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University supporting Nepal’s poorest

08/07/2008
 
 
Its role will be as advisory specialists for the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme (LFP).
 
LFP, a Department For International Development-funded project, enhances the assets of rural communities by promoting more sustainable use of forest resources. The initiative works with 4,000 Community Forestry User Groups, representing 18 per cent of the population of Nepal.
 
Groups are given areas of forest to manage, which gives them much-needed employment. The scheme gives poor people access for basic needs – fodder for animals, fuel wood, building materials and food in times of extreme stress.
 
It also helps to enhance the income of poor and excluded people through valuable non-timber forest products such as medicinal and aromatic plants.
 
The University of Wolverhampton’s Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) has already been working in Nepal for around 20 years and is helping to improve the long-term prospects for its inhabitants.
 
CIDT staff member Peter Branney will be there for three years, assisting the managers of the programme. His main areas of responsibility are to provide support management services, and provide technical assistance to the programme.
 
Head of CIDT Phil Dearden says: “LFP is empowering the poorest people and reducing their vulnerability.
 
“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 into Nepal to help the poorest communities.”
 
The contract was put to open tender, with competition from groups across the world. The team of CIDT staff – including Phil Dearden, Des Mahony, Gavin Jordan and John Choudray – were delighted when they found out their bid was successful earlier this year.
 
He said the project would make a huge difference to the Nepal, giving its poorest people the chance of a future.

Further information

For more information please contact Emma Kilvert in the press office on 01902 322003.

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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