The development of micro-infrastructure, such as drinking water systems, agricultural technology, and small-scale energy solutions, is another critical factor for poverty elimination in Pakistan and a priority for APF.
71 million people in Pakistan do not have access to electricity. Over 18 million people do not have access to clean water. The 2010 floods caused unprecedented damages to agriculture and micro-infrastructure systems across Pakistan. Communities have been left with no reliable source for clean drinking water or irrigation solutions.
Rural Support Programmes Network
We launched a partnership with the Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN) and Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) in Pakistan to rehabilitate water and irrigation micro-infrastructure in the flood affected area of the Swat district in Khyber-Pakhtunkwa province.
This project provided access to clean drinking water and irrigation solutions to 3,940 households in the KP province, benefiting over 29,000 people.
Program Overview
SRSP successfully completed micro-infrastructure projects in 33 communities. In each community, SRSP facilitated meetings and established Community Organizations, which are groups of local leaders and stakeholders who will manage the current project and contribute to long-term development of the community. SRSP facilitated the establishment of Women Community Organizations in the project areas.
RSPN played a key project management role, and has formed project, audit, and maintenance committees. The project committees supervise the ongoing construction, arrange labor, and consult with the engineers for technical guidance. The audit committees ensure the quality of the construction, track expenses, and sign vouchers. The maintenance committee is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure after the project is completed, through a fund that is created by each community.
RSPN and SRSP monitor the micro-infrastructure projects on a regular basis and are also conducting water quality tests at all sites to ensure that the purity of the drinking water is guaranteed.
About the Rural Support Programmes Network
RSPN is a network of ten nongovernmental Rural Support Programmes (RSPs) in Pakistan. RSPN involves poor communities in improved management and delivery of basic services through social mobilization. RSPN’s approach is highly beneficial to communities as it increases their participation and inclusion in development, increases social capital, and creates sustainable, grassroots-driven agendas. RSPN serves as a strategic platform for the RSPs by providing technical support, capacity building, policy advocacy, and donor linkages. RSPN has a presence in 105 of the Pakistan’s districts and in two FATA areas. Within these areas, the RSPs have mobilized over 3.3 million rural households. This project is being locally implemented by one of RSPN’s member organizations, the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP).
Visit RSPN's website to learn more about their work in Pakistan.
About Sarhad Rural Support Programme
SRSP is the largest non-profit/non-government organization of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. It has pro-actively promoted people-centered development by improving livelihoods of poor and vulnerable communities, while maintaining the special focus on women, playing a leading role in supporting poverty reduction in KP over the past two decades. SRSP focuses on community needs, as reflected by in-depth dialogues and diagnostic surveys in the communities where it operates. SRSP comprises of over 1000 professional/support staff members but its scope extends far beyond, encompassing an extensive network of partner organizations and former staff members across the development landscape of Pakistan. The organization has a proven track record in planning, implementation, management, steering, monitoring and evaluation of community development, improvement in physical infrastructure, microfinance, human resource development and gender awareness and mainstreaming in rural areas of KP.
Click here to learn more about SRSP.
