Sol Nepal Project Update February 2022

 SoL Nepal project update                                                     February 2022

Our progress.

 Some rather disappointing news has been received from our implementing partners, Renewable World, about progress on the project at Kavre Pokhari.

Part of the funding around the overall programme, referred to as TREATS, which benefits 10 schools and communities in total has been delayed.

Specifically at Kavre Pokhari, an element of match-funding from the Nepalese local government has been delayed due to Covid responses and the resources necessarily applied to them.

Covid restrictions also mean that the functioning of the relevant departments is slower because of significant staff absences.

 However the following points have been discussed and confirmed with Renewable World;

         ·        Progress on the project will be delayed for a limited time

·        The funding is only delayed as a result of Covid constraints and resulting action of the government

·        Our contributions are, in all cases, ring-fenced for the provision of the SolarMUS at Kavre Pokhari

·        Water will now likely flow at Kavre Pokhari later in the year.

To clarify the latter point, work on the construction of infrastructure around the SolarMUS will likely resume around June, and this coincides with the start of the monsoon, which continues until Sept/Oct.

It is thus unclear how well work will progress so the best estimate for conclusion of the installation work is towards the end of the year. In the meantime, work continues on the WASH aspects of the project which are not affected by the delays.

Updates will continue to be provided to our contributors to demonstrate the progress as it is notified.

 We have now confirmed that the Rotary contribution will be acknowledged on the project signage at the SolarMUS site. The sign highlighting our clubs’ contributions and the District 1070 involvement will consist of the graphic of the solar panel array with the banners of supporting clubs, together with our District’s logo and that of the Host club – Rotary E-club of Dist 3292, Nepal and Bhutan.

 Photos of the signage, and the members of the E-club conducting the confirmatory visit to the project site, will be shared with all contributors when available.

Our Foundation Chair, Neil Trigwell, made the first report against the project grant, DG2021-08 Multi-Club, and was advised by Paul Dickinson that the report was satisfactory.

Some rather disappointing news has been received from our implementing partners, Renewable World,
about progress on the project at Kavre Pokhari.
Part of the funding around the overall programme, referred to as TREATS, which benefits 10 schools and
communities in total has been delayed.
Specifically at Kavre Pokhari, an element of match-funding from the Nepalese local government has been
delayed due to Covid responses and the resources necessarily applied to them.
Covid restrictions also mean that the functioning of the relevant departments is slower because of
significant staff absences.
However the following points have been discussed and confirmed with Renewable World;
• Progress on the project will be delayed for a limited time
• The funding is only delayed as a result of Covid constraints and resulting action of the government
• Our contributions are, in all cases, ring-fenced for the provision of the SolarMUS at Kavre Pokhari
• Water will now likely flow at Kavre Pokhari later in the year.
To clarify the latter point, work on the construction of infrastructure around the SolarMUS will likely resume
around June, and this coincides with the start of the monsoon, which continues until Sept/Oct.
It is thus unclear how well work will progress so the best estimate for conclusion of the installation work is
towards the end of the year. In the meantime, work continues on the WASH aspects of the project which
are not affected by the delays.
Updates will continue to be provided to our contributors to demonstrate the progress as it is notified.
We have now confirmed that the Rotary contribution will be acknowledged on the project signage at the
SolarMUS site. The sign highlighting our clubs’ contributions and the District 1070 involvement will consist
of the graphic of the solar panel array with the banners of supporting clubs, together with our District’s logo
and that of the Host club – Rotary E-club of Dist 3292, Nepal and Bhutan.
Photos of the signage, and the members of the E-club conducting the confirmatory visit to the project site,
will be shared with all contributors when available.

Our Foundation Chair, Neil Trigwell, made the first report against the project grant, DG2021-08 Multi-Club,
and was advised by Paul Dickinson that the report was satisfactory.

Further developments
Our club is to be featured in an article to appear in the Daventry Express this week (w/c 28th Feb.)
highlighting the club’s work locally, with our Father Christmas collection, and internationally with the
SoL Nepal project. The online version may be viewed here;
https://www.daventryexpress.co.uk/business/rotary-club-celebrates-record-year-in-daventry-3575072
If this is of interest to contributing clubs in promoting your own club’s involvement locally, we would be
pleased to provide the press release which was used, describing

the project.

Bob Leaper, International Chair.                                                                28^th February 2022.