Economic uplift project launched with assistance of Netherlands govt

HARIPUR: The stakeholders from the local line departments and civil society here on Friday assured of full support to the project aimed at fostering social cohesion and sustainable development through Afghan refugees and the host community.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Human Rights and Relief Muhammad Abid chaired the meeting.The representatives of different government departments and civil society organizations participated and shared their input.

The Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) has started implementing the Netherlands-funded project, “Improvement resilience and economic growth of vulnerable segments of Afghan refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” in Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra districts of Hazara.

Zubair Anwar, the regional programme manager of the SRSP, briefed the participants about the project and activities.

He shared the details of four broader components of the project, Zubair Anwar said for achieving the objectives set for social cohesion, economic growth, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and response mechanism to gender-based violence.

The manager said the SRSP would conduct activities under the formula of mandatory participation of 50 pc Afghan living outside the camps and 50pc local hosting communities from the selected localities.

He said that by ensuring proper gender balance from both communities, the implementing organization would facilitate inclusive social cohesion among the communities, conduct different livelihood training for male and females for their economic well-being.

For prevention and response against gender-based violence, both communities would be provided with mental health and psychosocial support to the victims. For prevention, the psychologists would arrange sessions for the selected communities during the next three years.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Relief and Human Rights Muhammad Abid emphasized a concerted effort on the part of donors, implementing organization and the local community and civil society organizations.

He appreciated the significance of the project and implementation strategies and assured of all legal support to the SRSP and the donor agency.The participants assured the donor agency and SRSP of their full support and coordination during the implementation phase of the project.