A GBP £2.2 million programme being delivered by Islamic Relief Pakistan is transforming lives and communities in Charsadda and Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtoonkhw.
The integrated community development programme is helping 16 villages in Charsadda and Nowshehra, districts which are struggling to recover from the 2009 internal displacement crisis and flooding in 2010. Families grapple with under-developed water, sanitation and other key infrastructure, poor livelihoods prospects and widespread poverty.
Our life-changing programme is improving quality of life in the flood-prone districts, by building local capacity to support much-needed development and boost rural livelihoods.
A better and more prosperous future
Sumayya Sajjad, Interim Head of Development programme for Islamic Relief Pakistan, said: “Islamic Relief has worked in this area since 2008. We invested more than GBP £14.5 million in emergency relief during the devastating floods of 2010 and 2011 and in subsequent projects to help rebuild lives and communities.
“The integrated development programme is a vital step in building a better and more prosperous future for the area. It is empowering communities to protect themselves from disasters, to meet the needs of local people, and to restore livelihoods.”
Features of the programme include strengthening community-based organisations to play a direct role, with action plans to support the overall village development plan. The organisations have received training and grants to run their own small projects, which include improving access to drinking water and enhancing drainage systems, as well as providing vocational training and irrigating farming land.
In excess of 126,000 people are expected to directly benefit from the three-year programme, which is due to complete this summer. Islamic Relief works extensively in Pakistan, and earlier this year signed a landmark agreement to enhance disaster resilience in AJK.