Kathmandu, July 04: The United States will donate 7.5 million dollars to Nepal over three years to help the kingdom root out corruption and strengthen the rule of law, officials said today. The grant will be used to improve Nepal's court system and "increase access to justice for the poor and disenfranchised," a statement by the US Embassy said.

It said the money would try to build "more transparent, accountable and effective governance" in Nepal and bolster institutions including the finance ministry and the anti-corruption commission for the investigation and abuse of authority. A finance ministry official said the agreement was signed yesterday by Madhav Prasad Ghimire, joint secretary in the finance ministry who leads its foreign aid division, and Wendy Chamberlin, who heads the Asia and near east section of the US Agency for International Development.

International donors have complained in the past that aid delivery has been impeded by corruption and a shaky administrative structure in rural stretches of the Himalayan state. Bureau Report