KPK, DFID sign MoU for health, education

PESHAWAR: The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Department for International Development (DFID) Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which the British organization will provide additional grants for the provision of basic amenities of life in health and education sectors.

In the first instance the programme will be launched at a cost of Rs284/- million in the two districts of Bunnu and D.I.Khan. DCO Buner Mujeeb ur Rehman and Khan Bakhash signed the MOU with representatives of DFID.

As per agreement the two million pounds earmarked by DFID will released as budgetary support and an equivalent amount reflected in the budget for financial year 2011-12 as an allocation to the districts. It will be reflected as output based grants to selected districts.

Overall districts will be identified on the basis of a credible criterion.

The selection criterion included; education department; the district should fall under the ten least developed districts, health department; the least developed districts as identified in Multiple Indicator Sector Survey (MICS).

For the time being Buner and D.I.Khan have been selected for piloting the activity. Number of districts has been selected in such a manner that the piloting at district level is manageable and fruitful results could be obtained.

A detailed need assessment of selected districts has been done through the staff of line departments and district officials.

On the basis of need assessment a detailed base line data has been
collected. Baseline data for these spending units will also be collected to compare the progress between those spending districts, which are recipient of the grant with the non recipient districts.

The recommendations of the Third Party Evaluation will form basis for
improving and replicating the systems in other districts. The PTCs, with enhanced administrative and financial powers, will be focused as service delivery systems in education department. The implementation plan has been chalked out and the Elementary and Secondary Education Department has submitted the same to Finance Department along with budget plan for the release of allocated amount to the project.

After signing of the MoU with the districts the 50% of the allocated amount will be released as first tranche to the districts. The PTC elections held and PTC training is in progress in both the pilot districts. The financial powers of PTCs have enhanced from .250 (M) to 1.million. The project is being implemented through PTCs.

On a question, the Minister Education was informed that Education Department had already launched PTAs for the purpose in the two districts. The Minister appreciated the assistance of DFID and expressed the hope that the partnership will continue. (APP)