Assessing Gender Inequality in the Tribal Districts of KP: A Qualitative Exploration through Focus Group Discussions and a Policy Workshop

• Information

  Assessing Gender Inequality in the Tribal Districts of KP: A Qualitative Exploration through Focus Group Discussions and a Policy Workshop - Information

  Matched Team	Team 33
  Name	Hafiz Nadar Sarfaraz	Country	Pakistan
  Scholarship	GAS	Email Address	nadar.sarfaraz@kdis.ac.kr
  Year	2020	Program	MPM
  Workplace Category	Academia	Workplace	Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat
  Department	Office of Research Innovations and Commercialization	Position	Director

• Brief intro of project

  Assessing Gender Inequality in the Tribal Districts of KP: A Qualitative Exploration through Focus Group Discussions and a Policy Workshop - Brief intro of project

  Title	Assessing Gender Inequality in the Tribal Districts of KP: A Qualitative Exploration through Focus Group Discussions and a Policy Workshop
  Sustainable Development Goals	5. Gender Equality
  Timely Global Issues	2. Comparative Policy Analysis
  Sub-topic that describes project	Gender and Equality
  Summary of your project	The merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in 2018 marked a significant administrative change aimed at integrating the region into mainstream governance structures. However, despite legal reforms, gender inequality remains a deeply rooted issue in the tribal districts. Women in these areas continue to face socio-economic, political, and cultural challenges that hinder their progress and participation in public life. Traditional customs, lack of education, economic dependency, and limited access to justice have contributed to the marginalization of women. This project aims to explore gender inequality in the newly merged districts through direct engagement with university female students, who can provide critical insights into the challenges faced by women in their respective districts. Reports indicate that women's literacy rates in the newly merged districts are among the lowest in Pakistan, further exacerbating gender disparity. Socio-cultural traditions, including practices like Swara (the exchange of women to settle disputes), Vulvar (bride price), and rigid mobility restrictions, continue to limit women’s progress. The lack of political representation also remains a major hurdle, as tribal customs and religious influences discourage women from participating in elections. This study will be a research-based study providing a structured, evidence-based assessment of gender inequality in these regions by engaging university female students who belong to the tribal districts. By collecting firsthand insights, this research will contribute to a better understanding of how the FATA merger has impacted women’s status and what measures can be taken to ensure their empowerment.

• Alumni or organization want to cooperate with

  Assessing Gender Inequality in the Tribal Districts of KP: A Qualitative Exploration through Focus Group Discussions and a Policy Workshop - Alumni or organization want to cooperate with

  Specific alumni in mind
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• Details of Cooperation Project

  Assessing Gender Inequality in the Tribal Districts of KP: A Qualitative Exploration through Focus Group Discussions and a Policy Workshop - Details of Cooperation Project

  Objective of the Project	The key objectives of the project are: 1. To identify and analyze the key issues of gender inequality in each tribal district of KP. 2. To provide a platform for university female students from these districts to share their perspectives and lived experiences. 3. To consolidate findings from Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and present them in a workshop for policy recommendations. 4. To engage stakeholders in meaningful dialogue on addressing gender disparities in the tribal districts.
  Expected Benefits from the Project	1. A comprehensive report highlighting gender-based challenges in each tribal district. 2. A set of policy recommendations for provincial and national-level interventions. 3. Increased awareness and advocacy on gender issues in tribal areas. 4. Strengthened networks and dialogue between students, academia, and policymakers.
  Anything you would like to inform the potential partner	This study will provide evidence-based insights into the gender inequality faced by women in the tribal districts of KP. By incorporating the voices of university students—who represent the future leaders and change-makers of the region—the findings will help bridge the gap between research, advocacy, and policy action. The project will contribute towards the empowerment of tribal women and promote their inclusion in socio-political and economic development. The potential partner is expected to provide help in designing the questionnaire, data collection methods and analyzing gathered data, in order to generate suggestions to improve the gender related policy. The outcomes of the project will be published as an article and would help in sensitizing the policy makers to address the goal of the SDGs.