Nutrition, education, green recovery top the agenda of visit
KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 5
European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen is all set to arrive in Nepal on February 8 for an official one-day visit to meet Nepali leaders and launch several EU actions in the country.
As per a press release of the delegation of the EU to Nepal, Commissioner Urpilainen said: "I am delighted to be visiting Nepal to strengthen our partnership and engage in matters of common geopolitical interest, not least Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which has had disastrous consequences on food security in the world, including in Nepal. I look forward to present our Global Gateway strategy, the EU's positive offer to partners to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors, and strengthen health, education and research systems across the world."
Commissioner Urpilainen's visit comes at an important moment as Nepal is preparing to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026, thereby reaffirming the European Union's strong and unwavering engagement with Nepal, including through the recent launch of the Multiannual Indicative Programme for Nepal for 2021-2027.
Through the MIP, the European Union will contribute to Nepal's green, resilient and inclusive development (GRID) effort to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as requested by the government of Nepal. Action will focus on three priority areas: inclusive of green growth to support efforts at the local level to achieve a green economy, green jobs and sustainable growth in Nepal; human capital development in the sectors matching government priorities for climate-resilient development, especially in the field of education and nutrition, while also giving adequate attention to regional disparities and human development indices, and good governance.
The EU and its member states have been long-term supporters of good governance, democratic transition from conflict to peace, institutions, and civil society in Nepal.
Commissioner Urpilainen will visit the Human Milk Bank at Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, and renew the EU's commitment to the Multi-Sector Nutrition Programme of the Government (supported by the EU, Germany and UNICEF) with Minister of Health and Population Padam Giri. This programme will continue to work towards improving maternal health, adolescents, and child nutrition throughout Nepal.
Commissioner Urpilainen will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Poudel and launch a €50 million EU support for Nepal's new education sector plan with Education Minister Shishir Khanal. This marks 20 years of EU support to increase access to education for boys and girls and a new era for increasing the quality of education in Nepal.
Commissioner Urpilainen will also meet civil society organisations, members of the business community, and representatives of international financial institutions. She will also meet members of the EU Youth Sounding Board, a consultative space for Nepalese youths to have an influence on the EU's action in Nepal, making it more relevant and effective for them. Finally, Urpilainen will launch the Team Europe Initiative on Green Recovery with the ambassadors of EU member states in Nepal (France, Finland & Germany), government representatives, development partners, and private sector and civil society representatives.
The Team Europe Initiative on Green Recovery will support Nepal's efforts to recover from the pandemic and grow stronger and greener through more jobs, energy access, and resilience of society to provide better services in water supply, sanitation, nutrition, and education, while also fostering increased participation of women in leadership and economy.
Since 2021, the EU and member states have committed 200 million in grants for the TEI alone and plan to double this amount next year.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 6, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
