Bacha Khan Poverty Alleviation Programme

Training in Progress Bacha Khan Poverty Alleviation Programme is being implemented in selected four districts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa including Mardan, Karak, Upper Dir and Battagram for a period of two years. The lead in implementation is undertaken by P&D Department/SDU, Government of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and target communities. The project, at provincial level, is also supported by all relevant government line agencies including Health, Education, Social Welfare, Finance, Agriculture and Livestock and Local Government and Rural Development. At district level the project will be implemented in close coordination with the District Administration and all relevant departments.

The programme is envisaged to benefit over a million population directly and indirectly. An interesting element would be inclusion of poor in every aspect of the project. The selection of participating communities would be based on RSP social mobilisation approach and strategy which essentially inculcate community dialogues, willingness of communities, developing terms and partnerships and commitment of target communities to own the project activities.

To sustain process of self help and collective action, at every union council, men and women activists as Community Resource Persons are identified, trained and engaged to support programme activities. Organizing members, expanding programme coverage, inclusion of poor and vulnerable, facilitating record keeping and supporting process of social mobilization are a few core responsibilities of Community Resource Persons.

Natural Resource management under BKPAP Programme

The programme focuses on a set of small scale initiatives through involvement of relevant government line agencies to enhance capacities of community members in proper management of Natural Resources. The NRM Research & Demonstration isl being done in a three stage process whereby new technology is initially experimented on a small scale followed by demonstration and replication on a wider scale.

Main Objective of the Programme

The broader objective of the programme is “to reduce rural poverty through reviving livelihoods, improve human and productive assets and develop government’s capacity for pro poor, vulnerable and women development in selected four Districts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa”.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of the programme are

1) To empower poor and vulnerable groups, reviving community collective action and rebuild community institutions and networks to make claims for their rights and negotiate with the government and intermediary organizations.
2) Improve/Strengthen Livelihoods of poor and vulnerable especially women in target area through Community Investment Funds, micro credit, participatory infrastructure schemes and improvement in Natural Resource Management.
3) Sensitize, support and strengthen delivery of Social Sector Services including education and health especially for poor and vulnerable.

Programme Outputs

Some of Programme outputs would be:

1) Formation of up-to 3,600 men and women community, village and union council level LSOs in four districts;

2) 87,600 members to be benefiting from NRM inputs and capacity building in NRM.

3) Capacity building of up-to 24,280 member in community managerial and leadership trainings.

4) 16,960 members to be benefiting from micro loans, CIF and COs capacity building under rural financial services.

5) Development of new and rehabilitation of (if needed) 800 small scale community based infrastructure schemes benefiting 300,000 members and non members;

6) Micro insurance, technical and employable skills training benefiting 102,000 beneficiaries.

Outcomes of the Programme

The programme outcomes would include:

1) Develop social capital and community institutions and technical models for poverty reduction and sustainable development;

2) Raise the income and quality of life of people, especially the poorest and vulnerable community members, living in the target area;

3) Improve productivity, efficiency and effectiveness through improved infrastructure;

4) Improved women mobility and self confidence facilitating their access to services and opportunities.

5) Improved financial self sufficiency of apex level organization comprising of men and women based community institutions.