Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Trust: Social Protection for Displaced Families in Pakistan

In the heart of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, where the majestic mountains cradle the valleys and the air carries whispers of ancient tales, a new story of hope and resilience is being written. This is a story of transformation, where nearly one million families are reclaiming their lives from the shadows of conflict and displacement all due to the Temporarily Displaced Persons Emergency Recovery Project (TDP ERP).

The journey began in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a region once scarred by militancy and insecurity. Here, over 400,000 families displaced by military operations, returned to homes that bore the marks of devastation and dreams that seemed distant. Vulnerability was a constant companion, with livelihoods fragile, food scarce, and child health outcomes poor. The disruption of essential services threatened to deepen the cycles of poverty and instability, casting a long shadow even over those who had not been displaced.

In 2015, the TDP ERP emerged as a beacon of hope, offering emergency cash grants to more than 400,000 families. These grants were lifelines, helping families meet immediate needs and reintegrate into their communities. However, the project’s vision extended beyond mere recovery; it understood that rebuilding lives require more than financial support.

Enter the Child Wellness Grant (CWG), a pioneering initiative that combined cash assistance with routine immunizations and health awareness sessions and monitoring. Initially met with skepticism, the program gradually won trust as families witnessed the improved health of children. "Children look healthier, are more playful, and fall sick less frequently," shared one mother, her words painting a picture of transformation. Over 1.37 million vaccinations were administered, a significant achievement for a country still battling polio. The CWG program not only improved child health and nutrition but also tackled vaccine hesitancy—a long-standing challenge in the area. According to locals, elder male relatives, once skeptical, began endorsing vaccination and even facilitated access.

To deliver these services, the government invested in institutional resilience by establishing 43 Citizen Facilitation Centers (CFCs) in districts affected by conflict. These one-stop hubs provide a range of services including health services, identification, birth registration, grievance redress, and access to over 26 public services—processing more than 3.5 million requests to date. Out of them, 48% female beneficiaries also availed other services at the CFCs. This marks a significant leap in citizen-state trust and service delivery.

Women were central to this transformation. The project prioritized them by establishing separate service counters and women only days, deploying female staff, and running awareness campaigns led by Lady Health Visitors. According to one of the women, “I feel empowered by the ability to navigate outside spaces and interact with healthcare providers, better enabling to discuss child and maternal health issues with LHVs (lady health visitors).” These measures made service centers more accessible, safe, and empowering for women—resulting in a dramatic rise in female participation and visibility in public life. In 2024, 88% of new CWG registrants were women. The project not only provided aid but also influenced gender norms in traditional communities. Women no longer wait for male approval before seeking medical care so the project served to empower women in making their health choices as well.

Behind the scenes, robust digital infrastructure and biometric verification ensured transparency and accountability. TDP ERP became a model of integrated service delivery in fragile contexts, paving the way for scalable social protection reforms across Pakistan.

Supported by the World Bank and the partner organizations through a mix of IDA credits and multi-donor trust funds, the TDP ERP evolved from an emergency response into a scalable model for social protection. While FATA has now integrated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, its legacy continues through follow-up programs like the KP Citizen-Centered Service Delivery Project and the Crisis-Resilient Social Protection Program.

Families are thriving as trust in public institutions grows. Services are reaching those who need them most. From rebuilding lives to rebuilding institutions, the TDP ERP shows that even in fragile settings, it is possible to empower people, strengthen systems, and lay the foundation for peace and prosperity.

Implementation challenges

• The program faced widespread security challenges since its inception at times leading to an adverse impact on planned activities.
• Local cultural and social barriers hindered female beneficiary mobilization.
• Mobilization of skilled human resources in some of the remotest areas of the country is a  significant  challenge.
• Due to low female literacy rate, the project faced challenges in providing optimal services to its primarily female beneficiaries due to a limited number of local female employees.