Name: Muhamad Amad
Job title: Chair of the National Humanitarian Network (NHN)
Amad, please describe how pooled funds fits into your role as the Chair of NHN?
PHPF is an example of localization translated into action. One of the primary responsibilities of the NHN Chair is to collaborate, facilitate and project PHPF successes among the stakeholders, including donors and pitch the case of Pakistan from this forum.
Why would you say pooled funds are important to Pakistan?
Pakistan is a highly disaster-prone country in which we are facing a variety of natural disasters, alongside man-made disasters and complex emergencies. The PHPF is a readily available resource that can be used/activated in emergencies. A timely response saves lives and usually acts as vanguard for the rest of donors and partners. The pooled funds help us to act in a timely way, with quality, and to set up mechanisms for the funds to follow.
How do you see PHPF delivering good results and value for money? Can you give some practical examples?
PHPF delivers good results because its allocation is based on real time scientific assessments, with the inclusion of government authorities and civil society, and merit based finalization of proposals. It ensures value for money because in the evaluation criteria cost affectivity is one of the major factors. There is one sole channel of fund transfer (OCHA), so no long list of intermediaries is involved, and a small amount for admin cost is fixed for all. As for fund allocation, NHN has been part of proposal review but NHN foresees a more meaningful role in the future. For some time we have realized that allocations may not be evaluated only on a written proposal, but that a track record of performance may also be considered. During fund utilization, NHN has proposed a strong joint monitoring mechanism for quality assurance.
If there was one thing you could change about pooled funds (in Pakistan), what would it be?
A strong accountability mechanism and joint monitoring system inclusive of UN, government, NHN and PHF etc.
You’ve said that you believe in equal opportunities for both women and men. Can you give an example that stands out to you, where you have seen women in Pakistan deprived of equal opportunities, but who have been helped by opportunities created through pooled funds?
The PHPF, to my knowledge at least, was the first ever funding mechanism where a gender marker has been introduced, agreed upon, made compulsory, incorporated and implemented by the partners where local organizations showed good results.
What challenges do NGOs currently face implementing humanitarian projects in Pakistan?
The short answer is ACCESS.
Amad, you’ve been a development and humanitarian professional for 16 years now. What drives and motivates you to continue working in this field?
A very personal answer is that I started as a social worker to relieve others’ pain because I wanted to take refuge from my own. Now I am addicted to it. I know I am not a single such case here - it is a vibrant and dynamic sector super fit for restless souls. What greater cause is there than to assist human fellows in need?
You’ve also served in many emergencies in KP and in FATA. In your opinion, what’s FATA’s greatest needs right now?
Mainstreaming of FATA with the rest of the country is the need of the hour - a viable, representative governance system with extension of civil, political and human rights would be a good start.
FATA has been entrenched in multiple problems since the inception of Pakistan: political alienation, economic deprivation and bad governance were exacerbated in the last decade by extremism and terrorism, dashing down the very traditional social structure of FATA.
The restoration and provision of social services especially health and education alongside economic revitalization with equal opportunities for all are the immediate needs that can be done on an emergency basis.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We (the social sector) always shy away from political leadership and from the media. This is because of our conservative approach. We also tend to work in silos.
We need to be proactive in engaging political leaders and the media. To generate a positive dialogue without compromising our principals for at least some of the structural issues that are the cause of problems.