Tripartite MoU inked for reconstruction of 24 quake-hit schools

Kathmandu / Oct 2: National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Norwegian Embassy to Nepal and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a project for the reconstruction of 24 quake-hit schools in various districts.

Joint Secretary at NRA Pitambar Ghimire, Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Lasse Bjørn Johannessen and UNOPS Country Director Charles Callanan penned the agreement on Wednesday in the capital.

Under the project, Norway will fund eight million US dollars to build13 schools in Ramechhap, 9 in Sindhuli and one each in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.

All the schools will be disabled-friendly and well-equipped with toilets and drinking water facilities. A total of 144 classrooms in those 24 schools will directly benefit 5,500 students.

The project is scheduled to complete by November 2021.

After signing the deal, NRA CEO Sushil Gyewali thanked the Norwegian government and UNOPS and hoped that project will be successfully implemented in the stipulated time-frame. He further stated that NRA is ready to coordinate with various development partners regarding post-quake reconstruction.

Speaking on the occasion, Norwegian ambassador Johannessen said that the Norwegian government is happy to collaborate with NRA and UNOPS for the cause of education. Similarly, UNOPS Country Director Charles Callanan committed to completing the project within stipulated time-frame without compromising quality.