UNFPA and Panasonic Holdings Corporation have signed an in-kind contribution agreement for the donation of 198 Panasonic solar lanterns to selected health facilities and female community health volunteers in the Jajarkot (Karnali Province) and Rautahat (Madhesh Province) districts of Nepal. This partnership ensures the continuity of vital, life-saving health services during emergencies in communities increasingly exposed to climate-related disasters.

The signing ceremony was held virtually, connecting representatives in Kathmandu and Tokyo. This initiative complements the Government of Japan-funded project, "Improvement of Maternal and Child Health Care Services and Adaptive Capacity in Nepal," implemented by UNFPA. The project addresses critical gaps in districts where health facilities serving pregnant women and newborns are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, ranging from landslides to severe cold waves.
 
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Sriram Haridass, UNFPA Country Representative in Nepal, expressed his gratitude to Panasonic for the timely contribution: "In remote and disaster-prone communities, continuity of essential health services often depends on simple but reliable solutions. These solar lanterns will help frontline health workers continue providing safe maternal and newborn care during power outages and emergencies. This partnership reflects the power of partnerships, and we are grateful to Panasonic for helping strengthen more resilient health systems for the women and families of Nepal”
 
Representing Panasonic, Ms. Akiyo Doumoto, General Manager of Corporate Citizenship Office, highlighted the company's long-standing commitment to global corporate citizenship: “Through our 'LIGHT UP THE FUTURE' initiative, Panasonic is dedicated to driving sustainable development and expanding opportunities in education, health, and income generation for off-grid communities worldwide. We are proud to strengthen our partnership with UNFPA. By delivering clean, reliable light to these frontline health facilities in Nepal, we hope to empower local communities and build lasting resilience against the growing challenges of climate change.”
Jajarkot and Rautahat face severe climate and energy challenges. The remote hilly Jajarkot is still recovering from the 2023 earthquake and has limited and unreliable electricity access in many areas. Meanwhile, low-lying Rautahat suffers from frequent monsoon flooding and lacks adequate power backup systems. Both districts face recurrent crises that threaten to cut off access to vital healthcare.
These Panasonic solar lanterns will support uninterrupted maternal and newborn healthcare services in selected facilities, benefiting an estimated 47,898 women and newborns each year. In addition to improving lighting within health facilities, they will also support night-time referrals and home visits by female community health volunteers. This donation builds on a broader initiative, which has successfully assessed 20 health facilities, refurbished 10 facilities to improve climate resilience and supported the development of nine climate-adaptive municipal plans.
Since 2022, Panasonic has partnered with UNFPA to deliver solar lanterns to off-grid communities across Africa and Asia. Launched in 2013, Panasonic’s "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" initiative aims to bring light to off-grid regions where the lack of electricity creates significant barriers to daily life. In collaboration with approximately 160 partners, including NGOs, NPOs, and international organizations, Panasonic has delivered around 130,000 solar lanterns to 36 countries.
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The Improvement of Maternal and Child Health Care Services and Adaptive Capacity in Nepal Project is funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNFPA Nepal across Jajarkot and Rautahat Districts.
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Aditi Aryal, Communications Analyst, UNFPA Nepal
aryal@unfpa.org | +977 9801056006