Islamabad, August 4, 2006 ─ Two grant agreements of US $1.7 million dollars were signed with NGOs on Friday for gearing up reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the earthquake affected areas in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The World Bank administered Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) will provide a total of US$ 6.5 million in grant financing to four NGOs, for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in earthquake affected areas of the AJK and NWFP. The fund is provided by the Government of Japan. The remaining two agreements will be signed shortly. The JSDF grants will finance improvement of services and facilities for poorer population groups in earthquake affected areas. The four approved projects include activities focusing on the promotion of independent living amongst persons with disabilities; building community capacity for reconstruction and; revitalization and improvement of primary health care. “Japan has mobilised all possible programmes and resources in order to provide assistance to the earthquake victims in Pakistan. The Japan Social Development Fund is part of the total assistance provided to the earthquake victims, amounting to approximately US $200 million”, said Seiji Kojima, Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan. “I am very much impressed that the World Bank, local NGOs and the Government of Japan have fully cooperated in preparing programmes to address this catastrophic disaster. I certainly believe they will help people with disabilities and will build the community capacity in the earthquake affected areas.” The Grants will be implemented through partnership between international and local NGOs working in the affected areas. All the grants have a special focus on ensuring that the organizations receiving grant support build the capacities of local communities so that they can take forward medium-term to longer-term reconstruction and rehabilitation work. “Working in close collaboration with non-governmental organizations in the delivery of essential services to the poor and vulnerable sections of society becomes all the more important in the wake of a tragedy like the October 8 earthquake ,” said Ismaila B. Ceesay, World Bank Acting Country Director for Pakistan. “The government and its development partners fully appreciate the value of pooling resources and expertise with the civil society for helping affected communities rebuild their lives.” The JSDF agreements signed on Friday include: Promoting Independent Living Amongst Persons with Disabilities --- US$767000--- Implemented by Milestone Society for Special Persons
This project will establish Independent Living Centers in Mansehra and Bisham in the NWFP, and Muzaffarabad and Bagh in the AJK. Independent Living Centers will provide training in the Independent Living program which will be tailored to individual client needs. The program also includes a peer counseling program and Attendant Service training. Building Community Capacity for Reconstruction ---US$ 1,000,000---Rural Support Programme Network
The overall objective of the grant is to build the capacity of affected communities and vulnerable groups to reconstruct housing with hazard resistant techniques and standards. The program includes hands on training for Master Trainers in seismically resistant housing construction design as well as technical consultation designed to improve the integration of rural development and planning into small, community-based infrastructure reconstruction programs. The agreements signing ceremony, held at the World Bank office in Islamabad was attended by Seiji Kojima Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, representatives of the NGOs who received the grants, and officials from the Economic Affairs Division and Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), Government of Pakistan. ### For more information on World Bank activities in Pakistan, please visit: http://www.worldbank.org.pk |
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