Kathmandu, Jun 9
The
UN Development Programme said on Tuesday that it had initiated a livelihoods
recovery programme to help the most vulnerable people cope with the COVID-19
pandemic.
In
the first phase of the programme, to be implemented jointly with the local
governments, over 2,000 women and men – especially the poor, vulnerable and the
most-affected daily wage earners and migrant workers – will get short-term
employment though small-scale community and tourism infrastructure projects in 11
of the most affected municipalities in Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Gandaki and
Bagmati.
According
to the UNDP, besides a daily wage, workers will be offered the opportunity to
access skills training and technology support aimed at supporting the
establishment of potentially up to 600 micro-enterprises to generate longer
term livelihood opportunities in these areas. In Gandaki, workers will be
engaged to clean up trekking trails and plant trees.
The
same programme will provide short-term employment opportunities through
projects focusing on the rehabilitation, construction, or improvement of
community infrastructure, such as irrigation canals, drinking water system, and
rural roads.
"Up
to 23 such schemes are planned, which will be implemented under the leadership of
user groups from these same communities. These schemes aim to provide short-term
employment to over 1200 hardest hit people," UNDP said in a statement.
Some
projects in Kakani and Helambu Gaunpalikas, and Palungtar, Melamchi and Jiri municipalities
have already started, each engaging over 300 people.
Bernardo
Cocco, UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative said, “As part of our early recovery
response, and complementing government efforts, we are re-deploying a
significant portion of our resources for targeted interventions supporting
recovery of the most vulnerable populations.”
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