Water Management for Enhanced Productivity (WMfEP)

The strategic goal of USAID investments in KP and the FATA is to support the Government of Pakistan in accelerating socioeconomic development and political stability in KP and the FATA. Gomal Zam Command Area Development GZCAD contributes to this strategic goal by developing natural resources (land and water) and human capital to increase income and improve livelihoods through improved commercial agricultural practices. USAID is a significant development partner in this area of Pakistan having made substantial investments in GZD, the associated irrigation system and command area development (GZCAD).

While much of the engineering infrastructure, including the GZD project is largely complete, the governance and management arrangements lag behind the infrastructure development. The lack of progress on governance and management is constraining the realization of the anticipated dividends from the investment in irrigated agriculture. This project “Water Management for Enhanced Productivity in KP and FATA (WMfEP)” will address the gap between infrastructure development and governance and management arrangements for water, land, and labor resources to achieve four development outcomes to support achieving the strategic goal.

The development outcomes of the project are:

• GZCAD Operationalized
• Improved capacity of GoKP and FATA relevant agencies/staff in planning, design and implementation of water resources development
• Strengthened agricultural water management and governance in KP and FATA
• Increased Afghanistan-Pakistan collaboration on water policy, practices, and water sector challenges common to each

The project will reduce constraints to productive and sustainable use of water for agricultural production at the Gomal Zam irrigation scheme. Improved arrangements for water governance and management in KP and the FATA will enable increased farm household income and improved livelihoods to contribute to socioeconomic development and political stability in the merged province.