University of Wolverhampton, UK has won a three-year contract worth £8.5 million to provide advisory support and funding services for the ‘Livelihoods and Forestry Programme’ (LFP) Nepal.

LFP, a Department for International Development (DFID)-funded programme, enhances the assets of rural communities by promoting more equitable, efficient and sustainable use of forest resources. The initiative works with 4,000 Community Forestry User Groups, representing 18 per cent of the population of Nepal, assisting poor people with enterprise opportunities.

The University of Wolverhampton’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) has been working in Nepal for around 20 years and is helping to improve the long-term prospects for its inhabitants.

CIDT's Staff member Peter Branney will be in Nepal for three years, assisting the Nepali managers. He will provide general programme management support and technical assistance related to forest policy and planning.

A team of CIDT staff – including Phil Dearden, Des Mahony, Gavin Jordan and Jahan Chowdury - was behind the preparation of the contract. Head of CIDT Phil Dearden says: “This is the biggest contract the University of Wolverhampton has ever signed, but most of the money will be managed by the University to go back into Nepal to help the poorest communities.”

More information you can find at CIDT and LFP websites.

News Source: WLV Dialogue