A delegation of Swedish parliamentarians concluded a four-day visit to Nepal on Thursday, commending the country for its progress on promoting inclusion and gender equality as well as building resilience, improving livelihoods and the work on post-earthquake recovery.

The visiting delegation included six parliamentarians representing different political parties, from both ruling and opposition parties: namely, Emma Nohrén, Kerstin Lundgren, Margareta Cederfeldt, Marie-Louise Rönnmark, Markus Wiechel and Tina Acketoft.

The objective of their visit to Nepal was to monitor the results achieved by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in implementing projects that 

contribute to the country’s development. 

The delegates visited several UNDP projects implemented in partnership with local governments, CSOs and communities in Kaski and Gorkha, and interacted with provincial assembly members to exchange experience related to parliamentary democracy, they said before completing the visit. 

 The parliamentarians also met with representatives of development partners in Nepal, the National Human Rights Commission and other high-level officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Building a healthy democracy is an on-going process that one has to work on every single day, in Sweden as well as in Nepal. Accountability, transparency, an open and growing economy and an independent judiciary as well as free media are key elements for success. Here we can learn from each other. You are at a new starting point in Nepal with a new constitution and we look forward to following the good progress of the country,” said Kerstin Lundgren from the Green Liberal party, currently in opposition.

The delegates, who observed the on-going reconstruction and recovery work in Gorkha, appreciated the progress made so far while at the same time underscoring the need for continued support. Sweden pledged $10m for the earthquake response.

Shedding light on the importance of the visit, UNDP Nepal Country Director Renaud Meyer said, “Sweden is among the top five core contributors to UNDP. The taxpayers’ money they provide generously to UNDP is used all over the world, including here in Nepal. It is important that we also show the parliamentarians, who are responsible for their constituencies, the results that we produce in the field.”