WB pledges to administer $140m fund for KP, Balochistan on behalf of its ten donors

ISLAMABAD:The second bi-annual Steering Committee Meeting of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan took place on Wednesday. The Committee was briefed about progress regarding MDTF project.

Implementation and the way forward beyond the current phase. The committee members stressed the need for an expedited project approval apparatus so as to not delay results on the ground. Discussion also focused on the importance of a robust results framework and a mechanism for monitoring and evaluation of MDTF-financed projects. We appreciate the support of the MDTF and assure the FATA Secretariat of our complete cooperation", said Abdul Wajid Rana, MDTF Co-Administrator and Secretary Economic Affairs Division, who chaired the meeting.

The government does not look at the MDTF as an alternative source of development financing, but as a crucial peace-building instrument which can implement the recommendations of the Post-Conflict Needs Assessment. The needs of our crisis-affected populations in KP, FATA and Balochistan are complex, but we are confident of the efforts the MDTF project teams are putting in. At the meeting, the World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to administer the $140 million Fund on behalf of its ten donors. The governments of KP, Balochistan and FATA Secretariat also updated the committee on their development priorities and the challenges they are facing. The current MDTF project portfolio includes cash grants and small and medium business revitalization projects which are at the implementation and approval stage respectively, while the preparation of three infrastructure projects and a governance support project are nearly complete. Three other projects in the education, health and community development sectors are under discussion. Details of MDTF-financed projects can be found at Ends-PPI