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MUZZAFARABAD, June 13, 2012: The U.S. Ambassador, during his tour of AJK, met with the communities who benefitted through the U.S. government’s Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program. This program supports civil society organizations by providing grants for social and economic development at the grass root level; through this program USAID has invested approximately USD 874,063 in the development of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir within a span of two years. The Ambassador’s Fund and Small Grants program will provide USD 50 million over a period of five years in Pakistan.
The event in Muzaffarabad (AJK) highlighted the following projects:
Grantee: Area Development Organization (ADO)
USAID Funding: $101,060 under US Ambassador’s Fund Sector: Social Assistance
Objective: Improvement and Rehabilitation of a 13 km link road connecting 8 villages of Union Council Kai Manja, which was destroyed during the devastating floods of 2010.
Impact: Almost 17,000 residents of UC council kai manja spread across 8 colleges are not enjoying the easy and flowing travel to better schools, hospitals, markets and capital cities.
Grantee: Muzaffarabad Poverty Alliviation program (MPAP)
USAID funding:$92,660 under US Ambassador’s Fund Sector: Agriculture
Objective: Construction of 38 rain water reservoirs with four check dams and four retaining walls in Union Council Danna, District Muzaffarabad for improved water management and protection of agricultural lands
Impact: Today 10,000 people residing in UC danna are savoring the pleasures of living a comfortable life with increased income levels due to increase in employment opportunities, higher sales of their products due to increase in agriculture productivity, better accessibility to social services and improved socio-economic conditions.
Grantee: Banjosa rural development organization (BRDO)
USAID Funding: $99,835 under US Ambassador’s FundSector: Economic Growth
Objective: Uplifting lives of 190 poor households of Union Council Banjosa through provision of 190 kanals of land along with provision of gladiolas seeds bulbs to provide income generating opportunities.
Impact: These 190 farmers have been professional trained in sowing, cutting, weeding, watering and packing techniques, conducted by local LSO Banjosa Rural Development Organization with expert trainers from the Horticulture Department of Azad Jammu Kashmir University, Rawalakot. On an average 600,000 glad stems are cultivated per year, but with USAID’s support, the city saw an exceptional total of 2 million glad stems in the markets of Pakistan, with 400 people finding employment avenues in the cultivation of these gladioli, generating high earnings.
Grantee: Neelum Valley Cluster coordination development forum (NVCCDF)
USAID Funding: $155,139 under US Ambassador’s Fund Sector: Energy
Objective: Construction of two mini micro-hydro power stations in Villages Dudnial and Lawat, District Neelum, for provision of reliable and economical electricity to the residents of the area.
Impact: The economical electricity generated through these plants, approximately 500 watts of electricity to each house, will result in a reduction of fuel costs of kerosene, liquid petroleum gas and firewood, open new avenues of employment for the people, reduce workload on the women of the households, aid in attaining a clean, pollution free environment, thereby reducing diseases and provide 24/7 light facilities to meet the basic health and educational needs of the community
Grantee: Rahma Islamic Relief (RIF)
USAID Funding: $176,806 under USAID’s Small Grants program Sector: Health
Objective: Training 32 Traditional Birth Attendants, along with organizing 12 one-day medical camps and creating awareness amongst school children through set-up of Health Screening Camps in schools across the Union Councils to offer affordable and quality health care services in Union Councils of Kurriata and Seri.
“You, who are leading the effort to improve your communities at the local level, and are seeing the tangible benefits, are perfect examples of how local heroes can use U.S. assistance to the long-term benefit of their communities,” said Ambassador Munter addressing the community members at the event
During the event, beneficiaries expressed the impact of the changes upon their lives and communities, sharing the benefits brought upon them with support from the American people.
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