Inside 85% beneficiaries completing their houses | Disaster recovery for disabled | Reconstruction in numbers Inside Reconstruction of Ranipokhari begins | Housing grants simplified | Foreign aid in numbers

Inside Helambu returning to past glory | Tembathang promotes Hyolmo culture | Public hearing in Melamchi Inside Donors pledge further support | Laprak settlement in final stage | Rs.141 billion for post-quake rebuilding

You can obtain the previous editions of ‘Rebuilding Nepal’ from NRA office at Singha Durbar.

Cover: A new look of Gaunthale village of Siddhalek-4 in Dhading after the reconstruction. Photo: Dipak Sapkota NRA latest New decisions taken on Laprak Integrated Settlement The leadership of the National Recon- struction Authority has discussed the Inte- grated Settlement reconstructed in Laprak of Gorkha with the newly-elected officials of Non-Resident Nepalese Association (NRNA). The meeting held on October 22 has agreed to proceed with the suggestions to be given by the technical team represented by the NRA, NRNA and Dharche Rural Municipality (RM). Speaking at the meeting, Chief Exec- utive Officer (CEO) of the NRA Sushil Gyewali congratulated the newly-elected officials of NRNA and expressed confi- dence that the relationship with NRNA will be even stronger in the coming days. He explained that it was the responsibili- ty of NRNA to create an environment to hand over the reconstructed houses in the integrated settlement to the beneficiaries, and that the NRA would support in hav- ing interactions with the provincial gov- model integrated settlement such as ernment and the rural municipality in local It was the drainage construction, soil erosion infrastructure development. prevention, drinking water, electricity, President of NRNA Kumar Panta said responsibility of internal roads, security posts, health fa- that NRNA was eager to hand over the NRNA to create cilities, and school buildings. The task houses, and requested the NRA to create force will determine the immediate and an environment for the same. Before this, an environment long-term tasks to be done and esti- the NRA, NRNA and chairperson of the to hand over the mate the cost and submit the report to Dharche Rural Municipality had met on reconstructed the NRA. October 14 and taken five decisions. • NRNA to do an understanding with houses. the Rural Municipality on the long- The decisions taken were the follow- term development of Laprak Model ing: Model Settlement being constructed Settlement and livelihood of beneficia- • The rural municipality to identify the with the support of NRNA, and the ries living there, and prepare a project beneficiaries within the next one month pending works such as toilets, timbers proposal and present it to the NRA before handing over the private houses required for adding the levels, and de- and implement it gradually. under reconstruction at the support of posit the amount that will be required • Do a tripartite agreement among the Non-Resident Nepalese Association at for the pending work as a bloc amount NRA, Dharche Rural Municipality and Gupsipakha located in Ward no. 4 in at the Rural Municipality's account, NRNA based on the report with the the current Dharche Rural Municipali- and the RM to manage it. Form a task cost estimate given by the task force ty, previously Laprak Village Develop- force coordinated by Chief Division- above to accomplish the remaining ment Committee (VDC), and submit al Engineer (CDE) of Central Level tasks for sustainable and systematic the list to the National Reconstruction Project Implementation Unit (Build- management of the integrated settle- Authority, and the District Land Reg- ing) under the NRA and represented ment development in addition to the istration Recommendation Committee by a technician from Central Level points mentioned above, and imple- to determine the name and plots of the Project Implementation Unit (Grants ment it effectively. beneficiaries after due diligence, and Management and Local Infrastruc- • Request the Nepal Army headquarters submit it to the NRA for land registra- ture), technical representative from the through the Ministry of Defense to tion within 45 days. Rural Municipality and a representative give continuity to the works done by • NRNA to assess the situation of prog- of NRNA to assess and report on the Nepal Army so far, until the settlement ress of reconstruction so far of the accomplished and the pending works development work is fully accom- private houses in Laprak Integrated of infrastructure development of the plished.

Rebuilding Nepal 1 NRA Latest We are actively pursuing Nepal and India Prime reconstruction projects: Xi Ministers appreciate Nepal’s Chinese President Xi Jin- ping, who was on a two-day reconstruction state visit to Nepal recently, has informed that China is ac- tively pursuing Chinese funded post-earthquake reconstruction projects. Addressing the dinner host- ed by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on October 13, Pres- ident Xi said, “We are actively pursuing the post-earth- quake reconstruction projects.” Speaking at the same function, President Bhandari said, “We highly appreciate the generous support provid- ed by China in the post-earthquake reconstruction.” President Xi had also cited Chinese assistance in Ne- pal’s reconstruction in an op-ed article distributed to some newspapers prior to his Nepal visit and said that assistance Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has thanked the Indian gov- would be continued and China would provide as much ernment for its support in Nepal’s post-earthquake reconstruc- support as it can to uplift Nepali people’s living standard. tion. After the inauguration of Motihari-Amlekhkunj Petroleum “The Nepali Government and Nepali people had Pipeline project, through video conferencing here on September helped in China’s earthquake relief program by actively 10, PM Oli said 50 thousand private houses in Gorkha and Nu- sending money and kind after the devastating earthquake wakot were being constructed with the Indian support. in Wenchhwan in Sichuwan Province of China in 2008. PM Oli added, “These houses are symbols of Indian cooper- These are excellent examples of close ties between China ation and friendship with the Nepali people.” and Nepal.” He also thanked everyone who worked actively in making China had provided significant assistance in search, this project a success. rescue and relief operations immediately after the earth- Expressing his views after the inauguration of the pipeline quake in Nepal in April 2015. project, Indian PM Modi said, India had supported Nepal in its Durbar High School, Tatopani Border Point, Nine-sto- reconstruction as a neighbor and a close friend. rey palace in Basantapur, Seven-storey palace in Nuwakot, He said, “I am very happy that houses have been constructed running track inside Dasharath Stadium are some of the in Gorkha and Nuwakot district of Nepal as a result of our mu- projects running with the Chinese assistance in the course tual cooperation; you mentioned it with pride and I am grateful of post-earthquake reconstruction. to you for that. I hope, I will soon get an opportunity to hando- ver this project to the public along with you.”

Preparation begins for international conference The National Reconstruction Au- li informed that the conference will be would call for the research papers to be thority (NRA) is going to organize an organized to institutionalize the knowl- presented in the conference and begin international conference in Kathman- edge and achievements acquired on the the selection process. du next year to exchange the knowl- multi-dimensional aspects of the recon- The participants of the function edge, learning and achievements of the struction, and to share the knowledge at advised not to focus solely on the aca- post-earthquake reconstruction and re- the international level. demic aspect of the various dimensions habilitation. At the function, Executive Commit- of reconstruction and rehabilitation, but At an event organized in the course tee Member of the NRA Dr. Chandra also pay attention to the practical aspects. of preparation of the conference on Bahadur Shrestha informed about the Although the plan is to organize the con- October 24, the Chief Executive Offi- tentative research topics to be presented ference in November 2020, the exact cer (CEO) of the NRA Sushil Gyewa- at the conference. The NRA has said it dates will be finalized after some time.

2 Rebuilding Nepal NRA Latest Korea to support reconstruction of ancient settlements and smart city development South Korea has pledged to support the reconstruction of ancient settlements in the Kathmandu Valley and in the devel- opment of smart cities. The National Reconstruction Author- ity (NRA), the Kathmandu Valley Devel- opment Authority (KVDA) and Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH Corporation), Seoul signed a Memoran- dum of Understanding (MoU) in Seoul on September 6 on reconstruction of tradi- tional settlements of historical importance in Sankhu, Bungmati and Khokana in the Kathmandu Valley and to develop the ad- joining areas as smart cities. According to the understanding, SH Corporation will provide technical assis- tance to prepare a master plan of the main settlements and the adjoining areas of the ancient settlements in Sankhu, Bungmati and Khokana, and Detailed Project Pro- posals for various plans, in the first phase. Funding will be mobilized through the Ko- rean government and private sector based on the project proposal. Likewise, SH Corporation will assist in the capacity building of the NRA and the KVDA in the context of smart city devel- opment. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nepal and South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Seoul on September 6 (top); NRA CEO NRA Sushil Gyewali said the understand- Sushil Gyewali addressing the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference held in Seoul. ing will be a milestone in the preservation of ancient settlements in the Kathmandu During his visit to Seoul, CEO Gyewa- It can be recalled that the Nepal gov- Valley and the development of new cities. li also presented a working paper on future ernment has announced to develop six CEO of SH Corporation Seiyong Kim action plan for Nepal’s reconstruction and settlements, including Sankhu, Bungmati said he was happy to be able to share the situation of international assistance at the and Khokana in the Kathmandu Valley, knowledge and experience acquired by Global Infrastructure Cooperation Con- as heritage settlements and is preparing a Korea in the context of reconstruction ference held there. comprehensive master plan. of urban areas and development of smart At the conference, former Secre- The NRA is providing a grant of Rs. cities. tary-General of the United Nations Ban 50,000 in addition to the regular Rs. 300,000 Project Director of the NRA’s Central Ki-moon emphasized on the need for co- to protect the historical and traditional val- Level Project Implementation Unit (Build- operation among all nations for develop- ues in private housing reconstruction. ing) Nabaraj Pyakurel, on behalf of Nepal, ment of urban areas and preservation of Sixty traditional settlements have been and Executive Director of SH Corpora- ecology while constructing infrastructure identified in the earthquake-affected areas. tion Hyung Gu Kang, on behalf of Korea, and sustainable development. Project Director of the NRA’s Central signed the MoU. The conference was organized by In- Level Project Implementation Unit (Build- SH Corporation is an agency estab- ternational Contractors’ Association, Ko- ing) Nabaraj Pyakurel and Chief of Devel- lished under the Seoul Metropolitan Gov- rea with support of the Ministry of Land opment Assistance Coordination Section ernment to develop new cities in Seoul re- and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South at the NRA Divya Raj Pokhrel, among gion and to construct housing. Korea. others, joined Gyewali during the trip.

Rebuilding Nepal 3 CEO Speaks Housing in urban areas is complex than that in rural areas

Nearly four years after the establishment of the the third instalment. This means, almost 66 beneficiaries that need to be relocated and National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), the percent of the beneficiaries have received the importance of heritage sites when ad- post-earthquake reconstruction in the 32 affected the third instalment. The number of hous- dressing the reconstruction need of these districts in central Nepal has reached to a satis- es which have entered into the process of houses. This is somewhat challenging, but factory level. The number of beneficiaries that have reconstruction has reached 665,459. This we are looking at the solutions. For exam- either rebuilt their houses or are currently rebuilding means, about 86 percent beneficiaries who ple, we have developed and implemented them has reached 85 percent. We talked to Chief have signed grant agreement have either the procedure for making land available Executive Officer of the NRASushil Gyewali completed rebuilding their houses or are to the landless. We have made provisions on the plans and challenges ahead to complete the re- currently rebuilding them. Therefore, this for additional facilities with proper process, construction within the tenure of the NRA. Here progress should be considered satisfactory. which can encourage the reconstruction of are the excerpts: houses in traditional heritage areas. Almost 14 percent have yet to start re- We also have a new procedure ap- The post-earthquake reconstruction construction of their houses. There are proved for supporting the beneficiaries of work has mainly been focusing on re- landless, senior citizens, persons with vulnerable groups, the elderly, persons with building private houses. What is the disability and minors among them. Is disability and minors with special technical progress in the reconstruction of pri- there a new policy to support them? support along with financial assistance. vate houses? There are challenges in private house The reconstruction of private houses is reconstruction. The work of reconstruc- If those who filed complaints in the moving ahead in a very satisfactory man- tion in itself is challenging. The cases of recently-conducted re-survey become ner. Out of 776,916 beneficiaries who have about 15 percent houses need to be re- beneficiaries, will they be given a flex- signed for the government grant, 768,555 solved. Like in all the tasks with the most ible time-limit to complete rebuilding have received the first instalment until the complex parts lying towards the end, the their houses? end of October 2019. We have now ad- reconstruction of these remaining houses If those people who will be declared opted a policy to take forward the work is the most challenging. Only with addition- beneficiaries through the re-survey cannot focusing only on those who have already al hard work on these houses, we can reach complete the reconstruction of their hous- received their first instalment. the stage of cent percent. es on time, then they will be given some Likewise, 613,694 have received the sec- Meanwhile, we also need to consid- extra time. I believe that majority of these ond instalment and 511,299 have received er the importance of the landless and the beneficiaries will be able to complete the

4 Rebuilding Nepal reconstruction of their houses within this antee fund by the government. So, there is fiscal year. If some work remains, then we negligible risk for the banks in credit flow. will conclude it by fixing the target so as to Despite these provisions, the beneficiaries complete within four months of the next have problems in preparing the necessary fiscal year of the NRA. documents to receive subsidized loans. Therefore, we are now working through In other countries with post-disaster the UK Aid supported 'Sakchyam: Access reconstruction programs, the urban re- to Finance Program' in few municipalities construction work is slower. Are there of Gorkha and Dhading as a pilot project. I any programs here to address the slow think, this will help us understand about the pace of reconstruction in the urban ar- problems relating to getting the loan and eas? what could be their solution. The base rate Housing in urban areas is complex than of the government-owned Rastriya Banijya that in rural areas. In the urban areas, not Bank is around six percent and adding two only the houses, but we also have to con- percent makes it eight percent. With five sider infrastructures like drinking water sys- We have to maintain percent subsidy, the beneficiaries can get tem, sewage, electricity and roads. The con- a loan of maximum Rs. 300,000 at three struction of these infrastructures certainly the original percent interest rate for up to five years. takes some time. architecture of the Most of the beneficiaries have borrowed Secondly, many houses in the cities houses and the loan from Rastriya Banijya Bank until now. are adjoined to eachother. There is a dan- Therefore, we have attempted to work ger of damage to adjoining houses when original urban fabric through the same bank in these municipal- they demolish the damaged houses. There of the settlements. ities as this bank is a government bank too. are issues of multiple-ownership. So, in the urban areas, there are problems of houses and at the same time, they can get There are people who have received house-ownership as well as problems re- more living space area in low cost. the first instalment but neither have lated to infrastructures that need to be ad- We are moving forward the work by they started the reconstruction work dressed by the government. considering which of the enlisted houses nor have they returned the amount. In the unique situation of Nepal, we can be retrofitted, what could be the design According to some information, some have to maintain the original architecture and technology-related solutions for each have received grant by submitting false of the houses and the original urban fab- of those houses and the houses that were details. What are your plans to deal with ric of the settlements while reconstructing listed but cannot be retrofitted, in the re- such cases? the houses in the urban heritage areas, es- construction list. We are gathering information on each pecially inside the Kathmandu Valley. We beneficiary in terms of finding out the are finding solutions to all these problems There is a provision of subsidized loan reason of not starting reconstruction even as well. Many issues have been resolved re- targeting to the beneficiaries who have after receiving the first instalment. We are cently. However, some new problems are not been able to start reconstructing trying to divide them into two categories – emerging, but we are gradually addressing their houses due to financial constraints the ones who are not willing to reconstruct them. We will move forward in such a way even after receiving the first instalment. their houses and the ones who are not able that they will be concluded within the time- Bu that too was not very effective. Re- to reconstruct because of some genuine frame of the NRA. cently, an effort has been made through problems. For this, we have mobilized our Rastriya Banijya Bank. Do you think it engineers in the villages. The pace of rebuilding the private will improve the situation? If they are unable to start the recon- houses and the progress so far has been Out of seven categories that receive struction due to financial problems, then satisfactory. But not much progress has subsidized loan, the earthquake-affected we will extend the support like mentioned been seen in the retrofitting of partial- housing loan are also one. This provision above. Subsidized loan facility is for the ly-damaged houses. Where is the bot- has been introduced with the idea that this beneficiaries like them. There will be ad- tleneck? subsidized loan will be appropriate for ditional support to the beneficiaries falling Initially, there was a lack of belief those beneficiaries who have not been able into the category of vulnerable group. among the beneficiaries that stone and mud to start the reconstruction of their houses But if people are unwilling to recon- houses can be made stronger through ret- due to various reasons even after receiving struct because they have houses elsewhere, rofitting. Lately, we have been working ex- the first instalment. then they should remove their name from tensively in making them understand about The bank determines the interest rate the list. They should return the money re- the technology of retrofitting these houses for this loan by adding two percent in base ceived in a wrong way. We have appealed and providing training to the technicians rate and a subsidy of five percent is pro- this repeatedly. But if they do not comply, and masons. So, the beneficiaries are slowly vided in that rate by the government. The then legal action will be taken against such being attracted to this. They are now under- rest is the responsibility of the beneficiary. people. Their names will be removed from standing that they can save their ancestral This type of loan is insured through a guar- the list of beneficiaries.

Rebuilding Nepal 5 Cover Story Striding forward 85 % of the beneficiaries have either completed their houses or are currently constructing their houses.

6 Rebuilding Nepal Barpak in Gorkha, the epicenter of the April 2015 earthquake, has almost been rebuilt (below).

Tilak Bahadur Magar and his wife Dil Kumari Magar at their newly rebuilt house at Jyamire of Siddhicharan Municipality-9, Okhaldhunga (right).

Dipak Sapkota ter receiving the training. Nowadays, he earns a daily wage of Rs. 1,000 apart Tilak Bahadur Magar (35) of Jyamire from food and snacks provided by the in Siddhicharan Municipality-9 of Okha- villagers. Like Magar, 71,000 masons ldhunga, is a mason by profession. After have received training on reconstruction his house collapsed in the earthquake in of earthquake-resilient houses and are April 2015, Magar faced the challenge of now involved in such reconstructions. rebuilding a new house. He did not earn The NRA provides a grant of Rs. much even before the earthquake and he 50,000 in the first instalment as the sign- used to build houses in traditional style ing amount, Rs. 150,000 in the second in- using the skills he learned in his own vil- stalment after laying the foundation and lage. another Rs. 100,000 in the third instal- His challenge was not only to rebuild ment after they reach the stage of laying his collapsed house, but to build earth- the roof. quake-resilient houses, both for himself As per the figures available till the and for others. The Rs. 300,000 that end of October, the grant agreement has Magar received as a grant from the Na- been signed with 776,916 beneficiaries. tional Reconstruction Authority (NRA) As of that period, 471,699 beneficiaries was very helpful for the rebuilding his in 14 earthquake-affected districts have house. Being a mason himself, Magar already completed the reconstruction had no problem employing his own la- of earthquake-resilient houses. Another bor, and his life partner Dil Kumari was a helping hand for him. Before starting to rebuild his house, Magar received a five-day mason training fact file provided in coordination with the NRA. NRA The training refined his skill in construct- ing earthquake-resilient houses. After he Retrofitting grant started the reconstruction, the techni- cians mobilized by the NRA visited him • Number of total beneficiaries: from time to time and provided him with 69,620 necessary advice. With some of his own • Number of beneficiaries signing contribution along with the government grant agreement: 36,546 provided grant, his two and a half-storied • Number of beneficiaries receiving earthquake-resilient house was ready. first instalment: 36,097 • Number of beneficiaries receiving After completing his house, Magar second instalment: 29 has built 18 more earthquake-resilient houses. His wage has also increased af-

Rebuilding Nepal 7 fected and affected. Out of 32 affected The Resolution of Problems districts, 14 are highly affected and 18 The NRA is making continuous fact file are affected. There is a huge difference efforts to resolve the problems that in number of beneficiaries in these dis- arise in the course of private house re- tricts. construction. A total of 190,000 griev- 98.92 % receive As per the data till end of October ances and have been registered in the this year, Nawalparasi (both) has the low- recently-concluded re-survey. Specific first instalment est number of beneficiaries with a total criteria are being defined for bringing of 876 beneficiaries, while Sindhupalchok out the results of the survey. As per the data till 31 October 2019, has the highest number of beneficiaries Provision of subsidized loans has out of 816,450 beneficiaries, 93.85 with a total of 88,309 beneficiaries. been made so as to make the benefi- percent have entered into the grant The number of beneficiaries for ciaries, who have not been able to start agreement. And of those who en- private house reconstruction is also the the reconstruction of their houses due tered into the grant agreement, 98.92 highest in Sindhupalchok among the 14 to financial problems, start the recon- percent have received the first instal- highly affected districts. Here, 70,806 struction and then become eligible to ment, 78.99 percent have received beneficiaries have already received their get the remaining installments. These the second instalment and 65.81 third instalment. The Mayor of Dhu- beneficiaries can get a loan of up to percent have received the third in- likhel Municipality Ashok Kumar Benju Rs. 300,000 in a minimum interest rate stalment. said that although the reconstruction of for a maximum period of 5 years. • Total number of beneficiaries: private houses is moving ahead ardently, Similarly, with the efforts made to 816,450 make land available to the landless, • Number of beneficiaries with many such beneficiaries are benefit- grant agreement: 776,916 As per the data till ting in different districts. NRA CEO • Number of beneficiaries who October, Nawalparasi Sushil Gyewali informed that all the have received the first installment: issues have been addressed at the pol- 768,555 (both) has the icy level and measures are being tak- • Number of beneficiaries who have lowest number of en to implement them at the people’s received the second installment: level. 613,694 beneficiaries, while The NRA has taken appropriate • Number of beneficiaries who have Sindhupalchok has measures to address the slow progress received the third installment: the highest number in reconstruction work that is observed 511,299 in urban areas compared to rural areas. of beneficiaries. The issue of multi-ownership has been resolved and if an adjoined house col- 173,749 beneficiaries are presently re- there is a need to provide special consid- lapses, that will also be considered as a constructing their houses. Thus, a total eration in the reconstruction of houses beneficiary and grant is provided. An of 665,459 beneficiaries have either com- of single women, elderly, persons with additional Rs. 50,000 is provided to pleted or are carrying out the reconstruc- disability and children. the houses in heritage areas to at least tion of their houses, which is 85 percent maintain the originality in the front in terms of progress in private house Efforts in Retrofitting face during the reconstruction. The reconstruction. According to the CEO It was challenging for the NRA to policy of providing separate amount of the NRA Sushil Gyewali, the recent convince the retrofitting beneficiaries for infrastructures in integrated settle- progress in reconstruction of private that the damaged houses can be made ments has been given continuity. houses is satisfactory. earthquake-resilient by retrofitting. So, The national and international The NRA aims to complete the major the NRA has been conducting different communities have started to appreciate tasks related to private house reconstruc- campaigns to encourage the beneficiaries Nepal’s reconstruction work. Member tion within this fiscal year. Therefore, the of retrofitting. Model houses have been of the Federal Parliament from Sind- upcoming eight months are important constructed with retrofitting through the hupalchok Sher Bahadur Tamang said for private house reconstruction. For on-site training provided in collaboration that Sindhupalchok has now reached this, the NRA has requested the benefi- with different partner organizations. In the level of a model district due to the ciaries who had received their first instal- the same process, competent masons are development that reconstruction has ment in last fiscal year (before mid-July being produced and technicians are also brought. 2018) to receive their second instalment being trained. The World Bank’s Vice-President within the end of this Kartik (mid-No- The NRA has planned to continue for South Asia Region Hartwig Scha- vember 2019). the work of training the engineers and fer, during his visit to Nepal, thanked mobile masons in different districts and the NRA and Nepal Government for District-wise progress creating awareness among the beneficia- the right use of support provided by The earthquake-affected districts are ries that it is possible to make the houses the World Bank for private house re- divided into two categories–highly af- stronger by retrofitting. construction.

8 Rebuilding Nepal Houses District Identified Grant Houses under- Total beneficiries agreement reconstructed construction Sindhupalchok 88309 86186 68693 16161 84854 Dhading 78387 77628 52968 15871 68839 Kavrepalanchok 77834 76498 36297 23436 59733 Nuwakot 75338 72124 59130 12215 71345 Dolakha 70302 67604 44533 20397 64950 Gorkha 65819 65500 57183 3559 60742 Sindhuli 38045 35920 13548 16,700 30248 Ramechhap 48937 47112 36526 9815 46341 Kathmandu 47665 42039 12504 10640 23144 Makawanpur 34316 27834 14135 10259 24394 Lalitpur 28463 25065 5379 6769 12148 Bhaktapur 28426 24551 8420 3576 11996 Okhaldhunga 21345 20582 16002 3653 19655 Lamjung 14036 13751 3200 8525 11725 Tanahu 13946 13337 12885 2205 15090 Rasuwa 12521 11812 10460 895 11355 Solukhumbu 12083 11573 2302 7670 9972 Syangja 8842 8487 707 4230 4937 Khotang 8466 8345 2928 4637 7565 Chitawan 7335 6629 4205 1048 5253 Kaski 6053 5644 517 2905 3422 Bhojpur 5756 5191 2956 2159 5115 Parbat 5279 4916 1558 1262 2820 Palpa 4695 4237 1435 1016 2451 Gulmi 4213 3964 327 2955 3282 Dhankuta 2876 2799 1165 755 1920 Baglung 2395 2216 940 232 1172 Sankhuwasabha 1984 1750 0 485 485 Arghakhanchi 1037 952 254 28 282 Nawalparasi 876 871 726 131 857 Myagdi 871 801 336 60 396 Total 816450 776918 472219 194269 666488

Rebuilding Nepal 9 Cover Story 'It took a while, but finally we got a strong roof' The houses have been constructed, but the locals are now more interested to start some livelihood and income generation activities.

Photos: Dipak Sapkota The Integrated Community Development Campaign-Dhading joined hands with 94 earthquake survivor families in Gaunthale to rebuild the houses giving the village a completely new look. The German charities Karl Kubel Stiftung and BMZ provided financial assistance to rebuild the houses.

Dhading : Fifty-seven-year old Loki year. The new house in itself is enough Maya Magar from Siddhalek-4, Gaunt- source of happiness; moving to a new hale, has a new glow in her face these days. house right before Dashain festival added She has a new happiness in her heart. Her another level of happiness. It took a while prolonged stay in the temporary shelter to fulfill the desires to celebrate Dashain after the 2015 earthquake damaged her in a new house, but finally a strong roof house has ended. A much stronger new above the house has been ensured. three-room house with a front patio has “After moving to the new house, we been constructed. She suffered several have forgotten the long-suffered pains,” problems while living in a temporary shel- expressed Magar. ter. But, they are a thing of the past now. Tika Maya Thapa Magar, like Loki Ninety-four families including that of Maya, has also been happy after she got Dipak Sapkota Loki Maya Magar shifted to new beautiful a strong house. She never believed she houses on the eve of Dashain festival this could actually make a new house after the

10 Rebuilding Nepal earthquake damaged her old house. “I don’t have my husband. Son is too small. So I did not believe I would be able to build a house so soon,” she said. “But, I was able to build a house with the help of this organization. I am so happy.” The Integrated Community Develop- ment Campaign-Dhading joined hands with 94 earthquake survivor families in Gaunthale, including Lokimaya and Tika Maya, to overcome their struggle. The organization helped build the houses of the community with assistance from the German charities Karl Kubel Stiftung and BMZ and through the local mobilization. According to the chairperson of the campaign, Parshuram Dawadi, the total cost of this campaign which started from October 2016 was Rs. 75 million 561 thousand 785, of which the donors assist- ed Rs. 64 million 983 thousand and 165,

The face of Gaunthale village has changed with a group of pretty houses with bright paint on plastered walls. while the locals raised Rs. 10 million 578 thousand 620. The campaign trained the locals on masonry, carpentry and wall-plastering to involve them in the house reconstruction, and they were later mobilized in recon- struction. The locals themselves worked, and helped in each other’s house con- struction through Parma (labor exchange) Fifty-seven-year old Loki Maya Magar from Siddhalek-4, Gaunthale, has a new glow in her face after being able to until all houses were constructed one by rebuild her new house (top). Villagers of Gaunthale celebrated the occasion of receiving the rebuilt houses (above). one. The campaign provided cement and rocks to make blocks and required cement tion activities. One can see Malekhu mar- and not very far from capital Kathmandu. to do the plastering. The locals arranged ket across Guanthale village, and villagers Likewise, there is possibility of vege- sand from Trishuli river themselves. are discussing if they can produce some- table farming if water can be lifted from New houses have been built with thing in the village that can be sold in the the Trishuli river by using lift irrigation. assistance of domestic and internation- market. The Integrated Community De- Villagers are excited that vice chairper- al organizations. The face of Gaunthale velopment Campaign is trying to support son of the National Planning Commis- village has changed with a group of pret- the efforts of the local villagers. sion Dr. Pushpa Raj Kandel and Member ty houses with bright paint on plastered Gaunthale residents have accepted of Parliament elected from this Constitu- walls. Any visitor reaching the settlement that agriculture, tourism and self-em- ency Bhumi Tripathi assured to support will get impressed by the hard work of the ployment are the bases of their village’s other plans in the village to encourage the locals. development. Local young leader Sandip villagers’ effort through regular budget al- The houses have been constructed, Thapa Magar shared that the locals were location, at the house handover function. but the locals are now more interested to considering running home stays in the vil- (Sapkota is communication specialist at the start some livelihood and income genera- lage as the village was near the high way NRA)

Rebuilding Nepal 11 Cover Story Land management in the reconstruction process There were about 4,500 households displaced from about 475 places and living in various scattered settlements. There was a requirement to check whether their original place of living was vulnerable or not.

fected Structures, 2015 (2072) required certificate, and in cases where someone the development and approval of seven had allowed construction of houses for Procedures/Guidelines from the Gov- residence in their land, such waiver-doc- ernment of Nepal (Council of Minis- ument that showed the landlord had al- ters), and section 31 of the Act required lowed the construction of house for the NRA to frame and enforce neces- residence in his or her land was accept- sary operational guidelines/directives or ed for Grant agreement with the NRA. procedures in accordance with the Rules Where there was available land that could framed under this Act. be registered, District Land Registration Accordingly, in the course of develop- Committee was activated under the Pro- ing the procedures for operation of the cedure. The NRA coordinated to address Dhruba Prasad Sharma NRA, after first getting approval on land the problem of many beneficiaries in dis- management laws from the Government tricts, including Rasuwa and Sindhupal- Nepal had to suffer huge losses of life of Nepal (Council of Ministers), the chowk, with a provision to register evi- and property in the destructive 7.6 Richter drafts and the decisions for revisions of denced Guthi land that was not registered scale April 2015 earthquake. Almost 8,790 Land Acquisition Procedures for Recon- in the past. persons lost their lives in the devastating struction of Earthquake Affected Struc- For beneficiaries whose problem earthquake while 22,300 people were in- tures, 2071; Procedure for providing for- could not be addressed through these jured. As per the statistics available so est land for resettlement and transfer of methods, far, 886,282 houses got fully or partially earthquake affected persons, 2072; Grant Procedure for Distribution of Grants damaged. The losses included 1,815 gov- Disbursement Procedures for Private for Private Housing for the Earthquake ernment buildings, 1,197 health facilities, Houses Destroyed by the Earthquakes, Affected (First Revision), 2073, addressed 7,553 schools and 383 security agencies’ 2073 (with revisions), were submitted to their issues. The additional provision in buildings while many cultural heritage the Government of Nepal (Council of the Procedure helped to address/manage sites got affected. The earthquake caused Ministers) and are being implemented af- the problem of about 20,000 beneficia- damages in 32 districts in central Nepal, ter approval. ries. out of which 14 among them were highly While efforts were made to revise Under clause 12 of the Procedure, affected districts. Rs. 669 billion was esti- the issues related to land to address the for beneficiaries who had their houses mated for the rebuilding of the damaged needs of the earthquake affected in these on various types of land such as Guthi structures. 4 types of procedures mentioned above, (Trust), Birta (tax-free land granted to a Data collection of damages of private more procedures on land management at person by a ruler of some sort in the past) houses in 11 hilly districts out of the 14 operational level were required, and Pro- and Guthi-controlled land, Swa-basi (self- highly-affected districts by the earthquake cedure for Transfer and Rehabilitation of claimed) land with tenant, BeNissa (without started after the formation of the Nation- Vulnerable Settlements, 2073, and Stan- evidence), Village Block, slant land (Kodale), al Reconstruction Authority (NRA). The dards for Purchase of Construction Plots Aakada, Birauti (newly cultivated/inhabited real assessment of the damages caused by for Earthquake Survivors, 2074, were ap- land), Ukhada (land without registration the earthquake began only after the NRA proved by the NRA Executive Commit- used by the tenant with agreement with the got its full shape with the Government tee, and are in effect now. land on condition of paying a certain rental of Nepal (Council of Ministers) appoint- In cases where the earthquake affect- to the landlord), among others, except the ing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on ed persons did not have land title in their public, government and forest land, and if December 25, 2015 pursuant to the Act names, a provision to register Guthi (trust) their houses in such places had been dam- Relating to Reconstruction of the Earth- land for the purpose of doing an agree- aged by the earthquake, the NRA made a quake Affected Structures, 2015 (2072), ment for house reconstruction and taking provision to sign house construction grant and the subsequent decisions. The NRA grant tranches in accordance with Pro- agreement with such house owners, and approved Post Disaster Recovery Frame- cedure to Register Land in the name of resolved their problem by accepting the work, 2016-2020. Earthquake Affected Persons, 2072, was recommendation made by the local level Section 4 (2) of the Act Relating to started. Likewise, provisions to do the based on such evidence as receipts or slips, Reconstruction of the Earthquake Af- agreement on the basis of Mohi (tenant) if the individual resident/inhabitant had

12 Rebuilding Nepal any evidences like receipts or slips showing reconstruct their private houses in After the study, the places were cate- the use of the land for housing; and when the place they had been living tradi- gorized as vulnerable settlements requir- such evidence, receipts or slips were not tionally, they can present an utility ing resettlement, settlements that need available, a recommendation clarifying the bill such as drinking water, electricity, conservation and settlements that are safe same, and an affidavit report by at least two or telephone or other evidences that to inhabit and do not require any interven- neighbors living in the same place where they had been living there, and a pub- tion. People who were displaced from the there was house explaining that there was lic consent letter of the neighbors, safer settlements were returned to their a residential house, and it was being used and a recommendation letter from the villages, and provided a grant to recon- by the concerned person. This arrange- local level. Grant can be provided to struct their houses in their original loca- ment solved the problem of about 20,000 reconstruct the private house in the tions. They have taken the reconstruction landless earthquake survivors who had not same place based on the decision of grants, and are doing the house recon- been able to build their houses because the District Coordination Committee struction. they did not have their land registration formed to coordinate the functions For settlements and the families in titles. of the NRA at district level. But such those settlements that did not require to About an additional 10,000 benefi- land, where the house is reconstruct- be moved, the NRA adopted a policy to ciaries were still found to be deprived of ed through this process will not be let them live in the place of their choice housing reconstruction, as the above Pro- considered to be a land title where the in the Procedure approved by the NRA, cedure mentioned land except the public, land have been registered as land reg- And for the families, which did not have government and forest land. An addition- istration. habitable construction plots, the NRA al provision was introduced at the recom- These land management initiatives made provision to provide them a grant mendation of the local level to address of a maximum of Rs. 200,000 for the the problems of those who had a house in purpose of procurement of construction such government, public and forest land Some of the plots, in accordance with Standards for and they had been living with a house in remaining tasks are the Procurement of Land for Construc- such land since the past, and if their name tion for Earthquake Survivors, 2074. The was included in the beneficiary list when being completed NRA took a policy to support on local such house was damaged. pursuant to infrastructure development if 10 or more Clause no. 10 of Schedule 1 of Pro- the approved families decided to live together and made cedure for Distribution of Grants for provision of land accordingly. The provi- Private Housing for the Earthquake Af- procedures and sion applies only to families that are ready fected (First Amendment), 2073, was standards, and to live in an integrated settlement plan amended to provide such beneficiaries some are pending. approved as per the Integrated Settlement living in such government and public and Development Procedure, and the number forest land, and make provisions for land of settlements that have taken approval in management as follows in the following have solved the problems of most of the that way has reached about 50. priority, provide grant amount and expe- earthquake survivors. In the process of The National Reconstruction Au- dite the house reconstruction. land management, the Authority has pur- thority (NRA) has resolved the land man- 1. For those landless squatter beneficia- sued the process for transferring about agement issues - that were considered ries, who had been living in govern- 650 beneficiaries in Boshippa in Dolakha complicated before the formation of the ment, public and forest land since the and Laprak in Gorkha to a degraded forest NRA - in a simple way. As a result, the past, but wanted to leave the land and land using procedural simplification using reconstruction has become dynamic, dis- can inhabit in other areas, they may be the authority delegated to it by the Gov- placed families have been managed, land- provided a grant of maximum of Rs. ernment of Nepal. Likewise, a land man- less squatter beneficiaries have been man- 200,000 equivalent to the beneficiaries agement process to provide a grant of Rs. aged, and families who wanted to contin- of vulnerable settlements, to procure 200,000 for land management to persons ue living in their original places have also construction plots, and they will be who were living in Khalto (dented land) in been managed. provided separate grant for house re- Rasuwa is also being implemented. Some of the remaining tasks are be- construction. At the time of the earthquake, there ing completed pursuant to the approved 2. Provide construction plots as per were about 4,500 households displaced procedures and standards, and some are ‘Procedure on Land Acquisition, from about 475 places and living in var- pending. There is an expectation that the 2072’ ious scattered settlements. There was a remaining work will be completed under 3. Provide forest land for the resettle- requirement to check whether their origi- this system before the tenure of the NRA ment and transfer of earthquake af- nal place was vulnerable or not. For that, is completed. If there are any compli- fected persons. geologists were hired and a study was cations, the NRA is active on resolving 4. If the landless beneficiaries in the conducted. The study was completed in them through its Executive Committee. beneficiary list did not want to shift 475 places from where the people were to a new place through the above displaced, and an additional 1,050 places (Sharma is Executive Member of the National mentioned processes, but wanted to were also assessed. Reconstruction Authority)

Rebuilding Nepal 13 From The field

Maya Rai (center) of Kudar in Nuwakot is happy to have a new house after her house collapsed in the April 2015 earthquake. Photos: Sudeep Ghimire Towards safer and resilient community Geologists have warned of next geological hazard, as the monsoon rains will drench the fragile hills destabilized by the quake, raising potential risk of disastrous landslides.

Studies from the Department of that the community lies in the slight- Mines and Geology (DMG) and the Na- ly steep slope with brown soil of depth tional Reconstruction Authority after 1-3m where cracks have been formed earthquake in Nepal reveals that earth- around this area. The buried cracks were quake can also cause secondary and ter- still visible during the field study from tiary geo-hazards (induced geo-hazards) the safeguard team of the NRA's Dis- through chains/cascades of numerous trict Level Project Implementation Unit– hazardous processes, such as landslides DLPIU (Grant Management and Local and mass flows. As Nepal lies within one Infrastructure–GMaLI), Nuwakot. The of the world’s fragile young mountain to- “Kudar Landslide” is an old landslide pography, frequent natural disasters are above the Kudar community reactivated happening causing heavy losses of human after the earthquake. Sudeep Ghimire lives and property. “We had tried to prevent the landslide The study done by DMG resembles planting the trees and installing gabion

14 Rebuilding Nepal Cracks observed above and along with road section in Kudar Community after the earthquake (left). Gabion Wall installed as part of the Kudar Landslide Mitigation Measure. wall at the toe part just in contact above safer land elsewhere," said Janardan. “Lat- the road is still creeping slowly down- er, when we heard about this mitigation wards,” said Janardan Adhikari, one of The cultivated land program through one of the representa- the owners of the affected households. is slightly subsided tives from ward office, we hoped that it The cultivated land is slightly subsid- and shallow would help us for mitigate this landslide.” ed and shallow mudslide has occurred “Later, when we found that the land- after the quake. Following that, the earth- mudslide has slide mitigation project from the NRA quake(s) had an impact on all sectors:  occurred after the district office was actually being imple- social, productive, infrastructure, and quake. mented, we were very happy," recalls Ja- cross-cutting. It can be relatively small nardan. “We completed our house recon- features, but they can also attain huge struction feeling self-reliant”. dimensions and can have a marked local and sudden destruction would occur. “Now," said Janardan, "We have and regional level socio-economic impact. The issues of landslide have been moved in the newly-reconstructed house As the consequence, eight households confirmed from screening followed by without any psychological fear. All the of Kudar community needs resettlement consultation meeting at the local level i.e. eight households who have built their process for safer and habitable place. Shivapuri Rural Municipality. As per the houses now feel much safer and better.” “We have to always remain in fear that Environment and Social Management The damaged water infrastructure has when and how this landslide will bury us Framework’s provision for even to imple- now been reconstructed by the DLPIU along with our shelter from monsoon,” said ment Environment and Social Manage- (GMaLI) with an estimated cost of $ Shobha Adhikari. “We have moved to other ment Plan for those specific special cases, 8,095.18 under the Environment and safer part for seven days during that mon- verified geo-technical studies from the Social Safeguard Program through the soon just after quake causing debris along NRA and the DMG should have recom- assistance from the World Bank and the with dirty water settled inside the house”. mendation for stabilization. government of Nepal. Despite the widespread destruction to “After waiting for the NRA decision their homes and livelihood, residents like to rebuild our houses, uncertainties re- (Ghimire is environmental specialist at the Emergency Janardan and Shobha were living there with mained for a long time. Thus, we decided Housing Reconstruction Propject/DLPIU (GMaLI), psychological pressure on whether unseen to build the houses there as we have no Nuwakot)

Rebuilding Nepal 15 From the partners

Khil Bahadur Earthquake reconstruction, One fine morning at home, I was cleaning up the buffalo shed as usual. Suddenly one of the buffa- energy projects loes swished its tail and hit me right in the eyes. The impact was very painful. And a month later, I had lost my vision completely. helped improve Life after becoming visually im- paired was very difficult and the earthquake of 2015 added to my struggles. ADB's operations in Nepal When the earthquake struck, I was at school in Ramuwa of Nepal’s Overall operations of the Asian “The review process is a good Gulmi district, where I studied. Development Bank (ADB) in Ne- exercise to examine the implementa- There were also some other visual- pal has improved as of 31 July 2019, tion constraints and formulate agreed ly impaired students at the school. compared with the same period last actions to achieve the projected 2019 When the ground shook most of my year, on the back of continued con- targets,” said the Joint Secretary and classmates ran outside, but those of tribution to the country’s earthquake Chief of MOF’s International Eco- us who couldn’t see were left inside. reconstruction efforts and a num- nomic Cooperation Coordination Di- It wasn’t until our teachers helped ber of ongoing energy projects, said vision Mr. Shreekrishna Nepal. us out into the open playground ADB Country Director for Nepal ADB’s support to Nepal’s recon- that we felt safe. Our school build- Mukhtor Khamudkhanov. struction efforts after the 2015 earth- ings did not collapse thankfully. "While Nepal’s portfolio per- quake totals $389 million. The recon- However, I sustained a minor injury formance has improved, challenges struction of 154 schools under the during the second aftershock. remain and further improvement is ADB-supported Earthquake Emer- I did not have any home or as- crucial to tapping into ADB’s lending gency Assistance Project is nearing sets in Gulmi. I was working as a resources,” Khamudkhanov said at completion. As of August 2019, the helper in a house in Hunga and as- the opening of the annual Tripartite total disbursement for the project for sisting the family with farming. I Portfolio Review meeting of ADB this year has reached $38.75 million and had left my house in 2001 to find operations in Nepal, which was or- is expected to meet the 2019 target of a good job. I was the only one left ganized jointly with the Ministry of $59.53 million by the end of the year. in my family; I had lost my parents Finance (MOF). ADB is one of the leading de- and sister at a very early age and ADB’s lending to Nepal has in- velopment partners in Nepal in the had been raised by my aunt. Prior creased in recent years, reaching the energy sector, with $554 million in to coming to Gulmi, I had worked highest commitment level in 2018 at commitments. Of the $101.2 million at a tea shop. $592 million. Of the net available fund- contract award target set for 2019, One and a half years after the ing amount of $2.7 billion spread over $111.2 million has already been award- earthquake, I returned home to 31 investment projects, 68 percent has ed, exceeding the annual target. This Sindhupalchowk and started living been contracted out and 42 percent has was mainly contributed by the Power with my aunt again. been disbursed as of 31 July 2019. Transmission and Distribution Ef- I think it would be good if we “Effective project preparation ficiency Enhancement Project, with had drills and simulations in all and better project readiness are contracts worth $74 million awarded. schools and villages to learn what critical to ensuring that a project’s ADB is committed to achieving to do when an earthquake occurs. development impact is realized on a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and Also, just as I had the assistance of the ground without delays,” said the sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while my teachers to help me onto an open Head of ADB’s Portfolio Manage- sustaining its efforts to eradicate ex- space, I feel that it would be good ment Unit in Nepal Rudi van Dael. treme poverty. In 2018, it made com- if each visually-impaired person - or “Timely submission of Audited mitments of new loans and grants anyone with a disability - could be at- Project Financial Statements and amounting to $21.6 billion. Estab- tached to a teacher or a member of timely closure of projects are also lished in 1966, it is owned by 68 the community in cases of emergen- important in improving the portfolio members - 49 from the region. cy. They could help us evacuate and performance and to avoid time and assist in getting the benefits given by cost overruns.” From adb.org - September 5 2019 the government and NGOs.

16 Rebuilding Nepal From the partners Disaster recovery for the disabled For post disaster recovery for people with disabilities, I would advise international agencies to work on solu- tions that best meet the needs of such people.

Khil Bahadur sits in front of his new earthquake-resistant and disabled friendly house. ©UNDP Nepal

In December 2016, UNDP had and disabled-friendly and I feel safe I have a solid roof over my head - it’s organized a community meeting in there. far more than I could’ve imagined Irkhu market. One of the neighbours The structure was built with the having not too long ago. from my village, Sabitri, attended that help of local masons from the village, For post disaster recovery for peo- meeting. When she found out that who also received on-site training. ple with disabilities, I would advise in- UNDP was looking to support poor, It took almost 45 days to build the ternational agencies to work on solu- vulnerable, single, elderly, orphaned house. There were 12 people, includ- tions that best meet the needs of such or people with disabilities in build- ing masons and carpenters, five of people. They could provide support ing earthquake-resistant model hous- whom were women. They worked vol- to build a disabled-friendly house, es, she gave them my name. Later, I untarily for a day. The people from my enhance livelihood options or sup- found out that I was going to be given community also helped transport of port the education of children. Clean a house. building materials, including stone and drinking water and sanitation are also My house is built with wire frame wood, and in providing lunch for the important aspects to consider. technology, which is earthquake resis- workers. I want to thank all of them. I tant. It’s cool in the summer and warm would never have been able to build a (Khil Bahadur is an earthquake survivor) in the winter. The house is accessible house like this without their support. undp.org - October 11 2019

Rebuilding Nepal 17 From the partners

Resilience Fund to the rescue Man Kumar ensures roof for his new-born child amidst financial hardship Story of Man Kumar Thakuri, 30, resonates well with many Nepalese men who left their villages in search of work abroad and returned after the earthquake to take up recon- struction.

Man Kumar went to Malaysia in 2014 CGI sheets. While his house was dam- he had received the second tranche after hoping to earn a good income for the aged, he was not enlisted in the NRA’s completing the DPC level of his house, family. However, after three months at beneficiary list. So, with much efforts his most of the amount went into taking care work, the company he worked in start- name was included in the grievances list of his pregnant wife, repaying the loans he ed exploiting him by not providing the on September 2018. Meanwhile, his wife took for Malaysia and covering the family’s promised wages. After the 2015 earth- was pregnant that increased his concern daily expenses. His farms could sustain his quake damaged his house, Man Kumar on shifting into a new house at the ear- family for only about six months, and he decided to return to his village in Kuvin- liest possible. had to engage himself as daily wage labor de, Sindhupalchowk. Man Kumar began laying the founda- to fulfill his needs. Despite his attempt to Man Kumar’s family was displaced tion of his house on December 2018. But take loans from informal mechanisms, due by the earthquake and they were forced the construction got stalled at the sill band to his previous loan, he was unable to con- to live in a temporary shelter made of level due to financial constraints. Although vince the loan providers.

18 Rebuilding Nepal Amidst this financial hardship, Man Kumar learnt about the provision of in- terest-free loan worth Rs. 50,000 from the Resilience Fund set up with support from the European Union Civil Pro- tection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the ward. His ap- plication was reviewed by the Resilience Fund Committee and approved by the ward office. Furthermore, his house was also selected for the five-day on-site ma- sons’ refresher training, which covered labour expenses to some extent and pro- vided him further relief. The loan and training made it possi- ble for Man Kumar to resume the stalled construction and apply for the third tranche. The support eventually en- sured a new roof for the family before the rainy season. His pregnant wife gave birth to a healthy child just a few days after moving in his new house. Man Kumar is content and elated that the Resilience Fund support en- abled him to complete the construction About the Project: of his house just in time to move in his The ECHO funded project ‘Resilient newborn child. Man Kumar is Reconstruction & Recovery of vulnerable content and communities severely affected by 2015 About Reconstruction Resilience earthquake’ aims to strengthen resilience Fund mechanism: elated that the of the vulnerable earthquake-affected ●● Reconstruction Resilience Fund Resilience Fund households and communities to the fu- provides interest-free loan upto support enabled ture disaster risks, through housing recon- Rs. 50,000 to poor and vulnerable struction that are risk-informed, inclusive households who have halted con- him to complete the and participatory. The project is being struction and are unable to complete construction of his implemented in 15 wards of 2 rural and reconstruction of their house due to 2 urban municipalities in Sindhupalcho- inability to manage funds/resources. house. wk and Dolakha, namely Chautara-San- ●● Resilience Fund Committees com- gachowkgadhi municipality, Indrawati ru- prising of 5-7 community mem- Fund operation guideline and vali- ral municipality, Bhimeswhor municipality bers are formed and operated at the dated from Ward Chairperson. Once and Shailung rural municipality, targeting ward level to identify and serve such the cycle of Resilience Fund in wards a total of 11,052 households. households. is complete, serving the needs of The project is working on the follow- ●● The operational budget of the fund the vulnerable households, the fund ing four thematic areas: is Rs. 500,000, and a house owner recovered at the end ­is used for un- i. The most poor and vulnerable can receive interest-free loan of up dertaking small-scale risk mitigation households reconstruct disaster-re- to Rs. 50,000 for a period of 45 days measures. silient houses. and reimbursed once the second/ ●● With support from the European ii. Earthquake-affected communities third installment is received from the Union Civil Protection and Humani- are empowered with self-determined government. Therefore, 10 house- tarian Aid (ECHO), 210 households resilient recovery plan and risk man- holds can access Resilience Fund in in Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha agement for future disasters. a ward in one cycle. have benefitted from the Resilience iii. The most poor and vulnerable earth- ●● Once the loan amount is paid back Fund and have completed recon- quake-affected households have re- to the committee by the beneficiary, struction with socio-technical sup- silient livelihood opportunities. the amount is ‘revolved’ to the next port from the UNDP with at least 1 iv. Enabling environment created for identified beneficiary. revolving cycle completed in all 15 inclusive, affordable and people-cen- ●● The beneficiaries of this fund are se- wards. tered reconstruction policies and ac- lected on the basis on the Resilience tions.

Rebuilding Nepal 19 From the partners

Eleven-year-old Raj gets a new home

20 Rebuilding Nepal Photos: NRA A few minutes walk away from the wakot, one of the most affected districts, Sattale Durbar Area in Nuwakot, Raj the government of India and the Unit- Napit is like any other gentle child who ed Nations Office for Project Services loves to play sports and enjoys going (UNOPS) prevail as active housing part- to school. Raj, who is now eleven years ners in building and promoting safe and old, still remembers his frightening ex- resilient housing and infrastructure. As perience during the earthquake. He re- part of this initiative, the India-funded calls playing with his friends in a nearby Socio-Technical Facilitation Consultancy community area when Nuwakot started (STFC) project supports 23,088 home- shaking, it was a foreign feeling for him. owners and the Nuwakot community, Never had he felt this way before. Scared through reconstruction services, capacity and wanting to be protected, he held on building and promotion of safe building to a tree near him until his aunt came to practices. fetch him and bring him to safety. In the Raj’s family was a part of the STFC Eleven-year-old earthquake’s aftermath, Raj was able to project, his mother, Basanti, was a proj- Eleven-year-old Raj at a Puja to mark the completion of his house reunite with his mother and sister, un- ect beneficiary. However, to Raj’s pain, reconstruction. fortunately, their humble abode has been his father passed away before the earth- severely damaged. quake. His mother remarried and migrat- After the April 2015 earthquake, Ne- ed away from the village before the new pal, with the assistance of the National home could be built. While Basanti was Reconstruction Authority (NRA), started the original recipient of the reconstruc- Raj gets a new home its campaign to build back better. In Nu- tion grants, with the assistance of the

Rebuilding Nepal 21 Villagers participated in the Puja held to mark the completion of Raj's house (left). NRA CEO Sushil Gyewali interacting with Raj during his visit to the latter's newly-built house.

STFC, her son was able to get the grants dural and drawing support. transferred to his name and build a home In the completion Being left behind by their mother is for his remaining family. a difficult circumstance for young chil- Raj is currently living around Sattale of their house, dren. Despite the love their mother has area with his 16-year-old sister, Swastika, Raj and Swastika for them, they can't live with her. They who assumes the role of his guardian and are fending for themselves, making it has been taking care of Raj ever since organized a house hard for them to enjoy the freedom as their mother moved away. With close rel- inauguration puja children. In understanding and respond- atives giving them a helping hand to get early August 2019 ing to the situation, an STFC community by, Raj is attending fourth grade in a local mobiliser has gone above and beyond to school and his sister is enrolled in voca- to turn over a new accompany and assist the sister to protect tional training in Bidur. They both were stone with a safer her from any harm. Thanks to the ST- still living in an unsafe house made of and resilient house. FC’s intervention and care, Swastika was mud and stone when the STFC identified enrolled in a vocational training program. Raj’s site and his situation. Now, the house for Raj and his sister In the light of their young age, the The STFC and local stakeholders is completely built and they have received STFC was concerned that they would worked side by side to provide holistic the first and second tranches. Recently, not be able to construct their homes by support to Raj and Swastika. The Ward their drawing was approved from Bidur themselves and decided to extend addi- authorities agreed to fully support the Municipality after which the TSC pro- tional support. Building a home is not a tranche release process and coordinated vided the report needed by the Munici- children's play. with a local supplier for the provision of pal authority and filled all the necessary With special attention to at-risk ben- construction materials. Meanwhile, the forms for the submission of the third eficiaries, the STFC was not only able to STFC conducted a competency-based tranche. transfer the project agreement into Raj’s OJT at the site as a support to him and In the completion of their house, Raj name but also provided extensive sup- his sister. and Swastika organized a house inau- port in helping the children build their While the engineers did technical guration puja early August 2019 to turn house back better. In the early months of monitoring, the builder trainer assigned over a new stone with a safer and resil- 2019, the STFC was identifying on-the- to Raj’s site also conducted full moni- ient house. The community and STFC job training (OJT) sites when Raj’s case toring in addition to guiding the masons members came together to celebrate the was brought up by the Ward authorities. deployed to rebuild the house using children and their strength in building The Ward authorities suggested that the earthquake-resistant technology. Raj and back better. In August also, Raj was able STFC could provide supplementary as- Swastika received the full cooperation of to meet with the NRA CEO and they sistance to Raj Napit by conducting the the STFC technical service center located shared a delightful conversation about OJT at his reconstruction site. in Sattale through administrative, proce- his new life.

22 Rebuilding Nepal From the partners Inclusive entrepreneurship training concludes Dhulikhel, Kavre: Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruc- tion Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyewali attended the closing ceremony of "In- clusive Entrepreneurship: Training of Trainers" organized by the World Bank in coordination with the NRA. The training was supported by the Nepal Reconstruction Multi-donor Trust Fund and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. Speaking at the program, CEO Gyewali informed the participants about the concessional loans that are available for earthquake-affected peo- ple to facilitate in their economic recov- ery and iterated NRA’s support to the aspiring entrepreneurs with disabilities/ functional limitations.

These trainees were provided Entrepreneurship Development Training by the trainee trainers under master trainer’s observation and supervision.

Fourteen young aspiring entrepre- neurs had undertaken 15 days intensive Training of Trainers held from Septem- ber 16-30, 2019 in Dhulikhel, with the aim of learning skill to help the Persons with Disabilities become an entrepre- neur. EHRP beneficiaries. ing as a model to facilitate the National Out of 14 trainee trainers, eight This pilot TOT is first of the series Reconstruction Authority, or any other were Emergency Housing Reconstruc- and five earthquake-affected districts agency whether in public and private tion Project (EHRP) beneficiaries. The surrounding Kavrepalanchowk are tar- sector, undertake initiatives to assist in team is gender balanced with seven geted. rehabilitation of the vulnerable, espe- women trainee trainers. In the second These trainees were provided En- cially persons with disabilities and with week, trainee trainers had identified and trepreneurship Development Training functional limitations, to boost their onboarded nine trainees (five women by the trainee trainers under master confidence and to help them establish trainees) with disabilities/function- trainer’s observation and supervi- their own micro businesses or improve al limitations - of which seven were sion. The aim was to establish the train- their livelihoods.

Rebuilding Nepal 23 From the partners USAID/PFMSP provides assistance to strengthen NRA's financial management system

Photos: PFMSP NRA Joint Secretary Pitambar Ghimire addressing the PFMSP Year 3 Planning Workshop (left). NRA (then)Under Secretary Kaman Singh Khatri facilitating a session during system user training in Godawari.

Since the National Reconstruction Chronology of PFMSP support NRA-FMIS users Authority’s (NRA) establishment in 2015, ■ Year 1 (2016-17): o 202 NRA-FMIS users (28 female, an important institutional challenge has o Multilateral/multi-IDP task force 174 male) trained from 122 NRA been to develop transparent and account- convened to review public finan- cost centers. able reporting systems for the Govern- cial management (PFM) related o Established a system help desk ment of Nepal (GoN), international issues and devise a consolidated, operated for regular technical sup- development partners (IDPs), and the comprehensive and collaborative port to the users. general public. The USAID-funded Pub- approach to institutional capacity o Methods for user feedback and lic Financial Management Strengthening building and institutionalization continuous NRA-FMIS system Project (PFMSP) has thus been support- of modern PFM practices. enhancements instituted. ing the NRA to strengthen its financial o Business process analysis and ■ Year 3 (2018-19): management functions and staff capacity. multilateral needs assessment for o 107 NRA-FMIS users(14 female, The PFMSP’s support has centered NRA completed to identify prior- 93 male) trained from 79 cost cen- on development and implementation of ity capacity building requirements ters. a financial management information sys- on PFM business processes and o E-learning modules on the system tem (FMIS), known as NRA-FMIS. The functions, including development were developed and implemented. NRA-FMIS is a customized version of of the NRA-FMIS. o Establishment of public financial the Transaction Accounting and Budget o Initial customization of TABUCS reporting system in the NRA’s me- Control System (TABUCS), a locally de- to become the NRA-FMIS as per dia outlets. veloped financial management software the NRA financial and program- o National and international capac- used by the Ministry of Health and Popu- matic requirements. ity building programs organized lation (MOHP). ■ Year 2 (2017-18): for NRA officials. The NRA-FMIS now generates time- o Finalized the NRA-FIMS and ■ Year 4 (2019-20): ly and accurate reports to all stakeholders developed the NRA-FMIS Train- o Refresher/new user trainings to in Nepal’s reconstruction process, and it ing Manual, User Manual, System be jointly planned and funded for directly enhances transparency and cred- Manual and Practice Book. approximately 80 users. ibility in the use of reconstruction and o Trained 17 NRA-FMIS trainers (5 recovery funds. female, 12 male) from 12 central Key outcomes of PFMSP support and district level program imple- ■ Consolidated, secure financial infor- mentation units for training the mation since the NRA's inception is

24 Rebuilding Nepal fact file

PFMSP Overview

Life of Project: August 15, 2016 – August 13, 2021

Total Project Amount: $14,049,368

Expected Results: • GoN budget planning and ex- ecution capacity improved • Improved procurement capac- ity and control environment at the Ministries of Health and Population (MoHP) and Min- istry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) • The NRA financial manage- ment functions strengthened Key activities and targets with the NRA: • Preparation of a Business Process Analysis of on- and off-budget modalities for post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction assistance. • Development of guidelines, procedures, manuals and train- ing packages based on the NRA’s organizational capacity needs assessment. • Technical assistance to the NRA to improve budget and expenditure tracking and mon- itoring for reconstruction and Source:  NRA-TABUCS recovery. • At least 300 NRA cost center available in the NRA-FMIS, which ■ Effective monitoring and tracking of staffs trained for proficiency in enables timely and accurate public re- internal and external audit findings di- the use of the NRA’s Financial porting for all the stakeholders. Finan- rectly in the NRA-FMIS. Management Information Sys- cial data includes details on budget, tem (NRA-FMIS). expenditures, and unused balances by Way Forward specific activity, program, donor, sec- Now in its fourth and penultimate tor and cost center. year, PFMSP continues providing techni- PFMSP will focus on handing over ■ Effective web-based central monitor- cal assistance and capacity building sup- full management of the NRA-FMIS in ing system in place to track financial port and will jointly fund a final set of PFMSP’s final year, so that the financial progress and provide required super- trainings. data can be managed carefully as the NRA vision and support to all the NRA PFMSP works closely with the NRA’s plans to wind down its operations. cost centers. financial management leaders to ensure PFMSP will ensure that the NRA has ■ Production of accurate, periodic re- the NRA staff themselves are producing full ownership of the NRA-FMIS sys- ports by month, tri-mester, half-year, accurate and timely financial reports and tem and is prepared to handover its PFM or year in the Office of the Auditor releasing key data to the public through functions to successor ministries upon General’s required formats. print and online media outlets. the NRA’s closure.

Rebuilding Nepal 25 Fact file Reconstruction in Numbers

Third Tranche Agreement Signed Received with Beneficiaries 511,299 776,916 (65.8%)

Private Housing Second Tranche First Tranche Grant Received Received Distribution 613,694 768,555 (78.9%) (99.9%)

Private Housing Reconstruction Grievance Management

Grievance Grievance Grievance Houses Constructed 471,699 (60.7%) Registered Re-surveyed Adressed 368,963 306,858 209,571 Houses Under Construction 193,753 (24.9%)

Second Tranche Applicants 628,910 Re-Survey and Re-verification Approved Second Tranche Beneficiaries 624,590 Resurvey/ Resurvey/Reverifi- Resurvey/ Reverification cation Reverification Third Tranche Applicants 534,257 (Phase I) Redressed(Phase I) (Phase II) Approved 3rd tranche beneficiaries 530,276 125,410 122,000 185,000 Figures as of October 31, 2019

26 Rebuilding Nepal Fact file

Public Buildings Health Institutions Cultural Heritage Target 415 Target 1,197 Target 891 (Reconstruction/Retrofitting) Fully 544 Fully 133 (162/253) Partially 653 Partially 620 Reconstructed (74.9%) Reconstructed (55.5%) (Reconstructed/Retrofitted) (Reconstructed/Retrofitted) Reconstructed (42.6%) 311 (71/240) 665 (314/351) 380 Under Construction (24%) Under Construction (12.4%) Under Construction (13.8%) (Reconstruction/Retrofitting) (Reconstruction/Retrofitting) 123 100 (89/11) 149 (75/74)

Educational Institutions Security Buildings Target Target 7,553 383 Reconstructed (67%) Reconstructed (47.7%) 5,063 183 National Reconstruction Authority Singha Durbar, Kathmandu Under Construction (24%) Under Construction (8.3%) Tel: 01-4211482, 01-4211465 1,819 32 [email protected] | www.nra.gov.np

Landless beneficiaries approved for rebuilding in same place 575 Landless and squatter beneficiaries Beneficiaries receiving land under the land purchase grant 165

Beneficiaries managing land under the land purchase grant 2,157 Relocation of vulnerable settlement Beneficiaries provided land for safer settlement 629 Beneficiaries yet to be provided land for safer settlement 1,802

Graphics: Rabin Sayami

Rebuilding Nepal 27 From the press Students regular in school after the construction of new school buildings in Sindhupalchok Sindhupalchowk: Students of Jana- jagriti Secondary School in Sindhupal- chok have shifted into a newly con- structed school building after four years of studying in makeshift classes. Their previous school building was destroyed in the Gorkha Earthquake of April 25, 2015. “Now that we have moved into a new building, students are regularly com- ing to school. The new building is both earthquake-resilient and disabled-friend- ly, and has proper toilets and a library” said Madhav Prasad Khanal, the school headmaster. The construction of the building was funded by the Japanese Embassy, which recently handed over the Rs 20 million building to the school authorities. According to the data of the Dis- trict Project Implementation Unit, the construction of 290 school buildings in Sindhupalchok has been completed so far. The devastating 2015 earthquake due to a lack of toilets and other infra- being constructed with the assistance of had destroyed 528 school buildings in the structures. But now we don’t have to face various government and non-govern- district. such hardships. Our classes will contin- ment organisations,” said Khadka, adding Devya Thapa, a 10th grader at ue even if it rains or gets too cold,” said that the reconstruction of the quake-af- Thangpaldhap Secondary School in Sind- Thapa. fected schools in Sindhupalchok is ex- hupalchok, said she is looking forward to Yam Bahadur Khadka, chief at the pected to complete in two years. attending classes in the new school build- District Project Implementation Unit, ing. “We faced difficulties for a long time said, “School buildings in the district are By Anish Tiwari in The Kathmandu Post NRA chief asks housing grant beneficiaries to collect second tranche by mid-Nov

Kathmandu: The National Recon- or destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes. by the earthquake have already been re- struction Authority (NRA) has asked The beneficiaries receive Rs 150,000 in built while 1,94,456 houses are under the beneficiaries of the private housing the second tranche and Rs 100,000 in construction. grant to collect the second tranche of the third tranche. Although 60 percent houses have housing grant by mid-November. The NRA has signed grant agree- already been reconstructed in earth- Addressing a function in Lalitpur on ments with a total 7,76,910 households. quake-hit 32 districts, only 32 percent Friday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Of them, 7,68,549 households have al- beneficiaries have received the third of NRA Sushil Gyewali urged all the ready collected the first tranche, while a tranche of the housing grant in Lalitpur beneficiaries of the grant to collect the total 6,12,105 households have collect- district. CEO Gyewali said it is neces- second tranche of the grant as soon as ed the second tranche of the housing sary to look into the reasons behind the possible. grant. The number of household re- delay in the completion of the house The government had provided Rs ceiving third tranche of housing grant reconstruction in urban areas. 50,000 as first tranche of housing grant stands at 5,07,048. Altogether 469,259 to those whose houses were damaged houses that were damaged or destroyed Republica

28 Rebuilding Nepal From the press Many families in Kathmandu who lost their homes in 2015 earthquakes are yet to rebuild their homes

Out of 47,665 families eligible for the foundation of a new home and se- first tranche are yet to apply for the sec- the rebuilding aid, only 15,500 families cure clearance from the NRA engineers ond and third tranche,” said Sharma. have received all three tranches of the to become eligible for the second tranche The NRA and other stakeholders aid till date, NRA data show. of the rebuilding aid, have been organising meetings from Kathmandu: Many families in Kath- “Many families have not received the time to time to update the progress on mandu whose homes were either de- second and third tranche of the housing the reconstruction work. The last meet- stroyed or severely damaged in the 2015 grant because they are yet to complete ing was held on October 31 last year, earthquakes are yet to receive the second the foundation of their new homes, where engineers from all wards of Kath- and third tranche of the government re- complying with the safety standards set mandu Metropolitan City had gathered building aid. by the government,” said NRA Deputy to discuss the major problems and prog- According to the National Recon- Spokesperson Manohar Ghimire. “Many ress in rebuilding aid distribution. struction Authority (NRA), of the families have not even started the con- “The meeting concluded that most 47,665 families eligible for the rebuilding struction after receiving the first tranche of the families who had not received the aid in Kathmandu district, only 18,529 of the aid, which they say is not enough. second and third instalment of the aid families have received the second instal- Some earthquake survivors have been had either yet to start the construction ment of the aid so far, and even fewer living in their old homes after minor re- of new homes or had not followed the 15,500 families have received the third pair and restoration.” building safety standards set by the gov- instalment. According to Hari Sharma, chief dis- ernment while constructing new homes,” The NRA data shows that 42,039 trict engineer of Kathmandu, the gov- said Sharma. families have received the first instal- ernment has been extending deadline for The number of earthquake-affected ment of the aid. beneficiaries to collect the second and families who have not applied for the The government has pledged to pro- third tranche of the rebuilding aid. second and third tranche of the rebuild- vide Rs 300,000 each as a rebuilding aid “We extended the deadline till ing aid is also high in Lalitpur and Bhak- in three instalments of Rs 50,000, Rs mid-November through the meeting that tapur districts. 150,000 and Rs 100,000, respectively. took place on June 14, as more than half The beneficiary family should build of the aid beneficiaries who received the By Shuvam Dhungana in The Kathmandu Post

Rebuilding Nepal 29 From the press Master plan to reconstruct heritage sites in Nuwakot The plan includes 428 houses, each of which has to be rebuilt in traditional design; Bidur municipal office has directed locals to follow the guidelines.

Nuwakot: Nuwakot Heritage Settle- ment Committee has started preparing a master plan to preserve the identity of heritage settlements near Nuwakot Durbar. According to representatives of the committee, locals will have to re- construct their houses with traditional designs, and the rebuilt houses should bear cultural, religious, historical and ar- chaeological significance. Pushkar Shar- ma Rimal, chairman of Nuwakot Her- itage Settlement Committee, said that the committee will provide galvanized zinc sheets that resemble tiles worth Rs 15,000 to each household. As per the guidelines of the commit- tee, Bidur Municipal Office has direct- ed locals to maintain historical aspects while constructing houses near the Durbar. The master plan includes 428 house- designs, ” said Pandit. holds out of which 390 are listed in the Sushil Gyawali, the chief executive housing reconstruction aid list. Howev- The reconstruction officer of the National Reconstruction er, more than 115 quake-affected houses authority allocated Authority, said the authority supports were rebuilt in the municipality before Rs 2 million to the committee’s move to preserve tra- the master plan was drawn. “It’s been ditional house designs in Bidur Munic- four years since the earthquake and we six settlements, ipality, and that this move will help put had to start rebuilding our houses. The including Nuwakot the Nuwakot Durbar area in the World municipal office did not provide us with Durbar area, to Heritage Site list. proper guidelines to reconstruct houses, “Turning the municipality into a her- so we went ahead and built our houses prepare a master itage settlement is a positive move. The the way we wanted to,” said Meena Shres- plan for the heritage locals should also actively participate in tha, a resident of Bidur Municipality this and adhere to the master plan de- Ward No. 2. settlement. sign,” said Gyawali. Meanwhile, the municipality has In February, the reconstruction au- decided to pull down houses that have cade of their houses in a traditional way thority allocated Rs 2 million to six set- been built without adhering to the mas- as dictated in the master plan. tlements, including Nuwakot Durbar ter plan design code. “If they do not fix the front section area, to prepare a master plan for the “The municipal office will demol- of their house, then we will have to de- heritage settlement. It had also provided ish the houses that were constructed molish the entire structure,” said Pandit. Rs 50 million to each settlement for in- against the set standard,” said Sanju “The municipal office will also help im- frastructure construction. Pandit, mayor of the municipality. This poverished families redo the facade of Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, former has put locals like Shrestha in a dilemma. their houses. minister for Foreign Affairs and also a “I took loans to rebuild my house after According to Pandit, his office will Nuwakot local, has suggested author- the earthquake. I can’t afford to have it provide Rs 40,000 to each household to ities to include Gorakhnath temple, demolished.” preserve the traditional house style. Dupcheshwor, Kabilash, Bhairumkot Aware of the locals’ predicament, “We have also been providing 50 and Bhutayha areas in the master plan. Pandit said that those who have already percent discount to locals who adhere to rebuilt their houses must redo the fa- the design code while passing the house By Krishna Thapa in The Kathmandu Post

30 Rebuilding Nepal NRA update Saudi Fund supports Rs. 3.4 billion for reconstruction The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has provided a subsidized loan of Saudi Riyal 112.5 million (approx. Rs. 3.4 billion according to the exchange rate on October 11). A financial agreement was signed amidst a function organized at the Ministry of Finance on October 11. Finance Secretary Dr. Rajan Khanal and Vice President and Managing Direc- tor of the Fund Dr. Khalid Bin Sulaiman Alkhudairy signed the agreement in the presence of Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Fi- nance Secretary Dr. Khanal thanked Sau- di Arabia for its support for humanitarian NRA CEO Gyewali and Dr. Alkhu- said that the assistance provided by Saudi purpose and expressed confidence that dairy hold discussion Fund would be utilized well. the assistance would help the earthquake The delegation led by Vice President Dr. Alkhudairy asked about the latest survivors get back to normal life. of the SFD Dr. Alkhudairy met and in- situation of reconstruction, its challeng- Vice President of the SFD Dr. Alkhu- teracted with Chief Executive Officer es and its learning at the interaction. He dairy said it was the responsibility of all (CEO) of the National Reconstruction also expressed happiness for being able friendly nations to support Nepal which Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyewali and oth- to be part of Nepal’s reconstruction, and suffered huge losses in the earthquake, er officials at the NRA before signing the expressed confidence that Nepal’s experi- and expressed happiness for being able to agreement at the Ministry of Finance. ence and learning in reconstruction would provide support to Nepal. CEO Gyewali thanked Saudi Arabia be exemplary for other countries in the He also expressed commitment that for its important assistance to bridge the world. Saudi Arabia would support Nepal as financial gap in Nepal’s reconstruction. Secretary of the NRA Shiva Hari a member of the World Bank and the He said various friendly nations and de- Sharma and joint-secretaries Pitambar Organization of Petroleum Exporting velopment partners had provided import- Ghimire and Bharat Aryal were also pres- Countries (OPEC). ant assistance in the reconstruction, and ent at the interaction. CEO and Secretary sign Performance Contract Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nepal Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyewali and Secretary Shiv Hari Sharma signed a perfor- mance contract amid a brief function organized at the NRA office on Sep- tember 26. On the occasion, CEO Gyewali expressed confidence that the perfor- mance contract would be effective in ensuring result-oriented performance in reconstruction related works, and to build an appropriate appraisal mecha- nism. Secretary Sharma expressed com- mitment to perform his duties and Next, similar performance contracts already signed a performance contract. responsibilities so as to conclude the will be done between the NRA secre- They signed the contract at a function remaining tasks of reconstruction on tary and Division heads. Prime Minister organized at the National Planning time and with quality. KP Sharma Oli and CEO Gyewali have Commission on September 23.

Rebuilding Nepal 31 NRA update Tripartite understanding on schools reconstruction

The National Reconstruction Author- ity (NRA), Norwegian Embassy in Nepal and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have signed a Mem- orandum of Understanding (MoU) for the reconstruction of 24 schools. These schools will be reconstructed in Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu with financial assistance from the- Nor wegian government worth approximately USD 8 million. Thirteen schools in Ramechhap, nine in Sindhuli and one each in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur with a total of 144 class- rooms will be reconstructed under the project. The school buildings will be ac- cessible for people living with disabilities, and will also have amenities such as toilets NRA Sushil Gyewali expressed confi- Likewise, Head of Planning and and drinking water. About 5,500 students dence that the project would be success- Budget Management Division of the will benefit from the schools reconstruc- fully accomplished on time. He also men- NRA Joint-secretary Pitambar Ghi- tion. The project will be valid till Novem- tioned that the NRA had been working in mire said the project would contribute ber 30, 2021. collaboration with development partners to post-earthquake reconstruction and Joint Secretary Pitambar Ghimire on in the post-earthquake reconstruction, would also add new dimension to the bi- behalf of the NRA, Norwegian ambas- and would continue to do so. lateral relation. sador to Nepal Lasse Bjørn Johannessen Norwegian ambassador Johannessen Country Director of UNOPS Charles on behalf of Norway government, and said the Norwegian government is com- Callanan said it was matter of pride to Country Director Charles Callanan on mitted towards school sector and said he be able to work in collaboration with the behalf of the UNOPS signed the under- felt proud to be able to collaborate with NRA and the Norwegian Government, standing on October 2. the NRA and the UNOPS in the recon- and expressed his commitment to recon- Speaking after the signing ceremony, struction of schools that had been dam- struct the schools within the designated Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the aged by the April 2015 earthquake. time with quality. NRA requests beneficiaries to take second tranche by November 16 The National Reconstruction Au- Rs. 100,000 in the third tranche for pri- taken their third tranche yet. thority (NRA) has requested earthquake vate housing reconstruction. CEO Gyewali said, it is important to survivor beneficiaries to take their second Among the 756,910 beneficiaries understand why reconstruction of each tranche of the grant for private housing who have signed the agreement for pri- house in the urban area is being delayed reconstruction by November 16. vate housing reconstruction, 768,549 and directed his staff to work on individ- Speaking at a function organized in have already taken their first tranche, ual basis focusing on the cases of individ- Lalitpur on October 18, Chief Executive 612,105 people have taken their second ual house reconstructions. Officer (CEO) of the NRA Sushil Gye- tranche and 507,048 families have taken Deputy Director of the NRA’s Cen- wali requested beneficiaries to take their their third tranche. tral Level Project Implementation Unit second tranche on time and begin the Altogether, 469,259 houses damaged (Grants Management and Local In- process of house reconstruction. by the earthquake have been reconstruct- frastructure-GMaLI) Narayan Prasad The NRA has set deadline to take sec- ed while 194,456 houses are under recon- Shrestha said that it is important to get ond tranche till November 16 for those struction. cooperation from all sections to expedite who had taken the first tranche before Although, 60 percent of the houses the private housing reconstruction; oth- July 16, 2018. The government has been have been reconstructed in the 32 earth- erwise the public would be deprived from providing Rs. 50,000 in the first tranche, quake affected districts, 32 percent of the their chance of getting the government Rs. 150,000 in the second tranche, and beneficiaries in Lalitpur district have not grant.

32 Rebuilding Nepal NRA update Five reconstructed government buildings handed over in Sindhupalchowk

Five government buildings damaged Claiming that Sindhupalchowk would be by earthquake in Sindhupalchowk district The annex building of included in the list of model districts after have been handed over the concerned au- the reconstruction, he thanked the NRA, thorities. District Forest Office, people, elected representatives and others. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of District Treasury Member of Provincial Assembly of the National Reconstruction Authority Control Office, and Province 3 Saresh Nepal expressed happi- (NRA) Sushil Gyewali and Members of ness for the reconstruction of structures the Federal Parliament Agni Sapkota and the annex building including private houses and government Sher Bahadur Tamang jointly inaugurated of land registration buildings. He suggested to expedite the the reconstructed buildings in Chautara work of reconstructing the remaining on September 14. office and building of heritage sites and to address the citizens’ The annex building of District Forest district emergency grievances. Office, District Treasury Control Office, assistance program Project Director of the NRA’s Cen- and the annex building of land registration tral Level Project Implementation Unit office and building of district emergency were inaugurated. (Buildings) Nabaraj Pyakurel said the work assistance program were inaugurated. was advancing with a plan to complete These buildings were reconstruct- Member of Federal Parliament Agni the reconstruction of physical infrastruc- ed with the financial assistance from the Sapkota said the reconstruction of the tures damaged by earthquake on time, and Government of Nepal and the Asian De- structures has changed the face of Sind- thanked everyone including the construc- velopment Bank (ADB). The cost of the hupalchowk. He said they had not imag- tion contractors who contributed in the reconstruction of the five buildings is Rs. ined reconstruction at this scale would be reconstruction. 150 million. possible immediately after the earthquake, Head of District Level Project Im- At the function, CEO Gyewali ex- and thanked everyone involved in the re- plementation Unit Santosh Niraula said pressed confidence that the reconstructed construction. He further said that the pro- six out of 17 buildings being reconstruct- new buildings would enable those offices cess for earthquake memorial park had ad- ed with assistance from the Government to provide effective service. He said the vanced and requested the government to of Nepal and the Asian Development reconstruction of private houses, schools, take it ahead as a model. Bank had completed reconstruction, and and government buildings, among others, Another Member of Federal Parlia- 10 were under-construction. He said the has turned disaster into an opportuni- ment Sher Bahadur Tamang said the recon- reconstruction process of government ty in Sindhupalchowk–the district which struction in the district was going well–and buildings to be reconstructed with the suffered maximum humanitarian damage the earthquake had proven to be a boon amount provided by the Indian Exim Bank from the April 2015 earthquake. rather than bane, despite the loss of lives. had also advanced.

Rebuilding Nepal 33 NRA update World Bank assistance utilized well, says Vice President Schafer

The World Bank (WB)’s Vice Presi- in the livelihood programs by facilitating dent for the South Asia Region, Hartwig Vice President the beneficiaries with subsidized loans. Schafer, has thanked the institutions, in- Deputy Mayor of Panauti Municipali- cluding the National Reconstruction Au- Schafer said that he ty Geeta Banjara said that the people were thority (NRA), and the Government of was happy to learn facing difficulty in accessing subsidized Nepal for properly utilizing its assistance that all communities loans and requested to support in income for the post-earthquake reconstruction. generation activities. The World Bank has supported a to- had worked The visiting WB Vice President Scha- tal of USD 500 million (approx. Rs. 55 together after the fer and CEO Gyewali also interacted with billion) for the reconstruction of private reconstruction. the local people during the program. The houses destroyed in the April 2015 earth- local people shared their experiences of quake. reconstruction of their houses during the Speaking at a program organized in assistance of the Bank. He also informed interaction. Some of them shared about Basnet Gaon of Panauti Municipality in that there were plans to conduct more pro- the difficulties they faced in reconstruc- Kavre on September 27, Schafer said that grams on reconstruction and livelihood. tion of their houses due to lack of finan- although the World Bank has worked in Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the cial resources. collaboration with various institutions, NRA Sushil Gyewali said the World Bank During the visit, Vice President Scha- including the Nepal Government, it was is one of the largest among the interna- fer, CEO Gyewali and the World Bank most interested in the concerns of the tional community and donor agencies sup- Nepal Country Manager, Faris H. Ha- public community. porting the reconstruction, and added that dad-Zervos, also observed the under-re- Vice President Schafer said that he was the reconstruction was progressing well construction Baluddar Secondary School. happy to learn that all communities had with everyone’s support. They also participated in a function orga- worked together after the reconstruction He also said that the NRA was work- nized at the school. They also participated and opined that the community should ing on engaging more people who had in another program on inclusive entrepre- take more and more advantage from the completed private housing reconstruction neurship organized in Dhulikhel.

34 Rebuilding Nepal rebuilding Heritage UNESCO mission meets CEO Gyewali

The UNESCO Reactive Monitoring International expert Gamini Wije- recommendations made by an Adviso- Unit, which had come to Nepal to study suriya from the International Center ry Committee which came for a visit to the latest situation of reconstruction in for the Study of the Preservation and Nepal earlier, and to observe the devel- the seven World Heritage Sites in the Restoration of Cultural Property (IC- opment of execution strategy for the six Kathmandu Valley, met and interacted CROM) said that this is an appropriate year restoration master plan. with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of opportunity for the preservation of her- Ninety heritage sites among the 140 the National Reconstruction Authority itage sites and suggested to document heritage sites damaged by earthquake in (NRA) Sushil Gyewali on October 18. the reconstruction processes. the Kathmandu Valley have already been The delegation and the CEO dis- Likewise, international expert Cath- reconstructed. The others are being re- cussed the latest situation of restoration erine Forbes from the International constructed. and reconstruction of infrastructures in Council on Monuments and Sites (ICO- Pashupatinath Temple Area, the World Heritage Sites damaged by the MOS) expressed happiness over the be- Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar earthquake in April 2015 earthquake. ginning of the master plan development, Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhakta- CEO Gyewali explained to the delega- and suggested to incorporate recommen- pur Durbar Square, Chagunarayan and tion that the NRA had given high priori- dations to be sent to the Department of Bauddhanath are listed in the World ty to the reconstruction of heritage sites Archeology in February next year. Heritage Sites. and had pursued reconstruction works Speaking on the occasion, UNES- Likewise, the NRA is developing accordingly. He shared that the recon- CO Representative to Nepal Christian Sankhu, Bungmati and Khokana in the struction work is going on in those areas, Manhart said that the UNESCO would Kathmandu Valley and Gorkha Durbar and a detailed Master Plan was also being prioritize quality over speed in the re- and surrounding area, Nuwakot Durbar developed to pursue longer term plans. construction of heritage sites, and sug- and surrounding area and Dolakha ba- He also explained that the develop- gested to strengthen the Department zaar outside the Kathmandu Valley as ment of three heritage settlements out- of Archeology by giving more power to heritage settlements. side the Kathmandu Valley and three in- take decisions and formulate policies. Secretary of the NRA Shiva Hari side the Kathmandu Valley were going on The delegation arrived in Nepal on Sharma and Acting Director General of and also talked about reconstruction of October 16 with a mission to evaluate the Department of Archeology Damo- Ranipokhari and preparation for detailed situation of the preservation of heritage dar Gautam, among others were present Master Plan. sites, situation of the implementation of at the interaction.

Rebuilding Nepal 35 rebuilding Heritage Reconstruction of Harishankar temple completed The reconstruction of Harishan- kar Temple in Patan Durbar Square has been completed. The temple - that was damaged by the 2015 earthquake - has been opened for public after its recon- struction was completed. The temple was reconstructed by the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust with financial assistance from Henkel Foundation, Germany, the German Embassy in Kathmandu, the Japanese Embassy and the University of Applied Sciences, Australia, in coordination of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA). Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NRA Sushil Gyewali, Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) Chiribabu Maharjan and Culture Specialist Satya Mohan Joshi attended the program or- ganized on October 3 to formally an- it Nepal Year 2020. He also assured that 100 million was found to be more effec- nounce the completion of the temple he would strive to provide appropriate tive. He also said, Degu Taleju Temple reconstruction. recognition to the artisans involved in in Patan Durbar Square and the Aagam- Speaking at the function, Minister the temple reconstruction. chhen Temple in Kathmandu Durbar Bhattarai said the reconstructed temple CEO of the NRA Gyewali said, en- Square have also been approved to be was a pride of all Nepalis, and expressed gaging the users’ committees in heritage reconstructed through the users’ com- confidence that that it will also help Vis- reconstruction projects costing up to Rs. mittees. Gajur of Tripureshwar Mahadev temple installed The Gajur (pinnacle) of Tripureshwar Assistant Professor in the Depart- Mahadev temple in the heart of the capi- ment and coordinator of the reconstruc- tal, was installed on September 16 after it tion work Dr. Lochan Rijal said about 80 was reconstructed in its old form. percent of the temple reconstruction, Minister for Culture, Tourism and and about 35 percent of the total recon- Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai, Chief struction work under the master plan has Executive Officer (CEO) of the Na- been completed. tional Reconstruction Authority (NRA) The department has signed a mem- Sushil Gyewali, Thai ambassador to orandum of understanding with Guthi Nepal Bhakavat Tanskul, among others, Sansthan for the reconstruction and observed the temple after installation of preservation of Tripureshwar Mahadev its Gajur. temple, four rest-houses, priest quar- The Department of Music under the ter, and garden and pond in the temple Kathmandu University, School of Arts is premises. reconstructing the temple and rest-hous- Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari had or- es damaged by the earthquake. Thai gov- dered the construction of this temple in ernment has provided financial assistance memory of her husband Rana Bahadur to the department for the reconstruction. Shah in 1818 AD.

36 Rebuilding Nepal rebuilding Heritage Aagamchhen and Degu Taleju temples to be reconstructed through users’ committees The Aagamchhen Temple located in Basantapur Durbar Square and Degu Taleju Temple located in Patan Durbar Square will be reconstructed through the users’ committees. A meeting of the executive com- mittee of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) held on September 29 decided to reconstruct Aagamchhen and Degu Taleju temples through the users’ committees. The Japanese government has agreed to provide financial assistance for the reconstruction of these temples damaged by the April 2015 earthquake. At the initiation of the NRA, the local elected representatives, local com- munity and the Japanese government have already agreed to reconstruct Aagamchhen temple through the users’ committees. The reconstruction of Aagamchhen temple had been stalled due to lack of consensus on whether to reconstruct it through the bidding process or through the users’ committee. Although the agreement has been reached on reconstructing it through the users’ committee, agreement has not been reached on whether to prop the upper part of the temple using tim- ber or with a jack, in the course of re- construction. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NRA Sushil Gyewali said, we should not linger too long on techni- cal issues as safe reconstruction of the temple is the most important thing. Lal- itpur Metropolitan city had demanded for the reconstruction of Degu Taleju temple through the users’ committee. The decision taken by the NRA Executive Committee mentions, “The reconstruction of Degu Taleju Temple located inside the Patan Protected Mon- ument Zone through the Degu Taleju Temple Users’ Committee formed by Lalitpur Metropolitan City has been ap- proved.”

Rebuilding Nepal 37 rebuilding Heritage Twenty-six percent progress in rebuilding Dharahara Twenty-six percent progress has been made in the overall reconstruction of his- toric Dharahara, the construction contrac- tor said. Representative of the contractor, GIETC-Raman JV, Raman Mahato pre- sented so information at a review meeting on Dharahara reconstruction held at the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) office on September 12. Yet, according to Mahato, there is 67.5 percent progress, calculating on the basis of the construction area they were given. Concreting at the first basement of the Dharahara tower has completed and beam slabs are being erected in the course of Dharahara reconstruction. Likewise, the buildings which housed the general post of- fice are being pulled down, and protection piles are being put towards the east of the struction company responsible for the re- structure to make the basements. construction of Dharahara. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Upaku is a part of the Indrajatra festival NRA Sushil Gyewali said the reconstruc- during which people from the Newar com- tion must be completed on time by carrying munity walk along a certain route lighting out construction tasks in parallel at differ- lamps at every shrine they pass through in ent sections. He also said, there should be memory of the deceased family members. no compromise on quality. Construction of a temporary path Representatives of Cage Consult and for this year has already begun as per the Soil Test JV, the consulting alliance which agreement. The pathway is between old has been supervising Dharahara recon- Dharahara and under-construction new struction, had presented on various issues Dharahara. With the opening of the path- seen in the course of reconstruction. Ex- way, people marking Upaku can enter from ecutive Members of the NRA, acting sec- Tebahal and exit towards the way leading to retary, among others were present at the Bhote Bahal. review meeting. Ward chair of Ward no. 22 of Kath- Likewise, work is going on to open the mandu Metropolitan City Chinikaji Ma- temporary pedestrian way from Tebahal to harjan informed that an agreement had Tundikhel, targeting Dashain festival. An been reached to open the Upaku pathway. eight-feet wide temporary pathway will be Dharahara area lies in the same Ward. constructed between the Employees Provi- “An agreement has been reached to dent Fund (EPF) building and the erstwhile make temporary pathway for now along the general post office. The path from Kh- traditionally used route ,” he said. ichapokhari to Tebahal has already opened. Raju Man Manandhar, senior expert ku markers need to walk barefoot lighting at the NRA overseeing the reconstruction lamps at the shrines they pass through. Consensus reached to open Upaku of Dharahara, informed that a temporary There is a tradition of Upaku walking pathway in Dharahara pathway will be ready by September 27. on the 12th day of bright-half of the fifth A consensus has been reached to open “We have left 10 feet wide space for month of Nepali lunar calendar during In- the traditional Upaku pathway located in Upaku between old Dharahara and the drajatra festival in Newari community. This Dharahara area. under-construction new Dharahara,” said year, Upaku falls on September 10. The agreement was reached in an inter- Manandhar. “We will make a temporary Likewise, work has also begun for a action held on September 4 amongst the lo- pathway here for this year, and develop it as temporary pedestrian way to Tundikhel cal elected representatives, representatives a regular permanent pathway later.” from Khichapokhari-Machadhoka-Teba- of the National Reconstruction Authority He also informed that the agreement hal. A permanent road will be constructed (NRA) and the representative of the con- was to make a level walking path as Upa- here later.

38 Rebuilding Nepal rebuilding Heritage Retrofitting of western facade of Singha Durbar begins

The retrofitting works have begun in the western facade of Singha Durbar which was damaged in the April 2015 earthquake. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyewali said that the retrofitting of Singha Durbar has started ensuring that the archeological value and identity of the heritage would be preserved. “Some heritage experts had advised to preserve Singha Durbar only for its his- torical value by retrofitting it, but we are taking an extra mile to retrofit it in a safe and strong manner so that it can also be utilized for events and works of national importance,” said CEO Gyewali. “That’s one reason why it took a while to begin the retrofitting of the western facade of Singha Durbar.” The Central Level Project Implemen- tation Unit (Building) of the NRA and Sharma-Gauri Parvati-New Technical JV had signed a construction contract on Oc- tober 14 for the retrofitting. The JV has secured the contract worth Rs. 417 million and 900 thousand exclu- sive of Value Added Tax (VAT). Meanwhile, the retrofitting work is go- ing on in the northern, eastern, and south- ern facades of Singha Durbar for the past 15 months. About 70 percent of the retro- fitting work has been completed in these facades, according to the construction contractor.

Contract signed for retrofitting of western facade of Singha Durbar Meanwhile, a contract for the retro- fitting of the western facade of Singha Durbar was signed on October 14, at a As per the MoU, the contractor has in given time maintaining the quality. time when retrofitting work is going on in secured a contract worth Rs. 417 million IRC-ECoCoDE have been selected as the the northern, eastern and southern face of and 900 thousand exclusive of VAT and consultant for the retrofitting work. Singha Durbar. had agreed to start retrofitting work with- Singha Durbar was constructed at The Memorandum of Understanding in 15 days from the date of signing the the time of Rana Prime Minister Chan- (MoU) was signed between the National MoU. dra Shumsher. This is a portion salvaged Reconstruction Authority (NRA)’s Cen- Director of the CLPIU (Building) from the 1973 fire in Singha Durbar. The tral Level Project Implementation Unit Pyakurel informed that the retrofitting northern, eastern and southern parts had (Building) and Sharma-Gauri Parbati– would preserve the original design and been damaged in the fire, and were recon- New Technical JV. Nabaraj Pyakurel, on would make the structure stronger than structed later. behalf of the Project and Laxmi Prasad before. Seventy percent progress has been Subedi, on behalf of the JV, signed the Subedi of the JV expressed commit- made on the retrofitting of northern, east- MoU. ment to complete the retrofitting with- ern and southern face of Singha Durbar.

Rebuilding Nepal 39 National Reconstruction Authority Singha Durbar, Kathmandu

Be safe with retrofitting

Houses that are partially damaged by the earthquake can be made stronger

with lesser cost by retrofitting in consultation with the engineers. Therefore, houses in consultation with concerned organizations and technicians de- we request the retrofitting beneficiaries to retrofit their partially-damaged ployed at the local level. The Government of Nepal provides Rs. 100,000 in - quested to contact the District Level Project Implementation Unit or you can two installments as retrofitting grant. For further information, you are re call at the NRA's toll-free numbers.

National Reconstruction Authority Singha Durbar, Kathmandu Toll free numbers:16600172000 (NT), 9801572111 (Ncell) www.nra.gov.np

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NRA is also publishing a Nepali bi-monthly ‘Punarnirman’. You can obtain the copies from the NRA office. Locals of Gatlang in Rasuwa helping eachother in rebuilding their houses.

For more information:

National Reconstruction Authority Singh Durbar, Kathmandu Ph: 01-4211482, 01-4211465 | Fax: 01-4211473 Helpline: 1660-01-72000 (NTC) | 9801572111 (NCell) Mail: [email protected] www.nra.gov.np

National Reconstruction Authority

@NRANepal

Editorial Team: Gopal Prasad Aryal (Joint Secretary), Manohar Ghimire (Under Secretary), Kul Prakash Neupane (Statistics Officer) Bhuwan KC, Dipak Sapkota, Editorial Advisor: Kosmos Biswokarma

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