The Government of Japan, UN-Habitat, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an Exchange of Notes and a Grant Agreement on 11 February 2026 to strengthen the disaster resilience of educational infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The initiative is funded through a grant of JPY 427 million (approximately USD 2.7 million) from the Government of Japan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is highly prone to climate-driven hazards, and the 2025 cloudbursts and flash floods damaged 437 schools, severely disrupting education services, particularly in Swat and Buner districts. The project will support the rehabilitation and retrofitting of these schools to restore safe, resilient, and functional learning environments. Upgrades include strengthening school structures, improving ventilation and lighting, and reinstating gender-sensitive WASH facilities to ensure privacy, dignity, and accessibility for girls and children with disabilities.
The Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, H.E. Akamatsu Shuichi, highlighted that strengthening school infrastructure is a critical investment in protecting children and ensuring continuity of education amid climate-induced disasters. UN-Habitat’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Kazuko Ishigaki, emphasized that retrofitted schools will provide structurally stable classrooms and essential services, enabling children to learn safely and confidently. By positioning schools as hubs for disaster preparedness, the project will extend training and first-aid benefits to surrounding communities, enhancing local resilience and emergency response capacity.
JICA Senior Representative Sugawara Takayuki explained that the project follows JICA’s “Build Back Better” approach, promoting reconstruction that is more resilient to future disasters to support sustainable economic and social development. United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Yahya noted that the initiative aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and Pakistan’s implementation of the Sendai Framework, advancing resilience for vulnerable communities.
Through the construction and rehabilitation of disaster-resilient schools, along with disaster resilience training, this collaboration aims to reduce loss of life, limit the number of people affected, and mitigate economic damage from natural disasters. The project will strengthen human security and promote safe, sustainable education for children in flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
