Nepal: Australia to provide USD 5.4 million for livelihoods recovery in the earthquake most affected districts
Kathmandu — The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement for a US$ 5.4 million grant for micro enterprise and livelihoods recovery, in the aftermath of the devastating April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
The Rapid Enterprise and Livelihoods Recovery Project (RELRP) will help people recover their livelihoods. Through quick reactivation of local enterprises and establishment of new enterprises the project will also rebuild local economies.
The project, which will be implemented in cooperation with the Nepal Ministry of Industry, targets a total of 12,000 existing beneficiaries of two ongoing initiatives: Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP) and Micro Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA) Programme. In addition new micro entrepreneurs will also be supported. This will benefit more than 60,000 family members of the micro-entrepreneurs.
The project, funded by Australia, focuses on the most marginalized populations in highly affected districts.
UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer said:
"If the earthquakes have destroyed many of the tools and assets used by small local entrepreneurs, their business and technical skills remain with them. With immediate assistance, they can re-start their work and recover their source of livelihoods”
Signing on behalf of DFAT, Charge d’Affairs of the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu Catherine Gill said
"Australia has been supporting livelihoods development of women, youth, marginalized caste and ethnic groups in Nepal since 1998. Up to 90 per cent of our beneficiaries in quake affected districts have lost their livelihoods. We are proud to launch this rapid recovery initiative, in partnership with the UNDP and MOI.”
The RELRP provides special support measures to re-start micro-enterprises which were damaged or destroyed during the earthquake, as well as new business initiatives which will benefit communities and promote social cohesion.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal on 25 April has left over 8,700 people dead and over 100,000 injured, with millions more left homeless. An estimated total of 500,000 homes and 32,000 classrooms have been destroyed, or heavily damaged. Affected communities have lost significant economic infrastructure including businesses, farm land, irrigation channels, seed stores, market centres and feeder roads and trails.
Contact Information
John Narayan Parajuli, Head of Communications, UNDP
9851122684, narayan.parajuli@undp.org
Kamal Raj Sigdel, Communications Analyst, UNDP
9851059512, kamal.sigdel@undp.org