Pakistan

Background

The Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) is located between the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, (KP).

FATA has a strong tribal structure, a rich cultural heritage and ethnic diversity with many tribes residing there. The people are active in harvesting and threshing of crops, construction of Hujras (traditional meeting places), mosques, buildings and cleaning of irrigation channels and protection from floods.

FATA is also known for its tradition of hospitality, tribal arts and crafts and historical places.

FATA is one of the most underdeveloped regions of Pakistan amounted by years of regional instability and decades of crisis underpinned by poor governance and weak development planning. This keeps the tribal areas in perpetual state of poverty, conflict, and isolation. Militants have exploited these frustrations resulting in destabilization of FATA and causing large scale displacement.

The government, security forces and particularly the Federal Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) Secretariat are making significant efforts to ensure safe areas of return.

As FATA begins to see gradual stability, more Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are beginning to return. By October 31st, 2011, approximately 751,415 persons have returned to their places of origin with the highest number of returnees belong to Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies.

In the past 4 months, 52% IDPs have returned and this trend is expected to continue. However, due to the devastating impact of the crisis, many communities lack access to basic social services and infrastructure, facing poor livelihood conditions and weak governance institutions.

In order to restore lives, livelihoods, and other basic needs and build back better with gender awareness in FATA, UNDP led the creation of a cohesive and efficient coordination mechanism which was established in June 2011 in the form of an Early Recovery Working Group (ERWG). The FDMA chairs the ERWG with UNDP as co-chair. It has representatives from 13 UN agencies and nine departments of the FATA Secretariat and other stakeholders.

Objectives

The project aims to:

• Improve access to basic social services: health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation;
• Restore community infrastructure;
• Rehabilitate farm and non-farm livelihoods livestock, food assistance and economic opportunities while ensuring that protection is cross cutting; and · Strengthen capacity of local authorities, communities, and youth for peace building, social cohesion and disaster risk reduction.