BackgroundChanan Development Association is a national, youth-led organisation supporting young people in Pakistan to build peace and tackle discrimination.
ReachCDA works in 110 districts and reaching thousands of young people each year.
ImpactOver 20 years, CDA has supported hundreds of young people to become agents of change across Pakistan.
Chanan Development Association (CDA) is a national, youth-led organisation that supports young people in Pakistan to actively participate in all spheres of life, without discrimination.
Founded as a theatre group in 2004, CDA now operates in over 110 districts across Pakistan through a vast network of youth organisations, peer educators, and active volunteers. Its work empowers Pakistani youth – especially young women – to actively participate in policy development and peace initiatives, contributing to the creation of a more just, democratic and peaceful society.
In Pakistan, conflict is often driven by religious, cultural and social intolerance, particularly for minority groups and women. There have been restrictions and violations of human rights, including forced conversions and child marriage.
A 75-year conflict over disputed territory in Jammu and Kashmir has had a heavy toll, and the country has been tackling extremist violence for several years.
At the same time, space for civil society in Pakistan has been shrinking. International funding has significantly reduced and the state has cracked down on activists, lawyers and journalists. In the face of these challenges, local peacebuilders continue vital work to support a new generation to change the future of their country.
CDA’s work utilises formats such as interfaith dialogues, sports, and cultural exchanges to promote peace. For example, it creates opportunities for young people to interact and explore other religions and cultural values through exposure visits in their own provinces and in other provinces. As part of its work, CDA hosts the National Youth Peace Festival (NYPF), which is Pakistan’s largest gathering of young people in support of peace.
CDA believes young people can play a pivotal role in bringing peace to society and reducing extremism in Pakistan, and the wider region, by exposing them to the heritage and values of different religious and ethnic groups.
Since 2019, Peace Direct has partnered with CDA through the Youth Action for Peace programme (now known as Local First), which promotes equality and tolerance among young people. As a hub organisation, CDA identifies, supports, and delivers small grants to local youth peacebuilding individuals and groups across Pakistan, enabling young activists to carry out their own innovative peacebuilding work.
