Kathmandu, 8 Jan 2020

The Government of Nepal and the United Nations Development Programme signed “Accelerating Implementation of the SDGs” project to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country. The project cost is about US$2.6 million for four years periods.

To be implemented under the leadership of the National Planning Commission, the project aims to integrate the SDGs into planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting systems at all levels of government, with a new focus to align finance and investment in poverty, environment and climate objectives. The project will also explore innovative public and private financing available for Nepal to advance the Global Goals.

“This is a very important initiative to make sure Nepal fulfills its commitment to meet the Global Goals by 2030 and also materializes the dream of a “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis,” said Prof. Dr. Puspa Raj Kandel, Vice Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, upon signing the agreement at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu.

The project has two major outcomes on Planning, budgeting, monitoring & reporting systems at all levels of government, and Resilient and innovative financing available for SDGs implementation.

Mr. Khomraj Koirala, Joint Secretary, National Planning Commission and National Project Director of the project remarked the initiative would be instrumental in mainstreaming and localizing the SDGs at all levels of the government with the partnership of private, non-government, cooperatives and household (out of pocket) sectors. He added that this would ultimately help to achieve the expected outcomes of local, provincial and national level periodic plans.

“We are very pleased to kick off this important engagement. It will not just assist Nepal to realize the SDGs by providing needful technical assistance in localization of the goals but also in exploring available domestic and international resources to bridge the SDG financing gap,” said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Bernardo Cocco.

The project is jointly funded by the Austrian Development Agency, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).