Kathmandu, 27 December: The Government of Nepal and Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed a concessional loan agreement amounting to USD 200 million (equivalent to Rs. 26.51 billion) for supporting the first five years of the School Education Sector Plan (2022–2030) and a Grant Agreement of USD 12 million (equivalent to Rs. 1.57 billion) to implement the Strengthening Systems to Protect and Uplift Women Project. The agreements were signed by Ishwori Prasad Aryal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Saugata Dasgupta, ADB Officer-in-Charge for Nepal on behalf of the Government of Nepal and Asian Development Bank respectively. The proposed assistance will support the implementation of the government’s School Education Sector Plan in a sector-wide approach supported by eight development partners, including ADB under the Joint Financing Arrangement. The program will enhance learning provisions for basic and secondary schools; strengthen teaching and learning skills in schools; accelerate the recovery from learning losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and improve the capacity of local governments in education planning, monitoring and reporting. Similarly, Strengthening Systems to Protect and Uplift Women Project will benefit survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) across Madhesh, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschchim provinces through the establishment of long-term rehabilitation centers, development of survivor-friendly facilities for the Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Centers within selected district and area police offices and strengthening of survivor-friendly services in these provinces. The project will also build a new national long-term rehabilitation center in Bhaktapur. People's News Monitoring Service