SVDP is striving to save and protect the fragile ecosystem of the valley that is suffering at the hands of poverty and intensive population pressure. For this purpose, the organization is highly depending upon social mobilization of local communities and engaging them in its conservation and development program. SVDP believes that the natural resources of the area can only be preserved and renewed by introducing a holistic but sustainable development approach. The organization designed and introduced massive social mobilization campaigns in the area and involved the local population in infrastructure development, conservation of forests and subsoil water resources, new techniques and varieties in the field of agriculture, and is working hard in the sector of introducing alternative energy sources like solar, wind and biogas.
Contact Information
Our Focus
SVDP's geographical spread is a valley of 737 sq/km with 51 villages and an estimated population of three hundred and fifty thousand people. SVDP covered a long distance from a community-based organization to mid-level NGO. SVDP started with micro-finance, but soon turned into a research and service delivery organization because of local socio-economic conditions. Although SVDP is still running a component of micro-finance, it has also successfully completed 223 community physical infrastructure project including water supply schemes, pipe irrigation, small dams, check dams, vegetation enclosures, access tracks, etc. SVDP laid around 1.4 million running feet of underground pipe for irrigation and saved a substantial amount of water and fuel. After completing this huge infrastructure intervention, the organization is now switching towards the energy sector, and on an experimental basis has installed a solar submersible water extraction pump and constructed 8 biogas plants. In our future goals, we are going to extend this number of biogas plants up to 50 by December 2010 and solar pumps to 10. Introduction of fuel efficient cook stoves is another major area of intervention, and in the near future we will introduce cook stoves so the consumption of fuel wood can be reduced and resultantly the pressure on forests is automatically released.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
Soon Valley is a homogeneous place and more than 90% of the population belongs to Awan tribe. This factor really makes this small piece of land ideal for any type of development intervention. The mobility and involvement of women is on lower side due to cultural and religious barriers. SVDP has broken many stereotypical barriers regarding women's role in the society, and now we are in a better position to work with women in the area. Our potential cook stove project is also a demand from local women as they have to walk for many kilometers in order to bring fuel wood. The project covers all six union councils Angha, khabaki Naushera Uchhali and Khura. The total area of the six union councils is about 737 square kilometers and is inhabited by about 350,000 people. There are 51 villages listed in the revenue record and a number of small settlements. Naushara is a business and political headquarters of the entire valley. The livelihood of the Soon Valley is largely dependent on agriculture, livestock and armed services. The majority agriculture community depends on ground water use for irrigation and drinking, as the area is semi hilly and lacks permanent, natural bodies of the surface water. The biggest source of water for irrigation is ground water which is recharged through rain fall. The people of the area have small land holdings that range from 3 to 6 acres. In a single household, almost one person will work in govt services and other family members in farming small-scale livestock (2 or 3 animals per family).
Pakistan is an energy starved country and its small cities are more starved. Khushab is a distant district and Soon Valley is a hilly area with inadequate public infrastructure. Mining and agriculture are the two main professions of the people. Approximately 80% population is dependent on agriculture. There are hundreds of small land holders in Soon Valley who are totally dependent on their fields. This area has a huge scope of alternative energy sources like solar, wind and biogas. Along with these, LPG and other clean fuels can also be introduced as Soon Valley has no provision of natural gas. So people are totally dependent on forests for fulfilling their domestic needs like cooking, water boiling and space heating. Electricity is available, but the duration of power outages does not allow people to do anything within a proper and realistic timeframe.
This area needs to be worked out.
SVDP has very strong internal monitoring mechanisms. A full fledged monitoring section is in place that takes care of resource efficiency, cost effectiveness, quality assurance and timely delivery of outputs.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
We would like to participate in discussions, training workshops, seminars and forums organized by PCIA. Online sharing of our experience is another way to exchange with like minded organizations and groups of people
