ADB assistance to climate resilience project

Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing $23.5 million (equivalent to Rs 2.32 billion) grant assistance to Nepal for the execution of the project of building climate resilience of the watershed in mountain Eco-regions in Nepal.

Joint Secretary and head of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division under Finance Ministry Madhu Kumar Marasini and country director of ADB Nepal Residence Mission Kenichi Yokoyama signed the grant assistance agreement today at the ministry on behalf of their respective institutions.

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation will implement the project, whereas Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management would be the executing agency, according to the ministry.

The Project Management Unit (PMU) in Dadeldhura will handle the project that will be implemented in six districts – Achham, Baitadi, Bajhang, Bajura, Dadeldhura, and Doti – of far western development region.

About 45,000 households are expected to be benefitted from improved water availability during the dry seasons to support domestic and agricultural
uses, according to the agreement that has claimed that the spring or surface water sources are expected to become more reliable.

Likewise, Norwegian Development Fund will also provide technical assistance of $4.6 million, and the government will spend $1.9 million for the project.