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Asia: Nepal

Japanese Government fund for poverty reduction

A US$ one million dollar grant from the Asian Development Bank’s [ADB] Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, financed by the Government of Japan, is set to improve the livelihoods of poor farmers and disadvantaged groups in Nepal. The Government of Nepal will contribute $314,000 towards a development project to be executed by The Ministry for Agriculture and Cooperatives.

The project will work in Eastern Development Region of Nepal where, according to the ADB, communities are extremely poor and have limited access to resources. To combat this, a $350,000 livelihood support fund will be set–up in the first year to finance household, food, health and education needs to help the poorest people gain access to economic opportunities without delay.

The grant will also assist 6,000 people to engage in micro–enterprises, such as off–season farming and high value crop production among other agricultural activities. The project will go on to carry out a social mobilization programme which will create 600 self–help groups, improve adult literacy for another 6,000 individuals, develop their leadership skills and, it is hoped, increase their confidence and self esteem.

ADB rural development specialist Susanne Nebel said, “The rural areas of Nepal’s eastern hills face chronic poverty, with ethnic minorities, especially women, suffering among the worst. Enabling the deprived to access benefits and opportunities from development efforts in the country is essential.”

For further information visit the Asian Development Bank website at: www.adb.org.

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