ISLAMABAD, May 08 (ABC): Over 5.46 million pregnant women and children under the age of two have benefited from the Social Protection for Health and Climate Resilience project implemented by the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in 87 flood-affected districts, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan.
Funded by the German Development Bank KfW with a total grant of €27 million, the project was launched following an agreement signed on June 9, 2023. It aimed to strengthen social protection systems while addressing the health and nutrition needs of climate-vulnerable populations, particularly in flood-hit areas.
A major portion of the funding — €18 million — was allocated to nutrition-related conditional cash transfers in the flood-affected districts. Under this component, beneficiaries received Rs1,000 per quarter to support essential nutrition for mothers and young children.
The initiative also incorporated a shock-responsive social protection mechanism, offering financial assistance to flood-hit families for up to two years. This ensured timely support during climate-related emergencies and helped vulnerable households cope with the aftermath of disasters.
A forward-looking component of the project focused on building adaptive social protection systems. This included feasibility studies and the development of early warning and anticipatory action strategies to better prepare for future climate shocks.
The project highlighted Pakistan’s increasing emphasis on integrating social protection with climate resilience, combining immediate relief efforts with long-term system to ensure stronger support for vulnerable populations.
