COVID-Fund: Immediate UN Response for coherent safeguarding the livelihoods of people made most vulnerable by COVID-19 in Nepal

Project Executive Summary There have been 6211 confirmed cases (as of June 15) of COVID across 7 provinces of Nepal with 19 reported deaths. The lockdown has limited the spread of contamination by COVID-19, but it has had an adverse effect on people with limited income and livelihood opportunities, many not covered by social safety nets, as well as exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. Nearly 4.4 million workers (3.1 million women) in Nepal are in the economically hardest-hit sectors. In addition 500,000 migrant workers have returned from India and the number is expected to grow up to one million. More than 500,000 are expected to return from Malaysia, Gulf and other countries. While responding the humanitarian needs, Nepal also has to focus on early economic recovery in order to address the impact on the domestic labor market. The UN Joint Project “Immediate UN Response for coherent safeguarding the livelihoods of people made most vulnerable by COVID-19 in Nepal” contributes to government’s early recovery efforts. The major interventions include safeguarding basic needs, livelihoods and financial security of mostly women informal sector workers, internal migrants and migrant workers returning from abroad, and women’s cooperatives; extending cash for work for vulnerable workers affected by COVID-19 measures, including migrants, women, Dalits, and workers in the tourism sector; and providing short-term vocational and skill trainings for vulnerable community members affected by COVID-19 measures, including migrants, women, and Dalits. The total target group is 1500 in selected 3-4 Provinces where the participating PUNOs (UNDP, IOM, UNESCO and ILO) have ongoing programmes. The total budget available is USD1,000,000 through MPTF. ILO extends its previous rural road maintenance programme and creates around 530 person days in 10-15 districts of Provinces 5 and 2. The total budget available for the ILO component is USD296, 060. ILO hires 2 experienced maintenance engineers as consultants to implement the activities. ILO CO Kathmandu monitors the implementation and technical backstopping is provided by DWT Bangkok. The project period extends from 01 July to 31 December 2020.

Project symbol

NPL/20/51/UND

Admin unit

CO-Kathmandu

Start date

01/07/2020

End date

31/12/2020

Total allocation

296060

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

282419

Development Partners

Multi Partner Trust Fund Office, UNDP

Country/Countries

Nepal

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Economic, social and environmental transitions for full, productive and freely chosen employment and decent work for all