Kathmandu, January 13:

The European Commission (EC) has approved three new projects, which aim to mitigate impacts of the conflict in Nepal on civilians. The implementation of the project will begin this month.

“The European Commission has signed three grant contracts with a total value of 2.153 million Euro in its Conflict Mitigation Package 1,” according to a press statement issued today by the European Commission in Kathmandu.

The projects aim at improving the socio-economic conditions of people in conflict-affected areas and at mitigating the impacts of the conflict in Nepal, stated the press release.

The projects are financed by a special budget set aside in the EC Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006 for Nepal for Conflict Mitigation activities intended to consolidate democracy and reduce impacts of the ongoing conflict.

The Conflict Mitigation budget consists of two packages and the three projects implemented by NGOs, as part of a first package, and a second package are aimed at consolidating human rights and strengthening the judiciary.

The Conflict Mitigation Package 1 (CMP1) has two components: Confidence building measures for local communities and conflict mitigation through mass communication and media. The aim is to reduce the conflict potential on vulnerable groups by improving their socio-economic conditions and to increase the awareness of these groups of the root causes of the conflict and the means to address them appropriately.

CMP1’s first component is confidence building measures for local communities and the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) will implement a two-year project on Conflict Mitigation through Empowerment of Local Communities in the Mid-Western Development Region. Altogether 768,086.87 Euro (NRs 6,68,24,000) has been allocated for this project.

The Lutheran World Federation Nepal will implement a two-year socio-economic Improvement Programme for Ex-Kamaiyas and Other Vulnerable Communities in the Mid and Far-Western Development Region. Altogether 885,894 Euro has been allocated for the project.

CMP1’s second component is conflict mitigation through mass communication and media. Search for Common Ground headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and Antenna Foundation Nepal will implement a two-year project on Conflict Mitigation through Media in the Mid-Western Development Region.

A grant of 498,887.13 Euro (NRs 4,34,03,180.31) has been allocated for the project.

The EC Conflict Mitigation Packages are part of the overall EC strategy to support peace, rule of law and human rights in Nepal and compliment other European Commission initiatives.