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Evan Ryan announces the AFCP grant to restore Gaddi Baithak in a ceremony in Kathmandu Durbar Square, Nepal.
The grant was awarded to Miyamoto Global Disaster Relief, who will repair Gaddi Baithak and improve the palace’s structural safety and earthquake resistance. The building was heavily damaged in the 2015 Nepal earthquakes and is a cornerstone the Kathmandu Durbar Square UNESCO World Heritage site.
“The Ambassador’s Fund is among the U.S. Government’s most significant cultural initiatives abroad,” said Assistant Secretary Ryan at the ceremony. “The United States is committed to protecting the unique and irreplaceable cultural heritage in Nepal, and the Gaddi Baithak restoration project aims to restore this important structure to its original grandeur.”
The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation provides direct grant support for the preservation of cultural heritage in countries worldwide. Since 2001, AFCP has supported more than 640 cultural preservation projects in over 100 countries. AFCP has invested $2.9 million to preserve Nepal’s cultural heritage over the past 20 years. Sixteen projects are completed and work is currently under way on projects at the Hanumandhoka and in Patan Durbar Square.
