DFID assistance under constant review

March 2, 2006
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A leading bilateral donor to Nepal, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) has said its assistance to Nepal is under constant report.

Introducing its annual report covering its activities in Nepal in 2005, Mark Mallalieu, head of DFID Nepal said, “The purpose of the report is to enable people throughout the country to understand what DFID is trying to achieve and the types of projects and programmes that we support”.

The report also sets out the challenges ahead and how DFID plans to respond to these.

“Major challenges lie ahead; the conflict continues relentlessly, democracy is under threat and there is a risk of a humanitarian crisis. We will look for opportunities to deliver effective aid whilst ensuring transparency and accountability in our work and in the work of the partners we fund. However, our support remains under constant review to ensure that it is reaching those for whom it is intended”, concluded Mallalieu.

DFID is the British government ministry responsible for Britain’s contribution towards international efforts to eliminate poverty. DFID aims to support HMG/Nepal in its efforts to achieve the 10th Plan poverty-reduction targets and the Millennium Development Goals, said the aid agency.

The key areas of current DFID support to Nepal are peace building, governance, basic services, social inclusion and livelihoods. It has projects and programmes in most parts of Nepal and mainly in the western and far western regions. It works with various partners in Nepal. All DFID assistance is provided on grant terms and is free of any political or economic conditions tying its use to UK products and services, the agency said.

Together with Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), DFID has launched the Rights Democracy and Inclusion Fund (RDIF) last month to contribute to “stable democratic future for Nepal.”

The donors said the new initiative was a legitimate initiative as their support will not be biased and that they will not be providing direct finance to political parties. They said as much as 2.8 million pounds (approx. Rs 350 million) will be available under the RDIF for a period of next three years.