USAID Pakistan Jobs (Stimulating Hope IDPs Phase - I Project)
:: Introduction

The valley of Swat, a few years ago, was reputed all over the globe for its fascinating landscapes, crystal clear water torrents, diverse flora and fauna, hospitality, ancient relics and mesmerizing lakes. Nature’s benevolence and serenity of the area attracted nature lovers from all over the world. Unfortunately, this was brought to an end by the worsening security situation

The internal conflict in Swat and adjoining areas rendered entire machinery of local government dysfunctional. Same is the case with the local agro-based economy. A major portion of the population

which relied on agriculture for subsistence is now waiting for peace to resume.  Similarly, all small to major size businesses, which once employed most of the people in the local job market, have yet to start operations. Although, humanitarian organizations initiated some activities in parts of the internal conflict-prone areas of NWFP, but most of these activities are being coordinated from Peshawar which limits the outreach.  

Militancy and terrorism owe their existence mostly to poverty and unemployment. Unemployment has severely damaging effects on youth’s self-esteem and causes their exclusion from mainstream society and pushes them into impoverishment.   

In response to the ongoing internal conflict in Malakand Division of NWFP, LEAD Pakistan with the financial support of Care International Pakistan is implementing a capacity building project titled USAID/Pakistan: Jobs Project to reach out to the most vulnerable individuals of Bunair, and help integrate them into the social fabric by capacitating them to lead economically meaningful and socially tolerant lives.  The set of activities currently being undertaken by LP are linked with CIP’s Empowering Pakistan: Jobs project.

The project is envisaged to train educated but unemployed youth of the area in: Rapid Assessment, Driving Skills, Area Guiding, Secretarial Jobs and Community mobilization. Each of these training programs will be 15 days long during which a total of 113 youngsters will be trained. Later LEAD Pakistan will also help placement of the successful graduates of these trainings on on-the-job training in various organization across Pakistan.