RAASTA DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS
Introduction
Raasta Development Consultants is a private organization that provides professional consulting services to national government organizations, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs and other institutions involved in development activities. Established in 1989, Raasta has worked in Pakistan and several other countries. The word Raasta means 'the way', and Raasta is committed to "showing the way through the maze of development" through innovative research, training, community development and institution building programmes and activities, all within contexts of social gender analysis, community-based approaches, preservation of natural resources and poverty alleviation.

Services and Expertise
To handle the diversity in the nature of its work, Raasta has a structure of specialized units. The Research Unit carries out in-depth qualitative and quantitative studies, surveys and evaluations, which are oriented towards implementation.

The activities of the Capacity Building and Evaluation Unit include design, development and implementation of long and short term training programmes. Whereas community development and social gender Analysis are at the very heart of Raasta's work,a separate Institutional Development Unit contributes extensively to major development initiatives in Pakistan.

Raasta has a unique relationship with all partners in the development sector, and there is a regular programme of information exchange with several national and international development organizations under its Networking Unit. Having amassed considerable development literature during the course of its work Raasta has instituted a Publications and Documentation Unit to document these as well as its own programmes and activities.

Based in Karachi, Raasta has a wide network throughout Pakistan. Having carried out extensive field based research, training, community development, gender and institution building work all over Pakistan and in several other countries (from the grass roots level to the federal government), Raasta is well versed in issues and needs encompassing the entire range of development activities and participates actively in relevant initiatives.

• Research Unit
• Capacity Building and Evaluation Unit
• Institutional Development Unit
• Information and Networking Unit
• Publications and Documentation Unit
  

Scope of Work
Raasta's scope of work ranges from long-term institutional development projects with the government (funded by the banks or bilateral donors), medium and short term assignments commissioned directly by UN agencies, international donors, government departments, international NGOs and Pakistani NGOs. Increasingly assignments are also being commissioned by multinationals and national private sector organizations that contribute to social development in the country. Raasta staff members have also worked on international assignments in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East.

Main Sectors of Interest