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Programme Phase II Programme Phase I

1. Background

Most development projects and programmes in Nepal have strictly concentrated on addressing either rural or urban development problems or needs. They have encouraged an institutional culture largely associated with sectoral approaches to development. Sectoral approaches to development tend to direct resources towards development in isolation with little impact on the people’s livelihood. Lack of focus on rural-urban linkages and application of largely sectoral approaches to development have diverted development investments away from addressing the priority problems at the local level. Besides, in the context of poverty reduction, it is very important to enhance the capacities and capabilities of the local authorities for good governance. Government of Nepal, through its strategies under the Ninth Five Year Plan and in accordance with its commitments made during the Habitat II conference, seeks to improve the peoples’ livelihoods and strengthen the local economies by taking advantage of the social and economic development opportunities through improved rural-urban linkages.

The Phase I of Rural-Urban Partnership Programme (RUPP) came into operation on September 7, 1997 as a joint effort of Government of Nepal - National Planning Commission (NPC), Ministry of Housing and Physical Planning (MHPP) and Ministry of Local Development (MLD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Centres for Human Settlements (UNCHS). The Phase II of the Programme (January 2002-December 2003) has received recognition for its achievements in urban development, poverty reduction and rural-urban linkages. The Phase III of the Programme is executed by MLD from January 2004 in coordination with NPC and Ministry of Physical Planning & Works (MPPW) with technical and financial support of UNDP.

2. Concept of the Programme

The Programme has been developed based on the past evidential experiences and achievements in the context of addressing all four pillars of the 10th Five Year Plan (broad-based economic growth, social sector development, social inclusion and targeted programmes and good governance) and thus contributing to meeting the Millennium Development Goals by 2015:

• Rural and urban development should not be perceived in isolation.
• Urban development should encompass the economic enterprise development, social awareness and technical infrastructures rather than limiting to development of physical infrastructure only.
• Sustainable urban economic and physical development is only possible if human, economic, social and financial resources of the region are properly mobilised at the local level.
• Capacity building of Local Government is necessary for implementing good governance and poverty reduction.
• Use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) is essential for good governance and poverty reduction.
• Rural and urban development is possible only when the common efforts of Government, Local People and Private Sectors are put together through social mobilization process.
• Institution building is necessary for effective initiation of decentralization in local level governments.

3. Goal and Objectives

The main goal of the Programme is
Securing the right to sustainable livelihoods of rural and urban poor.

For achieving above-mentioned goal, the Programme has set following objectives:

• Livelihoods of rural and urban poor secured through social mobilization (with special emphasis on vulnerable groups – dalits, occupational castes, traditional tribes, indigenous groups and women)
• Economic and planning linkages between rural and urban areas strengthened
• Urban governance improved to provide efficient basic service delivery
• National level government and civil society institutions strengthened to implement the issues of 10th Five Year Plan Urban Section.

4. Main Activities

For achieving the overall objectives of the Programme, focus will be given on following activities:

• Social Mobilization
• Linkage Enterprise Development activities
• Strengthening Rural-Urban Linkages
• Improving the Public Service Delivery

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