UNDP reaffirms continuous support to Nepal, including for coming elections

Kathmandu, Oct 8: A team led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Nepal Kyoko Yokosuka called on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport and Urban Development Kulman Ghising today.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Urban Development in Singha Durbar, matters related to the support of UNDP for the coming elections, the assistance currently being provided in the energy, climate change and other sectors, and the implementation status of ongoing projects were discussed.

Informing that the government is preparing to provide opportunity for Nepali citizens temporarily living abroad to vote, Minister Ghising requested for necessary support to adopt the online voting technology used in other countries, according to his secretariat.

He requested for necessary assistance in areas such as mitigating the impact of climate change, creating employment through small and medium-sized industries in rural areas, studying vulnerable glacial lakes, establishing a disaster early warning system, preparing for disasters, replacing fossil fuel-powered vehicles and traditional energy used for household purposes with electric energy, promoting the use of electric energy in energy-intensive industries, and reducing carbon emissions by replacing coal used in brick kilns with electric energy.

Minister Ghising's secretariat has stated that UNDP has expressed its commitment to provide assistance for the coming elections and to take initiatives to secure financial assistance to Nepal from the Climate Fund. (RSS)