Kathmandu, June 21
Nepal’s key development partners have made a unequivocal call to expedite reconstruction work that directly supports livelihoods recovery of the earthquake affected communities, UNDP Nepal said in a press release on Tuesday. During a conference titled Livelihoods Recovery: Lessons Learnt and Way Forward held in the capital, they pointed livelihoods recovery should be given equal emphasis as building houses and other infrastructure.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Industry Som Prasad Pandey said the government is serious to speed up recovery of livelihoods for the people affected by last year’s earthquake and urged the National Reconstruction Authority to make its performance more visible on the ground.
Sushil Gyawali, chief executive officer of the National Reconstruction Authority, said there’s a huge potential for employment creation in the construction industry and the NRA aims to create at least 25,000 masons and skilled workers in three months.
Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Glenn White, said livelihoods recovery is as important as reconstruction and added, “Rebuilding houses is important. Livelihoods recovery is more important as it helps families to make decisions about their priorities whether they want to build house or send children to school or grow the business.”
UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer said reconstruction should not only focus on buildings but rebuilding lives and livelihoods. Renuad added that Rapid Enterprises and Livelihoods Recovery Project (RELRP) supported by Australian Government has supported 14,000 micro-entrepreneurs to revive their enterprises and livelihoods. He added that UNDP’s Community Infrastructure and Livelihoods Recovery Project has supported 20,000 households through the reconstruction of 81 vital community infrastructure like irrigation canals, cooperative buildings, drinking water and agricultural facilities.
The Ministry of Industry, National Reconstruction Authority and UNDP had organised the conference to share lessons learnt during livelihoods recovery following last year’s devastating earthquakes. On the sidelines, an exhibition of products of micro-entrepreneurs revived after the earthquake was also organised.
