ADB Preparing Project to Develop Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (18 February2004) - ADB has approved a technical assistance (TA) grant of US$465,000 to strengthen key institutions involved with the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan.

The TA will strengthen key agencies working in the FATA in the planning, design, monitoring, and evaluation of rural development projects, ahead of a $40 million rural development project in ADB's pipeline for 2004.

FATA's development significantly lags behind the adjoining settled districts of North-West Frontier Province and the country as a whole. The Government estimates that up to 60% of FATA households live below the poverty line.

The region has a literacy rate of 17.4% and a primary school participation rate of 41.3%, which are significantly lower than the national averages of 45% and 77%, respectively. Only 44% of the population has access to clean drinking water, as compared to 75% for the neighboring NWFP.

"Following discussions with key officials, it was determined that the TA should address weaknesses in planning, implementation, budgeting, and monitoring," says Donneth A. Walton, an ADB Senior Rural Development Specialist and mission leader for the TA.

"The assistance will also strengthen technical skills and handling of information communication technology."

The departments and line agencies involved include Planning and Development, Finance, Livestock and Dairy Development, Agriculture Extension, Local Government and Rural Development, Forestry and Works and Services.

The TA will significantly boost the skills of professional staff of line agencies working in the FATA and responsible for broad-based development in the region.

Training would be undertaken through participatory workshops and classroom training.

The total cost of the TA is estimated at $605,000 equivalent. The Government will contribute $150,000 toward the TA.

The Governor's Secretariat FATA will be the Executing Agency for the TA, which will be carried out over about 18 months, to September 2005.