The Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE) commenced after an agreement worth € 40 million was signed between the
Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) and the
European Union (EU).[7] The project runs under the principles of financial sustainability and equitable sharing of benefits with the community for
social development purposes.[8][9][10][11]
Hydro electricity
Under the PEACE project 62% of the funding is utilised for generation of community run
micro-hydro power units in the project areas.[12][13] Hydro power stations under the project are primarily built in areas where there is no active
national grid or where such grid stands disrupted.[14] Communities contribute time and labour, known as "
sweat equity", which creates a
sense of ownership and helps sustain the projects.[15] The MHPs are run as a
social enterprise and its earnings are spent on the welfare of local communities,[16][17][18] particularly women.[19]Electricity is generated harnessing the small
glacier-meltwater rivers that drop steeply off soaring mountains.[20][21]
A significant portion of the funds are allocated to the building or restoration of basic
infrastructure such as road, bridges, water channels etc.[26][27][28][29]
Environmental aspect
Electricity from hydro schemes cuts down the use of
wood for
cooking,
heating and
lighting, consequently reducing
deforestation which is a huge problem in the
region. The hydro schemes also cut
greenhouse gas emissions, by virtually eliminating the use of
kerosenelighting, cutting the use of
dieselgenerators, and also reducing the use of unsustainable wood. A detailed breakdown has not been made of
fuels replaced, but an indication of the significance can be made by assuming that the estimated 110,000
MWh of electricity generated each year replaces diesel generation producing around 0.8
tonnes of
carbon dioxide per MWh. This suggests a substantial greenhouse gas saving of around 88,000 tonnes of
carbon dioxide per year.[30][31][32][33]
Pakistan is only producing 128 out of a potential of 3,100
MW of electricity from small hydropower projects.[34][35]
Recognition
In 2015 the Programme for Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE) project earned the
Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) an
Ashden Award for Increasing Energy Access.[36][37][38] In 2017 the project attracted the National Award given out by the
Energy Globe Award in Pakistan for supplying electricity to
off-grid areas.[39]