Germany says it is giving $1.08 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) for use in Phase II of the Rural Community Infrastructure Works (RCIW) programme. The RCIW, now operational in 35 districts, combines food aid with community development projects that the locals participate in building. The RCIW was launched in 10 districts in 1996. The project purchased rice worth $113 million in the five years of Phase I for distribution to 250,000 food-deficient families working on irrigation, fishery, flood control and soil conservation projects. The RCIW is a joint initiative of the government of Nepal and Germany and the World Food Programme. The WFP says the activities supported with food aid have helped increase local production and also connect many rural areas to markets. The RCIW now plans to move into the far-western hills and support communities in rural road-building and other activities to increase food security?mainly by helping increase local production.