Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 13 October 2023

UNDP

PRESS RELEASE

High Commissioner of Canada and Resident Representative UNDP Pakistan inaugurated flood affected girls' school in Brep, Upper Chitral

Islamabad, 13 October 2023 – H.E. Leslie Scanlon, High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Mr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan, inaugurated a Government Girls’ High School in the remote Brep village in Upper Chitral, affected by floods in 2022. The ceremony was attended by officials of the High Commission of Canada, Education Department, local administration, UNDP, students, teachers, and parents.

Following the 2022 torrential rains and flash floods, the Brep school building sustained extensive damage, making it unusable and posing serious safety concerns for students and teachers. This natural disaster disrupted the education of girl students, who were temporarily relocated to a nearby rented facility. In September 2022, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development for Canada, visited the affected area and committed to rehabilitating the school, by providing $80,000 in funding through Global Affairs Canada. In collaboration with UNDP and the Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the rehabilitation and restoration work has now been completed. More broadly, Canada has committed a total of $58M for flood response and resilience building in Pakistan, following the 2022 floods. Of this, $33M was provided for disaster response, and another $25M will be utilized for longer-term resilience building and rehabilitation.

While addressing the inauguration ceremony, H.E. Leslie Scanlon, High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan said, “Canada will continue to look for opportunities to increase access to and improve the delivery of basic education in Pakistan, including for refugees, forcibly-displaced children/youth, and host communities, with a focus on reducing barriers for girls.”

Canada has been at the forefront of empowering women and girls in KP province for decades, focusing on remote, marginalised communities in areas with some of the lowest gender indicators. The rehabilitation of the Brep School is part of the $7 million Improved Access to Quality Education in the Merged Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and jointly implemented by the UNDP, UNICEF and the Elementary & Secondary Education Department of KP.

Through this project, a total of 102 girls’ schools have undergone comprehensive rehabilitation and are equipped with educational resources, leading to a significant improvement in both enrolment and quality of education for around 14,000 girls in Kurram, Orakzai and Upper Chitral. Through this project, Canada has also strengthened the capacities of provincial education institutions, such as the Education Monitoring Authority and the Directorate of Professional Development, funded extensive enrolment campaigns, established Early Childhood Centres, trained hundreds of teachers, provided teaching learning materials and furniture to schools, and improved the curriculum for training of teachers in the province. Canada believes that a holistic approach to education needs is necessary to create a larger impact and sustain the results of girls’ education in the province.

This intervention is part of UNDP’s broader 2022 flood recovery programme, which aims to develop long-term resilience to natural hazards and climate change. UNDP's vision of resilient and integrated recovery - in tune with UNDP's Crisis Offer is guided by the needs on the ground and government priorities, while implemented in coordination with humanitarian and development partners. UNDP’s approach to resilient recovery in Pakistan spans the humanitarian-development nexus, and bridges short, medium- and long-term dimensions of the response, with underlying principles of gender equality and environmental sustainability integrated into all activities.

The Resilient Recovery Strategy in Pakistan is built on four key pillars. The first pillar focuses on rebuilding housing and community infrastructure to provide safe living conditions following the 2022 floods. The second pillar, livelihood recovery, is dedicated to helping people regain their sources of income and rebuild their economic well-being. Meanwhile, the third pillar emphasizes restoring governance systems to ensure effective and accountable government services. Lastly, the fourth pillar concentrates on enhancing disaster resilience and environmental protection, aiming to prepare communities for future challenges and promote sustainable practices. All of these pillars collectively contribute to the broader goal of fostering resilience to natural hazards and climate change in Pakistan.

In the Brep School, UNDP's extensive rehabilitation initiative encompassed a wide array of essential tasks. These included the meticulous removal of over 121,000 cubic feet of debris surrounding the school, the reconstruction of boundary walls, and the construction of a new room and toilet block. Moreover, UNDP provided crucial Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, undertook necessary repairs and installations of doors, windows, and the main gate, electrified the premises, and revitalized the IT and science lab spaces. In addition to these infrastructural enhancements, the Canada-funded project also furnished the school with modern school furniture, essential IT equipment, and state-of-the-art science lab apparatus. These comprehensive measures have transformed the school into a well-equipped institution, poised to deliver quality education to over 150 girls’ students.

UNDP has developed a strong collaborative partnership with the Education Department, the local community, and the Parents-Teacher Committee to establish a sense of ownership and effective oversight over civil works. This collaborative effort is aimed at ensuring that the project truly meets the needs and expectations of all stakeholders.

To maintain stringent quality control and adherence to project timelines, UNDP's technical team consistently and rigorously monitored the construction activities. This proactive approach not only guaranteed the high quality of the work but also ensured that the project was completed within the specified timeframe, further enhancing its impact on the school and the community.

Mr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative UNDP Pakistan shared his remarks “The rehabilitation of this school is not just about repairing a building, it is about restoring hope and opportunity for young girls who deserve the chance to learn, grow and thrive in a safe and supportive environment”

Canada, UNDP and the Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will continue to work together to ensure education remains a priority area KP and to empower children, especially girls and young women to achieve their full potential.  

For additional information, please contact Shuja Hakim at shuja.hakim@undp.org  or +92 (51) 835 5657

Contact detail of focal person from High Commission of Canada at Shabnam.Razzak@international.gc.ca or +92 51 2086479

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UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

 

Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

UNDP and Ministry of Climate Change Commemorate International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Islamabad, October 13 2023: UNDP commemorated International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) 2023 in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to honour the resilience of the communities in the face of climate-induced disasters such as Glacial Lake outburst Floods (GLOFs.) IDDRR highlights the significance of disaster preparedness and showcases the strength of communities in mitigating disaster risks and losses.

The event garnered an active participation from a diverse background of professionals including government officials, implementing partners, representatives from NGOs/INGOs, members of the civil society, academia, and the media.

In an effort to enhance disaster risk reduction and the significance of preparedness, a series of awareness sessions and mock drills were conducted in Ghizer, Ghundus, Ghulkin, Barah, and Parashing valleys of Gilgit Baltistan. These sessions entailed briefing the community members on safeguarding procedures and mechanisms, followed by a practical demonstration of these methods through mock drills. The primary objective was to increase community cohesion in reducing disaster risks and stress the importance of being prepared ahead of any potential calamity.

Panel discussions in Gilgit and Skardu delved into disaster risk mitigation strategies and community-driven measures for climate adaptation. The discussions highlighted the critical link between disasters and their adverse effects on poverty, inequalities, and discrimination. By understanding how these factors increase community vulnerability to climate-induced disasters, the panels aimed to reinforce the importance of proactive action to build resilience and protect vulnerable populations.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Najeeb Alam, Commissioner of Baltistan Division, highlighted the susceptibility of the region to various disasters, primarily attributing this to the escalating impacts of climate change.

"A disaster may strike at any time, especially owing to the melting of the glaciers; disrupting lives and causing massive destruction. With the GLOF-II Project’s climate-adaptation mechanisms, such as the installation of the Early Warning Systems, we will be more prepared to safeguard our lives and habitations than we have been before. This is what this day stands for – to be better prepared to reduce disaster risks," the Commissioner said.

In Peshawar and Chitral (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), the events entailed ‘Resilience For All’ themed Essay Writing, Art, and Speech Competitions for students. These dynamic initiatives included Essay Writing, Art, and Speech Competitions, meticulously crafted to captivate, and educate students. The overarching objective was to impart a profound understanding of climate adaptability and underscore the pivotal role that disaster preparedness plays in preserving lives and reducing environmental damage.

“A disaster changes everything – from the way we live our lives, to our surroundings. Nothing remains to be the same. This is what I learnt through the declamation. I want our voices to be stronger, so that our resilience can be strengthened, and so that we remain prepared.” said a student, following the end of the speech competition.

UNDP’s GLOF-II project works in 16 valleys of Gilgit Baltistan and 8 valleys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It empowers communities to identify and manage risks associated with GLOFs and related impacts of Climate Change, strengthen public services to lower the risk of disasters related to GLOF, and improve community preparedness and disaster response. The project also supports development of sustainable options for livelihoods in project areas, with a particular focus on the participation of women in ensuring food security and livelihoods.

For additional information, please contact Shuja Hakim at shuja.hakim@undp.org  or +92 (51) 835 5650

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

 

Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP