ETI-GB At A Glance

About Us

The Economic Transformation Initiative Gilgit-Baltistan (ETI-GB) is a $133.72 million development programme of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, supported by IFAD and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

Development Goal: “Improve incomes and reduce poverty and malnutrition in rural areas of Gilgit- Baltistan.”

Objective: “Increased agriculture incomes and employment for at least 100,000 rural households in Gilgit- Baltistan through sustainable development of the agriculture value chain”

Launched in 2015 and extended to 2029 following ECNEC approval, the programme aims to benefit 100,000 rural households across all ten districts of GB through three integrated components: economic infrastructure, value chain development, and programme management & policy support.

Programme at a glance

• Programme Budget: $133.72 million
• Duration: 2015–2029 (extended through ECNEC’s approval in 2025)
• Coverage: Working in all 10 districts of Gilgit-Baltistan
• Target Households: 100,000 rural families
• Outreach to date: 92,094 households benefitted (as of July 2023)
• Women beneficiaries: 28% of direct beneficiaries
• Youth beneficiaries: 30% of direct beneficiaries

Gender Equality Policy

The ETI’s commitment to gender equality is reflected in the March 2015 Project Design Report (PDR). It is the first development project in GB to focus on gender mainstreaming. The Gender and Poverty section specifically focuses on the gender aspect of the programme. Starting from the planning stage to implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and gender sensitive budgeting, gender has been explicitly targeted. The section has presently adopted a two-pronged approach of organizational and programmatic strengthening. The Gender Equality Policy (GEP) is the legal document for organizational strengthening with a gender perspective while the Gender Strategy grasps all the activities related to the programmatic interventions in the field. The empowerment of women is ensured through a range of activities and processes Village Social Development Priorities are determined through full participation of women in mixed or separate village production groups as the social norms of the area dictate Target for women’s and men’s participation in all key activities is specified with a primary focus on women as per the Programme Design. The Annual Work plan and Budget (AWPB) of the programme contains a specific gender action plan. Gender balance in staffing, with women comprising at least 30 per cent of the staff is ensured in PCU, RCU and SMP. Main activities of the Gender and Poverty Section comprises of; Social Assessment of poorest households as part of the component 1. Coordinates and facilitates the activities for men, women and youth in the programme focused area. Conducts Gender Sensitization and Mainstreaming Trainings and Workshops for the PCU, RCU and implementing partner organizations. Organizes Gender sensitization and mainstreaming training sessions for the community representatives. Coordinates and facilitates the trainings on nutrition improvement and awareness creation to reduce child malnutrition in the programme focused area. Prepared gender and poverty checklist, guidelines for the 4P partnership models to mainstream gender. Compiles and disseminates the reporting and progress on monthly and quarterly basis.

Women’s participation

28% of beneficiaries are women; 30% are youth. Village social development priorities are set through full participation of women in production groups.

Women-led cooperatives

15 women-specific VACs are fully managed by women, addressing land access, value chain entrepreneurship and community savings.