IDDRR
Pakistan: Localised finance – the foundation of community resilience
Shehersaaz’s locally financed urban DRR programs in Rawalpindi and Nowshera combine rainwater harvesting, waste management, and first aid training to strengthen community resilience, health, and economic stability.
ORGANISATION
Shehersaaz
LOCATION
Rawalpindi and Nowshera, Pakistan
Building community resilience through local finance and action
Localised disaster risk reduction finance puts resources directly into the hands of communities that know their risks best. In Rawalpindi and Nowshera, Shehersaaz has leveraged this approach to strengthen resilience in urban and suburban areas vulnerable to floods and droughts. By enabling local control of funds, communities can prioritise vital interventions, foster ownership, and create long-term sustainable solutions.
Integrated initiatives for climate-smart urban resilience
Shehersaaz’s programme focuses on three complementary areas:
- Rainwater harvesting (RWH)
RWH units help communities manage both floods and droughts. During the monsoon, they capture and store rainwater, reducing runoff and easing pressure on blocked drains. In dry periods, the stored water provides a safe, reliable source for domestic use, essential when contaminated groundwater is inaccessible.
- Solid waste management and segregation
Training and initiatives in waste management prevent drain blockages, reducing urban flooding while improving environmental and public health. Cleaner streets and waterways reduce disease vectors and pollution, protecting community well-being.
- First aid training
Community members receive training in life-saving techniques such as CPR and bleeding control. This builds immediate response capacity, enabling residents to act before professional help arrives, reducing injuries and fatalities.
Impact on people and systems
The integrated approach has delivered measurable benefits:
Improved health and water security: Rainwater harvesting provides thousands with safe water, lowering incidences of waterborne diseases, while improved drainage and waste management reduce mosquito-borne illnesses.
Economic stability and reduced losses: Flood mitigation protects homes and assets, while stored water reduces the cost of purchasing water during dry periods, freeing household income for education and small businesses.
Social cohesion and empowerment: Community involvement in planning, construction, and maintenance fosters ownership and collective responsibility. First aid networks strengthen self-reliance, shifting the community from reactive to proactive disaster management.
Through participatory planning, local financing, and capacity building, Shehersaaz demonstrates that resilience is not built after disasters strike – it is cultivated every day through empowered, prepared, and properly-funded communities.
This International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, GNDR calls for governments, donors, the private sector and financial institutions to prioritise funding for resilience, not just funding for disasters when they strike.
All photos: Shehersaaz