NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Agent Of Change

German Technical Cooperation supports major development programs, making a difference in the lives of many Nepalis

By KESHAB POUDEL

The construction of a green road in Dhading district, 50 km west of Kathmandu, has opened up new economic opportunities in the region. It has also brought drastic changes in the lives of people living in surrounding areas.

Although it was built with local technology and labor, the road is as good and strong as any black-topped one. As the local people are the primary stake-holders of the road project, they themselves maintain it.

Dhading’s green road is not the only successful rural development project supported by the German government. There are many successful projects run by the GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) across the country, which have made a difference in people’s lives.

Development project : For people's betterment

The GTZ is also supporting micro-credit projects for women. By integrating rural road with micro-credit, the growing economic activities in the villages are apparent.

The German agency’s involvement encompasses such areas as private-sector promotion, rural and urban development, health care, reproductive health, NGO Fund Project and energy supply.

The NGO Fund Project, which is fairly new, has its own way of dealing with the people. Within a very short span of time, it has been able to generate hope in the people.

Along with the GTZ, the German Development Bank has been supporting Nepal’s effort to alleviate poverty. "We have been working in different sectors with an aim to uplift the living conditions of the poor people," said Peter Rude, country representative of GTZ-Nepal.

Although the German government has reduced the number of aid-recipient countries from 120 to 70, Nepal still remains on the list.

With an aim to make local bodies sustainable, the GTZ has been supporting the municipalities of the kingdom through the Urban Development Through Local Efforts (UDLE) program.

Bhaktapur is a good example of proper utilization of local resources to maintain cultural and religious shrines. The German government started the Bhaktapur Development Project in 1974 and launched the renovation works of the VDC.

After years of German involvement, the people of Bhaktapur have now started to initiate renovation projects by themselves.

Now Bhaktapur Municipality is taking up renovation work by itself. Through entry fees on tourists, the municipality accumulates a substantial amount of money which it pumps into development projects.

"I am very proud to say that Bhaktapur Municipality has shown the way to mobilize resources and to renovate its heritage on its own," said Rhude. "Despite political instability and insurgency, we were able to meet our target," said Rhude.

Apart from large undertakings like the Upper Marsyangdi and Marsyangdi hydro projects, the community forest project in the Chure region is another successful example of the German government’s cooperation.

German-supported projects have provided much-needed boost to Nepal’s effort to alleviate poverty.