Leveraging Inclusive and Climate-Sensitive WASH for Empowerment (LIFE II)

Leveraging Inclusive and Climate-Sensitive WASH for Empowerment – LIFE II

Water for Women partners with the International Rescue Committee and partners to deliver climate-resilient inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for 123,980* people living in the districts of Peshawar, Swat and Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan.

With a population of more than 233 million, Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world. Pakistan is also among 11 countries at risk of major instability due to the impacts of climate change and ranked 8^th most affected by climate-related extreme weather events over the period 2000- 2021.

Pakistan contributes less than 1% of the global greenhouse gases that warm our planet, but its geography makes it extremely vulnerable to climate change. Pakistan is impacted by two major weather systems — one that can cause high temperatures and drought, like the heatwave of March 2022, and the other that brings monsoon rains, which are intensifying.

The majority of Pakistan's population lives along the Indus River, which swells and can flood during monsoons. In 2022, Pakistan received nearly 190% more rain than its 30-year average from June to August — reaching a total of 390.7mm. Approximately one third of the country was inundated by devastating floodwaters caused by the record rainfall and millions were impacted.

Pakistan’s northern region is also home to more glacial ice than anywhere in the world outside the polar regions. Glaciers in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions are melting rapidly, creating more than 3,000 lakes, around 33 of which are at risk of bursting, putting some 7 million people at risk.

Since 1998, droughts have resulted in the desertification of many districts by depleting underground and surface water sources, killing livestock and destroying staple crops. Access to safe water for daily household consumption and agriculture is a major challenge, with the population greatly dependent on shallow groundwater aquifers and riverine water, both of which are vulnerable to climate change.