Contact: Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802 (office); 443-220-3269 (cell); esollie@lwr.org
Baltimore, November 22, 2013 — On December 2, 2013, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) will officially open its first office in Nepal after operating there since 2009.
Initially focused on improving food security for indigenous, Dalit and marginalized populations, LWR has expanded its work in Nepal to include assisting populations that are food insecure, as well as those that are vulnerable to frequent natural hazards, such as floods, landslides and earthquakes.
LWR has worked in Nepal since 2009, in partnership with Lutheran World Federation Nepal (LWF). LWR received its official registration as a non-governmental organization (NGO) operating in coordination with the Government of Nepal in May 2013, authorizing the organization to work in some of the country’s most remote districts. Upon receiving the official registration, Kiran Ojha, LWR’s country director for Nepal said, “I hope that our registration ensures LWR’s ability to scale up our work and helps us to better serve additional poor and marginalized populations in realizing their full potential.”
LWR’s current portfolio in Nepal includes projects in agriculture, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. LWR addresses development needs and builds resilience, helping communities to better prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters while also improving food security and increasing household savings.
For example, one LWR program in Nepal supports citrus farmers in improving harvest methods and post-harvest handling and assists farmers in organizing into a collective to increase market access and negotiate bulk sales. LWR also works to educate communities about improved cook stove technology and techniques, heating and lighting methods and clean energy technologies that help eliminate the need to cut down trees for fuel, thus reducing deforestation.
LWR’s Asia portfolio also includes work in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, where the agency is currently implementing an emergency response to Typhoon Haiyan in addition to several long-term sustainable development programs.
LWR looks forward to continuing its work in Nepal in the years to come, promoting sustainable development and ending poverty, injustice and human suffering throughout the communities in which it works.
“This is an important time for Nepal as the country transitions to a new government,” said Joanne Fairley, LWR’s regional director for Asia and the Middle East. “There is a critical role for international NGOs to play in supporting initiatives around economic development and poverty reduction. LWR is looking forward to expanding our work in agricultural production, food security and disaster risk reduction. Our new office is a sign of our long-term commitment to the people of Nepal.”
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945. For more information, please visit lwr.org.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of U.S. Lutherans, serving communities living in poverty overseas.