The ILO has a long history of technical co-operation with Nepal. Initially this co-operation was focused on community works primarily in the irrigation sector and more recently with DoLIDAR in the rural road sub-sector. During the late 90s, the ILO provided technical assistance to the ADB supported Project "Institutional Strengthening for Rural Infrastructure Development". This project advised on the setting up of the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural roads (DoLIDAR) within the Ministry of Local Development (MLD). The project also assisted is the formulation of the National Strategy for Rural Infrastructure Development (1997) and the National Plan for Rural Road Maintenance (1999).

In November 2000, ILO and DFID jointly supported DoLIDAR to run a workshop to review the strengths and weaknesses of the National Strategy for Rural Infrastructure Development and to review options to improve the coordination between the different donors' efforts to assist the rural road sub-sector. Following the workshop DoLIDAR prepared a logical framework for strengthening the capacity at DoLIDAR and DDC level, which was presented to the donors in December 2000.

More recently, to support the decentralization process in general and capacity building of the DDCs' in particular with respect to the rural infrastructure development and improving rural accessibility, the ILO- ASIST and the DoLIDAR have developed an understanding to collaborate. Among other things, the IRAP process will be implemented in two districts as pilot case under this collaboration.