Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP)

Background

The Thardeep Rural Development Programme is a non-governmental organization established in 1998 based in Pakistan that provides development programs to assist vulnerable members of the community within the rural areas of Pakistan’s Sindh province.  It does this through social mobilization within the communities and the engagement of community activists, as well as direct services. ^{3  4}

TRDP focuses on five areas: sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development and poverty graduation; elementary education with a focus on girls, mother and child health, food security and nutrition improvement, and disaster preparedness, management, and water and sanitation. ³

In 2024, TRDP implemented over 15 projects across 14 districts of Sindh, benefiting 200,000 poor households. ⁵

Current Projects

The Thardeep Rural Development Programme is managing the microgrants component of the PAIDAR Programme (Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh). PAIDAR is supported by the European Union and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Its broader purpose is to support the Government of Sindh’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. TRDP awards microgrants to rural entrepreneurs to promote business development and the reduction of poverty in the area. ^{3  6}

TRDP participates in the Ehsaas Interest Free Loan Program, a poverty alleviation initiative launched by the government of Pakistan. ⁷

The GRASP project (Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress) is a European Union (EU)-funded program managed by the International Trade Center, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, and the TRDP to improve the banana industry. ⁸

In February 2023 the Sindh government created the Sindh People’s Housing Foundation which partnered with government and nongovernmental organizations, including TRDP, to build houses to replace those damaged or destroyed by flooding. The program is funded by the World Bank along with the government of Pakistan and Sindh provincial government. ⁹

Funding Partners

The Thardeep Rural Development Programme’s donor base includes both international agencies and national government organizations. Its list of partners include the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), the European Union, Concern Worldwide, UK Aid, Pepsico, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, the International Fund for Agricultural Development which is a specialized agency of the United Nations, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the government of Pakistan, the Sindh provincial government, and several philanthropic organizations that are not specifically listed. ^{1  10}

TRDP is an active member of the Rural Support Programme Network and the Pakistan Micro Finance Network, strategic alliances of nonprofit organizations working with the same approach. ¹¹ It is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a global membership network of government and civil society organizations that address environmental and sustainable development issues. ^{12  13}

Leadership

The Thardeep Rural Development Programme leadership includes a board of directors, a CEO, and a program management team. ¹⁴

The board chair is Naseer Muhammad Nizamani. Nizamani earned his master’s in public health from Harvard University. He has worked in public health for over 35 years with various organizations including the Pakistan Ministry of Health, Save the Children, UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the World Health Organization. He has also managed programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the World Bank. ¹⁵

Allah Nawaz Samoo has been the CEO of the Thardeep Rural Development Programme since 2017. ¹⁶