Kathmandu, India has launched a new collaborative project in Nepal, supported by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), aimed at strengthening rice fortification and supply chain management. This initiative falls under the broader framework of the India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative, which was officially launched by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, on 1st August 2025 in New Delhi.
The project seeks to address critical gaps in Nepal’s fortified rice supply chain, particularly in areas such as procurement, data collection, and capacity building of the workforce. Drawing on India’s successful Public Distribution System (PDS), the initiative will facilitate knowledge sharing and technology transfer to improve Nepal’s food distribution systems. Key focus areas include beneficiary management, storage and distribution models, monitoring and evaluation systems, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
The project will be implemented in three phases over a 12-month period. The initial phase will emphasize needs assessment and stakeholder consultations. The second phase will feature a study visit to India for Nepali officials, offering hands-on demonstrations and expert engagements. The final phase will focus on developing a comprehensive action plan. Training under this initiative will be delivered through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, which has previously trained over 3,000 Nepali officials since 2001.
The India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative was first announced in September 2023 on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York. Since then, the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the UN Country Team in India have jointly identified priority projects under this framework to promote South-South cooperation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The rice fortification project in Nepal is one of four such projects selected for implementation.
This initiative underscores the strong and enduring development partnership between India and Nepal. It reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to promote innovation, resilience, and food security through regional collaboration and mutual learning.
