The World Bank (WB) today approved USD 36 million aid package for Nepal to support its efforts at reducing hardships and speeding up recovery from the problems caused by rising food and fuel prices, drought and recent floods. The assistance package consists of USD 31 million in grants and credits from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessionary lending arm, and USD 5 million in grants from the Food Price Crisis Response Trust Fund. A press release issued by WB said the 'Nepal Food Price Crisis Response Programme' under which aid package is being provided, was developed to help Nepal mitigate the impact of rising global food prices by improving access to food and strengthening agricultural production, particularly for food insecure districts and smallholders. "The programme will support the Government of Nepal's national strategy to maintain and enhance food security," said Susan Goldmark, World Bank Country Director for Nepal. "It will support immediate social safety net measures to ensure food for vulnerable households in food insecure districts as well as longer term measures to raise agricultural yields and consequently the production of staples," she added. In the short run, the programme will partner with the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide immediate support to vulnerable households in 33 districts that have been identified as chronically food insecure, with more than 6 million people vulnerable. It will provide 50 to 70 days of employment a year in public works to about 480,000 individuals, WB statement said, adding that WFP and the Ministry of Local Development's Rural Community Infrastructure Works programme have established a strong track record of providing immediate food assistance to vulnerable and marginalised communities under their food/cash-for-work programmes. "We expect the programme to result in increased self-sufficiency at the local level due to improved irrigation and seed availability with the potential for farmers to eventually increase production and benefit from higher food prices," said Gayatri Acharya, Senior Economist at the World Bank. nepalnews.com mk Oct 01 08 WB announces USD 36 million aid package to Nepal The World Bank (WB) today approved USD 36 million aid package for Nepal to support its efforts at reducing hardships and speeding up recovery from the problems caused by rising food and fuel prices, drought and recent floods. The assistance package consists of USD 31 million in grants and credits from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessionary lending arm, and USD 5 million in grants from the Food Price Crisis Response Trust Fund. A press release issued by WB said the 'Nepal Food Price Crisis Response Programme' under which aid package is being provided, was developed to help Nepal mitigate the impact of rising global food prices by improving access to food and strengthening agricultural production, particularly for food insecure districts and smallholders. "The programme will support the Government of Nepal's national strategy to maintain and enhance food security," said Susan Goldmark, World Bank Country Director for Nepal. "It will support immediate social safety net measures to ensure food for vulnerable households in food insecure districts as well as longer term measures to raise agricultural yields and consequently the production of staples," she added. In the short run, the programme will partner with the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide immediate support to vulnerable households in 33 districts that have been identified as chronically food insecure, with more than 6 million people vulnerable. It will provide 50 to 70 days of employment a year in public works to about 480,000 individuals, WB statement said, adding that WFP and the Ministry of Local Development's Rural Community Infrastructure Works programme have established a strong track record of providing immediate food assistance to vulnerable and marginalised communities under their food/cash-for-work programmes. "We expect the programme to result in increased self-sufficiency at the local level due to improved irrigation and seed availability with the potential for farmers to eventually increase production and benefit from higher food prices," said Gayatri Acharya, Senior Economist at the World Bank. nepalnews.com mk Oct 01 08