As of June 30, 2021, out of 858,282 eligible program beneficiaries, 818,520 (95.36%) have enrolled into the program by signing participation agreement. Whilst 816, 566 (99.76%) enrolled beneficiaries have received the first tranche of housing grant, 757,394 (92.75%) beneficiaries are expected to have started the reconstruction. Similarly of those, who have started the reconstruction, 727,178 (96%) beneficiaries have received the second tranche of housing grants after completing plinth level reconstruction of their houses, 665,124 (87.81%) beneficiaries have received the third tranche of housing grants after completing roof-band level reconstruction of their houses.
Nepal was hit hard by the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March 2021, when reconstruction was taking full swing and NRA was determined to conclude the reconstruction of private housing by mid-July 2021 (end of Nepali fiscal year). Reconstruction was severely affected as mobility restrictions made it hard for engineers to perform their field work. The long hiatus also affected the implementation of socio-technical assistance, particularly reconstruction of houses belonging to vulnerable beneficiaries. Meanwhile, contract of social mobilizers and mobile masons concluded in mid-June 2021. The World Bank has requested the NRA to ensure the adequate human resources are mobilized in the field, specifically to ensure “no one is left behind” and implement MDTF activities around disability inclusion, capacity building of local governments and disaster resilience.