SUKKUR: The Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) has launched a three-year program to support vulnerable communities affected by climate change in the Jhuddo area of Mirpurkhas district, Sindh.
According to SRSO spokesman Jameel Ahmed, the program is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The program aims to directly and indirectly benefit 7,869 households comprising 43,164 inhabitants (22,445 women and 20,719 men) through climate resilience agricultural and infrastructure initiatives, particularly targeting communities affected by floods in 2022 through PLA – participatory learning and action approach for the community. basic infrastructure and restoration of agriculture.
The program will also provide training on CBDRM to increase the resilience of communities through DRR plans, evacuation plans, etc. that protect vulnerable communities from climate risks, he added.
Under the Get Ahead component, which has access to various climate-friendly livelihoods and alternative income generation methods, 407 individuals, including 204 women and 203 men, will be awarded financial grants ranging from PKR 300,000 to PKR 800,000 for gender sustainable and innovative business. Besides, 20 groups will receive grants of up to PKR 2.5 million for climate-friendly enterprises, he said.
Program activities will start on August 1, 2024 and will be carried out by SRSO. This initiative is a crucial step towards building resilience and promoting sustainable development in the face of climate change.
The launch was announced at a launch event held in Hyderabad, where speakers highlighted the need for collective action to address rising poverty in Sindh due to climate change. Director General, SRSO, Muhammad Dittal Kalhoro, Representative Malteser International, Kamran Majeed, Naimatullah Sawand, Ali Akbar Hingorjo, Director Radio Pakistan Hyderabad, Farooq Hayaf, Marvi Awan, Professor Ismail Kumbhar, Sarwan Balochand Asif Ali Khuhro emphasized the importance of government and non-government cooperation organizations supporting affected communities.
