The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has initiated a major reform process in democratic governance at the local level. This reform process not only demands devolution plan and framework but also requires that the elected local government members, officials of the local government, rural development department and other line departments at the district level are equipped to carry out the tasks under the Local Government Act of KP 2013. To support the department to effectively devolve power and resources at the local level, UNDP will provide technical assistance cooperation to the Local Government and Rural Development Department KP. This contract will provide a framework of joint cooperation and facilitate collaboration.
UNDP’s democratic governance unit builds capacities of provincial authorities to implement the 18th Constitutional Amendment with a focus on development planning, public finance, and local governance. UNDP has global expertise in providing support to local governance programme and has been working in 20 countries in the Asia Pacific region. The programme focuses on strengthening local governance institutions for improved service delivery integrated to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP has been a close partner of the Government of Pakistan in sustainable development efforts. The local and international experience of UNDP in democratic local governance will go a long way in providing support to Local Government system in KP.
The support will imbed the reform process within the department through change management rather than creating excessive parallel structures. UNDP’s technical assistance will focus on institutional, administrative and fiscal responsibilities required for basic service delivery to local citizens.