist PODA and its partners in performing certain tasks in their respective tehsils and districts. The tasks to be performed will include:
- Organizational capacity strengthening of women-led organizations and organizations of women with disabilities (OWDs).
- Community mobilization and awareness-raising activities on gender equality and disability inclusion.
- Advocacy and campaigning on gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in workplaces.
- Support for disability inclusion and rights-based training activities.
- Assistance in identifying and mobilizing women with and without disabilities for TVET opportunities.
- Participation in participatory research, data collection, and evidence-generation activities.
- Dissemination of IEC materials and awareness resources at community level.
- Engagement in policy dialogues, stakeholder consultations, and advocacy forums.
- Support in mapping and strengthening GBVH referral pathways and services.
- Collaboration with employers, trade unions, TVETs, and local stakeholders to promote inclusive and harassment-free workplaces.
For successful implementation of these activities, PODA requires dynamic local NGOs with strong mobilization and coordination capabilities, who can play an active role at the district level. Preference will be given to the CSOs having relevant experience.
Eligibility Requirement and the Selection Criteria for the Organizations
Only those local NGOs are eligible to apply, which meet the following minimum requirements:
- It is a not-for-profit organization;
- It is registered with the relevant government department in Pakistan;
- It has the functional Bank account;
- It is registered with the relevant tax authorities and has the NTN Number;
- It is not in default or guilty of involvement in any unlawful activity under the laws in Pakistan.
The eligible applying organizations will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Strong presence and mobilization capacity in the district in which the applying organization wishes to work under this project;
- Presence of office at the district HQ;
- Adequate financial management capacity;
- Project management capacity;
- Past experience of working for or with local governments and development organizations.
- Past experience of working on human rights and with vulnerable groups, especially with focus on persons with disabilities.
Target Districts
One local NGO can apply for only one of the target districts, which include the following:
| Provinces | Districts |
| KPK | Peshawar |
| Mardan | |
| Punjab | Chakwal |
| Gujranwala/Multan |
Duration
Expected duration of the project can be up to 24 months.
Please provide the organizational information on the following form.
Annex I: Organizational Information form
| Name of Organization | |
| Date of Registration | |
| Registration Number | |
| Office Address | |
| Phone Number | |
| Name of authorized representative | |
| Designation | |
| Email Address | |
| Organization Profile (Please attach profile) | |
| Organization Working Experience (Number of years) | |
| NTN # with Status (as active taxpayer) | |
| Registration Certificate (Please attach copy) | |
| Bank Account Details | |
| Accounts maintenance certificate (Please attach) | |
| Latest Audit Report (Please attach copy of the Audit report, if available) | |
| Detail/Name of Project implemented by the CSO in the last 3 years with short descriptions. | |
| Please mention relevant working experience in the sectors below (Maximum 200 words): | |
| 1. Women Rights 2. Human Rights/Minority Rights 3. GBVH 4. Disability Rights 5. Accessibility Audit | |
I undertake that the organization I am representing is a non-partisan, not for profit Non-Government Organization () without any political affiliation.
Name of the Authorized Representative:
Designation:
Signature:
Date:
All the required documents (Registration copy, Audit reports, Account details, NTN) and information on the above form should be attached with the expression of interest. The CSOs will be disqualified in case of any missing information and misstatement.
Please submit all the required documents by 7 June, 2026 with the Subject of “Call for the Expression of Interest for Organization” on email address admin@poda.org.pk and dispatch hard copies of the documents to:
PODA Islamabad Office address
Office No. 20, Second Floor, Park View Plaza, G-10 Markaz, Islamabad
through courier service.
Disclaimer
Submission of this Expression of Interest (EOI) and the sharing of organizational information does not constitute a commitment or guarantee of engagement in project activities. The selection of local organizations will be based on defined criteria and assessment, and only those organizations identified as most suitable will be invited to participate in project deliverables.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥