UNIFEM to provide ERRA $39.935m
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) Thursday signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to communicate voices of quake affected communities to the decision and policy makers.
Under the MoU, the Erra would receive financial assistance of US$ 39.935 million from UNIFEM for projects to ensure participation of vulnerable groups in the decision making for their development. Deputy chairman Erra Lt-Gen Nadeem Ahmed and UNIFEM Country Director Program, Alice Shackelford signed the agreement on behalf of their organizations while caretaker minister for women development Shahida Jamil also attended the ceremony.
UNIFEM agreed to finance Erra in establishment of a network to initiate setting of dialogue forums at district level which will guide functioning of gender network.
Speaking on the occasion, Country Director UNIFEM, Allice Shackelford said Erra’s efforts would have far reaching effects on overall gender uplift in the earthquake affected areas.
Lt-Gen. Nadeem Ahmed, on the occasion, said Erra is working in 12 priority sectors, which are in various phases of implementation and the concentrated efforts have led to improvement in support and service delivery.