Secretary
for Ministry of Local Development Mr Shyam Prasad
Mainali collected the Global Roads Achievement
Award for the Rural Access Programme (RAP) in
Washington on 11 January 2010. The International
Roads Federation (IRF) selected RAP for the award
under the advocacy category. This category recognizes
public and private organizations that have significantly
contributed to a better understanding of the role
of roads in economic development, to the promotion
of road transport infrastructure, and to the development
of road construction.
The
Minister of Local Development, Mr Purna Kumar
Sherma Limbu said:
“I am delighted that the Rural Access Programme’s
contribution to poverty reduction is recognised
by this international organisation. RAP has provided
peace dividend for Nepal by employing more than
47,000 people for the last 8 years. The programme’s
best practices are now integrated in a number
of government plans and policies. On behalf of
the Government of Nepal, I would like to express
my sincere thanks to the Government and people
of the United Kingdom.”
Secretary
at the Ministry of Local Development Mr. Shyam
Prasad Mainali said:
“I had the opportunity to receive this prestigious
award on behalf of the Nepali delegates which
helped to raise Nepal’s profile in the international
arena. The way RAP is contributing to improve
rural accessibility is highly commendable. By
the end of the RAP programme period, 1 million
additional rural people will have access to basic
services.
The
Head of DFID Nepal, Ms Sarah Sanyahumbi said:
“RAP is designed
to improve the lives of the poorest, and it is
achieving this goal. Also by employing more than
40% women in the workforce, and with wages equal
to those of the men, it helps achieve gender equality
in Nepal.”
Since the
design phase of the programme in 2000, the project
has been funded by the Department for International
Development (DFID), UK. A total of NRs 7 billion
will have been given as grant aid by the end of
the programme, which is now scheduled to be in
2012. UK Consultant WSP has managed RAP since
the start of the programme. The Programme has
already completed 607 km of roads connected 3
district headquarters and is currently building
a further 365 km. This has had an impact on reducing
prices of basic commodities along the road corridors
by more than 50%.
