Kathmandu: The government and the World Bank have signed an agreement equivalent to USD 80 million (approximately Rs 10 billion) concessional loan for a project to improve the delivery of water and sanitation services and promote integrated water resources management.
The agreement was signed by Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini, on behalf of the government of Nepal, and the World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos.
“Our overarching priorities are guided by the objective of achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in alignment with federalism principles enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal,” said Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini.
“The project will support the provision of much-needed water supply and sanitation services to underserved and vulnerable communities, ensure better water sector coordination, and promote higher water quality and service standards.”
The Water Sector Governance and Infrastructure Support Project will be implemented in strategic towns and rural municipalities in Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces. Both provinces have low access to water supply and sanitation services, a higher incidence of poverty, and are vulnerable to climate change.
“This project will help strengthen the delivery of water and sanitation services at the local level by building the capacity of municipalities, while at the same time addressing critical gaps in water and sanitation infrastructure to support Nepal’s economic progress and a green, resilient, and inclusive development,” said Mr. Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The project will help the local governments develop viable institutions to deliver water supply and sanitation services sustainably and efficiently, the World Bank said in a press release.
The project will also strengthen the accountability of the sector to customers by building the monitoring and regulatory capacity of provincial and federal government agencies in the sector, states the release.
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