Norway, UNFPA partner to strengthen reproductive health in Nepal

The Government of Norway entered into a partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights of women and girls. It focuses particularly on adolescents, youth, people living with disability, and those left furthest behind in underserved municipalities in the Madesh (Province 2) and Sudurpaschim Provinces (Province 7).

The Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Norwegian Embassy of Nepal, Ms. Kristine H. Storholt signed the partnership agreement with the UNFPA Country Representative, Ms. Won Young Hong this week. 

Accordingly, under a financial envelope of USD 3 million (30 million NOK), the Project titled ‘Reproductive Health and Rights for Accelerating Impacts (RHEA)’ will be implemented from December 2022 - December 2025 to reduce the unmet need for family planning and strengthen the delivery of quality of SRH services.

Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Kristine H. Storholtl stated “I am pleased that comprehensive sexual education is a substantial part of this new project. Many young people in Nepal lack the necessary knowledge to make responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. It makes them vulnerable to coercion, child marriage, diseases, and unintended pregnancy. Through this project, UNFPA and Norway commit to strengthening sexuality education both inside and outside schools.”

Also speaking at the event, Ms. Won Young Hong stated “Ending the unmet need for family planning is a core area of UNFPA’s work both in Nepal and beyond. In Nepal, we know that modern contraceptive prevalence has stagnated at 44%, far from the 2030 target of 60%. On the other hand, the adolescent fertility rate continues to be the highest in the region, which is fuelled by the high incidence of early and child marriage and the limited utilization of modern contraceptives. This is why this Project is important to us and we are very grateful to the Government of Norway for funding this area of work, with a particular focus on adolescents and youth in the identified provinces in Nepal.”

This agreement comes in the midst of the marking of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The Government of Norway is the third highest contributor to UNFPA’s work worldwide.