A new chapter: localising for impact in Pakistan

The transition to a locally governed organisation is more than just an administrative shift—it’s a chance to reimagine how we serve communities in Pakistan. At Foundation for Ageing and Inclusive Development (FAID), this journey has been both challenging and rewarding. Here’s how we’re navigating the transition, learning from it, and setting ambitious goals for the future. 

Growing stronger through change 

Becoming a national entity has brought us closer to the communities we serve. This proximity enables quicker decision-making and programmes that reflect local realities. While we’ve faced hurdles, such as aligning processes and meeting regulatory requirements, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. By strengthening our foundation, we’ve positioned ourselves to innovate and grow in ways that weren’t possible before. 

Stories of resilience and lessons learned 

Our journey began in 2020 when we were first registered as a trust. By 2024, after navigating changes in local laws, we re-registered as a not-for-profit company. This process wasn’t without challenges, such as adapting funding structures and ensuring compliance. However, it reinforced our organisational base and allowed us to expand our focus to include inclusive development alongside ageing. 

What have we learned? Continuity matters. While we didn’t retain the HelpAge International name, many team members from HelpAge are now part of FAID, bringing with them a deep understanding of its history, achievements and stakeholders, along with years of experience and trust. Building strong partnerships with local organisations has also been key, fostering shared ownership and sustainability. 

Looking ahead: our vision 

We aspire to become Pakistan’s leading organisation working on ageing and inclusive development. Our five-year strategy focuses on: 

1. Building organisational capacity: strengthening our financial stability, operational efficiency, and brand identity. 
2. Enhancing advocacy: developing a national-level resource pool to support stakeholders and amplify our advocacy efforts. 
3. Promoting healthy ageing: addressing the unique needs of older people through tailored care programmes. 
4. Addressing climate challenges: designing inclusive initiatives to help communities, particularly older people, adapt to the impacts of climate change. 

These priorities reflect our commitment to tackling urgent challenges while creating long-term impact. 

FAID aims to establish a robust knowledge-sharing platform and strengthen advocacy at both national and provincial levels in Pakistan. We are developing a digital knowledge-sharing platform on ageing and inclusion, compiling all available data and research on ageing, older people, and inclusion in Pakistan. Additionally, we plan to provide training and technical support to stakeholders, including the government, donors, INGOs, NGOs, and academia, to promote ageing and inclusive development. 

Empowering our team and local partners 

The localisation process has brought significant changes for our staff. It has empowered them with more decision-making authority but also required them to adapt to new responsibilities, particularly in fundraising, partnerships and compliance. To support this new chapter, we have prioritised training and capacity-building programs to equip our team for success. This includes in-house sessions on product development, donor mapping, and effective approaches to fundraising. Additionally, the entire team participated in a two-day workshop to develop the organisation’s five-year strategy. 

Additionally, the response from our local partners and network members has been overwhelmingly positive. They appreciate the increased autonomy and relevance of our work, feeling more engaged and empowered to contribute. This collective enthusiasm strengthens our resolve to continue building a brighter future together. 

Building a sustainable future 

Financial sustainability is critical to achieving our mission. We’re diversifying our funding streams by: 

• Partnering with INGOs, local donors, and CSR programmes. 
• Exploring social enterprise models focused on care. 
• Engaging individual donors, with an emphasis on Zakat contributions (Zakat is a form of charitable giving in Islam requiring Muslims to give a portion of their wealth to support those in need).  
• Working with international donors to secure support for our initiatives. 

By broadening our resource base, we’re ensuring that FAID remains strong and effective for years to come. 

Partnerships that matter 

Our localisation journey has transformed our partnerships. Collaborating with HelpAge network members in Pakistan and other organisations now feels more equal and focused on shared goals, rather than working in a top-down approach. Over the past decade, we have established four advocacy networks and platforms—three at the provincial level and one at the national level—uniting civil society organisations committed to championing the rights of older people. These platforms provide spaces for members to collaborate, review the implementation of relevant laws, develop advocacy agendas, and engage in joint advocacy efforts with governments and other stakeholders. 

Additionally, our membership in the Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) in 2024 has opened new doors to influence inclusive action on climate change on a broader scale. This partnership is vital as we partner with like-minded organisations to promote sustainable development, protect vulnerable communities, and influence policies for a healthier planet. 

A shared journey 

Localisation isn’t just about organisational restructuring—it’s about creating a more connected, responsive, and impactful presence in the communities we serve. At FAID, we’re excited to step into this new chapter with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to tackle challenges and seize opportunities. 

By working together, we can create a Pakistan where older people and marginalised communities are not just included but thrive. And that’s a vision worth striving for.