Washington, June 22, 2005
The World Bank has announced a $32 million International Development Association grant to improve rural transport infrastructure and international services in Nepal.
With the approval on Tuesday of the grant to finance essential road infrastructure in rural areas, the World Bank, in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, hopes to address one of Nepal's main constraints to economic growth and poverty reduction: the poor access to markets and services needed by residents in remote, rural, and hilly areas.
An estimated 36 per cent of Nepal's 24 million people live at least two hours walk from the nearest all-season road where public transport services may be available.
The lack of access is more severe in hill districts. At least 15 of the 75 district headquarters are still not connected by road.
Sixty per cent of the road network in the country and almost all rural roads are dry-season tracks that cannot be operated during the rainy season.
'Access to services and economic opportunities have been among the top casualties of Nepal's ongoing conflict, especially in the remote rural hinterlands,' says Kenichi Ohashi, World Bank Country Director for Nepal.
'This project takes the conflict into account and, by design, intends to build partnerships and mobilise communities in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of projects that best serve their needs.'"
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Wednesday, June 22, 2005
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