In the past 5 years Nepal has received $785 million in aid; of this DFID has provided $273 million, around a third. The UK is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal with $120 million contribution in 2007/08. DFID has committed $100 million for health over 5 years, plus an additional $30 million for HIV and AIDS (2004-2009). DFID has committed $40 million for education over 5 years. (2004-2009), and $55 million for roads 2008-2012). The UK is also making $43m available to the Government of Nepal until 2015 through the UK multilateral Debt Relief Initiative.  $4.5m of this has already been allocated by the government to the Nepal Peace Trust Fund.

Nepal's long-awaited elections to Constituent Assembly took place on 10 April. Fifty-five political parties contested the elections with some 10,000 candidates wooing 17.6 million voters.  DFID provided direct support – some $1.8 million to election preparation and the mobilisation of national and international electoral observers.

DFID provides combined financial and technical assistance to:

support implementation of the peace agreement;
build a more effective and inclusive state, including basic services;
promote inclusive economic growth.

DFID has contributed to:

The government’s Nepal Peace Trust Fund – DFID is the largest donor, providing over $14 million, and the fund has established cantonments for Maoist cadres, support to Internally Displaced People & helped prepare the ground and fund the CA elections.

Reducing the numbers of deaths of mothers in pregnancy and childbirth – the maternal mortality ratio halved between 1996 – 2006, according to last Demographic and Health Survey.

Reducing the deaths of young children - infant and under five mortality rates have dropped by a quarter in the last five years, such that in 2006, only one in sixteen children died before their fifth birthday compared to one in eleven in 2001. The UNICEF report on “State of the World’s Children”, ranked Nepal as one of top four countries on progress on child mortality.

Building 800 km of rural roads - providing 8.5 million days of employment to 35,000 poor & excluded households.

Boosting school enrolment of girls, Dalits and children with disabilities, through targeted interventions. Almost 90 percent children are in school, almost 50 percent are girls. DFID major contributor to the Education for All initiative.

For more information about DFID’s work in Nepal please visit Department for International Development.