Acted, in consultation with district and provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), has launched a seven-month project “Community-Led Recovery for flood affected Populations in Buner and Swat, Pakistan” supported by CDCS, to strengthen early recovery and resilience of flood-affected communities in Swat and Buner where devastating floods deprived thousands of people of their basic needs in August 2025. The project aims to restore critical infrastructure, livelihoods, WASH services, safe shelters, and access to education, benefiting 3,000 households (around 21,000 individuals).

Through a comprehensive, community-centred approach, and in coordination with the needs identified by Provincial Disaster Management Authority KP, Acted will create short-term employment opportunities via gender-responsive short term livelihood support, enabling affected populations to rehabilitate infrastructure such as debris clearance and irrigation channels, while also engaging in culturally appropriate livelihood recovery activities.

In parallel, Acted will rehabilitate shelters and distribute winterization kits to vulnerable families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities helping reduce exposure to harsh weather and related protection risks. These integrated interventions are designed to reduce economic vulnerability while promoting dignity, resilience, and community ownership in the recovery process. In parallel, the project will ensure access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as continued learning opportunities for children.

Acted will rehabilitate water supply schemes, pumping stations, and household latrines, complemented by hygiene promotion sessions, distribution of hygiene and dignity kits, and fumigation campaigns to reduce health risks. These interventions are designed and will be implemented in close coordination with Public Health Engineering department of KP. To promote sustainability, WASH Management Committees will be established to foster inclusive ownership and build local capacity.

To safeguard children’s education, Acted will establish temporary learning centres, train teachers in Education in Emergencies, and provide schoolchildren with educational supplies. In addition, to help communities cope with the trauma caused by the floods, Acted will conduct psychosocial support sessions for children, women, and other vulnerable groups, strengthening resilience and fostering recovery. Together, these interventions will restore livelihoods, ensure safe living conditions, reduce public health risks, and enable affected communities especially the most vulnerable to recover with resilience and dignity.

Acted expresses gratitude to the French Government for the financial support of 500,000 euros, and to the concerned federal and provincial departments for their support. Sarfraz Laldin, Country Director of Acted Pakistan, stated: “This project aims to ensure that communities regain access to basic life-saving services, such as safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, while also protecting children’s right to education in emergencies.

”Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, stated that: “In the tragic circumstances many parts of Pakistan have been going through during the last weeks, we are pleased and proud to support Acted with a grant of 500,000 euros. Acted was already on the ground alongside the population in 2022 while historic floods hit the whole country. Their expertise will help respond to the ongoing emergency needs and also support people in their reconstruction. I would like to reiterate France's commitment to supporting Pakistan in the fight against climate change, which impacts us all and demands collective action on a global and local scale”. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)