From 1989 to 1993, as a rights-based national advocacy NGO, Sungi focused on environmental issues particularly deforestation and effective use of natural resources. Sungi mobilized a network of civil society activists to campaign for effective public sector development policies in education, health, livelihood and environment. The devastating floods in year 1992 brought Sungi into direct contact with local communities as it mobilized emergency relief and provided support in rehabilitation of effected communities. These emergency and rehabilitation interventions within communities had a significant impact on the organizational approach of working with groups of social activists. Their increased contact with communities brought out the demand for continued development support. At the same time, the organization realized that a number of human induced factors were responsible for aggravating the devastation of floods, particularly poor natural resource management. Learning from its experience, Sungi developed its core operational strategy which is effectively valid even today. Sungi’s strategy is to achieve advocacy and developmental goals by working with and through village organizations, functioning on the principles of democratic governance and transparent management. The primary approach is thus to advocate, mobilize, organize and empowering communities.

In year 1994, Sungi initiated an integrated Community Support Program while continuing its advocacy initiatives. By the year 1997, Sungi had gained sufficient experience in community development and advocacy. The organization enjoyed respect and confidence of the stakeholders including government agencies and civil society. Sungi’s reputation and experience attracted support for a four-year Hazara Integrated Rural Development Program (HIRDP) from a group of donors – Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Netherlands Organization for International Development Cooperation (NOVIB), the Royal Netherlands Embassy (RNE), and The Asia Foundation (TAF). Commencing in year 1998, the program aimed at expanding the on-going program activities to rural Hazara, and strengthening of a policy advocacy portfolio. HIRDP witnessed significant expansion of staff strength, extended outreach at the local level, presence and enhanced national profile. The influence of participatory approaches has been significant in managing organizational growth, empowering human resource and developing organizational culture, which is still organization’s driving force.