USAID Nepal Flood Recovery Program (USAID-NFRP)

Project Duration: May 2008 to August 2012

Areas of Assistance: Terai Region

USAID-NFRP Summary

Flooding and landslides in 2007 and 2008 caused considerable damage and human suffering throughout the Terai region. More than 800,000 people lost livelihoods, land, and vital community infrastructure. In response, USAID launched the Nepal Flood Recovery Program (NFRP) in May 2008. The Fintrac-implemented effort started in 60 village development committees (VDCs) in six districts of the Terai. The program was later extended to include 16 additional VDCs in Sunsari (Koshi flood area), Kailali, and Kanchanpur districts.

NFRP is working to increase farmer productivity and income; rehabilitate and develop small-scale community infrastructure; improve awareness of sanitation, nutrition, gender, and protection issues; and strengthen local capabilities by enhancing the participation of youths and vulnerable society members.

Fintrac works with a wide range of local public- and private-sector partners to achieve these goals. During the first two phases, more than 4,400 farmers increased the economic productivity (net sales per hectare) of 1,000 hectares by 686 percent. Net sales over the three years totaled $4.6 million. The program's completion of 119 infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, and irrigation systems benefitted more than 830,000 individuals and generated 165,000 days of paid employment, which resulted in a cash injection of more than $330,000 into local economies.

Recognizing USAID-NFRP's accomplishments, USAID extended the program for 18 months in March 2011. As part of the US government's Feed the Future initiative, Phase III focuses on improving food security by expanding training to farmers in new food production technologies, linking producers to markets and input suppliers, and addressing infrastructure constraints.