KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 19
The Government of Japan will be extending grant assistance to the United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) Nepal for implementing the Mother and Child Health and Nutrition Programme in Provinces 1 and 2.
Japan has agreed to aid the programme which will be implemented in five vulnerable districts of Provinces 1 and 2. The Japanese government will extend a grant assistance of Japanese Yen 364 million (about US dollars 3.47 million/ NRs 405 million).
The contract was signed by the Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, Saigo Masamichi and Representative and Country Director of WFP Nepal, Susan Jane Pearce, in Kathmandu, on Friday. Representative Pearce thanked the Government of Japan for its support.
According to a statement released by WFP Nepal, Ambassador Masamichi believed that the grant will improve the health and nutrition of children and young mothers in Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari districts of Province 1, and Saptari and Siraha districts of Province 2, which are prone to extreme weather events and other climate change-linked disasters.
"This partnership between the Japanese Government, the Government of Nepal, and World Food Programme has the potential to improve the health and nutrition of 19,000 children aged 6 to 23 months and 49,700 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers through specialised nutritious food, while 25,000 households will benefit from the establishment of Community Food Banks equipped with food storage facilities," he added.
Meanwhile, WFP Representative Pearce shared, "The Covid-19 pandemic has severely disrupted the livelihoods of vulnerable populations mainly in rural locations where agriculture is the primary source of income," she said. "By supporting the production and consumption of locally available and traditionally consumed nutritious food and through shock-responsive community food banks, we hope that this project will increase dietary diversity among the poor and food insecure households and build community resilience to climatic shocks," she added.
The Embassy of Japan and WFP Nepal expect to assist in improving health and nutrition of young mothers and children, while also contributing to the friendship that exists between the peoples of Japan and Nepal.
