Project Details.

IRC implemented the “Leveraging Inclusive WASH for Empowerment in Pakistan” (LIFE-Pakistan) project in three districts of KP, i.e., Swat, Buner, and Peshawar. The project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Water for Women Fund. IRC is leading this project. 

However, a hybrid model was adopted to implement the project activities. In Swat, The project was being led by the “Environmental Protection Society” (EPS), while in Peshawar and Buner, it was implemented by the IRC itself. The goal of the project was to contribute to “gender equitable and socially inclusive WASH services for improved health conditions of marginalized groups,” while the objectives of the project include inclusive and sustainable WASH services, improved inclusive WASH governance systems services, and inclusive decision-making around WASH. 

The project was intended to provide support to 75 villages and 75 health and education facilities in inclusive WASH across the three districts. The implementation phase of the project started in July 2018. The project has so far reached 55,936 people through water and hygiene activities and 31,416 people through sanitation activities. 

The evaluation study employed a qualitative research methodology. The team conducted 21 focus group discussions (FGDs) with project beneficiaries and 20 key informant interviews (KIIs) with project staff, IRC management, and the relevant government departments. NVivo 12 software was used to analyze qualitative data. The findings of the FGDs were triangulated against those of the KIIs and project data.