KATHMANDU: International Road Federation has conferred Global Road Achievement Award 2009 to Rural Access Programme (RAP) Nepal under the advocacy category for its significant contribution in construction of roads in the country.

RAP has been awarded for the promotion of road transport infrastructure in the country. Purna Kumar Sherma Limbu, Minister for Local Development said, “RAP has contributed in poverty reduction and has been recognised by the international organisation.”

It has provided peace dividend for Nepal by employing more than 47,000 people in the last eight years, he added. He, further, said the programme's best practices are now integrated in a number of government plans and policies.

Addressing a press conference, Sarah Sanyanhumbi, head, UK Department for International Development said that RAP is designed to improve the lives of the poorest in achieving the goal accordingly. "More than 40 per cent women are included in the workforce where they are getting equal wages as male."

Sanyanhumbi, further, added that a sound institutional mechanism, robust monitoring system, reliable quality control mechanism, and the participatory planning and implementation system was essential for carrying the project effectively.

Meanwhile, Shyam Prasad Mainali, secretary, MoLD, said that the award has raised the prestige of Nepal in international arena. "By the end of RAP programme period, one million additional rural people will have access to basic service" claimed Mainali.

A total of Rs 7 billion would be spent by RAP that ends this year.

RAP has already completed 607 km roads linking three district headquarters and is currently constructing another 365 km road.