The European Union (EU) has provided financial assistance of Rs 4.8 billion (40 million euros) to the government for the post-quake reconstruction.

This is the second tranche of the 105 million euros pledged by the EU for Nepal under the EU Action for Recovery and Reconstruction (NEARR) programme and follows an earlier disbursement of 50 million euros made in July 2016, the EU said in a statement.

 The grant was released against a set of performance indicators and provides the means to accelerate reconstruction efforts.

“Budget support uses country-owned mechanisms to give money directly and reduces transaction costs, strengthens government systems and fosters self-reliance,” the statement reads. 

“The EU congratulates the Nepali authorities and all stakeholders involved for the progress made so far in advancing reconstruction under the coordinating role of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).  It is important that the current momentum be maintained and indeed increased in the time ahead so as to ‘build back better’ for the benefit of the Nepali people including the most vulnerable,” the statement quoted EU Ambassador designate Veronica Cody as saying. “The decentralisation underway in Nepal will provide opportunities to involve the newly elected Local governments in accelerating reconstruction. Since the education sector was the public sector most severely affected by the earthquakes it is vital that specific attention is paid to rebuild safer schools as quickly as possible.”

The EU said it will remain engaged to contribute to these tasks through measures which are complementary to the NEARR programme—notably the NEARR Technical Assistance Facility and the accountability initiative with Transparency International Nepal—as well as through ongoing policy dialogue and a new budget support programme in the education sector.