Resilient Communities in the Merged Areas 

In 2022, UNDP continued to develop productive capacity and generate opportunities for employment in the Merged Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Improved access to basic services and social cohesion contributed to helping communities rebuild after years of marginalization. UNDP focused particularly on women, who made up 50 per cent of those who benefited.

As 22 schools were rehabilitated, girls were able to learn in new, furnished classrooms, with secure boundary walls, water and sanitation facilities to maintain hygiene.

Communities gained essential infrastructure and connection to markets and essential services through rehabilitation of WASH facilities in 80 markets and 02 water filtration plants.  

Economic landscapes 

Flourishing local economies that offer employment opportunities and foster entrepreneurship lead to peaceful societies and households that are able to withstand shocks.

Over 12,000 young men and women participated in meaningful engagement, mechanisms in federal and provincial policy planning processes, structures and activities for positive impact. 402 men and women provided entrepreneurship education, career counselling, and support services to unleash the full economic potential of youth.  Support provided to the Planning and Development department of KP government for promoting investment, Access to credit and developing gender inclusive economic growth policies. MOUs signed with various financial institutions for supporting them in extending their services to the Merged Areas. 
 

Investments in the future 

Localized solutions and gender-sensitive approaches ensure that Pakistan's youth – both men and women – can step up to play their part as architects of the future. 
KP youth developed a deeper understanding of social entrepreneurship, and how they could use it to help Pakistan achieve the SDGs.

Pakistan's first-ever Youth Development Index provided decision-makers with essential data to inform how to prioritize, invest in and track interventions in youth development. This gave data down to district and tehsil level, collected by UNDP in partnership with Viamo.

On-campus engagement inculcated the values of peace, tolerance, harmony, pluralism and co-existence among 8,303 university students.

Gender Mainstreaming 

UNDP’s work in crisis prevention and inclusion focuses on increasing the resilience of women, men, transgender, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups based on gender, race, ethnicity, diversity etc. to natural and human induced disasters, mitigating their impact, and preventing conflict through rehabilitation and early recovery.