The Nepali Government could vaccinate only 15% of the population even after almost seven months from the commencement of the nationwide vaccination campaign in January 2021.

During the House Meeting on Thursday, Minister of State for health and Population Umesh Shrestha informed that 2,888,360 citizens had received the first dose so far.

Offering some relief, the state minister said that Nepal would receive 10.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by mid-October and 30.23 million by mid-February. He also added that the country has so far received 10.8 million doses.

“By February next year, Nepal will have received 50.23 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines,” said Minister Shrestha.

He also boasted that the Nepali Government has already begun processes to procure coronavirus vaccines for children.

Asian Bank to Provide NPR 19.58 Bn for Vaccine Procurement

In a good turn of events, the Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide a subsidized loan of NPR 19.58 billion to the Nepali Government to procure vaccines.

The loan will allow Nepal to procure as many as 15.9 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and ADB country director Arnaud Cauchois signed an agreement to this effect on Wednesday.

Stay Tuned to NepaliSansar for Latest Nepal COVID-19 Updates!

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The fund will support Nepal’s National Deployment and Vaccination Plan and help procure around 15.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, sufficient enough to inoculate about 6.8 million Nepalis.

“ADB’s support will help the Nepali Government procure much-needed COVID-19 vaccines to protect its citizens from the further spread of this disease,” mentioned ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa.

“It is essential that COVID-19 vaccines are quickly purchased and administered to help get the economy back on track by enabling the restoration of livelihoods and economic activities, as well as the resumption of educational and human development pursuits,” he added.

The ADB has offered support to Nepal through its USD 9 billion Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility launched in December 2020. The Facility aims at providing prompt and equitable vaccine-related support to ADB developing member countries.

However, the ADB’s fund must be used for vaccines that meet at least one of the  APVAX eligibility criteria:

• The vaccine must be selected for procurement through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) mechanism
• The vaccine must be pre-qualified by the WHO
• The vaccine must receive regular or emergency authorization by a Stringent Regulatory Authority

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The ADB has approved a concessional loan worth USD 150 million (approximately NPR 17.85 billion) to the Nepali Government for the improvement of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and Gautam Buddha Airport (GBA).

According to the statement by the ADB, the loan will support:

• Construction of a parallel taxiway extension and hangar aprons at TIA
• Construction of a new international terminal building at GBA to increase capacity
• Installation of solar panels and energy-efficient lighting at the new GBA terminal building

“ADB’s support will improve the TIA’s safety, capacity, and operational efficiency. Besides, the new GBA international terminal will play a key role in boosting regional tourism in and around Lumbini,” said Kai Wei Yeo, ADB Senior Transport Specialist for South Asia.

“The project will help revive the country’s tourism industry and address the long-term negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is the only international airport and a major hub for domestic air transport in the country.

Also Read | Kathmandu: Nepal’s City of Glory!

The Gautam Buddha Airport in Lumbini is currently being upgraded to serve as an alternate international airport in the country. It is scheduled to begin in March 2021.

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The government has mobilized around NPR 360 billion (USD 3.13 billion) in foreign aid in the first 11 months of the current FY 2019/20, up from USD 1.79 billion in FY 2018/19.

Of the total amount of foreign aid, the nation received NPR 299.49 billion through foreign loans and NPR 60.52 billion through foreign grants. The foreign loan makes up to 83% of the total foreign assistance.

Of the total foreign assistance, the Nepali Ministry of Finance (MoF) alone took loans worth NPR 67.22 billion (23% of the total foreign loan), just for debt financing.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the second largest recipient, received an external loan of NPR 65.85 billion. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) received a loan worth NPR 30.95 billion.

Among the foreign donor agencies, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded NPR 95.84 billion for Nepal’s development projects. It accounts for 96.5% of the total assistance provided by the international development partner.

The foreign aid makes 33% of Nepal’s revised Federal Budget of NPR 1.38 trillion for the current fiscal.

Even though the foreign aid is mainly mobilized for development projects, the coronavirus pandemic is inciting the Nepali Government to mobilize the loans for unproductive use in the coming fiscal.

The government is reeling under pressure to provide a fiscal stimulus package to the businesses severely affected by the pandemic.

Moreover, the pandemic has led to an increase in budget deficit triggered by the below-target revenue collection.

The Nepali Government has allocated NPR 1.47 trillion budget for FY 2020/21, out of which NPR 172 billion has been earmarked for financing.

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CPIU stated that out of these reconstructed schools, 3,583 were rebuilt by school management committees, 135 by construction entrepreneurs and 758 by non-governmental organizations.

As per the Education Journalists Network Nepal (EJON) Chief I M Narayan Shrestha, the aforementioned entities will be constructing another 1,222 schools, while another 212 schools will be reconstructed by NGOs.

Furthermore, Shrestha informed that a total of 6,646 schools are under construction.

However, even four years after the biggest natural calamity occurred, the Nepal Government still has to provide the necessary budget for the reconstruction of these school buildings.

According to Shreshtha, there is still a gap of NPR 27 billion for reconstruction activity, which is over 22 percent of the total budget required.

“We are expecting the government to release the needed fund from the national budget,” Shrestha told media on April 22, 2019.

The CPIU implementation unit has requested the Ministry of Finance to release NPR 11 billion in the upcoming fiscal, NPR 9 billion in FY 2020-21 and the final installment of NPR 7 billion in FY 2021-22 towards reconstruction.

Even though the government had pledged the reconstruction of damaged schools by FY 2019-20, the implementation unit says it will take another two years.

During the 2015 earthquake, as many as 7,923 schools were damaged across 32 districts.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency and countries such as China and India have been working towards reconstruction of schools in Nepal.

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According to MoPIT Minister Raghubir Mahaseth, PM Oli asked the Ministry during its first quarter review meeting to complete the projects within the Government’s tenure, including:

• Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway – 1,776 km
• Postal Highway – 1,792.42 km
• Madan Bhandari Highway – 1,200 km

Government Progress In National Pride Road Projects
So far, the Ministry has constructed 86 km dirt roads, 162 km of graveled roads, blacktopped 99 km roads and constructed of 25 bridges as part of the projects.

Presently, the Department of Roads (DoR) has completed the following works along the aforementioned projects:

• Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway: Completed the construction of 30 km graveled roads and 14 bridges along this highway. Additionally, roads as long as 14 kms have been blacktopped along the stretch.
• Postal Highway: Completed the construction of 20 km graveled roads and 75 bridges along this highway, besides blacktopping 32 km roads. At present, 84 bridges are under construction along this highway.
• Madan Bhandari Highway: The Department has constructed 69 km of graveled roads and 85 km of dirt roads along the highway. Currently, the Dharan-Chatara section of this highway is being blacktopped

According to Mahaseth, the 112 km long Narayanghat-Butwal road section will be constructed as a four-lane fast track project. He also said that the tender for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project is finalized and construction will begin soon.

Overall Progress So Far

• As per the first quarter review, 98.4 percent work has been done in 23 projects which were termed ‘Excellent’
• 64.11 percent of the work has been categorized as ‘Good’
• 41.7 percent of works have been termed ‘Unsatisfactory’
• 47 various other projects whose works that have not started, have been classified ‘Worst’

Railway-Related Projects
MoPIT has informed that the Department of Railways (DoR) compiled a detailed project report for the 638 km-long Kakarbhitta-Bardibas-Simara-Tamsariya-Butwal section of the electrified railway project.

Similarly, 95 percent of the DPR works has been completed for the 409 km long Butwal-Gaddachauki section of the same project.

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The ADB fund will be used for two projects including a USD 130 million concessional loan for Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project and USD 20 million additional loan financing for SASEC Power System Expansion Project.

Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project
This project will improve water supply and sanitation infrastructure for increased access to the aforementioned resources in 20 municipalities.

SASEC Power System Expansion Project

On the other hand, the SASEC Power System Expansion Project seeks to address Nepal’s electricity sector concerns by:

• Raising Nepal’s power transmission capacity
• Improving its distribution network
• Increasing mini-grid renewable energy systems in off-grid areas
• Enhancing Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and Alternative Energy Promotion Center’s (AEPC) capacity
• Developing a utility-scale photovoltaic project

Nepal Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. Rajan Khanal and Nepal Resident Mission Country Director Mukhtor Khamudkhanov signed the agreement on behalf of the Nepal Government & ADB, respectively.

Girl-Friendly Toilets
Meanwhile, Nepal is already beginning to witness a revolution in the form of ‘girl-friendly’ sanitation infrastructure. Lately, a lot of schools are becoming particular about maintaining proper hygiene and sanitation during menstruation informed Bardevi Basic School Teacher Debaki Timalsina Dotel.

“When we were sharing the toilet with boys, we had to stay in queue for long time for our turn. It used to be troublesome especially during periods. “Going home was the only option for changing pads and cleaning ourselves,” said Binita Regmi, Niranjana Secondary School 11th Grader.

But ever since the school constructed gender-friendly toilets, girls don’t have to skip classes during periods. Furthermore, the mental stress is also reduced. 

“We have been provided with the sanitary pads from the school and there is a proper place for disposal also,” Regmi added.

Bardevi Basic School set such example back in 2017. “In lack of proper toilet, we earlier had to defecate in the open. We were always in fear of being caught, but now we feel safe,” said Asmita Gajurel, Bardevi Basic School Eight Grader. This has also benefited female teachers.

“Sanitary pads are not easily available in rural areas. That is why we have arranged pads for the students in the school. We have also trained the students on making sanitary pads at home,” Dotel added.

BBS Principal Kedarnath Dotel informed that the facilities have been constructed with support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Good Neighbors International and District Public Health Office (DPHO).

Girls have become regular to school from the time separate toilets were constructed.

Read More:

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) Funds Nepal’s Big ‘Road’ Project
• FY 2018-19: Nepal Poised for Healthy, But Slow Economic Growth

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ADB sanctioned a soft loan worth USD 180 million to assist Nepal in upgrading its 1,000 km East-West Highway that is central to the country’s domestic and international trade.

Scope of the Project

According to ADB, the ambitious project will encompass:

• Improving and reviving 87 km of the aforementioned road between Kanchanpur and Kamala
• Redesigning the highway section to accommodate a four-lane dual carriageway for addressing increased-traffic demand
• Laying a new road surface and incorporating drainage
• Fund civil works, equipment and support road safety campaigns to tighten road safety along the length of the East-West highway

“The highway’s road surface-Nepal’s busiest route-is in fair to poor condition and does not segregate oncoming traffic or slow-moving vehicles and pedestrians,” says ADB Staff and in charge of the transport sector Johan Georget, talking about the current situation.

“Improving the road will boost the efficiency of Nepal’s transport system, strengthen national and regional connectivity to promote growth and trade, and improve road safety,” he added.

About the East-West Highway
The road facilitates the passage of 8,600 vehicles per day, on an average and one-fourth of them are heavy vehicles. By 2033, the average number is expected to grow up to 25,400 vehicles.

Nepal plans to begin construction works in the first quarter of 2019 and will be completed by 2022, at a cost of USD 256.4 million.

Additionally, the ADB loan will fund preparation of detailed designs for future road projects along the corridor.

In the past ADB has funded several Nepal development projects including Nepal’s longest tunnel.

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Besides this, nearly 75 houses in Aitabare area received electrification, prior to which residents suffered in the absence of a central transmission line.

The project was funded by the Asian Development Bank, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre and the District Coordination Committee who contributed Rs 14.5 million, Rs 1.6 million and 600,000, respectively.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation Minister Barsaman Pun said that the distant areas which do not have access to the central transmission line will be put in touch with solar energy.

Pun also added that the Nepal Government has put supply of drinking water and irrigation facilities on top priority.

Talking about future plans, he said that the formation of the Federal Government has paved way for energy tie-ups with China and Bangladesh.

There are many hydropower and renewable energy projects that are already initiated with small and large scale firms in Province 1.

Member of National Planning Commission Dr Krishna Prasad Oli, Executive Director of Centre Nabaraj Dhakal and Member of House of Representatives Ghanshyam Khatiwada, also shared their views on development prospects with the help of solar energy.

Conclusion:
It is said that big changes begins with a small step. We hope that projects such as these pave the way for the overall development of Nepal.

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Mukhtor will lead ADB operations in Nepal and will be responsible for the formulation and implementation of ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for Nepal, informed ADB in its recent official statement.

ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy aims at supporting a country’s long-term development needs by means of human capital, private sector and infrastructure development, while also ensuring social inclusion and regional integration.

“ADB has an extended development partnership with Nepal. My priority is to build on that partnership, work closely with the government, and effectively coordinate our country office’s extensive support to the government’s development agenda and poverty reduction efforts,” Mukhtor said in a statement.

Mukhtor held various senior positions at ADB since his joining the organization in 2001 and lastly served as the Principal Energy Specialist in the Energy Division for South Asia at ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

Mukhtor’s appointment comes as a replacement to the outgoing ADB Country Director for Nepal, Kenichi Yokoyama, who served the country since 2011 and is now the Country Director at ADB’s India Resident Mission.

Nepal is a founding member of ADB and has so far received USD 5 billion in private and public sector loans, technical assistance and grants from the Bank.

This announcement gains significance in the light of a recent move by the Nepali Cabinet, wherein, it has approved USD 150 million ADB loan for infrastructure development in Nepal.

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