Projects

Client(s) Project Description
Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF)
Developing Scalable off-grid Energy Partnerships (SOGEP)
The project works towards alleviating Pakistan’s energy poverty by demonstrating how to scale up off-grid energy provision, by moving towards private sector and community partnership driven models which are commercially viable. Verso Consulting is partnering with Paidar Tawanai for the work, and is responsible for the social and community assessments for a range of off-grid power generation schemes, located mainly in Gilgit Baltistan and KP.
UN DESA, Division for Inclusive Social Development/ILO Extending social security coverage to Domestic Workers in the Province of Punjab The study will support the Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) in design of an implementation framework for the provision of Social Security in the Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019.
Semiotics Consultants through Chemonics International Project: Diagnostic Study for Restructuring of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Small Industries Development Board This USAID funded project, the Small and Medium Enterprise Activity (SMEA), seeks to conduct a diagnostic analysis and propose viable recommendations for restructuring of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) in order to enhance its ability to promote small and medium enterprises in KP. The work consists of a rapid institutional review of SIDB’s role, structure, operations and functioning and an analysis of where SIDB needs reform, restructuring, and capacity enhancement for business process re-engineering and improved inter-government coordination and delivery mechanisms.
Asian Development Bank, Regional Cooperation and Integration (RCI) Division Working with ADB’s Regional Cooperation and Integration (RCI) department on a report on migration patterns and trends in the Asia-Pacific region The paper will point out knowledge gaps and a role for multilateral development agencies in supporting migration.
ITAD Technical Lead on MEL (Monitoring Evaluation and Learning) supporting FCO CSSF programming for the South Asia region with an emphasis on Pakistan and Afghanistan Responsible for design and delivery of technical MERL support with a focus on gender and women’s rights.
The Asia Foundation/FCDO Research and Evidence Division TAF/FCDO X (Cross) Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) Accountable Grant research on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border: 1) Study design on Local Economies, Community Livelihoods, and Resilience in the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Region; 2) Qualitative research on border securitization and borderland communities in Pakistan; 3) KAP Survey on Covid-19 impact and behaviours in border communities across three border districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Government of the UK

Understanding the effect of Covid-19 on religious minorities in Pakistan A study was conducted by Verso to identify the impacts of the pandemic on religious minorities in terms of employment, access to health services, and access to social protection measures.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Assessment of Government of Pakistan’s Response to COVID-19 from a Rights Perspective Lead authors on the report, with a particular responsibility for assessment of economic response, as well as impacts of COVID on domestic violence and other gender issues; on prison populations, and in education.
United Nations Development Programme, Bangkok Regional Hub Midterm evaluation of the UNDP progoramme in Asia Pacific for the period, 2018-2020 with a forward-looking set of recommendations, taking into account COVID 19.
Trocaire International Story Harvesting for end of project evaluation Story Harvesting for end of project evaluation of a multiyear GBV project in Pakistan based on SASA! Methodology and approach.
World Bank Terms of Trade for Agriculture Verso Consulting worked on a research study to calculate the terms of trade for the agriculture sector in Pakistan, with a view to ascertaining whether the sector can contribute more to the economy through taxation or not.
World Bank Environmental and Social Framework documentation for the Karachi Solid Waste Management project. Verso Consulting is developing a stakeholder engagement plan for the project, covering institutional stakeholders and community groups.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Baseline Survey of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) under the Voice and Accountability Project Verso Consulting is conducting a baseline survey of HRDs in Pakistan, using both a quantitative survey instrument and focus group discussions. The baseline focuses on freedom of expression in Pakistan and the issues that HRDs have faced in recent years with regard to highlighting different human rights issues.
GIZ Policy recommendations on social protection in Punjab as per the Core Diagnostic Instruments (CODI) Verso Consulting was commissioned to conduct a workshop on the CODI process for assessment of social protection systems in Punjab, and to write draw up a set of recommendations on how to improve implementation of key programs.
International Republican Institute Focus Group Discussions on Youth Engagement in Democratic Processes Qualitative enquiry into youth perceptions and attitudes towards voting, political participation, protests and violent agitation across 9 research sites in Pakistan. Methodology includes narrative analysis on key messages.
Save the Children International Assessment of Operational Feasibility -
Trocaire International Assessment of Operational Feasibility -
UN Resident Coordinator’s Office/DFID KPMD Support Programme Conflict Sensitivity Analysis and conflict sensitivity mainstreaming across five UN agencies on the DFID-funded KP Merged District Support Programme Delivered: • Strategic response options the overall programme based on political economy context and local conflict typology of each target location to address local conflict and exclusion dynamics. • A traditional (brief) narrative analysis of the local context, the exercise sharpens focus on key themes aligned with the requirements of the programme. • A schedule of briefs, trainings, and workshops (including monitoring and strategic communication tools) to mainstream the CS approach into programming. • Qualitative research on grievance redressal and referral mechanisms and GRM concept for complex programmes.
World Bank Social Assessment for the Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project Verso Consulting carried out a social assessment focusing on access to health and education services amongst refugee communities and host communities in Balochistan. The assessment focused on understanding issues pertaining to social exclusion, gender, community mobilization, citizen engagement and grievance redress.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Chapter of ADB’s country diagnostic study on labor markets and human capital -
HelpAge International Mapping of Social Protection schemes for people aged 65 and above For the Government of Sindh and the federal government.
OPM/Department For International Development (DFID) Political Economy Analysis (PEA) For least developed districts in Punjab.
World Bank Functional Review of three government bodies Ministry of Commerce, National Tariff Commission and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan that are a part of the World Bank’s Pakistan Goes Global project.
World Bank Environmental and Social Framework for Pakistan Goes Global Verso’s work included preparing the Labour Management and Stakeholder Engagement plan for the project, along with the e-waste management plan.
DAI/DFID Research and Evidence Division Literature review and political economy analysis Of citizen engagement in development projects in Pakistan.
The Asia Foundation, Pakistan/DFID Research and Evidence Division Research design and concept note For on local economies, community livelihoods and resilience in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.
International Republican Institute (IRI) Strategic advising on IRI programmes Technical advisory on IRI research and surveys.
The Asia Foundation, Pakistan Community and key stakeholder focused study In the Rashakai SEZ under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
World Bank, Pakistan Lessons Learned from Pakistan’s Experience Hosting Refugees – Economic Assessment. -
Insan Foundation Trust and Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands Women’s Economic Empowerment Access to Skills and Finance
Benazir Income Support Programme, Government of Pakistan Operational Review of BISP National Socio-economic Registry Update -
Small and Medium Enterprise Activity, SMEA, USAID Diagnostic Study for Restructuring of the Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC) -
World Bank, Pakistan Lessons Learned from Pakistan’s Experience Hosting Refugees – Social Assessment -
Coffey International Political Economy of Local Governance in Five Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. -
International Republican Institute Strategic advisory on programs and research focused on women’s political participation -
Oxfam GB Context Analysis and Development of Theory of Change for Effective Citizenship and Responsive Local Governance in Pakistan The project required the development of stakeholder and situation analyses, field consultations with communities and local government functionaries on citizen engagement, and consultative workshops to develop a theory of change.
Insan Foundation Trust Women’s Political Participation A Qualitative Inquiry.
World Bank, Washington DC Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project The project required the development of an economic and financial analysis for a $250 million credit in Kenya, which aims to strengthen the country’s social protection systems and introduce a set of graduation programs.
European Union (EU) Delegation, Pakistan Identification and formulation mission For assistance to cooperation mechanisms at Federal and Provincial levels in provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, Pakistan.
DAI Consolidating Democracy in Pakistan (CDIP) Project/ DFID Mapping and Analysis of Female Voting Patterns -
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Development Policy Unit, Pakistan Long term consulting contract on a series of assignments Focusing on mainstreaming of SDGs, poverty and inequality related policy research, analysis, and work on social protection.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan Political Economy Analysis and Conflict Analysis Toolkit and Training To all-staff in UNDP Pakistan’s FATA Transition and Recovery Programme.
United States Institute for Peace (USIP) Engaging Stakeholders for Non-Violent Elections Research and strategic messaging focused on youth and women voters for the upcoming 2018 general election in Pakistan.
DAI – AAWAZ Project, Pakistan /DFID Social Audit of Health and Education Communities’ assessment of the quality and feasibility of public services.
ILO, Pakistan Government’s Compliance with ILO Recommendation on Social Protection Floors Mapping of social protection systems provided by the federal and four provincial governments in Pakistan, and preparation of the Government of Pakistan’s submission to the Director General of ILO on Recommendation 202: Social Protection Floors.
World Bank, Pakistan Review of Citizen Engagement Systems in Government The study examined citizen engagement (consultation, beneficiary feedback and grievance redress) mechanisms within selected departments (Agriculture, Irrigation, municipal services) in the governments of Sindh and Punjab in Pakistan. The purpose of the study was to identify and assess existing systems, advising the ank on how to segue its required citizen engagement systems, which it must incorporate into every project, with the existing mechanisms.
World Bank, Pakistan Social Systems Assessment (SSA) for Punjab Strengthening Markets for Agriculture and Rural Transformation (SMART) The firm carried out an SSA for a $300 million policy loan. The SSA is a requirement for Bank lending and is done to anticipate and analyze possible social issues that may arise as project implementation proceeds. Issues are analyzed within the context of the Bank’s Core Principles of ensuring that vulnerable communities are not harmed and that no social conflict occurs as a result of implementation.
DAI - Access to Justice Project Pakistan (inception phase)/DFID Political Economy Analysis of the Justice Sector in Pakistan Focused on demand-side access to justice and rule of law, the analysis included a review of external accountability mechanisms of justice sector institutions in Pakistan across KP, Punjab, and Sindh and a detailed PE review of justice sector actors.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Somalia Final Evaluation, Parliamentary Support Project, Somalia The assignment included a) a review of UNDP’s initial evaluation of it’s assistance to parliamentary development in Somalia including the National Federal Parliament, and sub-national parliaments; b) consultations with key informants; and c) recommendations to the UNDP on mainstreaming political economy and conflict-sensitivity into the programme.
DAI – AAWAZ Project, Pakistan/DFID Modern Slavery Action Research Oversight of a series of papers analyzing bonded labour and child labour in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab in Pakistan. The research included defining the issue, collecting available secondary data, design and oversight of action research being conducted in the field, and participation in consultations with key stakeholders.
Development Pathways, Uganda Refugee Household Vulnerability and Targeting Study In West Nile, Mid- West and South Western Uganda Refugee Settlements.
Development Pathways, Uganda Positioning WFP Uganda To support improved food, nutrition and income security in Karamoja and an inclusive social protection system for Uganda.
DAI – AAWAZ Project, Pakistan/DFID Multiple Identities Analysis of datasets comprising pre and post training modules, where training recipients were primarily young peace activists working in communities being trained on concepts of peace, justice and diversity and tolerance. The data assessed changes, if any, in attitudes towards other religious and ethnic groups.
DAI – AAWAZ Project, Pakistan/DFID Peer Learning Exercise The peer learning exercise is an attempt to understand the societal context in which sectarian and inter-faith conflict thrives. The peer learning exercise took place in phases: a participatory conflict analysis followed by training of peace connectors in districts, followed by the peer learning exercise in the wider groups. The sessions were based on the themes of Understanding Conflict; Violent Extremism and Hate Speech; and Non-Violent Communication. A survey of participants was carried out before and after the training exercises were conducted, the results of which are analysed in the final report.
Government of Punjab and UNDP, Pakistan Regional Development Plan for South Punjab Preparation of a preliminary paper on a development plan for the ten poorest districts in the Punjab province, focusing on existing economic activity and resource endowments in the region.
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