The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has given the green light to a $46 million financing package for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Citizen-Centered Service Delivery Project in Pakistan. This funding is set to bolster both supply and demand side interventions aimed at enhancing health service delivery in the province. It will also aid the operations of citizen-centric administrative facilitation centers in the Newly Merged Districts.
Najy Benhassine, the World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, stated that the project would assist the government in broadening the scope of Child Wellness Grants. These grants are specifically targeted at mothers, provided they participate in health awareness sessions. The initiative is also designed to enhance access to quality child health-related services.
The Child Welfare Grants (CWGs) are expected to benefit nearly 300,000 children under the age of two. To alleviate the financial hurdles linked with the utilization of these services, families of these children will receive PKR 12,500 (approximately US$45), distributed over five visits. This amount is intended to cover the costs associated with attending health awareness sessions and monitoring the growth of their child.
In addition to the provision of Child Wellness Grants, the project will support the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government in adopting the one-window operation model of the Citizen Facilitation Centers (CFC). The CFCs are designed to deliver essential services to the local population, including registration services such as recording of birth, death, marriage, divorce, and family registration. An estimated 560,000 individuals are projected to utilize the services provided at the CFCs.
Amjad Zafar Khan, the Task Team Leader for the project, highlighted that the project would facilitate the transition of the program to the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This move ensures the continuity of the activities under the 40 CFCs already established with the support of the Federal Government.
