Published on 1 March 2021 This paper analyses findings from a study of the Consolidating Democracy in Pakistan (CDIP) and AAWAZ Voice and Accountability programmes, both funded by the UK government. The study is a contribution to the A4EA Research Programme workstream ‘Unpacking Donor Action’. It is based on a secondary literature review, analysis of programme documents, and qualitative interviews with individuals who worked with these programmes at various levels. The analysis explores the interaction between the two programmes to argue they produced strong synergies as an outcome of their adaptive programming approach. The synergising took place under conditions of growing constraints on civic society and the democratic process during the programme life cycles. The paper concludes that the beneficial interaction effects were an outcome of strategic partnerships with a common implementing agency (DAI) and deep engagement with civil society organizations, but without empowered local government and on-going donor support the empowerment effects are difficult to sustain.