Kathmandu, July 20

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has made a contribution of $2 million — half of a multi-year contribution — to the Saemaul Zero Hunger Communities Project in Nepal.

The project is funded by South Korea through development agency KOICA and implemented by World Food Programme with the Nepal government closely involved to ensure alignment with its development priorities.

“The funds will allow WFP to continue its work reducing poverty and food insecurity in the far-western region of the country into 2017,” says the media release issued today.

The Saemaul Zero Hunger project was launched in 2012 within two village development committees: Ladagada and Pokhari in Doti district. Over the following three years, the livelihoods of the 1,772 families in these communities improved significantly, the release says.

Households contributed their labour and skills to the construction of community assets, including small irrigation canals and ponds which helped irrigate217 hectares of agricultural land.

Around 51 km of rural roads were constructed or rehabilitated, two new community centres were built and 159 water tap stands installed. Participants received a total of $810,500 for their labour.

The next phase will involve more than 5,000 households from five other villages in Doti district — Ganjari, Gaurigaun, Kadamandaon, Khirsainand Sanagaon.

The project aims to build sustainable infrastructure and support resilience in vulnerable rural communities which have had limited access to food and basic services.

Work in the next phase will follow two models: Korea’s ‘Saemau Undong’ plan, a community-based integrated rural development initiative of the Republic of Korea; and WFP’s cash for assets programme that pays for work to create assets such as roads, irrigation systems, and other facilities used by community.

WFP’s implementing partner is Good Neighbours International, working with its local partner, Asal Chhimeki Nepal.