[{"bbox": [97, 153, 1133, 206], "category": "Text", "text": "and the deficit in terms of technical expertise, funds availability for maintenance, and operational inefficiencies relating to the metering and billing system."}, {"bbox": [97, 218, 1133, 377], "category": "Text", "text": "In parallel, overharvesting trees and shrubs for heating and cooking is increasing soil erosion and reducing fertility. It has also increased social, economic, and ecological vulnerabilities of mountain communities which are further exacerbated by climate change induced variability in temperature and precipitation. Dwindling forests and trees plantations in the project area are the main source of energy for cooking and heating as well as an important potential source of income (timber, fire, fruits, honey), which makes it critical the need to support support rural communities in sustainable land use including reforestation."}, {"bbox": [97, 390, 1133, 496], "category": "Text", "text": "Access to clean energy make a strong enabler to unlock sustainable economic opportunities and jobs when combined with increased capacities of entrepreneurs by providing, training, advice and market linkages. In the case of villages relying on diesel generators for electricity supply, clean energy reduces energy expenditures, leading to tangible avenues to promote digitalisation, and green economic activities."}, {"bbox": [97, 508, 1133, 562], "category": "Text", "text": "Regarding gender aspects, lack of gender disaggregated data and women's underrepresentation in energy sector can be highlighted."}, {"bbox": [97, 574, 1133, 756], "category": "Text", "text": "Addressing the above challenges, the Action will simultaneously work on increasing renewable energy generation (hydropower) and improving efficiency and resilience of power distribution networks to catalyse sustainable socio-economic development as well as to address severe on-going deforestation in the territory of Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral. The Action will also strongly link energy generation to sustainable economic development by supporting efficient use of electricity by SMEs and supply chains including supporting digitalisation and building capacity of government partners for policy-making and implementation in the energy and natural resources management sectors."}, {"bbox": [97, 761, 1072, 814], "category": "Text", "text": "Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues (mandates, potential roles, and capacities) to be covered by the action:"}, {"bbox": [97, 839, 1133, 1052], "category": "Text", "text": "The main rightholders of the Action are the populations in the regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, particularly women, youth and the most marginalised households and communities within the targeted areas. Over 200,000 people across the programme area will benefit from improved access to clean energy and strengthened natural resources management, enhancing the long-term resilience of rural communities. A do-not harm approach will be applied through all the phases of the Action to ensure proper engagement with the different religious and ethnic communities. Civil society organisations and communities will be involved in the planning, implementation and handover processes representing different communities and groups, including business associations, women and those living in vulnerable situations."}, {"bbox": [97, 1064, 1133, 1224], "category": "Text", "text": "Key stakeholders will be the Gilgit-Baltistan Water and Power Department (WPD), and the Pakhtunkhwa Energy and Department Organisation (PEDO), which have purview on energy provision within the region and will be the final recipient of the power infrastructures built by the Action. Agriculture and Forest Departments in the provincial governments have established a forward-looking strategy to leverage agriculture assets to contribute to local economic development while preserving biodiversity and reverting environmental degradation. They will play a coordination role in all the project activities relating to natural resources management."}, {"bbox": [97, 1236, 1133, 1608], "category": "Text", "text": "The nature of the activities in response to the specific challenges of the Action area demands solid implementing partners with proven capacities and recognition by local governments and communities. The Action will be managed by the Aga Khan Foundation - Portugal, with infrastructural energy components being implemented by the recently founded Northern Pakistan Energy Limited (NEL), the provincial energy utility company created by AKF as a vehicle for a 30-year public-private-partnership with the Government of GB for electricity generation and distribution in Hunza district. By this Agreement signed in 2020, NEL is entrusted to (1) operate, maintain and expand the existing hydropower facilities and distribution lines in the Concession area; (2) design and submit to the provincial government's approval a billing and tariff system ensuring consumers' affordability and cost recovery; (3) transfer back to the provincial government, at the end of the concession period, all the concession assets including new hydropower facilities constructed during the concession period to meet power demand in Hunza district. As part of the implementation of this concession agreement, NEL has designed a 10-year hydropower plan for the Hunza river comprising four run-of-the river hydropower plants of 1.65MW each. AKF is funding with its own resources and a loan from the State Bank of Pakistan the construction of the first HPP of this plan, while the second one will be supported through this Action."}, {"bbox": [1038, 1681, 1143, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 28"}]