FATA Development Programme (FDP)

Context

The seven Tribal Districts, formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), are located along Pakistan’s border to Afghanistan. It is a region of rich tribal culture and tradition, but also marked by extreme poverty as well as numerous overlapping and often violent conflicts. The population uses traditional tribal representation and decision-making processes. However, due to its remoteness and lack of local administrative structures in FATA, the state has limited access and ability to deliver fundamental social services. In addition, local conflicts and repeated military operations have displaced segments of the local population and restricted social infrastructure over the past 15 years.

Although, significant efforts have been made towards the introduction of reforms in the area. In 2017, the National Parliament approved the comprehensive reform to key policy areas such as peace and security, matters concerning internally displaced persons, the justice system, the constitutional system, and restructuring of political responsibilities, as drawn up by the Reform Commission. In May 2018, an amendment was passed by the Parliament of Pakistan to merge the former FATA with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Main challenges are marginalisation, limited inclusion in planning and decision-making processes as well as inadequate basic services and income-generating opportunities.

Objective

The FATA Development Programme (FDP) is improving the performance capacity of governmental players and civil society groups in the tribal districts with a focus on basic education, health services, and dialogue between the population and government. FDP is simultaneously implementing the EU Multi-donor Action ‘Aid to Uprooted People in Pakistan’ (AUP) whose focus is the reintegration of FATA Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs).

Approach

The programme is aligned with the relevant political strategies and its approach is continuously adapted to changes in the context due the FATA merger in May 2018. The programme supports the FATA secretariat to build capacities in planning, implementation and monitoring to improve the access and provision of the social services FATA-wide. A central element of the programme is the involvement of the population in an ongoing constructive dialogue on development issues and change processes. The methodological approach of the EU-funded "action-AUP” is designed to specifically strengthen the interface between community development initiatives and the FATA Secretariat. Beneficiaries include management personnel of the public administration, representatives of the population in all Tribal Districts (local elders, jirgas and local community groups, women and youth) and TDPs in five of the Tribal Districts. The programme implements gender-sensitive approaches in all core areas of governance, including sector governance, and constructive dialogue.

Results

The programme assists in building capacities to improve core governance functions and access, and the quality of social services especially in the areas of basic education and public health. In addition, the programme advises the partners on the implementation of the planned FATA reform, on the roles and mandates of institutions and actors and on achieving participatory development. Furthermore, the programme intends to develop forums for effective communication between civil society and government actors to enter in to a constructive dialogue with each other. The objective of the dialogues is to increase information levels on development issues, priorities, plans, mutual rights and obligations.