HYDERABAD: A three-year program has been launched in the Jhuddo area of Mirpurkhas district, Sindh, to support vulnerable communities affected by climate change.
The program, being implemented by the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with a grant of PKR 1,857 million or 0.616 million Euros.
The launch was announced at an introductory event held in Hyderabad, where speakers emphasized the need for collective action to address growing poverty in Sindh due to climate change.
Muhammad Dittal Kalhoro, CEO of SRSO; Kamran Majeed from Malteser International; Naimatullah Sawand; Ali Akbar Hingorjo, Station Director of Radio Pakistan Hyderabad; Farooq Hayaf; Marvi Awan; Professor Ismail Kumbhar; Sarwan Baloch; and Asif Ali Khuhro stressed the importance of government and non-government organizations working together to support affected communities. They said this initiative was a crucial step towards building resilience and promoting sustainable development in the face of climate change.
The event was told that, through the Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) approach, the program aims to benefit 7,869 households directly and indirectly, comprising 43,164 people, including 22,445 females and 20,719 males, through climate resilience agriculture restoration and infrastructure initiatives, particularly focusing on communities affected by the 2022 floods.
The program will also provide training to locals to increase the resilience of communities through a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plan, evacuation plans, etc., protecting against climate risks for vulnerable communities.
Under the Get Ahead component, 407 individuals, including 204 females and 203 males, will be awarded financial grants ranging from PKR 300,000 to PKR 800,000 for gender-sustainable and innovative entrepreneurship. Additionally, 20 groups will receive grants of up to PKR 2.5 million for climate-friendly businesses.
The program activities will commence on August 1, 2024, and will be executed by SRSO.