A record of discussion (ROD) has been signed between the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) on September 10 for an inclusive rural development project (IRDP) in the Bardiya district of Lumbini Province.
The South Korean Government through KOICA has allocated USD 8 million for the project set to be implemented in all eight local levels of Bardiya.
According to the press release issued by the KOICA Nepal office, the project aims to enhance the capacity of local communities in agriculture production and improve the value chain through the integration of market linkages. The project also emphasises on fostering sustainable and resilient livelihoods and the local economy, promoting eco-tourism.
An IRDP project usually focuses on improving living standards in rural areas through various measures such as increasing agricultural production on family farms through sustainable practices, helping smallholder families to access markets, assessing regional development capacities, and access to services such as water supply and sanitation.
The project formulation follows a locally initiated model, catering to the specific needs of local communities and focusing on their capacity building to implement the set goals.
Besides, a similar IRDP project, assisting infrastructure development like roads and bridges, was implemented in Nawalparasi spanning from 2016 to 2022.
Additionally, the ROD signing day marked the 50 years of diplomatic relationships between Nepal and South Korea. The Korean government has been supporting Nepal in various sectors like health, technical education, agriculture, vocational training, rural development, and IT since 1991.
