Background of the project: Establishment of VC/NC Offices in Merged Districts of KP
The Merged Areas Governance Programme (MAGP) is a comprehensive governance initiative that focuses on technical assistance and implementation support to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (GoKP) in three main areas: 1) accelerated development with an emphasis on the delivery of basic services; (2) border governance and connectivity; and (3) support to local governance systems. The overall objective of the Programme is to enhance the capacity of the GoKP to successfully integrate the Merged Areas and strengthen border governance and cross-border connectivity by extending laws, policies, and strategies; planning, designing, and delivering development initiatives; and implementing inclusive local government systems. An emphasis is placed on inclusive development, to ensure that marginalized population groups benefit from development in the MAs, as well as on disaster-risk reduction and improved risk management, to help prevent, mitigate and/or address the effects of climate change and other risks.
Under its third pillar (support to local governance) and as part of its approved Annual Work Plan 2023, MAGP is supporting the GoKP in laying the groundwork for the establishment of robust, responsive and inclusive local governance systems in the Merged Areas, extended for the first time in its history. This includes a range of capacity and institutional development support to operationalize the newly established Village and Neighborhood Councils (VC/NCs) - the lowest administrative unit of local governance at grassroots levels - and support them in performing their basic administrative and service delivery functions.
To that end, and in agreement with its funding partners, MAGP will provide infrastructural support to GoKP in establishment of basic administrative structures in the MAs through procurement and installation of 27 pre-fabricated units across two districts (18 in Kurram, 9 in Orakzai) that can serve as offices for local Village/Neighborhood Councils (VC/NCs) and fulfill basic needs to facilitate improved service delivery.
The designs and specifications for the VC/NC offices are attached in Annex-I and Annex-II. As agreed with the GoKP, the selection of sites and land ownership will be ensured by the Local Government, Elections & Rural Development Department (LGE&RDD) in consultation with other district, provincial and federal government counterparts.
A summary of the sites for the establishment of VC/NC offices is provided below:
| S. No | District | Tehsil | No. of VC/NC |
| 1 | Orakzai | Upper Orakzai | 5 |
| 2 | Orakzai | Lower Orakzai | 4 |
| 3 | Kurram | Upper Kurram | 8 |
| 4 | Kurram | Lower and Central Kurram | 10 |
