Nepal is among 28 other countries receiving the debt relief, according to a statement issued by the EU Nepal Office.

The relief has been grated through Catastrophe Containment Relief Trust (CCRT) set up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The CCRT aims to provide debt relief to the poorest and most vulnerable countries facing unsustainability due to public expenditure required to address the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters, according to a statement issued by the European Union in Nepal. More than half of low-income countries are in high risk or already in debt distress.

The European Union has been supporting partner countries in maintaining their commitment and path towards the Sustainable Development Goals despite dire financial situations.

“The European Union alongside the development partners’ community has been supporting Nepal in its green, resilient and inclusive recovery from the adverse impacts of the pandemic,” the statement said.

The announcement of an aid package of 75 million euros (Nepali Rupees 9.8 billion) in April last year was a move in the same direction.

Source: Cnbctv18

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The European Union is offering NPR 9.8 billion to Nepal to prevent, detect and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen its public health preparedness.

In the total amount, NPR 7.2 billion is a reorientation of existing funds and NPR 2.6 billion represents a new commitment.

NPR 9.8 billion Package Plan

• NPR 1.6 billion: To support health and preparedness plan
• NPR 8.2 billion: To tackle socio-economic consequences of the pandemic

The EU is also providing additional support to the Nepali Government to have direct and swift access to this financing.

“In difficult times, the EU is a reliable friend and partner for Nepal. We hope that our contribution will support the efforts of the government to respond effectively to this crisis, so that the impact on the most vulnerable is reduced,” said Veronica Cody, EU Ambassador to Nepal.

“International cooperation and solidarity are now more important than ever,” he added.

The coronavirus pandemic has inflicted severe impact on the economy of the country by inciting nationwide lockdown, closure of businesses and suspension of flights, among others.

In the need of the hour, the European Union has come forward to assist the government’s economic recovery plan.

Earlier, the EU has contributed NPR 14.9 billion to the World Health Organisation to support economically backward countries including Nepal.

“The EU is working closely with the United Nations, with other international organizations, humanitarian agencies, and with our partners throughout the world, in the great global effort to overcome the virus and its consequences,” said EU in a statement issued on April 27, 2020.

Likewise, Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised to provide support to the Nepali Government to combat COVID-19.

Xi made the assurance during a telephone conversation with Nepali President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on April 27, 2020.

So far, Nepal has reported only 52 coronavirus positive cases. However, the country is reeling under adverse economic impact incited by the pandemic.

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According to a Ministry official, enhancing the capacities of sub-national governments is important as they are now catering to many federal government rights.

Present Scenario
Provincial and local government officials expressed their difficulties in providing services according to the general public’s need in the absence of adequate staff, especially trained staff.

“The federal government has dispatched lower ranked staff to the local levels with limited knowledge. We do not need experts. We need trained staff,” said Hom Narayan Shrestha, President, National Association of Rural Municipality.

Training and workshops will help them gain knowledge on effective delivery of services, Shrestha added.

Federal Affairs Ministry’s Training Program
The good governance program has two components – training and challenge.

The training component aims to provide supply & demand-driven training to provincial & local governments and people-representatives.

“Under the supply-driven training-training related to financial management, ways to ensure greater participation of community in decision-making, handling judicial duties, making gender sensitive budget, revenue management among others can be provided. Demand driven training can be provided based on the demands of provincial and local governments,” said Amrit Lamsal, Under-Secretary, Federal Affairs Ministry.

To conduct this training program, the Ministry is planning to extend the reach of Local Development Training Academy to all seven provinces.

“The academy will train officials from provincial and local government,” said Lamsal.

Challenge Fund
Under the challenge fund, the Ministry aims at providing financial assistance to provincial and local governments if they come up with innovative measures to improve their services.

“For example, a municipality can propose automating all the ward offices and seek funding for it. Such a municipality can receive support from challenge fund,” said Lamsal.

Funds will be allocated based on distributing costs between federal & provincial governments as well as federal & local governments.

“The concerned provincial or local government must share certain portion of the financial burden,” Lamsal added.

An Investment of USD 150 Million
The Federal Affairs & General Administration Ministry aims to raise an amount for USD 150 million for the given project.

It plans to approach foreign investors including the European Union, Norwegian Government, Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation and UK Department for International Development for the training program.

However, it limits this investment to USD 100 million. The remaining amount will be contributed by the federal government who will be investing one-third of the global-donor spend and local & provincial government with a contribution of 10 percent of the given amount.

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In its updated air safety list released on December 01, 2017, the agency under the European Commission (EC) placed Nepal among 16 other nations that were prohibited from flying in the 28-nation bloc of the European Union (EU).

“All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Nepal have been banned from operating within EU,” reads a statement by the European Agency.

A total of 178 airlines were banned from flying in EU bloc as per the new list. These include 18 Nepali air carriers.

The list was prepared based on the feedback of aviation safety experts of the EU member states under the EU Air Safety Committee (EASC) chaired by EC and supported by the European Aviation Safety Agency, at a meeting held during November 13-15, 2017.

EU’s recent announcement comes as a disappointment to Nepali Airlines Corporation (NAC) that has been keen on launching its services in EU.

EU’s ban continues despite the lift of a ban by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Nepali airlines owing to their non-compliance to ICAO’s eight critical protocols.

ICAO later excluded Nepal from its Significant Safety Concern (SSC) list in July 20, 2017 supporting Nepali Airlines Corporation’s move to launch flights in Europe.

Need for Improvement in Air Safety Concerns

Stakeholders of the Nepali aviation sector feel that EU’s move might be a consequence of the Nepali Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation’s (MoCA) decision to summon the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Director General.

However, EC clarified that the assessment was made considering the international and ICAO’s safety standards.

“Why did responsible senior officials fail to approach EC to defend Nepal during the safety committee deliberations?” questions a Nepal Airlines Corporation official in response to the decision.

The official further informed that Nepali airlines are capable of meeting the international standards and the issues arose because of the lack of improvement in the concerned regulatory body operating under MoCA.

The official was disappointed at the arrival of such decision at a time when the country is aiming at one million annual tourist target and NAC is keen on operating two wide-body aircraft to European countries.

EASC’s next meeting to announce the air safety update list will take place during May-June 2018.

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Nepal’s legislative election 2017 has been a long-awaited aspect for Nepal and the world as well, as the country is expected to enter a new era of development with the upcoming elections.

Besides the formation of new constitution and unexpected political alliances that shook the country’s political landscape, this election has also opened avenues for various other interesting aspects.

Business Community Makes a Special Entry

In a major move, dozens of businessmen including the famous people have decided to foray into politics through the upcoming polls.

Majority of the business community people who acquired part tickets include industrialists, contractors, overseas and tourism entrepreneurs.

While a few are contesting for parliamentary seats, a substantial number of businessmen are also contesting in provincial polls.

Tek Bahadur Gurung (an overseas entrepreneur), Prakash Singh Karki (President of Nepal Freight Forwarders’ Association), Ramesh Dhamala (Former President of Trekking Agencies’ Association Nepal) are among many others from the business community contesting in the provincial and parliamentary polls.

Decline in Rate of Political Clashes, says Army

In an announcement on November 02, 2017, the Nepali Army concluded that the formation of electoral alliances has significantly reduced the threat of political clashes during the upcoming polls.

The Army made this statement after a detailed analysis on the current security situation across the country, as per the individual departmental reports.

As per the government’s election security strategy, Army stands as the final security layer after temporary security staff, Nepali Police and Armed Police Force.

Digital Trend Catches Up!

Moving away from traditional methods of pasting posters, writing on walls and distributing pamphlets, Nepali political parties and candidates started using digital and social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, among others for their election campaigns for upcoming polls.

Contesting candidates and their supporters were found to have inundated social media pages with their campaigning audio and video material.

The era of election posters is gone. The most effective publicity tool in the digital age is social media,” says Janaki Lal Basnet, NC’s provincial assembly candidate from the Dang District.

“I have been planning to expedite my poll campaign online,” says CPN-Maoist Center leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

“I have tried to modernize my poll publicity, using QR code even in traditional publicity tools,” says State Minister for Information and Communications Tapta Bahadur Bista.

Worries Over Women Participation

Despite large expectations, the upcoming polls are most likely to register only a less percentage of women representatives in the Nepali Parliament, says Nepali Constitution experts.

While the current constitutional rules allow 33 percent women representation in Nepali Parliament, the constitutional experts feel that might not work out in the new constitution to be formed out of upcoming polls.

“If we assume that 55 women are elected in the House of Representatives and 22 in the Upper House that will mean only 77 women in the 334-member Parliament, 33 short of the required number,” says Chandra Kanta Gyawali, a constitutional expert.

According to Gyawali, the number of women contestants fielded looks concerning.

The political parties fielded only around 50 percent women candidates in the parliamentary PR polls, Gwayali adds.

The top three parties fielded only nine women contests women for the first phase of the parliamentary FPTP polls.

While the Nepali Election Commission is doubting 33 percent women seats in the Nepali Parliament, CPN-Maoist Centre claims to have fielded 60 women candidates under the PR list and UML claims that the party’s PR list has 60 percent women candidates.

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Nepal’s legislative election 2017, to be held in two phases on November 26 and December 7, 2017, is being considered as one of the key chapters in Nepali politics to end political turmoil and bring political transformation in the country.

This election holds significance as it also forms base for the formation of new Nepali Constitution that the country has been waiting for since more than two years.

While the Election Commission and the Government of Nepal are already busy in preparations, the candidates are brain storming for testing their luck!

Unexpected Broader Alliances

Even though long-awaited, the actual heat around the legislative and parliamentary polls started with the announcement of unexpected broader alliances among leftist and democratic parties, respectively.

In a major move in the Nepali political landscape, the two major communist parties CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre formed a grand alliance and have already finalized their seat sharing in 165 parliamentary and 330 provincial constituencies for these First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) elections.

Both the partners have agreed upon a 60:40 seat sharing ratio with UML placing its candidates in 81 parliamentary constituencies and CPN-MC in 77 places, and independents in seven seats.

The left alliance filed its nominations for 37 Parliamentary FPTP constituencies in 32 districts that are set for election on November 26, 2017.

Apart from that, the Federal Democratic Forum-Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal formed alliance in Province 2, and the two Madhes-based parties aligned and two Rastriya Prajatantra Parties aligned with the Nepali Congress in some constituencies.

A Three-way Fight

Following leftist alliance, the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) had also announced of forming a seven-member democratic alliance to fight leftist alliance.

However, the announcement was a jolt to NC owing to the CPN-Maoist Centre party’s crucial coalition in the ruling government led by NC President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Condemning the communist alliance, Deuba called on the citizens to vote for his Nepali Congress (NC) party.

“Like it or dislike it, the country needs the NC,” said Deuba at a public meeting held to announce the NC’s manifesto for parliamentary and provincial polls, while also reiterating his party’s commitment to effective functioning of federal governance in the country.

Besides NC and the new leftist alliance, there exists another political force of Madhes-based parties that hold strong base in Terai region.

Two important Madhes-based parties, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N), stood second and third, respectively, in the recently-held local elections of Province No 2, in southeastern Nepal.

EU Deploys Observation Team

In response to the Nepali authorities’ request, the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Nepal to monitor the provincial and parliamentary polls for electing House of Representatives.

EU considers this as fulfilling its long-term commitment to Nepal as part of bilateral ties.

“It is a great honor for me to lead the EU Election Observation Mission to Nepal. The forthcoming elections are taking place under a new political and electoral system. I’m very committed to accompany Nepal in this important phase of its democratic process,” says Ms Zeljana Zovko, Chief Observer of EOM.

EU had appointed similar missions in 2008 and 2013 as well.

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Recent floods have devastated millions of lives across South Asia. Nepal, in specific, suffered a severe damage to its public, livestock, agriculture, industry, among others.

In this regard, the Nepal Government is already undertaking necessary relief measures and international bodies are gearing up for extending their support to the flood victims.

Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also issued a press release on August 22, 2017, wherein, it informed about its plan to raise funds globally for supporting flood victims.

IFRC Pitches for Global Support

“IFRC and Nepal Red Cross (NRC) are launching a global appeal for about 3.5 million Swiss francs to support 81,000 people living in the most-seriously affected parts of the country. IFRC has provided a start-up loan of 500,000 Swiss francs to ensure that resources are immediately available,” said IFRC in its official release.

Describing the victims’ situation, Jagan Chapagain, Under Secretary General for Programmes and Operations, IFRC said, “This is the worst flooding that parts of South Asia have seen in decades. Entire communities have been cut off. The only way to get aid to some of these villages is by boat and many are running out of food.”

Jagan raised concerns over disease threat among victims. Stating that floodwaters have become a breeding ground for deadly diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria, he also raised suspicion over spread of other diseases like dengue and Japanese encephalitis.

“We are delivering aid, food, water and other vital supplies but this disaster is one of the biggest we have ever faced. We are appealing for global support,” said Mozharul Huq, Secretary General, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

The Government of Nepal has also sought international support for relief measures to flood victims.

UK Allocates GBP 400,000 Fund

In a recent move, the Government of United Kingdom (UK) has come forward to extend its support to flood victims.

As a monsoon flood response, the Department for International Development (DFID), UK announced GBP 400,000 fund allocation to the Nepal Red Cross Society, in collaboration with the British Red Cross and International Federation of the Red Cross.

Through this fund, UK aims at ensuring water supply to 13,000 people, food and financial support to 3,000 victims, health-related support to women and child victims.

EU Donates Rs 24 Million Relief Fund

The European Commission has come forward to provide Rs 24.2 million (EUR 200 000) in humanitarian aid funding to the victims affected by floods and landslides across the country. This aid is expected to benefit around 35,000 Nepalese hit by the disaster.

This move by the European Union (EU) is coming after a IFRC’s call for global attention to support flood victims. Through this fund, EU intends to support IFRC and NRC in delivering much-needed assistance to the affected families, said a statement issued by EU on August 22, 2017.

According to the release, hygiene promotion activities are also planned in targeted districts to tackle with water-borne diseases caused by floodwaters.

Japan Provides Rs 23.4 Million Worth Relief Material

The Government of Japan has also provided relief material worth Rs 23.4 million to the Government of Nepal in support of flood victims in the southern plains of Nepal.

“The Japanese Government and Japanese citizens have not forgotten the friendship and compassion given to Japan during the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 and in the Kumamoto Earthquake in April last year by the Government and people of Nepal,” said Masashi Ogawa.

South Korea Announces Financial Aid

In a recent update, the Government of Republic of Korea (ROK) has agreed to Nepal Government’s request to support flood victims.

In this regard, the Government of ROK announced USD 200,000 as humanitarian assistance to Nepal, to the damages caused by floods and landslides across the country.

An official statement in this regard was issued by the Embassy of ROK in Kathmandu, which informed that the Government of ROK’s assistance is expected to contribute to the emergency relief efforts in the affected areas.

NRNA Donates a Million Rupees

The Non-Resident Nepal Association (NRNA) of Thailand has also extended a financial assistance of Rs 1 million to the flood victims of Saptari District on the south-eastern plain in Tarai.

“The amount has been transferred to NRNA Flood Relief Fund,” said NRNA in a statement, informing that the donation amount was handed over to the NRNA International Coordination Council Member Khagendra Raj Dhakal.

NRNA Thailand Treasurer Kanchha Gurung informed that Rs 730,079 would be transferred to the NRNA Relief Fund for relief package distribution and Rs 230,079 to the NRNA Women Welfare Fund to distribute hygiene kits to women victims in Saptari District.

Death Toll Reaches 1200 in South Asia

As of August 25, 2017, the total death toll (due to floods) in Nepal, Bangladesh and India, altogether, increased to 1200 with more than 850 people killed in six Indian states, around 150 people in Nepal and around 134 people in Bangladesh.

Apart from this, more than 90,000 houses in Nepal were badly hit and crops in 10,583 hectares of land have been washed away in Bangladesh with an additional 600,587 hectares partially damaged.

IFRC had earlier released a report, wherein, it said the number of flood-affected people in these three countries crossed 24 million with an estimate of more than 700 death casualties.

According to IFR, over 1,800 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are working alongside local authorities to prevent further deaths and help communities withstand and recover from the floods.

Various international and local aid agencies and rescue teams are already undertaking continuous relief measures across the region to save millions of others hit by the disaster.

“People across the region urgently need our help. But their needs are now so immense they will not be met without international support,” says Jagan Chapagain.

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Following the removal of Nepal’s aviation sector from the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) significant safety concern (SSC) list, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has launched the process to delist the sector from the European Union’s (EU) aviation safety blacklist. The blacklisting by EU in December 2013, which followed the introduction of the SSC list by ICAO, prohibited Nepali airlines from flying over European skies.

CAAN Director General Sanjib Gautam said that CAAN would send a communication in this regard to the EU in a couple of days. He added that the EU aviation safety committee, representing all the 26 member countries, would decide upon the issue during its meeting in November.

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