ISLAMABAD: The US government has started training conflict victims of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to collect utility bill payments online.

The USAID-funded Conflict Victims Support Programme (CVSP), launched in collaboration with National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), extended a unique income generation opportunity to five conflict victims in KP and Fata by providing them training, equipment and franchise licence to become ‘e-Sahulat’ agents in their villages.

Nadra’s e-Sahulat programme is a service that enables the government to collect utility bill payments online across the country. In addition to being licensed and trained by Nadra to work as agents, e-Sahulat agents must have access to computers, printers and internet connection to qualify.

E-Sahulat agents are able to work from home and earn income by receiving a percentage of each processed transaction, according to USAID.

Under this partnership, CVSP provides the equipment needed to become an agent while Nadra provides training and licensing. The first batch to receive the equipment and training is a test group which will help refine the plan. The results will then be used to expand the programme to 50 more beneficiaries.

This collaboration comes as part of USAID’s initiative to foster sustainable Public-Private Partnership models. Nadra is promoting the expansion of e-Sahulat programme to improve the collection of utility bills in remote areas or those facing security risks.

Under its mandate to rehabilitate the livelihood of conflict-affected families in KP and Fata, CVSP has developed a wide network of partners and beneficiaries in some of the most remote and volatile areas.

“We are very pleased with this model because it provides an opportunity to assist conflict-affected communities’ sustainably through a win-win scenario for all — Nadra, the beneficiaries, and the community,” said Adnan Sher, the CVSP’s chief.

Published in Dawn, August 31, 2014