Jan 16, 2017

The Government of Switzerland has agreed to provide Swiss Franc 13.89 million grant assistance (equivalent to NRs 1.39 billion) to the Government of Nepal.

The Government of Switzerland has agreed to provide Swiss Franc 13.89 million grant assistance (equivalent to NRs 1.39 billion) to the Government of Nepal. Out of the total assistance, 4.9 million (equivalent to NRs. 440 million) will be used for the implementation of Strengthening the Accountability of Local Governments (SALG) project and 8.99 million (equivalent to NRs. 800.46 million) for Safer Migration Project ( SaMi)-Phase II. Two separate Agreements to this effect were signed and exchanged between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Switzerland in the Ministry of Finance, Kathmandu, today.

The objective of Strengthening the Accountability of Local Governments project is to help people benefitting from a state that is responsive to the demands of disadvantaged groups, and provide more effective and inclusive public services at the local level in the project districts. This project is intended to be complimentary to, and closely aligned with Local Governance and Community Development Program, LGCDP 2nd phase. Initially, the project will be implemented in seven districts of eastern and western Nepal namely; Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Dailekh, Kalikot, Achham and Jajarkot, with a possibility of extending into Sindhuli and Surkhet.The project will be implemented for a 4-year period, from 16th July 2013 to 15th July 2017. Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development will be the executing agency of this project.

Similarly, the objective of the Safer Migration Project (Phase II) is to contribute to safer and more beneficial migration for men and women of Nepal. It supports to reduce the social and economic costs of foreign employment and increase its benefit and enhance effective implementation of the Foreign Employment Policy 2012. The project will cover the potential migrants, in-service migrant and returnees to/from the Middle East, Malaysia and other labor destinations and the families of current and returnee migrants from 19 districts namely; Kailali, Nawalparasi, Dhading, Sindhupalchowk, Sarlahi, Khotang, Udayapur, Dhanusha, Saptari, Dang, Kaski, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Siraha, Mahottari, Sunsari,Jhapa and kathmandu. After the completion of this Project, people are expected to have easy access to information to foreign employment and its opportunities. The project will be implemented for a 4-year period, from 16th July 2013 to 15th July 2017. Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) will be the executing agency of this project.

Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasini, Joint Secretary and Chief of International Economic Cooperation coordination Division, Ministry of Finance and H.E. Mr. Thomas Gass, Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective Governments.