Since the conclusion of the first Pakistan European Community cooperation Agreement in 1976, activities in the field of Development Cooperation have occupied a central place in the EU-Pakistan partnership. The overall aim of EC development assistance has been to help achieve sustainable social and economic development. In particular, focus is being placed on human development, poverty alleviation and the improvement of the situation of the underprivileged and neglected sections of society such as women and children and also the environment. In support of these aims in Pakistan, the EC has committed, since 1976, a total of euro 365 million in grants. (top)

The EC has continued to fund projects to strengthen Pakistan’s institutional and infrastructure base, though its programme has in accord also with the shifts in the Government of Pakistan’s own policies, placed greater emphasis on human development and on environmental management. Projects are being designed to take into account the gender dimensions of development and also to promote closer participation of local communities. The EC also pays close attention, while formulating new projects, to ensure consistency with major Government of Pakistan policies as embodied in the National Conservation Strategy and the Social Action Programme. Currently, EC commitments under Development Cooperation are worth over Euro 190 million.

Three projects, designed in the 1990s illustrate the shift in focus in the EC’s programme in Pakistan. First, the Social Action Programme, to which the EC is contributing Euro 71 million, aims at improving the quality and cost effectiveness of basic service delivery in four sectors: elementary education, basic health, reproductive health, and rural supply and sanitation. The Programme is being implemented by the Federal and Provincial Governments and Pakistani NGOs. The EC has established a coordination Office in Islamabad, headed by a European Programme Coordinator, to participate in the policy dialogue and in the supervision and evaluation of missions. (top)

The second project is the Rural Social Development Programme. This aims at building the capacity of the local NGOs to complement the efforts of the Pakistani Government to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of serving social sectors.

The third programme is the Environmental Rehabilitation project in NWFP and Punjab, which aims at supporting local communities ability to plan and manage their natural resources in a sustainable and economic manner. The EC is also financing two NGO projects of the Aga Khan Foundation, namely the Institute for Education Development Project, aiming at improving elementary teacher training, and the Aga Khan Development Network, which supports sustainable development in the Northern areas of Pakistan.

The EC has provided food aid in Pakistan, directed to the poorest sectors of the population and distributed through schools, maternal and Child Health Centres, Leprosy Centres, and Tuberculosis outreach programme facilities. In addition, the EC is one of the largest contributors of commodity aid to the world distributed through the World Food Programme. It is noteworthy that the EC has undertaken to finance projects in all Provinces of Pakistan in partnership with provincial Governments formulate requests for project assistance which are then submitted to the European Commission through the Government of Pakistan’s Economic Affairs Division. After detailed appraisal of a project’s feasibility and importance for general socio-economic development, a financing Agreement is concluded between the European commission and the government of Pakistan. (top)

Projects Management

Management of Project activities is then entrusted to a Project Management Unit, comprising a national co-Director and a European Co-Director and inter-departmental coordination is provided through a high level Project Steering Committee. Technical Assistance is provided by qualified European and Pakistani consulting firms, according to the project’s requirements. EC funding covers not only foreign exchange costs, such as technical assistance, import of equipment and training abroad, but also certain local costs. A local currency contribution to the project costs is also made by Pakistan.

The regular monitoring of the overall performance of the EC-Pakistan Development Cooperation programme is done through a review meeting organized in collaboration with the Economic Affairs Division. The representative of the Provinces and of the Departments directly concerned with an ongoing EC funded project also participate. Besides, regular meetings of the Pakistan-EC Joint Commission, and its subsidiary Development Cooperation Working Group, also provide further Cooperation programme.

The EC is convinced that it is important to fully involve local communities in all phases of project design and implementation, to ensure that objectives are consistent with local needs and that the benefits will be sustained. Thus, if qualified and effective NGOs are present, which can support the project authorities in mobilizing the participation of communities, their involvement is encouraged. (top)

The EC also provides support for smaller scale interventions in Pakistan, often undertaken in collaboration with European NGOs in sections such as population welfare, income generation and rural health. Though these projects are modest in financial terms, their significance lies in the direct impact they have on the local exercise in devising effective ways of collaborating with local communities. Also, by this interaction, the EC is able to utilize the NGOs for quick assistance to population in distress aiming to emergencies and calamities.

Finally, the EC has financed Pakistan Government Anti-Drug Enforcement activities and has responded generously to the Afghan Refugees Rehabilitation and Resettlement Programmes. (top)