Development projects in Nepal

Community resilience programme: supports rural and remote Nepalese villages in increasing disaster preparedness, health awaraness and access to water and sanitation

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

USD 22K

Timeline

Jan 1, 2019 → Dec 31, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

The project will support the procurement and delivery of safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 through APVAX's RRC in compliance with ADB's vaccine eligibility criteria to the country. It aims to finance the procurement of about 15.9 million doses of vaccines, which will be administered to about 6.8 million Nepalese by 2024, with data collected and disaggregated by sex and age.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 165.0M

Timeline

Aug 11, 2021 → Mar 28, 2024

Coverage

Nepal

The CARES Program aims to help the government in implementing its pandemic response plan the National Relief Program to respond to public health emergencies and to mitigate adverse economic and social impacts caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 250.0M

Timeline

Jun 1, 2020 → Nov 30, 2021

Coverage

Nepal

A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, with the epicenter in Lamjung District (north-west) of Kathmandu. As of 26 April 2015, the death toll stands at over 2,288 people and the injured at more than 5,850 people, but observers believe these numbers are likely to increase. A United Nations situation report confirms that 30 out of 75 districts in the country have been affected in the Western and Central Regions, including Kathmandu Valley districts. This includes mountainous and hilly areas, in areas where rural populations are dispersed, as well as some very densely populated districts and Nepal?s two largest cities?greater Kathmandu and Pokhara. The worst affected districts include Sindulpalchowk, Kavre, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Dolakha in the central region; and Kaski, Gorkha, and Lamjung in the western region. The impacts of the earthquake and its aftershocks in the Kathmandu Valley include collapsed historic buildings in the center of Kathmandu. Roads and other infrastructure have been severely affected, and the delivery of relief goods and services has become difficult. The residents are already facing serious shortages of food, water, and other essential items. Many houses in the worst affected areas are believed to have collapsed. The majority of the populations remain outside their houses due to fear of aftershocks and structural damage to buildings. The Nepalese media report that stores are running out of food and especially water. Hospitals are overcrowded and running short on emergency medical supplies. Doctors from hospitals are reported to be treating people in the streets. The Government of Nepal (Government) declared a state of emergency for the 11 affected districts on the evening on 25 April 2015 and has requested international assistance, particularly for the most critical humanitarian needs of the population. This includes (i) search and rescue capacity; (ii) medical teams, supplies, tenting for hospitals, and body bags for the dead; (iii) heavy equipment for removal of rubble; and (iv) helicopters for transport and access to blocked areas.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 3.0M

Timeline

Apr 29, 2015 → May 23, 2016

Coverage

Dolakha, kabhrepalanchok

The project is investing in rehabilitation and expansion of sewerage network, modernization and expansion of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and improvement of wastewater management in the Kathmandu Valley that will help improve service delivery and reduce pollution of the Bagmati River and its tributaries. The project is also strengthening the institutions working for wastewater management in the Kathmandu Valley to increase operational efficiency and improve service delivery, and will result in positive impacts on health and quality of life for the residents of Kathmandu Valley. The project is coordinating with other related projects to fulfill the medium-term priority investment needs identified in the long-term capital investment and asset management program.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 80.0M

Timeline

Jul 3, 2013 → Jun 30, 2019

Coverage

Kathmandu, Bagmati

The Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project aims to improve water security and resilience to potential climate change impact in the Bagmati River Basin. The project will complement ongoing efforts of the Government of Nepal and civil society to improve water management and the river environment in the Bagmati River Basin (BRB). The project will invest in forming a river basin organization with adequate capacity and decision support systems for integrated water resources management (IWRM). It will finance the construction of upstream water storage, riverbed oxygenating weirs, riverbank beautification, and community initiatives to improve the river environment in Kathmandu Valley The impact will be increased water security in the BRB. The outcome will be improved river health and flood management. The project is the first attempt in Nepal to apply the concept and principles of IWRM since its adoption under the 2005 National Water Plan. The project focuses on priority issues selected by the basin stakeholders from the basin strategic investment road map. The road map is based on the 2009 Bagmati Action Plan and further consultations with basin stakeholders. The project has five outputs: (i)Established systems and capacity for integrated and participatory river basin management. Activities include (a) provide legal and institutional strengthening for IWRM and formation of a river basin organization (RBO), (b) mobilize basin stakeholders, (c) build capacity for increasing RBO competence, (d) establish a central water resources information system including a decision support system and an operating water quality monitoring network, and (e) prepare a 15-year participatory integrated river basin master plan. (ii)Improved riverbank environment in urban areas. Activities include (a) remove contaminated riverbed material; (b) construct weirs and provide phyto-remediation to enhance the river's self-cleaning capacity; (c) stabilize and beautify the riverbank; (d) mobilize, raise awareness, and build capacity of local government and communities for riverbank management and maintenance; and (e) collaborate with the private sector, which has expressed interest in setting up recreational businesses along the riverbanks through publicprivate partnerships or finance maintenance as part of social corporate activities. (iii)Increased water availability in the basin during the dry season and watershed conservation. Activities include (a) construct an 861,000 cubic meters (m3) Dhap dam and complete detail design of the 8 million m3 Nagmati dam, (b) provide rooftop rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, and (c) implement upstream watershed management. (iv)Functioning flood forecasting and early warning system for the Bagmati River Basin. Activities include (a) upgrade the existing flood forecasting system, (b) install a flood early warning system, and (c) increase community awareness and build capacity for flood response. (v)Efficient project management with effective stakeholder communication. Activities include (a) establish competent project management and project implementation units, (b) undertake timely procurement and disbursement, and (c) implement the project communication strategy and monitoring.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 63.0M

Timeline

Dec 10, 2019 → May 31, 2025

Coverage

Kathmandu, Bagmati

ADB and the governments of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal are working together to develop and improve tourism sites and facilities in the three countries. The South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project is improving the infrastructure around key tourist sites and cultural sites in the three countries, and expanding the air and road links that connect the various destinations. This includes upgrading airports; fixing roads; and cleaning up tourist sites with improved water supply, sanitation systems, and solid waste management. Visitor centers will be also be improved. The project is working to spread tourism to remote communities that are currently bypassed by the popular tourist markets. This work is benefiting about 2.4 million people in the three countries through increased income, jobs, improved health and local environmental conditions, and reduced travel times. About 270,000 people are benefiting from new job opportunities created by the project, and at least 5,000 others are enjoying expanded livelihood options.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 12.8M

Timeline

May 25, 2010 → Mar 28, 2023

Coverage

Nepal

The impact of the project will be reduced rural poverty in 18 poor and remote hill and mountain districts. The project outcome will be widened access to social services and economic opportunities. The project outcome will be achieved through the following outputs:(i) rural livelihood improved; (ii) capacity and decentralized local governance enhanced; (iii) rural transport infrastructure extended and maintained; and (iv) project management improved. Output 1: Rural Livelihood Improved The project will improve community infrastructure in the 18 districts. This will include 90 school buildings and health posts, 36 foot/mule/link trails, 54 water supply and irrigation schemes, 10 micro-hydropower, 8 rural market places, 10 ropeways, and other community infrastructure. The project will provide livelihood related skills training to 3,000 beneficiaries from the project impact zones, of which at least 40% are women and 60%, are from poor and excluded groups. In nine pilot districts, the project will work with existing savings and credit groups, and assist BGs willing to form themselves into formal Savings and Credit Cooperatives and facilitate their access to credit from existing institutional suppliers. Output 2: Capacity and Decentralized Local Governance Enhanced The project will improve district and national capacity building to promote improved decentralized governance. The thrust will be on establishing the capacity for sustainable management of rural road networks, strengthening the decentralized management of rural infrastructure, and raising central capacity to support local government bodies. Output 3: Rural Transport Infrastructure Extended and Maintained The project will improve 260 kilometers (km) of rural roads in the 18 districts (200 km new and 60 km upgrading). Rural roads of 1,200 km will be maintained in the 18 districts and 6,500 meters of trail bridges will be constructed. The implementation of the road sub-projects will employ labor-based equipment-supported methods, and works performed by BGs will be promoted over construction by contractors. Only those civil works that cannot be executed by the communities may be awarded on the basis of local competitive bidding to contractors. Output 4: Project Management Improved Technical support to project implementation will be provided through a Central Implementation Support Consultant (CISC) and District Implementation Support Consultant (DISCs) in each of the 18 project districts.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 18.0M

Timeline

Feb 1, 2012 → Apr 5, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

The principal objective of the grant is to reduce the isolation of remote rural communities, mostly in the hilly region by enhancing access of the poor to basic services, employment opportunities, and service centers of health and education in major towns and district headquarters. The anti-trafficking program will help mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS, and hence, is included in the HIV/AIDS and Anti-Trafficking Program to be financed by the Grant.

Organization

Asian Development Bank

Budget

USD 55.2M

Timeline

Sep 11, 2006 → Oct 27, 2015

Coverage

Nepal

Lhomi Preschool Program in Nepal is a liaison between Wycliffe Finland (WRK) and its partner Nepal Lhomi Society (NELHOS). The main output will be Mother Tongue Based Early Childhood Education program for the Lhomi.The status of children in Nepal is often very poor especially among indigenous people groups. Lhomi children are often discriminated. There is no preschools available and they must start primary school in Nepali language which is unknown for them. This will have a bad effect to their success in t he school and finally it causes exclusion.Providing pre-school opportunity by their mother tongue this project will increase parity in the education levels of children in the target communities with other children in the country. Children's rights will be increased by providing them pre-school education that equip them and easy their transition to the first grade in Nepali instructed primary school. In doing so children will comprehend and learn faster they will stay in school and ultimately will increase t heir self-development. This will be achieved through a well-founded Mother Tongue Based Early Childhood Education (MTB ECE) -program that will be developed in the target language.The project aims to reduce inequality and vulnerability of indigenous childre n. The rights of girls disabled children and low cast children will be emphasized. Moreover gender equality reduction of inequality disability and climate sustainability will be part of the learning material.NELHOS is responsible of project implementation. As an organization they will gain capacity of mother tongue education as well as they become strong advocate of minority language groups and the rights of marginalized groups in Nepal.Main beneficiaries are the Lhomi language speaking children their paren ts and the local education actors who benefit of increased capacity. The government supports mother tongue education and pre-schools but often they do not have resources to start schools in the remote areas.Key activities:- Influencing the attitudes of the stakeholders.- Producing MTB ECE program and material for it.- Training teachers.- Pilot classes.- Capacity building.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Oct 27, 2016 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

In Nepal children are not screened for visual or hearing impairments. Knowledge of eye- and ear health is generally poor. Traditional beliefs and treatments can be detrimental to sight and vision. Having a disability is still greatly stigmatised. Although the majority of children in Nepal have access to education differently abled children are still mostly excluded from it. This is a major risk for marginalisation. The project which is a 2-year pilot in Bara district in the Terai region in the south of Nepa l aims to increase the enrollment of 3 to 8-year-old children with vision or hearing impairment in public preschools. The inhabitants of the district are poor and the number of children not attending school is considerable. The majority of pupils in Bara a re boys and the project aims to promote girls' right to education.Grass-root level volunteers are educated to identify children with problems with vision or hearing. The children identified through screening are examined at eye + ear camps to diagnose cond itions affecting sight and vision. It is estimated that most of these children have problems that can easily be cured with simple treatments. Children with a severe visual or hearing disability will undergo a 4-6 month rehabilitation to enable life outside home and attending school. Awareness raising campaigns regarding eye- and ear health as well as rights of disabled children will be organised among local inhabitants during the camps.This project is as a collaboration between a Nepalese NGO B.P. Eye Found ation and PSR Finland. The collaboration was initiated from Nepal. Like the previous work of B.P. Eye Foundation this project aims to screen for and promote treatment of disabling conditions as well as contribute to a change in the Nepalese view on the rig hts of people with disabilities remove barriers and stigmas associated with disabilities and enable children with disabilities to become productive citizens. The Department of Education (DoED) Nepal has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on implementing these pilot protocols in other districts in Nepal.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Nov 4, 2016 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Bara, Madhesh

The Technical Assistance for Competence-Based Soft Skills Development in School Education in Nepal (TASS) is the second phase of the Finnish funded TSSP program which was implemented in the years 2012-2015. The aim of the TSSP program was to improve the qu ality of education in Nepal by integrating soft skills into teaching. Soft skills are defined as personal cooperation thinking innovation and business skills. The TSSP project ends in December 2015.The mid-term review of TSSP concluded that the integration of soft skills into the education sector in Nepal is highly relevant as it can improve both the quality and the relevance of education. The evaluation recommended a continuation of the project. The main achievements of TSSP were the approval of new curric ula in six different subjects for grades 9-10 as well as the development of teachers training materials and their testing. The new textbooks for grade 9 will be in schools in 2016 and teachers' training packages have been taught in 40% of Nepal's teacher t raining facilities. The second phase ? the TASS project ? will build on the achievements of the first phase. During the TASS program the update of the curriculum for grades 9-10 moves to the implementation stage. Teaching materials are being developed also for grades 6-8 and work on materials for grades 9-10 continues. The education of teachers and capacity building of relevant institutions regarding the application of soft skills also continues. The beneficiaries of the project are Nepalese students in g rades 6-10. The immediate beneficiaries are the Ministry of Education and regional and district level education directorates and offices. In addition the projects 80 pilot schools and their teachers benefit from focused capacity building support. The Minis try of Education in Nepal implements the project. The proposed budget for the project is 17 MEUR for the years 2016-2018.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Dec 8, 2015 → Dec 31, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

The Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in Nepal Phase II (2010-2015) has after four years of implementation achieved better water supply for 93 000 people sanitation for 269 000 people and home gardens for 155 000 people. The purpose of phase III is to achieve full coverage of water supply and sanitation and establishment of functional planning and implementation frameworks for all water uses in nine project districts. The expected results of the project are: 1) institutionalized community cap acity to construct and maintain community managed water supply and adopt appropriate technologies and behavior 2) Improved and sustainable nutrition food security and sustainable income at community level through water resources based livelihoods developme nt 3) Institutionalized capacity at district level to continue integrated water resources planning and support to communities in implementing and maintaining WASH and livelihood activities. In terms of beneficiaries the project will reach over 300 000 peop le. The executing agency is Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development of Nepal together with participating District Development Committees (DDC). Finland will support the project with 15 million euros from 2015 to 2020.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Dec 5, 2014 → Dec 31, 2022

Coverage

Nepal

The project has four outcomes: facilitate the communities and stakeholders for further improvement of the sanitation situation of the communities (Total Sanitation), institutionalization of the health works particularly maternal and child health. The secon d outcome is related to improving livelihood status of the marginalized ethnic and minority communities which was started in the CHEP III. The third outcome is to continue facilitating the community organizations formed in the earlier project to enable and institutionalize them so that they can sustain the basic development activities in their communities and to realize their fundamental rights. As a fourth outcome, the project will make effort to mainstream key cross cutting issues such as peace, disabilit y, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), gender and social inclusion (GESI). This includes capacity building of the project staff, sensitization of the communities and stakeholders on these issues and incorporating important issues in the project activities.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2014 → Dec 31, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

Community resilience programme: supports rural and remote Nepalese villages in increasing disaster preparedness, decreasing women's vulnerability through skills training and financial suppport for livelihoods. Health promotion and preparedness activities ( including local disaster response supplies and funds) are integral part of the project. Branches of Nepal Red Cross are supported in the target communities.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2013 → Dec 31, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

Finnish water projects have supported the government of Nepal in developing decentralized community based water and sanitation approach and working modalities since 1990. Project in Devchuli Nepal is an extension to WaterFinns NAPA WASH project in Nepal in 2014-2016. There is great potential in developing the area to the next level in water quality and sanitation by capacity building in municipality and ward level trainings and minor construction to ensure the long term sustainability based on self-reliance of the communities. There is a need to increase understanding and awareness of sustainability of WASH services and facilities in user committees ward and municipality level. There is a clear demand for a continuation project after NAPA WASH; Devchuli area has basic level water and sanitation services however the quality of water and skill of maintaining WSP are not still sufficient and therefore causes health issues. The overall project objective is to improve the self-reliance of Devchuli communities to sustain their WASH services at acceptable good level to ensure safe drinking water and healthy hygienic environment for the whole community. This is done by applying tested Operation + Maintenance and Management practices new technologies and capacity buil ding at the community ward and municipality level. The project is situated in Devchuli municipality in Nawalparasi Nepal. Devchuli has a population of 34912 with 6336 individual households which all are direct or indirect beneficiaries of the project. Proj ect management is done by WaterFinns Finland with the local partner Center for Appropriate Technology Nepal (CATN) in Nepal in addition to the Devchuli municipality. Project?s beneficiaries are the users of WASH services in Devichuli Municipality.The proje ct is designed also to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) especially of 5. Gender equality 6. Clean water and sanitation 10. Reduced inequalities and 13. Climate action. The project will integrate Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Re duction measures in the WASH process e.g. the WSP aiming to minimize the impacts of weather induced disasters.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Dec 3, 2013 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

Finland has in 2012 agreed to support Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Western Nepal (RWSSP-WN II) with 137 million euros. The overall objective of the project is improved health and fulfilment of the equal right to water and sanitation service s for the inhabitants of the Project area. In the last three years the Project has built 172 water supply schemes which serve approximately 85 000 people. From the 14 districts in the Project area only 3 are still without access to sanitation services. Fin land will support the Project with an additional 1 million euro funding. The additional funding will increase the number of beneficiaries of the Project and guarantee the sustainability of the water supply schemes. With the additional funding (1 million eu ros from Finland and 1 million euros from Nepal) the overall budget of the Project for the years 2013-2019 will be 2423 million euros of which Finland´s share will be 147 million euros. The additional funding of 05MEUR applied for in 2018 will be directed to the project investment funds. The funds will be utilized to complete the already started water schemes conducting Water Safety Plan-trainings and enhancing the capacity of the newly established municipalities' M-WASH-Units.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Dec 20, 2012 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

The unions participating in the project continue organizing forest workers, with the aim of getting 10?000 new members in four years. Occupational health and safety measures continue to reduce the number of accidents and injuries in forestry work. The unio ns advocate for legislation that influences interest representation of forestry workers, and participate in cooperation with environmental organizations to promote sustainable green jobs. The major problems of the forestry sector are unstable work relatio nships and dangerous working conditions. Awareness of rights, collective bargaining and union density have before the project been low, and before 2016 workers of the sector were not even officially recognized as workers. The project activities have brough t around 20?000 new members to the unions, and close to 12?000 people have participated diverse types of trainings and advocacy work. Almost 2?000 people have through cooperatives gained additional income to supplement the forestry work, making use of othe r products of the forest, such as tree leave plates, mushrooms, berries and honey. The cooperation with environmental organizations, especially WWF, has reduced tensions between forestry workers and environmentalists by fitting together sustainable forestr y and conservation, as well as nature tourism. This last project phase ensures the continuity and sustainability of the work done in the current target regions and through spreading the successful models of action to a few new districts. The project benef its Nepalese forestry workers and their families through improved income and safety, as well as the participating unions through strengthened membership base, negotiation position and cooperation in advocacy work. The main actors of the project are BWI NAC (Building and Wood Workers’ International Nepal Affiliates Committee) as the coordinating cooperation body and its affiliates CAWUN (Construction and Allied Workers’ Union in Nepal), CUPPEC (Central Union of Painters, Plumbers, Electro and Constructio n in Nepal) and ANCWU (All Nepal Construction Workers’ Union) that implement the project in cooperation with WWF Nepal.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2012 → Dec 31, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

Nepal has a variety of development challenges related to the nonfulfillment of human rights that need to be addressed. This Country Programme aims to catalyse and equip the local churches and other civil societies to act as strong societal advocates to ful fil the rights of vulnerable children and youth. In local partnership with AGN churches, Rescue Nepal, Relative Nepal, Transformation Nepal and New Life Service Association, the Country Programme improves children and other beneficiary rights, especially i n regards to their rights to health, education, and adequate living standards. The health component of the Country Programme is addressing the health situation, hygiene and sanitation, and unsafe drinking water that have resulted in the poor health situati on in village development areas of Basauti, Pabera, Gadariya, Pahalmanpur and Udasipur in the Kailali district. The Education component of the Country Programme is addressing the improvement on the quality of basic education, school management skills, know ledge and skills of parents in schools, and village development areas of Ishworpur Muncipality in Sarlahi district, in Ramgorpalpur and Hattisarwa in the Mahottari district, Janakpur Muncipality and in Bateshwar, Bagchaura, Mithileshwar Nikas, Bhutahi Pate rwa, Lagmagadhaghuthi and Tulsiyahi Nikash in the Dhanusha district. The adequate standard of living component of the Country Programme addresses the strengthening of institutional facilities and providing awareness and skills to improve livelihood of the families in Pokali, Ragani, Khijichandeshwori, Khijifalate and Khijikati village development areas of the Okhaldhunga district. The capacity building and advocacy components of the Country Programme are implemented with and within the AGN Church denominati on. On the grass root level, the AGN church partner is a motivated social and development actor throughout Nepal. The Country Programme is expected to directly benefit 57 000 people and 305 000 people indirectly already during the Programme period. Moreove r, the Programme will have many multiplier effects for the development of Nepal.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Mar 15, 2007 → Dec 31, 2019

Coverage

Okhaldhunga, Dhanusha

Aim of this project was to support Okhaldunga community hospital during Covid-19 pandemic. The project supported the hospital to have different kind of protection equipment to staff, and to have resources for personnel to keep hospital runnng during pandem ic.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2020 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

The planned multi-donor co-operation project between Finland Germany and the EU is in line with the new Nepal Country Program 2021-2024 Impact area 1 that focuses on communities? improved climate resilience and health through safe and sustainable water and sanitation services and livelihood development based on natural resources.The impact of the project is the growth of climate resilient and the green economy in the Far West and Karnali provinces. The project has two medium-term objectives the first of wh ich Increased profitable participation in value chains that are based on sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural ecosystems. The second outcome is Improved functionality of the target value. Finnish Luke is participating in the research component of the project. The total budget of the project is approximately 13.4 Meur. This is a grant equivalent to an intergovernmental organization.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

USD 4.4M

Timeline

Nov 4, 2020 → Dec 31, 2023

Coverage

Karnali, Nepal

In Nepal children are not screened for visual or hearing impairments and knowledge of eye- and ear health is generally poor. Having a disability is still greatly stigmatised. Although the majority of children in Nepal have access to education children with disabilties (CwD) are mostly excluded from it which is a major risk for marginalisation. The project is a follow-up of a 2-year pilot in Bara district (2017-18) which will be extended in Bara and Parsa. The aim is to increase the enrollment of 3 to 14-yea r-old children with vision or hearing impairment in public schools. Districts have high rates of poverty and school attendance is very low. Also the human right's of CwD's are largely violated. The majority of pupils are boys therefore the project promotes girls' right to education. The project will educate female community health volunteers (FCHVs) to identify children with vision or hearing issues. The children identified through screening are examined at Eye + Ear Camps to diagnose the impairments found. It is estimated that the most of these impairments can be easily cured with simple treatments. Children with a severe visual or hearing disability will undergo a 4-6 month rehabilitation to enable life outside home and attending school. Awareness raising campaigns regarding eye- and ear health as well as rights of persons with disabilities (PwD) will be organised among local citizens during the camps. Advocacy on inclusive education and human rights of CwD will be promoted. Eye + ear care and rehabilitatio n centers will be established in Bara. The local project partner is B. P. Eye Foundation (BPEF) that has 3 decades of experience in rehabilitation of CwDs and training of ophtalmologists and optometrists. For improved access to treatment and rehabilitation and to increase awareness on human rights gender equality and inclusive education the project will strengthen the collaboration with other NGO's: IMPACT Nepal Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind Nepal Apanga Sewa sangh Bara and Loo Niva. A refe rral system will be developed with Patan CBR to reach a larger scale of PwD's. In Finland we will collaborate with Interpedia ry.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

USD 511K

Timeline

Jun 24, 2020 → Dec 31, 2024

Coverage

Bara, Parsa

Prevalence of mental health disorders is high in rural parts of Nepal and access to mental health services can be very limited due to challenges in awareness recognition and treatment options. The project aims to promote mental health and increase access t o mental health services in public health network within the districts of Lamjung and Dhading. Specific aims are to 1) promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma related to problems with mental health 2) increase accessibility and effectiveness of m ental health treatment in government health facilities and 3) empower community and people with mental disorders to advocate their rights and better access to treatment. The focus is on strengthening primary level outpatient treatment in line with WHO's re commendations and Nepal's National Mental Health Policy of 2017. The project implements a similar model that was previously adapted to Dang district. The model is based on strengthening already existing public health structures from health posts to special ized psychiatric hospitals by training health workers already publicly employed to recognize refer and treat mental health issues as well as raising citizens? awareness through workshops and advocacy. Local and district level mental health groups are estab lished to promote the rights of mentally ill people and enable citizens participation in decision making. Public health network is engaged in project activities and meetings to ensure continuity of mental health services after end of the project. Lastly me ntal health workshops are held for migrant workers in Kathmandu in collaboration with SASK. A qualitative study will be conducted to understand factors impacting migrant workers? mental health.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

USD 500K

Timeline

Jun 24, 2020 → Dec 31, 2023

Coverage

Dhading, Kathmandu

The presence of arsenic in groundwater is a common problem affecting the quality of drinking water on the plateaus of Nepal. Using water containing arsenic as drinking water in cooking or irrigation may cause a plethora of health issues even cancer. In Nep al the work to reduce the levels of arsenic is fragmentary and lacking in cooperation and coordination between local officials. In addition knowledge about the health hazards of arsenic among the consumers of contaminated water is scarce.The Geological Sur vey of Finland (GTK) and the Finnish Environment Institute?s (SYKE) shared project will strengthen coordination the sharing of information and cooperation between agents in different fields who have for now worked in silos. The Department of Water Supply a nd Sewerage Management (DWSSM) whose responsibility is water quality will implement the Project as a partner organization.The immediate goal of the Project is to improve the partner organization?s capacity to guide and support stakeholders in the field of water management to prevent and reduce the prevalence and use of water contaminated by arsenic.The goal for the first output area is to strengthen the knowledge-based instruction of the DWSSM on diminishing of the presence of arsenic. This is attainable by enhancing the flow of information between different stakeholders developing effective processes for the handling of information as well as increasing the understanding of how geological conditions affect the quality of the water in Nepal. The second outpu t area focuses on the DWSSM?s ability to use and adapt geological and hydrogeological research regarding the arsenic problem in ground water as a base for decision making. The third output area is to improve their tracking of arsenic levels and the practic es of analysis of the data. Tighter cooperation and interaction between the DWSSM and stakeholders is also one of the output areas of the project. During the project a public communications plan on the arsenic issue will be developed for the department.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

USD 1.1M

Timeline

Apr 2, 2020 → Dec 31, 2023

Coverage

Nepal

As stated in the latest IPPC Report, extreme weather conditions are intensifying in cities and urban areas, with climate change causing adverse impacts on human health and livelihoods, with economically and socially marginalized urban residents the most at risk. This reflects a concerning trend in the Third Cycle of the Periodic Reporting for the Asia and the Pacific region which identifies that World Heritage properties and their communities are increasingly affected by the impacts of climate change. This has become one of the most significant threats to World Heritage properties in recent times by potentially impacting their Outstanding Universal Value, and their potential for economic and social development at the local level. In response, the project will strengthen the resilience of World Heritage Towns and Cities in the Asia-Pacific region against climate impacts by enhancing the role of cultural heritage in climate action. It will remove barriers and support World Heritage cities across three outcome areas providing, increased knowledge, enhanced engagement, and increased policy recognition on climate action. Project outputs include a regional survey of World Heritage Cities, multi-disciplinary research, convening a regional meeting, testing innovative climate solutions, piloting a climate action toolkit/guidance, and sharing policy lessons and good practices with policy makers.

Organization

UNESCO Kathmandu

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jul 4, 2024 → Jul 3, 2027

Coverage

Nepal

This project contributes in development of psychosocial focal teachers (one male and one female) and establishment of students psychosocial support unit in each project schools. The practice of child friendly classroom management, positive disciplinary app roach, parenting education and parental counseling starts and child protection policy is in place in program schools. It ultimately promotes psychosocial wellbeing of school going children and adolescents. As a result, students school attendance and learni ng achievement increases, reduces drop-out especially of the girl children, minimize the trends of early marriage, increases the school retention rate of children and finally contributes in quality learning. At the end, this project will have impact in qua lity education and support in policy advocacy at local and central level to integrate school mental health component in school education system.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2018 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Salyan, Kailali

Poverty is the core problem of the project areas and beneficiaries, resulting problems that include food insecurity and widespread malnutrition, illiteracy and lack of access to employment opportunities and inaccessibility to basic facilities such as water and sanitation. Most Dalits are deprived of their basic human rights such as citizenship and land-rights. Similarly most children are deprived even of primary education, and there are cases of high early drop-outs. Caste and gender based discriminations against women and socially excluded people still prevail thus depriving them of public service delivery such as income generating, health, education, and access to social security benefits. The project, that covers three districts, Morang, Sarlahi and Chit wan, aims to tackle these problems with the objective that the poor and excluded people are socially, economically and legally empowered.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Nov 2, 2005 → Dec 31, 2021

Coverage

Nepal, Morang

The objective of the project is to improve the rights, working conditions and job security of the female volunteer workers in the health care sector in Nepal. The trade unions mobilizing the volunteer health workers have created a joint trade union platfor m, in order to jointly reinforce the mass power and strengthen the identity as real workers who deserve the benefits and remuneration for the tasks they perform. The weak situation of the volunteers will be raised into the national debate and people´s con sciousness. The long-term aim of the project is to ensure that volunteer health workers are recognized as permanent public employees. In Nepal, there are 50 000 volunteer health workers, who do life-saving priceless work in communities under the Female Com munity Health Volunteer (FCHV) -program. Their working terms are highly informal, despite the fact, that their work is to produce regular and vital public health services. The group of FCHVs represent the single largest segment of informal public services workers in Nepal. These women do not get any salary, only some of their work expenses are reimbursed, and they are economically in a very vulnerable position. The FCHVs do regular and vital work that saves lives of mothers and infants in rural areas, witho ut any benefits of a normal employee status. As a result of the project, the unions create a joint charter of demands. Based on the charter and a baseline study conducted in 2017, an advocacy campaign to formalize the employment of the FCHVs is launched. A large part of the health volunteers work in rural areas and for that reason the information sharing and union communication will be extended geographically to cover also rural areas. Trade union leaders and activists are trained in strategic planning, cam paigning and labor legislation. The project benefits the female community health workers of Nepal. The project is implemented by Public Services International (PSI) together with its member unions HEPON, NEVA and ANWHVWU.

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2018 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

Nepals biodiversity is under constant threat from habitat degradation and fragmentation, deforestation and forest degradation, poaching and illegal wildlife trade and unsustainable infrastructure development. Vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change is remarkable. Threatened species such as tigers and snow leopards are threatened by poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Rural people are dependent on the natural resources for their daily needs to provide food, fodder, energy and water. Moreover, climate change has exacerbated the threats to biodiversity and peoples livelihoods. Theres also now window of opportunity to facilitate conservation mainstreaming in new federal structure.##Geographically programme focuses to the far-western parts of Nepal which belong under the Terai Arc Landscape. Programme aims to improve the forest corridor cover and connectivity as well as support buffer zone conservation and management through community-based conservation and cooperation with district forest officers. Improvement of the livelihoods and wellbeing of the local communities is gained through developing income generating activities such as forest-based enterprises and by increasing access to low carbon energy. In addition, we increase conservation awareness and empower local youth to act for the environment. We also support local communities to adapt in climate change by developing ecosystem based adaptation solutions. Programme tackles illegal wildlife trade and poaching by supporting community-based anti-p oaching groups. ##Expected achievements by 2021# Around 3,000 ha of degraded forest is under improved management and restoration# Community forest groups and their members are capacitated and empowered to manage forests# Sustainable forest management plans are prepared and implemented for degraded forest area# At least 3 green community based enterprises are established and strengthened# 5,000 plus youth and children are made aware of conservation issues and challenges##Beneficiaries: the local community fo rest user groups, women and youth groups, ethnic minority groups, forest workers and disadvantaged groups, local governments.##Implementor: WWF Nepal (www.wwfnepal.org)

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2018 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal, Sudurpashchim

The project supports WHR's work towards the SDG of ‘’achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, as well as promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies.” Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary fo undation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable society. Providing women with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societ ies and humanity at large. By offering awareness and practical knowledge about the existing law and legal aid provisions to single women, as well as enhancing their ability to communicate with service providers to claim their rights, the project will lead towards greater economic, political and social empowerment for single women. Furthermore, the existing women’s network will be strengthened by raising the women’s capacity through educating, promoting and mobilising peace cadres” to act as focal pers ons for single women to seek information and advice, as well support them to unite and organise themselves to play an active role within peacebuilding and social justice and to become change agents and role models in their communities, by confidently colla borating with local stakeholders and the government to access their rights. http://whr.org.np/

Organization

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2018 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal