What causes poverty? What perpetuates it? How can it be fought?
These are questions experts at the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) grapple with every day.
Their solution: community-driven development.
What is the PPAF?
A leading institution for community-driven development in the country, the PPAF was set up as a fully autonomous private sector institution.
Despite being a private institute, PPAF enjoys facilitation and support from the government of Pakistan, along with the World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, KfW (German-owned development bank) and the corporate sector.
The PPAF focused on addressing water-related issues through improved water resources development in drought, flood-trodden and water scarce regions of Pakistan.
The project
The organisation selected Union Council Lawa of Tehsil Talagang in District Chakwal for the implementation of drought mitigation and preparedness program – an integrated intervention aimed not only at improving the groundwater and other resources of water, but also to transform the lives of the poor and marginalised segments of society in the project area.
Through its implementing partner, the National Rural Support Program (NRSP), PPAF mobilised locals and following a community demand-driven approach, it decided to launch a project for sustainable development of water resources for sustainability of agriculture and livestock - particularly during dry years.
Accordingly, 79 projects of irrigation, agriculture, pipe irrigation, dug-wells, rain water harvesting ponds, delay action, mini dams and check dams were launched and completed at a total cost of about Rs64 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2012.
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