KATHMANDU: The US Agency for International Development (USAID) signed an agreement to provide five new development programmes, totalling $121 million, to NGOs of Nepal this week, the USAID said in a statement today.

The programmes include Suaahara II, Building on improvements in maternal and child nutrition, Feed the Future Seed and Fertilizer Project, Sustainable, Just and Productive Water Resources Development in Western Nepal and Civil Society: Mutual Accountability Project.

Suaahara II was awarded to the Hellen Keller International. The project will work on building improvements in maternal and child nutrition. This is a five-year project. The total cost of the project is $63million. The programme will continue to improve nutrition in 40 districts through education, water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements, access to health services, and backyard poultry and vegetable farming.

Feed the Future Seed and Fertilizer Project was awarded to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.  This is a five-year project and the total cost of the project is $15 million. The project will work in 25 districts, partnering with the government and private companies to help farmers get access to better seeds and fertilizers that will allow them to produce more high-quality crops and increase their incomes.

Sustainable, Just and Productive Water Resources Development in Western Nepal project was given to the International Water Management Institute.  This is a three-year programme and the total cost of the project is $2.5 million. The project will support communities in the Karnali and Mahakali river basins to manage rivers and lakes in sustainable ways that benefit the entire community.

Civil Society: Mutual Accountability Project was awarded to the FHI360. This is a five-year project and the total cost of the project is $15 million. The programme wwill strengthen civil society organisations’ ability to advocate for government effectiveness and accountability.

The DAI Global has grabbed of the project of Programme for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI). This is a five-year project and the total cost of the project is $25 million. The project will help communities benefit economically from rivers and lakes and conserve local fish and other wildlife.

“These new projects address both the continuing needs of the Nepali people post-earthquake, and at the same time build sustainable communities that support Nepal’s long-term development goals,” said Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz.

The USAID had signed an agreement with the Ministy of Finance to operate programmes for five year (2014-2019) with a budget of $447.

These newly-awarded programmes are the part of that agreement.