RW
Risham Waseem
Development & Advocacy

Projects & Programs

Capacity building, community mobilization, and civic action

I have designed and managed projects centered around capacity building, community mobilization, advocacy, and communications on countering violent extremism, gender equality, interfaith harmony, freedom of the press, civic education, and climate justice.

International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) - UNjournalism

Strengthening women and minority voices in community journalism and digital media through capacity building, networking and advocacy

Created open-source digital video training modules designed to equip female and religious minority journalists with skills to safely and impactfully cover stories on gender and discrimination.

Partnered with UN IPDC to build digital modules as an open source resource for journalism students and community reporters. Trained 20 women and religious minority journalists from across Pakistan in digital media and appreciative inquiry.

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UNESCOclimate

Strengthening Climate Change Discourse on Digital Platforms

Partnered with UNESCO to produce a 5-part podcast series addressing the climate crisis, Indus Basin water governance, and Pakistan's dwindling water resources.

Interviewed leading climate scientists, water experts, and policymakers, including Pakistan’s former Minister of Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, translating complex environmental policy into accessible digital discourse.

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Civil Society & Community Partnerspeacebuilding

Documenting and Promoting Local Narratives of Tolerance and Inclusion in Central and South Punjab

Built the civic capacity of 150 youths in Lahore and Multan, resulting in 18 community documentary films celebrating sufi and folk traditions of tolerance.

Participants were trained in peacebuilding and citizen journalism. Sixty selected fellows produced 18 documentary shorts screened across community spaces to foster peaceful coexistence.

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South Punjab Cultural Collectivearts

Promoting Interfaith Harmony Through Folk and Sufi Music

Rejuvenated folk and Sufi music as a peacebuilding tool while building a sustainable economic empowerment model for traditional musicians.

Trained 14 indigenous musicians (7 women and 7 men) in digital marketing and social media advocacy, paired them with urban music producers, and released an acclaimed 14-song album with music videos.

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National Endowment for Democracy (NED)human-rights

Human Rights Advocacy Using Video and Interactive Theatre

Over 9 years of sustained civic engagement across Pakistan mobilizing youth leaders, journalists, and grassroots activists through forum theatre and digital storytelling.

Created three forum theatre productions breaking down the Constitution of Pakistan, alongside explainer videos framing the climate crisis through civic rights and democratic accountability.

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US Embassy Islamabaddigital-literacy

Creation of a Critical Mass by Engaging Youth Opinion Leaders in Digital Literacy and Cross-Cultural Understanding

Trained 50 youth opinion leaders from across Pakistan in an 8-day intensive residency on digital literacy, counter-disinformation, and human rights advocacy.

Teams pitched and produced public digital campaigns, leading to an innovative civic app educating Pakistani citizens on digital rights and constitutional protections.

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