USAID to launch $20m education project

Mission Director Kate Somvongsiri prioritises health sector in K-P

PESHAWAR:

Kate Somvongsiri, the USAID Mission Director for Pakistan, has announced the forthcoming launch of the $20 million Education Resilience Activity (ERA) project in Pakistan. This initiative aims to bolster development in education, health, and various other key sectors within the province.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Somvongsiri highlighted USAID’s longstanding commitment to the country since 2009, during which it has provided over $1 billion in assistance across diverse sectors.

She emphasized USAID’s collaborative efforts with the K-P government, including the merged districts, spanning 26 projects covering academic and women’s development, education, climate change, energy, and infrastructure.

Notably, USAID’s contributions to road infrastructure have resulted in the construction of over 1,300 kilometers of roads, bridges, link roads, and tunnels, fostering livelihoods, connectivity, and economic potential.

In the energy sector, USAID has supported projects such as the Gomal Zam Dam, providing 253 megawatts of primarily hydroelectric, clean, and affordable energy to K-P.

At the national level, USAID’s interventions have added 4,000 megawatts of clean and affordable energy to the national grid.

Education and health remain paramount for USAID, with initiatives encompassing the construction of 29 new schools and the rehabilitation of over 1,000 others affected by conflict and natural disasters.

USAID is also collaborating with the government to introduce public-private partnerships for education improvement, focusing not only on infrastructure but also on ensuring quality education.

In higher education, USAID has aided eight universities, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art energy center at the University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, and the construction of faculty of education buildings in four universities. Furthermore, USAID has provided over 1,000 merit and need-based scholarships to students across the province. In response to natural disasters, USAID allocated $200 million after the 2022 floods.

Health constitutes the largest portion of USAID’s program in Pakistan, with nearly 50% of the budget allocated to this sector. Initiatives focus on quality healthcare, maternal and child health, and water and sanitation, including the support for the digging of 180 drinking water wells and 120 kilometers of municipal drainage pipes.

Climate change is another focal point for USAID in K-P, with the US Pakistan Green Alliance concentrating on water, energy, and agriculture.

Somvongsiri reiterated USAID’s commitment to supporting the provincial government and merged districts, ensuring a sustainable future for the people of the province, and standing with Pakistanis during natural disasters.

She said that the agency has also built the faculty of education in four universities, namely Gomal University, University of Peshawar, Hazara University and University of Malakand.

The US Pakistan Green Alliance will focus on water, energy and agriculture. Besides, she said that the vision of the US government on climate change aligned with the Pakistani government.

Kate Somvongsiri stated that USAID is committed to aiding the provincial government and merged districts, ensuring a prosperous future for the province through sustainable development projects. She emphasized USAID’s enduring support for the Pakistani people in the face of natural disasters.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2024.