Government, World Bank sign $80 million Rural Enterprise and Economic Development Project pact

 The Government and the World Bank signed a $80 million (around Rs 9.3 billion) project today to bolster Nepal’s agriculture sector by strengthening rural market linkages and promoting entrepreneurship while creating jobs to support post-Covid-19 recovery.

The Rural Enterprise and Economic Development Project (REED) project was signed by finance secretary Sishir Kumar Dhungana on behalf of the government and the World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos.

“We thank the World Bank Group for providing crucial support with this project which will enhance the access of rural enterprises and small-hold producers to markets and institutional buyers,” Dhungana said, adding that promoting agribusiness competitiveness with sustainable market linkages will be critical to boost Nepal’s post-Covid recovery. 

The project aims at facilitating productive partnerships between rural producer organisations and private-sector buyers to add value, create jobs and foster sustainable inclusion into, and development of, higher-value domestic and foreign value chains.

The project focuses on five economic corridors covering Provinces 1, 2, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim that offer opportunities for successful linkage activities of the rural entrepreneurs to be supported by the project, according to a press note issued by the World Bank. “REED will work with provincial and local governments, intermediary organisations and small and medium enterprises to build capacity in the agriculture sector and strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem.”

The project will also finance investments in municipal agriculture centers and value chain infrastructures to ensure the availability of inputs for farming as recovery actions from Covid-19. The project will use labour-intensive Cash for Work mechanism, to the extent possible, in short-term public works.

“The project brings a unique opportunity to transform Nepal’s agriculture sector and spur economic recovery from the pandemic’s fallout by bolstering rural enterprises and creating local jobs and opportunities,”  World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said, adding, “By fostering meaningful collaboration among various actors, the project can promote Nepali agriculture products globally by stimulating many niche sectors such as coffee, tea, fruit and medicinal products, among others.”

The project supports the government’s Agriculture Development Strategy 2015–2035 that aims to create a sustainable, competitive, inclusive and resilient agricultural sector that drives economic growth with private sector participation.

World Bank approves $80 million to boost Nepal’s agriculture sector

 The World Bank approved a $80 million project today to bolster Nepal’s agriculture sector by strengthening rural market linkages and promoting entrepreneurship while creating jobs to support post-Covid-19 recovery.

The Rural Enterprise and Economic Development (REED) Project will promote market linkages to support the growth of rural enterprises, especially those that are women-led. A key focus is on productive partnerships that will help add value, create jobs and foster sustainable linkages between small-holder producers and institutional buyers. The project will facilitate improvements in quality and meeting requirements of new destination markets to boost exports, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner.

“The project is an opportunity for the government and the private sector to work together in building the ‘Nepal’ brand in the agriculture sector and leverage the country’s global recognition,” World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos said. “In doing so, the project can stimulate many niche sectors such as coffee, tea, fruit and medicinal products, among others, to help them grow and to support post-Covid-19 recovery.”

The project focuses on five economic corridors covering Provinces 1, 2, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim that offer opportunities for successful linkage activities of the rural entrepreneurs to be supported by the project, the press note reads, adding that REED will work with provincial and local governments, intermediary organizations and small and medium enterprises to build capacity in the agriculture sector and strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The project will also help improve production through investments in municipal agriculture centers and value chain infrastructures to ensure the availability of inputs for farming as recovery actions from Covid-19. The project will use labor-intensive Cash for Work mechanism, to the extent possible, in short-term public works.

“In the context of Nepal’s agriculture sector transformation and Covid-19, improving agribusiness competitiveness and creating rural jobs are critical to accelerate recovery of the sector and the economy from the pandemic’s impacts,” World Bank practice manager for the Agriculture Global Practice Loraine Ronchi.

The project supports the Nepal’s Agriculture Development Strategy 2015–2035 that aims to create a sustainable, competitive, inclusive and resilient agricultural sector that drives economic growth with private sector participation. 

The World Bank is supporting Nepal’s development through a portfolio of 24 projects with net commitments of over $3 billion. The World Bank-supported projects aim at strengthening public institutions for economic management, service delivery and public investment; generating more and better jobs through private sector-driven growth; and building inclusion for the poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups, with increased resilience against climate change, natural disasters and other exogenous shocks.