Project assistance completion report : tribal areas development (391-0471)

Despite the adverse impacts of the Pressler amendment, the project was generally a success. Infrastructural improvements included construction of 109 km of roads, which opened inaccessible areas up for development and linked farms with markets and towns; irrigation schemes, which increased crop acreage and benefited over 11,000 farm families; and a variety of small infrastructure projects, including 35 boys' schools, 13 girls' schools, 15 drinking water schemes, 3 buildings for health units, 6 flood protection wall schemes to protect 195 acres of land, and 11 teachers' quarters. Community-based interventions included training of FATA Agriculture Directorate staff and farmers in horticultural techniques. In addition, the project operated model orchards and a small-scale enterprise program for tribal farmers, introduced seed packages to increase growing of off-season vegetables, renovated the government-owned Robert Garden at Parachinar and three government nurseries, and trained farmers in woodlot plantation and nursery raising. The project also strengthened women in development/nonformal education (NFE) centers through training and the development (for the first time ever) of a NFE curriculum, and helped to establish an NGO in the Kurram Agency (one of 7 tribal agencies). The capacities of the FATA Development Corporation were strengthened in water resources development, and the Communications and Works Department of the NWFP Government was provided with short-term TA, equipment, and a computer center. In addition, computer centers were established in both the Planning, Environment and Development Department and the Local Government and Rural Development Department. Finally, the project prepared socioeconomic profiles for the seven Tribal Agencies; these can be considered preliminary reference documents for project planners and designers. The following lessons were learned. (1) The requirement of a Government of Pakistan funding document for each activity reduced the project's flexibility in contracting for commodities, services, and construction. (2) Despite a great deal of talk about decentralization, little has been done to make it a reality at the field level. (3) Success depends on a well thought-out design. Many activities added later in the project should have been included in the original design. (4) An institutional home within the host government, a must for an area development project, was lacking for most of this project, as was an efficient host government system for advance funds. (5) Regular monitoring helps to ensure good quality construction work. (6) Progress may be hindered by local tribal problems and by frequent transfer of host country counterparts. (7) School buildings should only be constructed if the host government is committed to providing basic needs (e.g., water, electricity) and trained teachers. (8) Absence of a private agricultural input delivery system affects the development of the green sector within a tribal area. (9) Tribal men monitor women's access to project information; in this project, the men, after listening privately to project health messages, had them broadcast publicly to all over local loudspeakers. (10) Flexible class times can increase attendance of NFE students. (11) A top down approach for creating an NGO succeeds only when there are commitments from donors, locals, and the host government. (12) Up to 4-5 years is required for an NGO to achieve sustainability in a difficult environment. (13) Local experts rather than expatriates should be employed for inaccessible areas. (14) Participation of line agencies and the host government institutional home in project activities is needed for skills transfer.