Monthly Progress Report for February 2015: Building Component-CMEP-KP

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities of damaged schools, health facilities, drinking water supply schemes, and other infrastructure components in Malakand Division by initially obligating funds amounting to USD 36 million under an Activity Agreement signed in September 2009. Expanding its portfolio, USAID provided funds for rehabilitation/reconstruction of other infrastructure components, including irrigation, bridges, and roads, in the calamity-hit areas. In June 2012, USAID sub-obligated additional funds amounting to USD 25 million for reconstruction of rains/floods-damaged and bomb-blasted schools in the affected districts of KP under Amended Activity Agreement No. 391-014. M/s AGES Consultants was assigned the task of Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) services of these reconstruction activities under USAID/Pakistan Construction Monitoring and Evaluation Program (CMEP), for which a formal contract was signed on September 30, 2012. So far, the M&E Consultants have completed validation/assessment of a total of 334 identified schools, wherein 133 schools were found suitable and 201 schools were declared unsuitable for reconstruction for various reasons. Out of 133 feasible schools, 108 schools have been scrutinized/prioritized and selected for reconstruction, while remaining 25 schools (with low enrollment or requiring additional rooms) have been kept in 2nd priority by PaRRSA. Out of 108 prioritized schools, a Project Implementation Letter (PIL) for 24 schools has been already issued and EDFs approved by USAID, whereas site/layout plans, modular designs, and EDFs for 63 more schools have been finalized/reviewed for which a PIL is under process at USAID since January 2014. Another 21 schools, inclusive of GHSS Akbar Pura & GHSS Serai Naurang, will be made part of subsequent PILs after finalization of the design/drawings and cost estimates, etc. USAID issued a signed Project Implementation Letter (PIL) number 391-014-PIL-28 amounting to Pak Rs. 454.2789 million (USD 4.326466 million) on October 29, 2013, for the 24 schools ending December 31, 2014. Another PIL for 63 schools amounting to Pak Rs. 1416.9018 million is in progress at USAID. The geographic spread of 108 prioritized schools is as follows: 34 schools are located in Malakand Division, 24 schools in Dera Ismail Khan Division, 20 schools in Hazara Division, 15 schools in Kohat Division, and 15 schools in Mardan Division. The PIL-wise distribution of 108 prioritized schools is as follows: 24 schools under PIL-28, 63 schools under PIL-29, and 21 schools under subsequent PILs. Urgent action/decision of the concerned forums is required on the following points: validation of 24 schools for PIL-28, signing of PIL for 63 schools, EDFs of 63 schools under review at USAID, and variation in US Dollar conversion rate.