-letter
Through the courtesy of your esteemed paper, I would like to draw the
attention of the Embassy of Norway in Islamabad and the Ministry of
Finance Government of Pakistan towards the ongoing project titled
Chitral Integrated Area Development Programme (CIADP) funded by the
Government of Norway. Initially it was conceived that the project will
be implemented by Rural Development Organizations, environmental
specialist and the District Government. At later stage the project was
outsourced to a consulting firm “Thrive” who have come up with prime
objective of profit making.
The consulting firm has no expertise or experience in
rural development, participatory development approach, civil society
culture, environmental assessments and public relations. At the very
outset two implementing partners, IUCN Pakistan and AKRSP have withdrawn
their support. Elected public representatives are not on board. Recently
local support organizations such as QASADO have also developed serious
differences on the modus operendi fallowed by the profit-making firm. I
know at this stage the Embassy of Norway cannot revise the outsourcing
contract given to Thrive, however it is quite possible to correct the
course through a monitoring and feedback mechanism.
The best way is to bring elected representatives, the
district administration and the P&D department of Provincial Government
on board through a well-taught steering committee. It is a matter of
taxpayer money on the part of Norway and high expectations on the part
of target population at the receiving end. “Thrive” should not be let
loose “to be thriving” at the expense and cost of others.
Dr. Inayat Ullah Faizi,
Balim, Chitral,
21 Dec 09.
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