Feb 23, 2018-A delegation of Swedish parliamentarians hailed Nepal for its progress on promoting inclusion and gender equality as well as building resilience, improving livelihoods and work on the post-earthquake recovery.
The Swedish parliamentarians, who where here to monitor the results achieved by UNDP in implementing projects contributing to the country’s development, concluded a four-day visit to Nepal on Thursday.
The delegates visited several projects implemented in partnership with local governments, CSOs and communities in Kaski and Gorkha, and interacted with provincial assembly members to exchange experience related to parliamentary democracy. The parliamentarians also met with representatives of development partners in Nepal, the National Human Rights Commission and other high-level officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“To transform Sweden from one of the poorest countries in Europe 100 years ago when 25% of the population emigrated due to poverty, to where we are today,we invested heavily in strong institutions as well as in inclusive social welfare reforms. There is a need to invest in opportunities for youthand women and when I spoke to the people in the communities we met, I feel hopeful for the future of the country,” said Marie-Louise Rönnmark from the Swedish ruling social democratic party.
“Building a healthy democracy is an on-going process that one has to work on every single day, in Sweden as well as in Nepal. Accountability, transparency, an open and growing economy and an independent judiciary as well as free media are key elements for success. Here we can learn from each other. You are at a new starting point in Nepal with a new constitution and we look forward to following the good progress of the country,” says Kerstin Lundgren from the Green Liberal party, currently in opposition.
Sweden is one of the few countries in the world spending as much as 1 % of Gross National Income (GNI)on official development assistance (ODA), exceeding the official 0.7 % OECD target. In 2018, the Government of Sweden will be contributing $5.4bn for ODA, focusing on gender equality, climate change/climate resilience and peace building as well as human rights and democracy as key priority areas.Sweden is also one of UNDP’s top core donors. In 2017, Sweden was the third largest core donor to UNDP and in 2018 UNDP will receive around US$78 millionfrom the Swedish government for projects across the globe.
The delegates observed the on-going reconstruction and recovery work in Gorkha and appreciated the progress made so far. They underscored the need for continued support. Sweden pledged USD10m for the earthquake response.
Shedding light on the importance of the visit, Renaud Meyer, Country Director of UNDP in Nepal said, “Sweden is among the top five core contributors to UNDP.The taxpayers’ money that they provide generously to UNDP is used all over the world, including here in Nepal.It is important that we also show the parliamentarians, whoare responsible to their constituencies, the results that we produce in the field.”
The visiting delegation included six parliamentarians representing different political parties, from both ruling and opposition parties: namely, Emma Nohrén, Kerstin Lundgren, Margareta Cederfeldt, Marie-Louise Rönnmark, Markus Wiechel and Tina Acketoft.
Published: 23-02-2018 18:00
source: kathmandupost.ekantipur.com
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