CFW for De-siltation of Water Course

The unprecedented floods of 2010 brought misery and tribulation to the hapless masses of Pakistan. Apart from the damages caused to the life and property, the havoc wreaking flood has an indelible and tormenting psychological impact on the lives of the flood affectees. Because of 1/5th of the landscape of Pakistan being inundated by flood water, communication system was crippled with roads and bridges swept away by the august flood waves. It was estimated that about 20 million people were affected by the flood and hundreds of thousands rendered homeless, 1961 people were reported dead, 1.9 million homes were destroyed.79 districts of Pakistan were declared flood affected. The affected people were vulnerable to hunger, disease and joblessness. According to FAO damage assessment report, 2.4 million hectares of standing crops were damaged country-wide, 5.6 million tons of wheat was washed away, 400000 livestock and 10 million poultry were lost and the damage to On-farm and Off-farm irrigation infrastructure was severe. In response to the FAO's appeal for emergency assistance, OSRO/PAK/010/USA was  approved by USAID for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to target and assist flood-affected and food insecure poor farming households and those whose livelihoods had  been largely disrupted.

BEST was  chosen as Implementing Partner (IP) of FAO  in districts Peshawar, Nowshera, Tank and DI Khan for distribution of wheat seeds and fertilizers for the Rabi 2010 planting season, provision of vegetable seeds especially to female farmers, protection and restoration of livestock productivity through the provision of livestock input supplies, provision of training for improved production and to carry out de-siltation of critical On-farm irrigation infrastructures in district Peshawar through Cash for Work  (Programme).

BEST carried out rapid survey in which 40 water courses were  identified for de-siltation according to pre-defined selection criteria.

Three  parties were involved in the implementation of this project; FAO for on-site technical assistance and monitoring, BEST for implementation of the project activities and On-Farm Water Management Department (OFWMD) for technical assistance. The project was implemented through Water User Associations (WUA) and in collaboration with the OFWMD.

PROJECT APPROACH AND IMPLEMENTATION

The project was implemented in close coordination and collaboration with FAO and OFWMD. Project was implemented with participatory approach by involving local community in decision making and implementing it through WUAs.

Preliminary and broad based meetings were held with the target community. Communities were informed and appraised of the project objectives and implementation strategy.

In coordination with OFWMD, existing WUAs were resurrected, mobilized and revived. They were informed of their roles and responsibilities in the project. Localities where WUAs were not present, community was mobilized and organized to establish new WUAs and were registered with OFWMD.

The list of identified water courses in the initial assessment were reviewed, verified and finalized together with OFWMD and FAO. In cooperation with WUAs and technical inputs from OFWMD, survey was carried out and project design file were prepared as per  criteria. Countersigned approvals were sought from FAO engineers for every scheme  on rolling basis. All aspects of the project were managed, supervised and implemented in close cooperation with WUAs, OFWMD, and FAO engineers. In collaboration with OFWMD, it was ensured that the technical aspects of the project meet agreed engineering standards. Materials were procured in close collaboration with the WUA and following FAO procurement procedures. Labor was selected from the target community as per criteria by involving WUAs. Muster role and labor attendance were maintained by involving WUAs at project site as well as with project field staff. Payments to laborers were made according to FAO approved methodology in the presences of WUAs, community and FAO representative at project site. These project activities were closely monitored.