The World Bank has downgraded the performance of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Human Capital Investment Project (KPHCIP) worth $200 million, after facing delays. Official documents revealed that current progress toward the achievement of the Project Development Objective (PDO) and implementation progress are both rated as moderately unsatisfactory.
As of January 12, 2024, the KPHCIP has disbursed $31.76 million, which is about 16 percent of the total project amount. The project faced initial delays and its performance was recently downgraded due to prolonged approvals of the revised Planning Commission Proforma – Project Initiation Document (PC-1). The environmental safeguards rating was also downgraded.
The KPHCIP was approved on June 23, 2020, and became effective on March 31, 2021. It is a $200 million IDA operation that includes $125 million from the IDA Regional Sub-Window for Refugees and Host Communities. The current closing date of the project is June 30, 2025. The PDO aims to improve the availability, utilization, and quality of primary healthcare services and elementary education services in Selected Districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
These goals are supported by 3 components: Improving Delivery of Quality Primary Health Care Services, Improving Availability and Quality of Education Services, and Strengthening Community Engagement and Accountability. The project is currently operating in four refugee-hosting districts – Peshawar, Haripur, Nowshera, and Swabi.
A number of measures to expedite implementation, disbursements, and utilization have been agreed upon. These include revision of PC-1, completion of approvals, fast-track implementation plan, appointment of Deputy Project Director (Infrastructure), and ongoing civil works. In response to widespread flooding across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the government of Pakistan requested the project’s geographic coverage to include flood-affected districts. This request was accepted, leading to restructuring of the project to include major civil works for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
