The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Newly Merged Districts have seen a prolonged military conflict leading to the widespread displacement of its population and damages and losses to the agricultural lands, irrigation, and water harvesting structures, and livestock populations. Since 2015, the rehabilitation of the displaced population is ongoing but slow due to loss of livelihoods and reduced income opportunities. To support the restoration of livelihoods, funded by the FCDO, FAO undertook the “Project for the restoration of livelihoods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tribal Districts” which involved training farmers on climate-smart agriculture practices, rehabilitating government facilities/infrastructures, operationalizing small-scale enterprises, and supporting agriculture and livestock production. The evaluation found that while the project was mostly successful in meeting output targets, a critical review of the following elements can further improve programme delivery: realistic target setting, market-led initiatives for value chain development, operation and maintenance plans for rehabilitated schemes, gender-specific interventions, and incorporating anticipated procurement-related delays in the project design.

The evaluation of the project assessed the project’s design, its achievements vis-à-vis its objectives, its impact, and its success areas, gaps, and lessons learned through a mixed-methods approach combining in-depth analysis of project documents with direct observations in the field, key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. The evaluation found that the project was successful in meeting or nearly meeting most of the output targets set out including: i) provision of improved/climate-resilient seeds to 22 000 households; ii) established 350 vegetable nurseries; iii) established 500 seasonal vegetable production enterprises; iv) established 200 off-season vegetable production enterprises; v) provided fruit plants planted around vegetable and cereal fields, and in homestead gardens (50 plants/household to 2 000/household); vi) established 50 model demonstration plots of improved variety crops (cereal, vegetables, fodder) established through farmer field schools (FFS); vii) installed 60 High Efficiency Irrigation System (HEIS) tunnels (30 in each district); viii) provided backyard poultry packages to 3 800 women beneficiaries; ix) 2 300 doses of sexed semen (1 150 each for Khyber and Kurram districts) were procured and handed over to Livestock and Dairy Development Department; x) rehabilitated 23 irrigation schemes; and xi) rehabilitated ten fish farm projects. Overall, the evaluation team found the project design to be sound. The theory of change (TOC) is based on clearly articulated causal linkages between individual interventions and the planned objective. However, the project lacked gender-focused interventions. The project also faced delays throughout implementation which were further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for future projects include review of the FAO’s internal procurement processes to minimize delays, ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of infrastructure (irrigation) schemes through continued beneficiary engagement, provision of integrated support to poultry value chain development, and setting gender-disaggregated activity targets and linking interventions with broader outcomes for women beneficiaries.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Newly Merged Districts have seen a prolonged military conflict leading to the wide-spread displacement of its population and damages and losses to the agricultural lands, irrigation and water harvesting structures, and livestock populations. Since 2015, the rehabilitation of the displaced population is ongoing but slow due to loss of livelihoods and reduced income opportunities. To support the restoration of livelihoods, funded by the United States Agency for International Development for USD 10 million, FAO undertook the project for “Restoring subsistence and commercial agriculture in tribal districts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” which involved training farmers on climate-smart agriculture practices, rehabilitating facilities/infrastructures, operationalizing small-scale enterprises, and supporting agriculture and livestock production. The evaluation found that while the project was mostly successful in meeting output targets, a critical review of the following elements can further improve programme delivery: review of procurement processes, market-led initiatives for value chain development through strengthening producer marketing groups, operation and maintenance plans for rehabilitated schemes, gender-specific interventions, and revising reporting formats for effective monitoring and evaluation.

2022 marks The Restoration Initiative’s (TRI) fourth full year of implementation. While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers across the world, including for TRI partners, the year was full of successes for programmatic objectives. As travel restrictions were lifted and further collaboration was made possible, TRI partners were able to coordinate to achieve cross-programmatic goals and learn from one another. Just as 2020 and 2021 were full of transitions and “new normals”, 2022 provided a new opportunity for all TRI partners and implementing organizations to re-emphasize the need for locally led restoration, community engagement and renewed perspective.

The 2011 WDR on Conflict, Security and Development underlines the devastating impact of persistent conflict on a country or region's development prospects - noting that the 1.5 billion people living in conflict-affected areas are twice as likely to be in poverty. Its goal is to contribute concrete, practical suggestions on conflict and fragility.

The Council on Foreign Relations sponsors Independent Task Forces to assess issues of current and critical importance to U.S. foreign policy and provide policymakers with concrete judgments and recommendations. Diverse in backgrounds and perspectives, Task Force members aim to reach a meaningful consensus on policy through private and non-partisan deliberations. Once launched, Task Forces are independent of CFR and solely responsible for the content of their reports. Task Force members are asked to join a consensus signifying that they endorse "the general policy thrust and judgments reached by the group, though not necessarily every finding and recommendation." Each Task Force member also has the option of putting forward an additional or a dissenting view. Members' affiliations are listed for identification purposes only and do not imply institutional endorsement. Task Force observers participate in discussions, but are not asked to join the consensus. --Book Jacket.