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08 October 2021

As part of promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, the third season of the Inclusion Event series has kicked-off from October 2021. First group from Kathmandu team held a Quiz Contest on 1st October 2021 where they presented a series of recreational and informative activities. There were altogether 5 rounds in the quiz covering general knowledge, movie, sports, music and project related information. The team is planning to announce the winner at a special upcoming event at RAP3 MHLR. In between the quiz, the participants also thoroughly enjoyed solving riddles shared by the team. Inclusion event is well appreciated among all employees since such virtual activities once in every two weeks bring everyone together for a fun-filled session along with some chit-chat and loud laughter.  

In the next event, the second group of Kathmandu team will present on the “Lessons Learnt from COVID-19: Based on the Experience of RAP3 MHLR staff.” We are excited to see what our team has to share on this interesting topic. Stay tuned until then. 

08 October 2021

Following the completion of the second section of the UK aid funded Mugu Humla Link Road (MHLR) from Darke to Chankheli, 11.350 Km, the road section has been officially handed over to the Infrastructure Development Office (IDO), Mugu on 30th September 2021. Representing MOPIUD, Mr. Yogendra Dharala, IDO Chief, Mugu accepted the road handover of MHLR second section. The handover was witnessed by the chief guest, Ganesh Prashad Koirala, Assistant Chief District Officer (Assist. CDO). Mr. Koirala appreciated RAP3 MHLR’s contribution to the improvement of socio-economic growth in Mugu and Humla. Similarly, RAP3 MHLR Team Leader, Kirsteen Merrilees and Deputy Team Leader, Ram P. Thapaliya expressed their sincere gratitude to all the organisations, working groups, and excavator owners associated with the project for their resilient support and contribution in achieving project’s objectives and success.

Local residents of Mugu and Humla are hopeful that they will be leveraging the benefits of regular transport services once the entire road section of MHLR is completed. In the meantime, vehicles are being allowed for regular delivery of essential goods to Humla by prioritising the safety of workers and vehicle operators. With the operation of vehicles, there is already evidence of significant reductions in the cost of food and construction materials in the newly served communities. 

26 September 2021

RAP3 MHLR gives high importance to workplace safety for every employee and worker associated with the project. We are committed to the health and safety of our employees and have policies, procedures and Codes of Conduct to guide our staff to work safely and prevent injury or any harm, to themselves and others. RAP3 MHLR field team organised a safeguards orientation programme to Road Maintenance Groups (RMGs) from 35 Municipalities in Karnali Province working on 771.75 km of Municipality Road Core Network (MRCN) from September 12 to 19 2021. The training was delivered by the project field teams of Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Rukum West and Jajarkot districts. The training was attended by 459 RMG members (271-Male and 188-Female, i.e., 41 %) of the five districts. The training primarily focused on safeguarding guidelines and best practices, and RAP3 MHLR Codes of Conduct (Safeguards, Anti-corruption and Behaviour).  The participants were briefed about the definition of safeguarding at RAP3 MHLR, individual responsibilities  to comply with Codes, do’s and don’ts, PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse), SEAH (Safeguarding Against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment), safeguarding against SEAH during COVID-19, modern slavery, child labour, gender based violence/discrimination, health and safety—secure working environment with prevention from accidents and spread of diseases, and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

26 September 2021

RAP3 MHLR Central Team, held one-day virtual training on site safety for field-based supervision staff on 8th September 2021.  Supervision staff from Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Rukum West and Jajarkot attended the training. The training covered topics such as the importance of site safety, various risks at site and their mitigation, purpose and handling of safety gear, proper handling of construction tools, site management, first aid kit management, usage and record keeping, incident management, and Covid-19 prevention and protection. The participants engaged in sharing site-related issues, concerns, queries, and feedback. All concerns and feedback raised during the training were immediately addressed by the concerned teams and immediate actions taken as needed.

26 September 2021

While the country was facing a shortage of medical oxygen and other health essentials for a growing number of COVID-19 cases all over the country, UK aid funded RAP3 MHLR immediately responded by providing 50 cylinders of oxygen to the District Hospital, Mugu on 30th May 2021 along with other essential emergency medical supplies and medicines to Gamgadhi district hospital, local isolation centres and health posts in Mugu and Humla.

The District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (DCCMC), Mugu organised an event at the District Administrative Office, Gamgadhi to recognise organisations for their generous contribution in fighting against the second wave of COVID-19 in Mugu and Humla. At the event, DCCMC appreciated the project’s contribution in the prompt delivery of medical supplies in Mugu and Humla and awarded RAP3 MHLR with a letter of appreciation.

RAP3 MHLR would like to express our gratitude to DCCMC, Mugu for appreciating our efforts and we are pleased that our medical supplies in Karnali have helped them in minimising the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during the difficult time.

06 September 2021

At RAP3 MHLR, all staff are required to understand the project’s values and ethics to build a thriving work culture and respectful environment for everyone involved with the project. RAP3 MHLR ensures that all project staff and those engaged through our partner and implementing organisations understand and comply with the RAP3 MHLR Codes of Conduct. In August, staff completed three mandatory Code of Conduct courses, focusing on anti-corruption, behaviour and safeguards, as well as four other mandatory training. The training is available through the project’s e-learning platform, and was given in-person to those who don’t have access to the online platform, following social distancing norms and other Covid 19 safety protocols.  

26 August 2021

The third round of Professional Engineer PEng. (Nepal) title for senior Experience Route Engineers’ has been duly awarded by NEC Chairperson, Er. Dilli Raman Niraula in presence of ICE Country Representative for Nepal, Professor Bharat Raj Pandey. The title was awarded to 20 qualified engineers who have achieved eligible milestones in academic and professional experience. The award ceremony was organised by Nepal Engineering Council (NEC) on 11th August 2021 and was conducted in compliance with the Health and Safety protocol of the Government of Nepal.

British Embassy Kathmandu and RAP3 MHLR Project would like to congratulate all qualified engineers’ and especially Dr. Er. Thusitha Chandani Shahi who is the first woman to earn the PEng (Nepal) title. We hope that the number of female engineers with the title of PEng. will increase in the coming years.

The PEng title was first launched in 2018 where 13 experienced engineers of Nepal were awarded this title in recognition of their achievements having demonstrated their engineering skills through their work. NEC with support from UK aid funded RAP3 MHLR has played a vital role in introducing the Professional Engineer title for the first time in Nepal to establish and maintain professional standards for engineering careers and provide long term benefits for engineers being recognised and competitive internationally. 

26 August 2021

MHLR has an agreement with the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation (DOFSC) that for every tree felled during road construction, the project needs to plant 25 new trees at the ratio of 1:25 and to take care of those trees for five years from planting. A total of 3,358 trees cut on Humla side means 83,950 new trees must be planted as compensation. Out of this, RAP3 MHLR has completed the plantation of 11,883 trees. In Mugu, the project has completed the plantation of all 18,600 trees that are required as compensatory plantation.

There is limited land available for compensatory planting near the Mugu Humla Link Road in Humla, which is mostly dense forest or agriculturally productive land, so it has been agreed with Divisional Forest Office Humla that they will carry out the planting on our behalf in other locations throughout the district. 

DFOs of Humla and Mugu will take over the care responsibility of the planted trees on behalf of the MHLR project. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between RAP3 MHLR and the DFOs of Humla and Mugu for the remaining compensatory planting and care taking of all trees planted. The MOU defines the total numbers and remaining care taking period of the trees along with the cost of providing these services, which will be funded by the project.

26 August 2021

Logs from the trees felled for construction of the Mugu Humla Link Road within the area of Jadikausi community forest in Humla were stacked at 14 locations designated by the Humla Divisional Forest Office. The project field team handed over these tree logs and firewood to Humla DFO on 9th August 2021 in the presence of Humla Divisional Forest Officer, chairperson of community forest and local people of the district. In total, there were 85,929.78 Cu ft. of Timber and 18,187.12 Cu ft. of Firewood from 1491 trees.  As per the contract signed with the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation and Divisional Forest Office, Humla, 1,491 trees have been cut down in the Humla section out of 2337 trees stamped by DFO in this region. The Chairperson of Jadikausi Community Forest of Humla thanked RAP3 MHLR for promoting the green road concept for sustainable development. Similarly, DFO Humla has also requested the community forest users to fully utilise the woods in a proper manner, as well as local residents to use these woods for house construction, if necessary.

All the logs and firewood of Jadikausi Community Forest and its management are now the responsibility of the Divisional Forest Office (DFO), Humla and should be used only with the approval of the DFO, Humla.

The Humla DFO has also provided the letter of appreciation to RAP3 MHLR for successfully executing all the tasks and responsibilities on time. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the concerned teams and authorities for their assistance and support to deliver our work effectively during this difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this handover now, RAP3 MHLR has completed the handover of all logs in both Mugu and Humla districts.

27 July 2021

Everyone has been affected differently by the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health measures such as lockdowns and social distancing are necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19, but such restrictions may also have a significant impact upon the mental health of employees. Therefore, understanding the importance of positive mental well-being of staff and to cope with stress in a healthy way in the face of COVID-19 pandemic, RAP3 MHLR conducted “Stress Management and Mental Health Training” in June and July 2021 for all RAP3 MHLR staff. The training was spread across several batches to keep the number of participants low so that participants could have sufficient time and space to interactively share their feelings with certified psychologist/stress counsellor, Karuna Kunwar. The training provided practical information, tips and exercises on preventing stress, anxiety and our staff found the training useful and beneficial for managing their mental health and keeping them optimistic and hopeful in the midst of the pandemic. In addition, staff who want a private session with the psychologist or have personal questions are now able to contact Karuna for assistance.

15 July 2021

Bio-engineering work has been carried out on the Mugu section between Darke and Chankheli in an area of around 3500 square metres where full widening of the section has been completed. Similarly, bio-engineering work on the Humla section is ongoing in an area of around 3000 square metres. Bio-engineering works are required for the protection and stabilization of slopes. The plants provide the functions of catching debris, armouring the surface, reinforcing the soil, anchoring the surface layer, supporting the slope, and supporting successful drainage. Similarly, they also enhance the aesthetics of green roads. Bio-engineering techniques like brush layering using branches of local plant species, have been adopted. Also, in order to stabilize fresh soil cut-and-fill slopes, salimo grass was planted. Soil bioengineering techniques are extensively used due to their cost-effectiveness, using locally available materials and labour. The purpose of bio engineering work is to improve slope stability and prevent the erosion of cut and fill slopes along the MHLR alignment.

15 July 2021

With RAP3 MHLR reaching its final phase, we are progressively demobilising our valuable staff after the end of their contracts with the RAP3 MHLR project. On 1st July 2021, our project field team bid a warm farewell to 10 field staff based in Mugu and Humla whose contracts ran out at the end of June 2021. On behalf of every member of the RAP3 MHLR, the project field team organized a small farewell programme at Gumgadhi, Mugu. The project highly appreciates field staffs’ remarkable contributions at the ground level, which have allowed the project to achieve its goals. Many of these staff have worked in RAP from its initial phase and at the farewell event they expressed their gratitude towards project and also shared the lessons they have achieved over their years of service to the project.

Speaking at the virtual farewell event conducted by Central team, Madan KC, Main Storekeeper, shared that when he first arrived at his base station, Mugu, he had to walk in the snow and remembered his hard times due to remoteness. Looking back on those difficult days, today, he feels amazed to be able to go to the field in our project’s four-wheel vehicle and return to his residence on the same day. The other project field staff also shared their years of similar experiences and memories of working on the project.

The project has been able to achieve great success because of their hard work and commitment over the years. It has been a great privilege and an honor to have them working for RAP with their great effort and determination.

Best wishes to all of our field project staff when moving onto the next chapter of their lives!

30 June 2021

On the occasion of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), RAP3 MHLR organised a virtual event to celebrate the achievements and contribution of outstanding women engineers across all engineering fields. This year, we marked the INWED celebration by asking our current and former male and female engineers and non-engineers a set of questions to get their perspectives on International Women in Engineering Day.

The participants involved in the event shared about their source of motivation to choose the field of engineering, issues they generally face on-site or in the office, their thoughts on having fewer female engineers than male in their office and in the field, their experience of any positive changes in the field of engineering over time, one change they would want to bring to our work culture to make the environment, and their thoughts on celebrating International Women in Engineering Day. The participants shared that choosing this engineering field provided them with tremendous learning opportunities, as well as the opportunity to do development work. Their responses showed that women still face many challenges in engineering compared to men and that having more female engineers on the team permits a more diverse environment and creative approach to solving problems.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the members, especially our former female engineers, for contributing their valuable time to mark this celebration. It was a great event to celebrate and collect views, experiences and ideas in order to understand the barriers and opportunities faced by both men and women in the engineering field through the perception of male and female engineers. 

We hope that in the days to come, the engineering field will be more inclusive for all genders.

Happy International Women in Engineering Day, 2021!

30 June 2021

On 12th Feb 2020, ‘20 years of RAP’ was celebrated at the British Embassy, Kathmandu (BEK) to mark the success of the three phases of RAP and close collaboration between Nepal and the UK for development aid. Our project staff, stakeholders, beneficiaries and DFID/BEK staff have all contributed to its success through their hard work and dedication and now, with RAP3 MHLR reaching its final phase, we are progressively winding down the project.

 

After the completion of RAP3 main component, a new maintenance and resilience component under RAP3 MHLR was started from 1st July 2019 to provide technical and management support for road maintenance to the government of Karnali Province. In May 2020, an amendment to the RAP3 MHLR contract was signed and introduced a new COVID-19 Response component to support the Government of Nepal’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of offering wage income opportunities to the impoverished and vulnerable people of Karnali Province, the COVID-19 Response component is phasing out at the end of June 2021 and with this, the contracts of four of our senior staff have also come to an end.

 

On behalf of every member of the RAP3 MHLR, we would like to convey our profound gratitude for the hard work and splendid performance of our four-senior staff over the years. Our senior staff: Shankar Pokharel, Safeguard Specialist, joined the project in 2004; Arjun Poudel, COVID-19 Component Team Leader, started working on RAP in 2006; and similarly, Gopi Chandra Upreti, Province Support Manager and Mitra Shrestha, Province Stakeholder Coordinator joined the RAP project in 2011. The resilience and patience our senior staff showed during their tenure at RAP3 MHLR is commendable. The team has set a great example of leadership, bonding and friendship which has meant that the project has been able to achieve great success. To celebrate the achievement of COVID-19 Response Component and to honour the contribution of our senior team members, RAP3 MHLR organised an event on June 18, 2021 which highlighted the achievements of the component as well as our senior staff who shared their years of experience and memories of working on the project.

 

It has been a great privilege and an honor to have our senior staff working for RAP with great effort and generosity of spirit and while we are sad that they are leaving.  We wish them all the best for their future endeavors!

 

11 June 2021

With the country facing a shortage of medical oxygen for a growing number of COVID-19 patients, UK aid-funded RAP3 MHLR handed over 50 cylinders of oxygen to the district hospital, Mugu on 30th May 2021. Before the project’s support, the district hospital had 30 oxygen cylinders. Now the hospital has 84 in total including 50 cylinders supplied by the RAP3 MHLR project and 4 other cylinders donated by the National Innovation Centre. Along with oxygen cylinders, other essential medical supplies such as high flow nasal cannula therapy devices, antigen humidification, flow meters and integrated heated breathing circuit sets were also handed over to the district hospital on the same day. Prior to this support, on 24th May 2021, the project had also provided other essential emergency medical supplies and medicines to Gamgadhi district hospital, local isolation centres and health posts in Mugu and Humla. The project has now delivered all of the medical supplies agreed upon in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the district hospital, isolation facilities and health posts in Mugu and Humla.

After receiving the oxygen cylinders and other health supplies donated by RAP3MHLR, the Health Service Manager of Gamgadhi district hospital, Mrs. Karuna Bhattarai said that it is difficult to purchase medical supplies due to the lengthy procurement process involved but that with the increased oxygen supply in the district now, the district hospital Mugu is hopeful that RAP3 MHLR’s support will help them win the battle against the second wave of COVID 19 in Mugu and Humla.

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