Switzerland provides around Rs 3 b as grant assistance

KATHMANDU, Jan 20: The government of Switzerland has agreed to provide around Rs 3 billion as grant assistance from the Swiss Agency for International Cooperation (SDC) to the Government of Nepal.

At a program organized at the Ministry of Finance at Singha Durbar Wednesday, Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Lok Darshan Regmi, and Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal, Urs Herren, signed the agreement.


The grant assistance was provided for the implementation of three separate projects in education and agriculture sectors. The first is Enhanced Skills for Sustainable and Rewarding Employment (ENSSURE) in education sector while the second and third are in agriculture sector, namely, Agriculture Services Development Program (NASDP) and Agricultural Market Development Program (NAMDP).

The first project envisages improved employability and working environment of Nepali workers, particularly from disadvantaged group. This is expected to help further improve their living standard. The project would provide access of young workers to career guidance services; skills trainings, apprenticeships; complementary and specialized trainings; improved occupational health and safety and encourage effective collaboration among training providers, partner companies, industrial associations to synergies in the field of technical trainings and vocational education.

The ENSSURE would focus on selected sectors like construction, mechanic, electric, electronics, hospitality and automotive in large cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Itahari, Hetauda and Chitwan encompassing about 20-25 districts.

The second project envisages increased farm income, food security, resilience and social inclusiveness, especially of female-headed households and farmers from disadvantaged groups. The project would cover nine districts—Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Achham, Kalikot, Jararkot, Dailekh, Sindhuli and Udaypur.

The third project aims at improving livelihood of rural smallholders, especially disadvantaged group and women-headed households through participation in commercial agriculture and interconnected markets. The projects would be executed in seven districts—Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Achham, Kalikot, Jajarkot and Dailekh.

On the occasion, Secretary Regmi, on the behalf of the Government of Nepal, expressed sincere appreciation to the government of Switzerland and SDC for their continued support in the socio-economic development of Nepal. RSS

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