Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (WASD)

Managing Institute:
Aga Khan Foundation (UK)

Contractor:
Aga Khan Foundation (UK)

Project Code: 171-508-004	Start Date: 01-Jan-91	End Date: 31/03/1997
Commitment: £5,608,000	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - TC

Project Background:
The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme operates in 3 districts. The DFID project area is Chitral District which is one of the countries poorest and covers an area of 14 850 sq kms with a population of 272 000 (32 600 families) in 500 villages. The AKRSP district project office was established in early 1986 by March 1990 AKRSP was working with 384 village organisations representing 50 percent of the district households. The broad objective of the AKRSP is to increase the capacity of local people to improve their welfare and to overcome the problems facing them. The main focus is on income generating activities the Programmes stated aim is a doubling of rural per capita income over a period of ten years. AKRSP expects to phase itself out after a ten year period. To achieve this it plans to establish a self-reliant apex organisation to take over some activities. Proposed cluster organisations (CO's) and the development of village banking,included in this proposal are the first steps in this direction.

Project Objectives:
Enhance capacity of local people to resolve development problems through self-reliance and effective management.

Improve living standards by increases in agricultural production and by provision/maintenance of economic and social infrastructure.

Encourage participation of women.

Contain/reverse any environmental degradation.

Intended Outputs:
The intended outputs are: creation/maintenance of VO's, WO's and CO's, productive physical infrastructure (PPI) completed during project period, savings and local training