Japan, here on Tuesday, signed a partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Food Programme (WFP), under which it would contribute $10.6 million to help fight malnutrition; improve livelihoods and increase resilience to natural disasters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan.
Out of the total, $3.5 million will be used towards the early identification and treatment of 155,000 acutely malnourished mothers and children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
WFP Representative Finbarr Curran remarked that WFP was grateful for the continued partnership and generosity of Japan in its provision of emergency life-saving nutritional support for malnourished mothers and children.
“We are proud to be working together to support some of Pakistan’s most vulnerable families,” he added.
$3.55 million of the grant would go towards UNDP’s Stabilization through Inclusive Livelihoods initiative in the Tribal Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A joint collaboration with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the FATA Secretariat, this project would support 20,700 people by improving their access to basic services, economic opportunities and social cohesion in Kurram and Orakzai tribal districts.
In addition, the Japanese Government would support Pakistan at both national and local levels to prepare for natural calamities, with a special focus on tsunami early warning systems and the resilience of women and children living on coastal areas. The UNDP, in conjunction with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial DMAs of Sindh and Balochistan, Pakistan Meteorological Department, district administrations of Karachi (Malir and West Karachi) and Gwadar, has devised the project that would benefit 15,000 people living in Malir and Karachi West districts of Sindh and Gwadar district of Balochistan province.
UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative, Ignacio Artaza, believed that empowering local communities to withstand crises required joint efforts by all stakeholders. He also appreciated Japan for its support in helping improve livelihoods of those returning to the tribal districts. The Japanese contribution would also help in a successful implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.
The Japanese Ambassador Designate, Kuninori Matsuda, also spoke on the occasion and assured Afghan refugees and people in Khyber Pakhtunwa of continued support from Japan.
Economic Affairs Division Additional Secretary, Zulfiqar Haider, termed such projects as a sign of the UN’s continued commitment to helping Pakistan achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
NDMA Chairman, Lt. Gen. Omar Mahmood Hayat, called the UN his body’s trusted partner, praising the initiative as a welcome step to enhance the capability of Pakistan to tackle crises.
Published in Daily Times, February 20th 2019.
