Jan 16, 2017

The Government of the United Kingdom through the Department for International Development (DFID) has agreed to provide a grant assistance of £36.5 Million equivalent to NRs 5.11 billion to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of the Rural Access Program Phase III. An Agreement to this effect was signed and exchanged at the Ministry of Finance, Kathmandu, Nepal, today.

The main objective of this program is to help secure sustainable rural livelihoods for the poor and disadvantaged people improving income opportunities through employment generation, providing sustainable access to markets and improved access to economic opportunities in the rural program area. In order to achieve this objective, the program has two interventions (i) Provide short term employment opportunities for the women and most vulnerable people through rural road maintenance program; and (ii) enhance sustainable private sector led economic development in the program areas.

The program will be implemented in the mid western and far western districts of Nepal including Humla, Bajura, Mugu, Achham, Kalikot, Jumla and Dailekh. Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development will be the implementing agency and implementation of this program will be completed by March 2017.

The Grant Agreement was signed by Mr. Santa Raj Subedi, Finance Secretary and Mr. Dominic O'Neill, Head of the Department for International Development, DFID Nepal on behalf of their respective Governments.