World Bank grants $125 million for PAF
KATHMANDU, April 23:
The World Bank today approved a $125 million assistance package for Nepal to help it meet its objectives to alleviate poverty, maintain and enhance food security for vulnerable households, and improve access for disadvantaged youth to Technical Education and Vocational Training programmes. The Poverty Alleviation Fund has helped improve living conditions, livelihood and empowerment among the rural poor, particularly those who are disadvantaged due to gender, caste, ethnicity or physical isolation, the World Bank said.
“Since 2004, PAF has covered Nepal’s 40 poorest districts, directly supporting over nearly 14,500 Community Organisations and benefiting nearly 530,000 households, of whom 57 per cent are from the disadvantaged Dalit and Janajati communities,” it said.
Average incomes for households in areas supported by the Fund have increased over 80 per cent. More than 15,600 households now have road access for the first time, and water supply, bridges, and sanitation have been provided for more than 32,000 households. The impact on other welfare indicators are also positive and significant, like a 10 per cent decrease in the incidence of food insufficiency and a six per cent increase in school enrollment rate for children aged 5-15. The programme has also helped increase access to services such as agriculture centres, community forest groups, farmer’s groups and women’s empowerment. The additional $75 million support for the Fund will continue supporting these activities in more communities. It will also help improve food security in response to the drought and price fluctuations, particularly among the 3.7 million Nepalis most vulnerable to the spiralling cost of food.
“Continued support will help PAF expand to more districts and ensure that assisted communities do not fall back into poverty,” said Gayatri Acharya, World Bank Team Leader for the project. The Word Bank also approved $50 million for the Enhanced Vocational Education and Training project to improve access to Technical Education and Vocational Training programmes for disadvantaged youth.
“While the country has a vibrant workforce, nearly half of the workers have never attended school,” it said, adding that the project will help approximately 75,000 Nepali youth get access to short-term skills training, technical education, and opportunities for certifying their existing skills, paying special attention to lagging regions, poor youth, women, and youth belonging to Dalit, Janajatis and other marginalised communities, as well as persons with disability.
“An inclusive and accessible Technical Education and Vocational Training system can contribute to making Nepali workers more competitive in a globalised world,” said Saurav Dev Bhatta .
“It is results-focused, and will aid the re-orientation of the Technical Education and Vocational Training system in Nepal towards greater quality and market relevance ” said Sangeeta Goyal, World Bank Team Leaders for the project.
“The results of the Fund have been significant,” World Bank country director for Nepal Susan Goldmark said. While it is helping create employment through income generating activities and community infrastructure, Nepal needs to invest additional resources, he said.
Source: THT
The World Bank today approved a $125 million assistance package for Nepal to help it meet its objectives to alleviate poverty, maintain and enhance food security for vulnerable households, and improve access for disadvantaged youth to Technical Education and Vocational Training programmes. The Poverty Alleviation Fund has helped improve living conditions, livelihood and empowerment among the rural poor, particularly those who are disadvantaged due to gender, caste, ethnicity or physical isolation, the World Bank said.
“Since 2004, PAF has covered Nepal’s 40 poorest districts, directly supporting over nearly 14,500 Community Organisations and benefiting nearly 530,000 households, of whom 57 per cent are from the disadvantaged Dalit and Janajati communities,” it said.
Average incomes for households in areas supported by the Fund have increased over 80 per cent. More than 15,600 households now have road access for the first time, and water supply, bridges, and sanitation have been provided for more than 32,000 households. The impact on other welfare indicators are also positive and significant, like a 10 per cent decrease in the incidence of food insufficiency and a six per cent increase in school enrollment rate for children aged 5-15. The programme has also helped increase access to services such as agriculture centres, community forest groups, farmer’s groups and women’s empowerment. The additional $75 million support for the Fund will continue supporting these activities in more communities. It will also help improve food security in response to the drought and price fluctuations, particularly among the 3.7 million Nepalis most vulnerable to the spiralling cost of food.
“Continued support will help PAF expand to more districts and ensure that assisted communities do not fall back into poverty,” said Gayatri Acharya, World Bank Team Leader for the project. The Word Bank also approved $50 million for the Enhanced Vocational Education and Training project to improve access to Technical Education and Vocational Training programmes for disadvantaged youth.
“While the country has a vibrant workforce, nearly half of the workers have never attended school,” it said, adding that the project will help approximately 75,000 Nepali youth get access to short-term skills training, technical education, and opportunities for certifying their existing skills, paying special attention to lagging regions, poor youth, women, and youth belonging to Dalit, Janajatis and other marginalised communities, as well as persons with disability.
“An inclusive and accessible Technical Education and Vocational Training system can contribute to making Nepali workers more competitive in a globalised world,” said Saurav Dev Bhatta .
“It is results-focused, and will aid the re-orientation of the Technical Education and Vocational Training system in Nepal towards greater quality and market relevance ” said Sangeeta Goyal, World Bank Team Leaders for the project.
“The results of the Fund have been significant,” World Bank country director for Nepal Susan Goldmark said. While it is helping create employment through income generating activities and community infrastructure, Nepal needs to invest additional resources, he said.
Source: THT
