Community Infrastructure Services Program

An IDA assisted Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Program (RWSSP), with 8 years (1992-2000) implementation span and costing about 1210 million PKR was completed by the LG&RDD in 2000. Performance of that Program was rated highly satisfactory. Pursuing successful implementation of RWSSP Govt. of the state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir planned and implemented Community Infrastructure Services Program (CISP) with the financial assistance of IDA. The project was originally planned for an implementation period of 04 years with an estimated cost of Rs. 1764.87 million (27.15 USD). The main objectives of the project were:

  • Poverty alleviation and improvement in health indicators Focus on improving the well being of low-income communities.
  • Capacity building at local levels for good governance.
  • Encouraging community participation in local development.

Major proportion of funds were proposed to be spent on providing infrastructure services including Water Supply, Sanitation, Access(Roads and Bridges), Street Pavement, Footpath, Drainage, Street Light etc. Project implementation was severely affected by the October 2005 devastating earthquake. After earthquake 2005, project activities became stand still almost for one year, project offices were collapsed, communities were disintegrated and 267 schemes costing Rs. 47 million PKR were damaged. After that the project period was extended for further two years (up to November 30, 2008). Under CISP project 3420 community infrastructure schemes in 457 communities are constructed. The project has achieved all envisaged targets within extended project period.

Implementation Period 77 months (July 2002 to November 2008)
Original Date of Commencement July 2002
Actual Date of Commencement July 2002
Original Date of Completion 30-06-2006
Actual Date of Completion 30-11-2008
Original Cost 1764.87 million PKR
IDA Share 1300 million PKR
GoAJK Share 238.47 million PKR
Communities Share 226.40 million PKR
Actual Cost 2052.55 million PKR
IDA Share 1427.474 million PKR
GoAJK Share 385.877 million PKR
Communities Share 239.202 million PKR

Commencement and completion dates of the Project were July 2002 and June 30, 2006 respectively. Implementation status of CISP was rated as “Satisfactory” in the midterm review. The 8th October 2005 earthquake severely affected implementation activities of the project. A number of the project formed & registered CBOs in the earthquake affected areas become inactive. Several families/members of CBOs aimed to be benefited by the project were displaced from their homes. Similarly the project implementation staff also suffered and witnessed after affects of this calamity. Keeping in view the devastating effect of earthquake on project activities, the completion date of the project was extended to November 30, 2008 with mutual consent of World Bank, Economic Affairs Division and Planning & Development Department GoAJK. Moreover, like other government initiatives 20% upfront cash contribution condition was relaxed to contribution in shape of kind for earthquake affected communities.

Original cost of the project estimated in PC-1 was 1764.87 million PKR but additional funds were allocated for restoration of damages and to meet the implementation cost of the project for extended period. Revised project cost was estimated as 1902.23 million PKR, but due to fluctuation in the currency exchange rate the project got and utilized savings in credit agreement, hence the project closed on 2052.553 Million PKR.

CISP was a cost sharing project in which communities participated with 20% cash contribution to the capital cost of infrastructure beside donation of land, water sources and supervision, operation & maintenance. Other financers of the project were the World Bank/IDA and Government. Detail of planned and actual expenditure with respect to funding source is as follows:

Project Components & Achievements

Project was divided into following three components:

  • Decentralized Planning & Implementation
  • Community Development.
  • Community Infrastructure

Decentralized Planning & Implementation:

This component was meant to develop the capacity of state, district/ tehsil institutions and communities including other partners such as NGOs through:

  • Promotion of community driven program development approaches and techniques.
  • Technical assistance for capacity building and training for design and implementation of infrastructure sub projects.
  • Institutional strengthening
  • Additional and incremental staff Operational activities
  • In country and overseas study visits
  • Special studies on water quality, baseline survey etc.

Item-wise physical targets and achievement is as under:

Item Unit PC-1 Estimates Actual Achievement

%age

Staff Trainings/Workshops Events 53 53 100%
Water Quality Testing Job 1 1 100%
Base Line Survey Job 2 2 100%
Technical Assistance Man Months 58 58 100%

Community Development:

The main thrust of this component was to encourage communities, particularly women, through participation in decision making to increase ownership and to achieve long term sustainability of developed facilities under the project. Activities of this component were categorized as follows:

  • Awareness raising, mobilization, and organization of communities
  • Improving personal, domestic, and community hygiene.
  • Develop skills among women in community development and promote formation of women’s groups for community development activities.
  • Facilitate women’s access to formal micro credit system.

Detail of events/activities completed under this component is as under:

Item Unit PC-1 Estimates Actual Achievement %age
CBOs Formed No. 425 584 137%
CBO Registered No. 425 584 137%
Community Action Plans Prepared No. 425 545 128%
Community Contracts Signed & Completed No. 425 457 108%
Community Development Trainings Events 28 28 100%
Health, Environment and Sanitation Awareness Events 72 72 100%
Support to Women and Children Events 3 3 100%
Skill Development Trainings Events 11 11 100%

Infrastructure Upgrading & Services:

The main focus of this component was to provide investment on physical infrastructure works prioritized in consultation with the CBOs. This component was demand driven and infrastructure schemes were selected according to the priorities of communities. Appropriate design and construction standards were adopted for community level construction and maintenance. Following laid down criterion were followed:

  • Size of community in rural and urban areas should not less than 500 and 1000 people respectively.
  • Community should organize and register himself as a legal entity in the form of CBO.
  • Land and water sources should be dedicated free of cost in favor of public use.
  • Community should contribute at least 20% construction cost of works except for trunk/ primary works.
  • Community should be able to manage the completed schemes and bear 100% O&M costs.
  • Community should undertake and participate in construction responsibilities at sites.

Detail of community infrastructure schemes developed under this component is as follows:

Item Unit PC-1 Estimates Actual Achievement %age
Water Supply Schemes Nos. 1272 839 66%
Community Latrines Nos. 780 1465 188%
Storm water Drainage LM 247812 44880 18%
Internal Pathways (Road, Footpaths) KM 306 724 237%
Foot Bridges LM 4044 680 17%
Street Pavement LM 68245 423065 620%
Street Lighting No. of Poles 541 535 99%
Solid Waste Management No. of Bins 495 70 14%
Tagging Numbering of streets Job 1 0 0%
Trunk Infrastructure/Micro Hydal Station/ Others Nos. 7 47 671%