(Third Party Monitoring) Balochistan Disaster Management Project Provincial Disaster Management Authority

About Project
The Balochistan Disaster Management Project (BDMP) was initiated to address the high vulnerability of Baluchistan to earthquakes due to its location on active fault lines. The project aimed to strengthen disaster management capacities in the region, aligning with national disaster management frameworks and international strategies for building resilience. The relevance of the project was evident in its alignment with national priorities, disaster risk management frameworks, and development strategies. The design focused on enhancing the capacity of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan to respond to and prepare for natural disasters. However, there were some efficiency concerns due to insufficient cost information and challenges in assessing overall project efficiency. The risks to development outcomes were rated high, particularly in terms of sustainability risks related to capacity enhancement and maintenance of disaster management information systems. The quality-at-entry was considered satisfactory in terms of strategic alignment and technical soundness, but there were weaknesses in outcome measurement and risk mitigation. Supervision faced challenges due to security issues, but efforts were made to ensure adequate oversight. Government performance showed initial commitment but shifted priorities affected project implementation. The implementing agency, PDMA Balochistan, remained dedicated throughout the project despite initial delays. Monitoring and evaluation design had some shortcomings in outcome measurement and logical framework, while utilization of M&E data for decision-making was limited, indicating a need for long-term monitoring and sustainability.