KATHMANDU: Nepal and the United Kingdom have signed two separate memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for grant aid to support climate resilience and local empowerment initiatives.
One grant, amounting to approximately Rs 6.5 billion, will fund a program focused on resilience, adaptation, and inclusion in Nepal.
The second grant, valued at Rs 6.58 billion, will target gender and human development outcomes.
Both programs will be implemented in Karnali, Lumbini, and Madhes provinces, aiming to empower local governments and communities vulnerable to climate change by building human capital and improving the delivery of basic services.
The MoUs were signed by Dhani Ram Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, on behalf of Nepal, and Pippa Bird, Development Director and Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in Kathmandu, on behalf of the UK government, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance.
The resilience and adaptation program will run for six years, while the capacity enhancement project will be implemented over seven years.
At the signing ceremony, Joint Secretary Sharma remarked, “These two MoUs are a testament to the cordial and steadfast development cooperation between our two countries. I believe that the relevant government agencies will coordinate effectively to achieve the objectives of these programs.”
Pippa Bird added, “We are committed to supporting Nepal in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, global and regional health threats, and the scarcity of resources needed to provide social services. These programs, among other things, will build resilience to natural disasters and climate change and improve the delivery of basic services to the most vulnerable.”
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