26Four projects helping to improve water supply and sanitation services, air safety standards and the lives of the rural poor and farmers in Nepal have been recognized for excellence in delivering results by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The projects that won the awards are the Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector Project, the Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project and the Second Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project and the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project all of which are supported by ADB.
Finance Secretary Shanta Raj Subedi presented the Outstanding Project Management Team Awards to the winning teams at a special ceremony held in conjunction with ADB’s annual Country Portfolio Review meeting organized by ADB with the Government of Nepal in Kathmandu Thursday.
“These awards recognize the projects teams’ efficiency in implementation and achievement of targets,” said Kenichi Yokoyama, ADB’s Country Director for Nepal. “We appreciate the efforts made by the project teams in delivering the desired results on the ground as well as enhancing overall portfolio performance.”
The Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector Project is helping to reduce poverty in isolated areas of Nepal by improving connectivity, enhancing economic and employment opportunities, and increasing rural access to markets and social services.
The Second Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project is helping to improve access to water and sanitation services in 20 small towns by developing additional water sources, construction of water treatment facilities and storage tanks, private latrines, public toilets, wastewater management facilities, and storm water drainage.
The Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project is helping improve the agriculture productivity and sustainability of existing small and medium farmer managed irrigation systems suffering from low water deficiency and cropping intensity. A total of 178,285 farmers are expected to benefit from the improved water accessibility.
The Secondary Town Integrated Urban Environmental Improvement Project is helping improve the quality of urban life in key regional centers through effective, efficient, and reliable delivery of improved and affordable municipal services.
Similarly, the Air Transport Capacity Enhancement Project is helping improve the country’s airports and civil aviation safety standards. The project is helping to improve safety and capacity at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, and three domestic airports – Lukla, Rara and Simikot – that serve remote areas inaccessible by road.
The Country Portfolio Review meeting, attended by the staff of ADB and the Government of Nepal, reviewed the status of implementation of all ADB-assisted projects/programs. The meeting also examined and discussed country-specific common project implementation challenges and prepared a time-bound action plan with quantifiable monitoring targets to improve portfolio performance and delivery of results on the ground.
ADB has worked in partnership with the Government of Nepal since the country joined ADB as a founding member in 1966. ADB began lending to Nepal in 1969. As of 31 August 2013, Nepal has received 163 loans/grants—126 sovereign Asian Development Fund (ADF) loans ($3 billion), 5 non-sovereign loans ($58.64 million), and 32 ADF grants ($798.25 million) totaling $3.9 billion.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. Nepalnews.com