India Launches Rice Fortification and Supply Chain Project in Nepal with UN Support

Photo: Ministry of External Affairs, India

Kathmandu: India has launched a new collaborative project to support rice fortification and supply chain management in Nepal, under the India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative.

The initiative, supported by the UN World Food Programme, was officially launched on August 1, 2025, by India’s Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

The project aims to strengthen Nepal’s fortified rice supply chain by addressing challenges in procurement, data collection, and workforce training. It will promote knowledge sharing from India’s successful Public Distribution System (PDS), focusing on key areas such as beneficiary management, storage and distribution, monitoring systems, and grievance redressal.

Planned to be implemented over 12 months, the project includes three phases: needs assessment, a study visit to India for Nepali officials, and the development of an action plan. Training will be provided through India’s ITEC Programme, which has already trained over 3,000 Nepali officials since 2001.

This project is one of four identified under the India-UN Global Capacity Building Initiative, which was announced in September 2023 to promote South-South cooperation and support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the strong development partnership between India and Nepal and their shared commitment to building resilient food systems.