On June 29, 2022, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) signed an agreement for implementation of the project “Building Climate Resilience and Reintegrating Economically Displaced Workers Through Climate Smart Agriculture in the Terai Flood Plain, Nepal.” The project has a budget of $5.99 million and will be implemented from July 1, 2022 – December 31, 2025.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Sunghoon Ko, KOICA Nepal Office Country Director, and Dr. Lasse Ringius, GGGI Nepal Country Representative. The project aims to support widespread adoption of climate smart agriculture to reduce vulnerability and improve food and job security, especially for women, youth and returned migrant workers in the Terai Flood Plain region. The project will have the following key components:
- Improve emergency management in the agriculture sector to protect lives and livelihoods;
- Strengthen climate resilient agriculture planning and implementation; and
- Build and finance climate smart agriculture businesses for job creation and long-term resilient green growth.
In total, the project expects to provide direct benefits to an estimated 7,800 people and 112 Micro and Small agribusinesses, and will indirectly benefit the total population of Dhanusha and Mahottari districts (430,000 people). The project aligns with a number of the Government of Nepal’s key guiding policy documents, including the Disaster Risk and Management Act, 2017, Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy Framework, 2016, Agriculture Development Strategy, 2015 and Foreign Employment Act, 2007.
The project will be implemented by GGGI and Good Neighbours International Nepal, a Korean NGO, in close consultation with KOICA and the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative, Madhesh Province. Furthermore, the project will develop partnerships with the local governments, Agriculture Knowledge Centers, Ministry of Industries, Tourism and Forest, and Ministry of Internal Affair and Communication in the Madhesh Province and other key governmental and international organizations.
This project strengthens the partnership between KOICA and GGGI since signing the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Green Growth Cooperation on June 8, 2018. With this project in Nepal, GGGI and KOICA are pleased to bring their respective expertise and support for promotion of green growth.