Kathmandu— UNFPA Nepal launched a one-year project titled ‘Improvement of Maternal and Child Health Care Services and Adaptive Capacity in Nepal’ on April 3 to ensure the continuity and quality of maternal healthcare services during crises. The project, running from March 2025 to March 2026, aims to strengthen adaptive and resilient healthcare systems in two of Nepal’s most disaster-affected districts, Rautahat and Jajarkot.

Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action), the project is expected to benefit 47,000 women and newborns annually.

Funded by the Government of Japan, the project will be implemented by UNFPA Nepal, under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal, with key partnerships from JICA, the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE), and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

The program began with welcome remarks from Ms. Won Young Hong, UNFPA Nepal Representative, who emphasized the need for strong coordination among all stakeholders, continuous monitoring, and guidance from MoHP.

Dr. Nayan Chakravarty, Project Coordination Specialist at UNFPA Nepal, provided an in-depth overview of the project, covering its goals and expected outcomes, the selection criteria for target districts, the health facility selection process, the framework for climate-adaptive healthcare facilities, key parameters for health facility assessments, and the overall project roadmap.

Virtually joining the event, Mr. Brish Bahadur Shahi, Senior Public Health Administrator, Ministry of Social Development, Karnali Province, and Mr. Nilarambha Adhikari, Public Health Administrator, MoHP, Madhesh Province, shared insights on the challenges and opportunities in their respective regions.

Special remarks were delivered by His Excellency Mr. MAEDA Toru, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Nepal, highlighting Japan’s continued support for Nepal’s healthcare sector.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Bikash Devkota, Secretary, MoHP, Nepal, who stressed the importance of accelerating project activities within the limited timeframe and affirmed the government’s commitment to its successful implementation.

The project expects to strengthen the policy framework for disaster preparedness, enhance service delivery adaptability and capacity building, and empower communities to ensure resilient maternal and child healthcare services in Nepal.