Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nepal Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé has pledged to assist in poverty alleviation in Gandaki Province.
During a meeting with Gandaki Province Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel on Monday, the UNDP Nepal Resident Representative said that UNDP would support the Gandaki Province to uplift its 200,000 people living beneath the poverty line by 2030. Saying that the Human Development Index (HDI) of Gandaki was comparatively good, she said the good practices of the province should be implemented in the Lumbini and Karnali provinces.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Pokharel said that it would be better if UNDP works in Gandaki with its physical presence and urged to open a regional office if possible or a field office. He also expected support from the UNDP for the innovation sector, development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and modernisation of agriculture.
Pokharel said that the Province Government was ready to cooperate to implement good practices in all local levels adding that the entrepreneurship development programme run by the UNDP was successful in Waling Municipality of Syangja district.
The Chief Minister expected UNDP's support for effective implementation and localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UNDP Nepal Resident Representatives on the occasion expressed her pleasure for the Gandaki Province's preparation to organise Investment Conference.
Ayshanie, who served in Morocco prior to her Nepal assignment, said that Nepal should emulate the good practices from the North African countries including Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria for meeting the SDGs.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary of Gandaki Province Damodar Regmi, Province Policy Commission's Vice-Chairman Raghu Raj Kafle, Chief of UNDP Nepal's Butwal Regional Office Sudip Aryal, and other officials were present.
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