CDLD attains targets in Malakand division against all odds

PESHAWAR: Community Driven Local Development (CDLD) programme, funded jointly by European Union and government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to make a difference in the militancy and calamities-hit districts in Malakand division.

Focal person of the programme at the Local Government Election and Rural Development Department and Additional Secretary Barkatullah Khan Marwat said the activities of the CDLD were going ahead with full swing and over 1900 schemes in different sectors have been implemented in Malakand division in a short span of seven months.

“The CDLD being implemented across six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been able to attain its ambitious targets this year,” said another official. This is a four-year budgetary support programme to promote community-driven development at the local level which is implemented through the communities. Under the programme small infrastructure projects are identified by the communities and designed and implemented through their assistance.

An official said that the programme in its first year had faced severe setbacks leading to European Union reducing its assistance because of its inability to attain its targets owing to some policy level bureaucratic delays in implementing the community driven policy on ground.

A well-coordinated effort between the district administration, the social mobilisation institution, Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and Local Government Department team has made this possible.“The shifting of the programme to the Local Government Department also facilitated the process,” said an official.

He also linked the success of the community-based development projects in six districts of Malakand division to the dedication of the SRSP team and said that implementing through timely delivery of funds and active supervision would be further sped up.

The official also cited the reconstruction of a 200 feet pedestrian bridge in Barkana village in Shangla district that is benefiting more than 500 households. He said the previous bridge was washed away in the floods of 2010 and it was difficult for school children and women to cross the stream. During monsoon season, the people remained disconnected from other parts of the village.

However, the situation has now totally changed after SRSP reconstructed the pedestrian bridge under the EU-funded PEACE project.The SRSP under the programme developed 2105 projects worth Rs3266 million. These included Rs2613 million (CDLD share) and Rs653 million (community share 25 percent). These were submitted to the district administration against the target of 1795 projects.

Under the programme, over 775 elected representatives have been oriented on the LGA 2013. Up to 636 elected representatives underwent comprehensive trainings in LGA 2013, role and responsibilities of each councils, participatory planning and development, effective governance and management of development investments. These trainings enhanced their skills and capacity to deal with affairs of their respective councils efficiently and effectively.

“The SRSP-CDLD team is proud of these landmark achievements during the year 2015-16. The government of KP has also recognised the achievement of the SRSP for coming up to the expectations,” he maintained.