Main area: Migration
Theme: Conditionality of aid to migration control outcomes
Assessment: ODA-eligible
Provider country: Austria
Recipient country: Pakistan
Implementing agency: Caritas Österreich
Budget (EUR million): 0.8
Year(s): 2021-2023
Purpose code: 11120
Case number: Migration / 1
Enhanced access to education for vulnerable communities in Pakistan
Given the current situation in Afghanistan, numerous refugee families have settled in Pakistan and are currently dependent on emergency aid. According to UNHCR, a total of 500 thousand people is expected to arrive in Pakistan, which considerably challenges the livelihood of vulnerable communities while making the country a key regional actor for migration management. Most Afghan refugees have settled in the outskirts of major Pakistani border cities, including Karachi and Lahore, where living conditions are catastrophic and access to schooling and health care is non-existent. This project aims at improving access to education in these two cities in co-operation with Caritas Austria MALC (Karachi) and FACES-Pakistan (Lahore). As one of several projects in Pakistan, this activity responds to Austria’s plan and interest to strengthen its involvement in the region and to consolidate partnerships for better migration management and fight against drug smuggling originating in the “Silk Road” route. While it promotes Pakistan’s willingness to co-operate in other areas of migration and is therefore part of a broader policy dialogue, the provision of funds within the project is not conditional to specific migration outcomes.
The project aims to improve access to education for a total of 1 600 children from Afghan refugee families, as well as from marginalized population groups (minorities). The joint education ensures integration of the refugee families and increased social cohesion.
The project supports the learning environment and the pedagogical quality of six schools in Karachi and Lahore as well as builds their capacity and ability to deliver health and emergency assistance. Concrete activities include the construction of infrastructure for a new school, installation of solar systems and creation of green areas, establishing processes for improving pedagogical quality, organising mother-child check-ups, implementing violence protection guidelines, and equipping of the schools with up-to-date teaching materials, among others.
Strengthened school infrastructure and capacity to provide educational services as well as health and emergency assistance. As of May 2022, a new school building has been almost completed and school infrastructure is expected to be enhanced through repair, maintenance and gardening activities, the installation of solar panels and provision of new equipment.
Enhanced learning environment and pedagogical quality through the provision of new teaching materials (laptops, projectors, textbooks, bags, among others), organisation of teachers’ training, school curriculum revision and expanded educational offer (i.e., sewing and hairdressing trainings).
This activity is deemed ODA-eligible. It has a primary developmental objective with a focus on crisis-affected populations and community stabilisation. It is recognised that it also promotes Pakistan’s willingness to co-operate in the field of migration and as such is part of a broader policy dialogue. However, the delivery of funds within the activity is not subject to specific conditions on migration outcomes. In line with Criterion 2, the funds are therefore reportable as ODA.
This work was approved and declassified by the Development Assistance Committee’s Working Party on Development Finance Statistics.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
© OECD 2025
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Attribution – you must cite the work.
Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of original work should be considered valid.
Adaptations – you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries.
Third-party material – the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement.
You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work.
Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one.
