National Dialogue Forum

What National Dialogue Forum does

National Dialogue Forum (NDF), legally registered as the Institute of Progressive Policy Research (IPPR) under Pakistan's Companies Act 2017 with a not-for-profit subsidiary (IPPR Welfare Foundation), is a non-partisan public policy organization headquartered in Islamabad and operating with approximately 15 staff. Founded in 2018, NDF's mission is to build an inclusive society by amplifying historically marginalized voices in policy-making. Its work spans four interlocking program lines: the Youth Development Program (YPDC), which runs campus-based chapters across Pakistani universities and hosts the National Policymaking Competition; the Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP), which provides monthly stipends, laptops, and conceptual training to approximately 30 Afghan refugee students annually at Pakistani universities; the Pak-Afghan Dialogue Forum (PADF), which fosters people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan; and a Refugee Stories documentary series that profiles Afghan refugee role models. Underpinning these programs, NDF offers professional services in research and monitoring & evaluation, policy dialogue facilitation, evidence-based policy analysis, and program development/implementation for clients such as UN Women, UNHCR, HEC Pakistan, and various provincial and federal government bodies.

Name

National Dialogue Forum

Legal name

Institute of Progressive Policy Research (IPPR)

Website

https://ndf.org.pk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Dialogue Forum is a non-partisan Islamabad-based public policy organization running youth engagement (YPDC), Afghan refugee scholarships (HSSP), Pak-Afghan dialogue (PADF), and research and policy advisory services for government, parliamentary, and multilateral clients in Pakistan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business Associations (813910), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAIAE

Public Diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy & Strategic Communications

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Foreign Affairs & Diplomatic Services

SECONDARYMPAGAGAH

Government & Public Sector Conferences

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYMPAJABAK

Scholarly Societies & Conference Proceedings Publishing

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Educational & Academic Publishing (Textbooks, Scholarly, STM)

SECONDARYBPAMABAC

Interest-Based Communities & Forums

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Social Networks & Online Communities

Keywords

• Policy research
• Public policy advocacy
• Refugee scholarship programs
• Youth civic engagement
• Monitoring and evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Islamabad

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Partnerships: NDF operates as a non-profit policy organization funded primarily through grants and partnerships with international organizations (HSF, UN Women, UNHCR, UNDP), government agencies, and development foundations.
2. Scholarship Program Administration: NDF implements the Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP) as implementing partner, managing scholarship grants of 33,000 PKR monthly per student for approximately 30 Afghan refugee students annually.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

National Dialogue Forum is a non-partisan public policy organization that conducts policy research and monitoring & evaluation, facilitates policy dialogues, and runs structured programs including the Youth Development Program (YPDC), the Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program for Afghan refugees, and the Pak-Afghan Dialogue Forum. It sells no commercial products; its deliverables are research reports, training, scholarship administration, and dialogue facilitation services delivered to government, academic, and international development partners.

Product overview

National Dialogue Forum operates as a non-partisan public policy organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core offerings include the Youth Development Program/YPDC for youth peace-building and engagement, the Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program for Afghan refugees, the Pak-Afghan Dialogue Forum for regional connectivity, and the Refugee Stories documentary initiative. Supporting these are professional services in research and policy analysis, dialogue facilitation, program development, and data analytics. The organization functions as a unified platform with multiple programmatic arms that work synergistically to promote pluralism, inclusive policy-making, and regional stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Peace and Development Corps (YPDC): Campus-based network empowering young champions of social change through safe spaces on university campuses.
• Pak-Afghan Dialogue Forum (PADF)
• Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP)
• Leaders Fellowship Program (LSIP)
• National Policymaking Competition
• The Refugee Stories

Products and services

• Youth Development Program (YPDC) A comprehensive youth engagement initiative that creates safe campus-based spaces for 'Young Champions of Social Change' to promote pluralism, peace-building, and positive social transformation. Includes the Leaders Fellowship Program (LSIP), National Policymaking Competition, Leadership Boot Camp, and Social Action Projects on Campus across YPDC chapters at Pakistani universities.
• Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP) A scholarship initiative providing long-term support to young Afghan refugee students enrolled at Pakistani universities. Includes financial grants of 33,000 PKR monthly, laptop provision, and conceptual support through workshops on democratic education, conflict resolution, and social cohesion, administered to approximately 30 students annually.
• Pak-Afghan Dialogue Forum A platform aimed at strengthening people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan based on shared interests and common goals of establishing peace and regional stability, including dialogue events and exchange programs.
• Refugee Stories Mini-Docuseries A mini-docuseries documenting the struggles and successes of Afghan refugee role models and community leaders who have excelled in adversity, contributing to Pakistani society and economy. Aimed at bridging the gap between refugee and host communities and promoting social cohesion.
• Policy Dialogues A platform providing opportunities for diverse viewpoints to actively and constructively engage in discussions surrounding political and socioeconomic matters, bridging gaps in understanding and perspective between policymakers, experts, and citizens.
• Research Reports and Publications Comprehensive research services including survey design, enumerator training, data collection and analysis, rapid assessments, political risk assessments, and policy papers on topics such as conflict, security, human rights, and political economy, delivered to clients such as UN Women and other development organizations.
• Dialogue and Advocacy Services Platform for diverse views to productively engage on socio-economic and political issues, advocating for inclusive policy reforms and interventions using dialogue as a tool, drawing from pluralistic perspectives.
• Evidence-Based Policy Making Services Research and analysis services to inform policy decisions, ensuring they are grounded in empirical evidence and data-driven insights, helping clients incorporate evidence-based approaches into their policy making processes.
• Program Development and Implementation Services Evidence-based approach to program development, management, and implementation drawing on sectoral expertise and stakeholder feedback to design effective and adaptive programs that deliver tangible results and positive impact.
• Advanced Data Analytics and Visualizations Interactive dashboards and real-time data access tools for clients to track program progress and make informed decisions using advanced data science techniques.

Quantifiable outcome

• HSSP provides approximately 30 scholarship grants annually to Afghan refugee students in Pakistan
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• HEC Pakistan (Higher Education Commission)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023MOU signed for Green Youth Movement (GYM) project under PM's Youth Program. NDF will engage with university students and provide training and capacity building on Climate Change, focusing on developing green skills and climate policy for university students in Pakistan.
• Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar (IMSciences)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 7 March 2023Collaborative three-day training program on Entrepreneurial Skills Development for Afghan HSSP scholarship holders. Training included business planning, marketing strategies, financial management, and interaction with National Incubation Center and Business Incubation Center in Peshawar.
• National Assembly of PakistanmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 November 2022Joint roundtable dialogue on 'Parliamentary Diplomacy as a Tool of Strengthening Democratic Institutions' organized with Young Parliamentary Forum (YPF). Provided platform for young parliamentarians to engage on legislative capacity building, climate change, and social media issues.
• Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 August 2022Collaborative five-day orientation program on 'Constitutional Frameworks of Pakistan and the Role of Legislators' for Afghan refugee students enrolled in HSSP. Conducted at PIPS Campus in Islamabad with support from National Assembly of Pakistan.
• Area Study Center, University of PeshawarminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 July 2022Expert roundtable discussion on Afghan migrants in Pakistan held at Area Study Center, bringing together civil society, think tanks, academia, media, and tribal leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSF is NDF's primary implementing partner for the Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP), supporting Afghan refugee students in Pakistan. HSF provides funding while NDF handles program implementation including scholarship management, conceptual support (democratic education, tolerance, conflict resolution), and training activities. The partnership includes regional dialogue initiatives and capacity-building programs.
• UN WomenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDF conducted research study on 'Resilience, community security and social cohesion through effective women's leadership' examining gendered dimensions of ethnic and religious conflicts in Pakistan. Study covered all four provinces through quantitative surveys and focus group discussions.
• UNHCR PakistancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for Afghan refugee support programs. UNHCR representatives participate in HSSP events, advisory days, and provide support for refugee scholarship holders. Deputy Country Representative Tammi Sharpe honored HSSP scholars at Academic and Career Advisory Day.
• University of LahoremajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNDF partnered with University of Lahore to host National Policymaking Competition, providing practical exposure to policymaking outside traditional classrooms. Competition refined student skills in policy memo writing and presentations across three modules.
• USIP (United States Institute of Peace)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization supporting peacebuilding and policy research initiatives.
• UNDPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization for development programs and policy support.
• IOM (International Organization for Migration)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization for migration and refugee-related programs.
• Government of PunjabminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvincial government partnership for youth development and policy engagement programs.
• Government of Khyber PakhtunkhwaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvincial government partnership for youth development and policy engagement programs.
• Government of BalochistanminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvincial government partnership for youth development and policy engagement programs, including Afghan refugee dialogue events.
• Government of SindhminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvincial government partnership for youth development and policy engagement programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU): Afghanistan-focused research organization producing policy research on migration, governance, and livelihoods. Comparable on Afghanistan-relevant research, refugee-focused programming, and donor-funded think tank model.

Emerging players

• Conciliation Resources: International NGO working on peace and conflict resolution, including South Asia programs. Comparable on dialogue-based approach to peacebuilding, multi-stakeholder convening, and research-informed programming.

Broad incumbents

• International Crisis Group: Global conflict-prevention organization producing policy research and convening on fragile states, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. Comparable on policy analysis, donor-funded research, and high-level convening.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): US-based peacebuilding and conflict-resolution institute with global programming. Listed as an NDF partner; comparable on mission (peacebuilding, policy dialogue) and convening role in Pakistan-Afghanistan context.

Direct peers

• Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI): Islamabad-based think tank conducting policy research and advocacy on socio-economic and political issues in Pakistan. Directly comparable as a Pakistani policy research organization engaging government, civil society, and international donors.
• Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS): Islamabad-based think tank producing research on security, governance, and political economy in Pakistan. Comparable on geo-spatial policy coverage, donor-funded research model, and policy dialogue convening.
• Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT): Pakistani think tank working on legislative strengthening, democratic governance, and parliamentary engagement. Comparable to NDF's parliamentary dialogue work with the National Assembly and PIPS-style civic engagement.
• Jinnah Institute: Islamabad-based policy research and advocacy organization focused on pluralism, democratic governance, and Pakistan's foreign policy. Directly comparable in mission (inclusive policy reform) and orientation toward marginalized voices.
• Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS): Islamabad-based research organization focused on peace, security, and conflict in Pakistan and the broader region. NDF and PIPS share its focus on conflict-sensitive research, policy advocacy, and convening dialogues on Afghanistan.

Others

• Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Pakistan: German political foundation implementing development and civic education programs in Pakistan. Not a direct competitor but NDF's primary implementing partner for HSSP, and a useful comparison for policy dialogue and scholarship delivery models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NDF_Pak
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NDF.Official
• Facebookfacebook.com/NDFIslamabad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ndfpak
• Instagraminstagram.com/ndfpak
• TikToktiktok.com/@ndfpak

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Dialogue Forum