KATHMANDU: The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme have signed an agreement to provide an additional Euro 1.6 million grant as part of the electoral assistance to Nepal. In a statement today, Nepal's development partners said that the grant was to reinforce their cooperation with the Election Commission of Nepal for the upcoming third phase of local level elections in eight districts of province number 2 slated for September 18. 'The grant will be used to provide needful electoral assistance to the Election Commission Nepal through the UNDP-managed Electoral Support Project,' it said a statement. Rensje Teerink, EU Ambassador to Nepal and Renaud Meyer, the Country Director of UNDP in Nepal signed the agreement today. 'The EU is pleased to extend this additional support just as Nepal is poised to hold a series of elections in the coming months,' said Ambassador Teerink. 'The EU stands ready and committed to continue technical support in Nepal's democratic process,' as stated in the statement. Mahendra Bhattarai official at the Election Commission thanked the development partners for their assistance in strengthening the electoral process for conducting inclusive and credible elections. As per the Constitution, Nepal should held all level of elections by January 21, 2018.