Kathmandu, May 18:

The government and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) signed an accord to grant Nepal $4 million in Rome, on May 8. “The IFAD has agreed to provide a grant assistance of $4 million for the implementation of capacity development of the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF)-Project II,” states a press release. “The assistance aims to support the fight against social exclusion in Nepal.”

The PAF Project is a community-driven initiative that focuses on traditionally excluded groups and communities, discriminated mainly against gender, ethnic origin, caste and location. It uses incentives to encourage community organisations to include rural women, dalits and indigenous people as members and beneficiaries who can also hold positions of responsibility.

The project counts much as it is in line with Three Year Interim Development Plan’s goal of poverty alleviation. The $113 million PAF project II is partly funded by IFAD.