Annual Report 2020

Nepal

Foreword Inside Results in Numbers

SECTION 1 PROMOTING INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH 8 Feature: Sukmaya’s Dairy 17

SECTION 2 FOSTERING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE 18 Feature: Merina’s Dream Comes True 31

SECTION 3 BUILDING RESILIENCE 32 Feature: Turning Fear into Confidence 45

SECTION 4 PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION 46

INNOVATION 58 SDG LOCALIZATION 62 RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS 64 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2020 LAUNCH IN NEPAL 66 UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS 68 UNDP NEPAL AND THE UN SYSTEM 70 FUNDING SOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS 72

Contributing partners 74 UNDP Nepal: Where we work 75 Acronyms and Abbreviations 76 4 UNDP Nepal

FOREWORD

A year of crisis unlike any 2020 witnessed an unprecedented global people as they sought to recover their crisis and that affected and shaped a livelihoods. in living memory was also significant part of our work at UNDP in a year during which UNDP Nepal. COVID-19 hit the country in January In response to government requests, we was able to support the and it went on to take a huge toll on the reoriented a significant part of our available Government and people country. It disrupted the economy and the resources to COVID-19 health response lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of and socio-economic recovery. That, among of Nepal as they coped people: daily wage earners, those working other things, led to establishment of with, and responded to, in tourism, migrant workers, entrepreneurs, over 12,000 green businesses and direct the needs of the unsettling women, elderly, the disabled and others. livelihood support to over 154,000 of the hour. Like many other countries, Nepal was most-affected people across the country. unprepared for such a crisis. Health And UNDP programmes that worked systems were overstretched, and existing with cooperatives and farmers supported social safety nets proved insufficiently another 19,000 farmers with tools and robust. From agriculture to hydropower, technology support. and education to industry, 2020 was by any measure a tough year. Tourist arrivals UNDP continued to help build strong dropped by over 80 percent. So deep was institutions at federal, provincial and local the impact and so damaging that GDP levels through the flagship Provincial and fell to a mere 0.6 percent from 7 percent Local Government Support Programme. the previous year. UNDP’s rapid socio- Building the capacities of local and economic assessment revealed that three provincial governments, those on the out of every five jobs in micro and small frontline of the battle against COVID-19, was businesses were lost. critical. We provided vital videoconferencing solutions in a context where professional Despite all the challenges, and with the discourse had become an unprecedented generous support of our longstanding challenge. That alone helped to lubricate partners, UNDP and the Government of the wheels of governance at a time Nepal were still able to join hands to help when effective, timely communication some of the hardest-hit people cope with was essential yet threatened to mutate the crisis. And as the pandemic’s collateral into posterity. It helped ensure that 753 damage became increasingly apparent, local governments, seven provincial UNDP was quick to respond with a governments and parliaments and comprehensive recovery programme that numerous other key institutions were able focused on supporting the most vulnerable to continue their work. At least 16 laws and Annual Report 2020 5

regulations and procedures related to crucial For all its shackles and predicaments, 2020 with much determination and not a little institutions responsible for the smooth running offered UNDP an unexpected opportunity to optimism. A great deal remains to be done of provincial and local government were innovate and explore new areas for support, as we move forward in the face of ever more drafted under this programme. The laws, once particularly in health systems. Crucial health complex challenges. These include effective endorsed, are intended to help implement the supplies, including PCR machines, RNA management of the COVID-19 pandemic, process of federalism and realize the visions of extractors, and ventilators, were provided to stepping in to shield all of us from the virus the Constitution. provincial laboratories and hospitals. Through and to recover from it, and hold our course in our Accelerator Lab, we partnered with local the effort to save lives, boost the capacities These efforts were carefully designed as part youth groups and innovators to explore and of provincial and local governments in of our longer-term crisis response, through adopt innovative solutions to urban waste service provision, and initiatives that seek to which UNDP focused on helping decision- management, COVID-19-related information reduce disaster risks and build resilience in makers look beyond recovery, towards 2030, management, unemployment and sustainable for instance, catalytic support in managing by supporting them in making choices urban mobility. In all these initiatives, our vulnerable watersheds and promoting people’s and managing complexity and uncertainty efforts sought to ensure that they ultimately access to affordable energy. A major focus in governance, social protection, digital promote gender equality and social inclusion, will remain on promoting inclusive economic transformation, and green recovery. key aspects that cut across all our programmes. growth and addressing unemployment by nurturing sustainable tourism and a green Importantly, the green recovery and This annual report captures some of these recovery, including through partnership with resilience agenda is a key policy concern results achieved in 2020, along with illustrative provincial governments, international financial for governments the world over. For Nepal, stories from those that benefited. The results institutions and the private sector. which stands on the cusp of graduation from would not have been possible without the LDC status, the message from COVID-19 was support of the federal and sub-national The pandemic serves to invigorate UNDP’s loud and clear: shock resilience should be governments, Ministry of Law, Justice resolve to continue supporting the people and built into the development model to ensure and Parliamentary Affairs, Parliament, law the Government of Nepal in their realization of that graduation is irreversible. To that end, in enforcement agencies, constitutional bodies the vision of Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali. 2020 we worked in 16 municipalities and all such as Election Commission, National Human It is our fervent hope and belief that together seven provinces to help local governments Rights Commission, Office of the Attorney we can and will ride out the storm and create understand and manage disaster risks and General, the private sector, media and CSOs a better, more prosperous, more just and more vulnerabilities. We supported them in and that of our international development sustainable society. designing and delivering policy and action partners, the UN Agencies and the UN Resident plans to reduce the risks of disaster, increasing Coordinator, to each of whom we extend our resources for disaster and climate risk appreciation and heartfelt gratitude. mitigation and response, and in piloting risk insurance schemes. As we review our efforts during this most AYSHANIE MEDAGANGODA-LABÉ extraordinary year, we also look to 2021 UNDP Resident Representative Supported 7 provinces and 16 municipalities 150+ implemented DRR Supported 20 vulnerable women to start policy and 11.4% local governments cloth mask enterprise strategic action to implement green to reduce virus transmis- plans 1.5 million unemployment livelihood recovery sion the virus & promote migrant workers rate stands projects green enterprises returned home Built a green park in Kathmandu accessible for all, including children, 4.4 million elderly & disabled people are engage populations in the informal Impact sector 2 million Supported more than jobs lost across Planted 1000 sectors poor and vulnerable 7,000+ households, in Building trees in and around constructing their quarantine facilities quake-resilient across the country CO ZERO homes 5.5 million 3 out of 5 Resilience 2 Nepalis already jobs lost in the The Ministry below the 2020 saw micro and small of Forests and poverty line businesses Enviroment prepared 80.78% e-NDC to make drop in tourist Nepal a zero- arrivals carbon economy by 2050

Launched practitioners guide for Judicial Committees during the crisis 2000+ 2020 IN NUMBERS vulnerable people provided with short-term jobs Governance through livelihoods recovery initiatives Over All 753 Launched a 500 local governments, “human rights app” COVID-19 livelihood prosecuters oﬃces of 7 provincial to help reporting support provided to over (150 Women) govts & 3 assemblies & handling of cases trained equipped with Inclusvie 154,000 videoconferencing 8 bills underwent aﬀected people 1800+ facilities public consultations farmers from 19 engagaging over Palikas provided with Growth seeds, saplings, plastic Donated 21 sheets and other agri 3000 pick up vehicles to input support people through help cooperatives VSF Over improve supply Connected over chain for 6000+ Launched an online 70 lawyers farmers course to train govt 3 million deployed to run online attorneys to tackle people with their local proactive psychosocial organized crime governments through counselling and legal live phone-in radio services programs 17 high-end lab machines, including Created over Protective Launched a delivery PCR machines gear robot designed by handed over to 165,000+ 19,900 provided to youth locally to help provincial labs micro-entrepreneurs frontline health surgical & cloth masks, Launched “Smart Helped launch PPEs, gloves & other (22,452 full-time jobs 500 workers at Teku and 60% of them Palika” app to help “Crisis MIS for Local Hospital protective gear local governments Governments” to collect waste collectors provided to frontline women) better respond to & monitor pandemic in Kathmandu & responders the crisis related data & Nuwakot information Supported 7 provinces and 16 municipalities 150+ implemented DRR Supported 20 vulnerable women to start policy and 11.4% local governments cloth mask enterprise strategic action to implement green to reduce virus transmis- plans 1.5 million unemployment livelihood recovery sion the virus & promote migrant workers rate stands projects green enterprises returned home Built a green park in Kathmandu accessible for all, including children, 4.4 million elderly & disabled people are engage populations in the informal Impact sector 2 million Supported more than jobs lost across Planted 1000 sectors poor and vulnerable 7,000+ households, in Building trees in and around constructing their quarantine facilities quake-resilient across the country CO ZERO homes 5.5 million 3 out of 5 Resilience 2 Nepalis already jobs lost in the The Ministry below the 2020 saw micro and small of Forests and poverty line businesses Enviroment prepared 80.78% e-NDC to make drop in tourist Nepal a zero- arrivals carbon economy by 2050

Launched practitioners guide for Judicial Committees during the crisis 2000+ 2020 IN NUMBERS vulnerable people provided with short-term jobs Governance through livelihoods recovery initiatives Over All 753 Launched a 500 local governments, “human rights app” COVID-19 livelihood prosecuters oﬃces of 7 provincial to help reporting support provided to over (150 Women) govts & 3 assemblies & handling of cases trained equipped with Inclusvie 154,000 videoconferencing 8 bills underwent aﬀected people 1800+ facilities public consultations farmers from 19 engagaging over Palikas provided with Growth seeds, saplings, plastic Donated 21 sheets and other agri 3000 pick up vehicles to input support people through help cooperatives VSF Over improve supply Connected over chain for 6000+ Launched an online 70 lawyers farmers course to train govt 3 million deployed to run online attorneys to tackle people with their local proactive psychosocial organized crime governments through counselling and legal live phone-in radio services programs 17 high-end lab machines, including Created over Protective Launched a delivery PCR machines gear robot designed by handed over to 165,000+ 19,900 provided to youth locally to help provincial labs micro-entrepreneurs frontline health surgical & cloth masks, Launched “Smart Helped launch PPEs, gloves & other (22,452 full-time jobs 500 workers at Teku and 60% of them Palika” app to help “Crisis MIS for Local Hospital protective gear local governments Governments” to collect waste collectors provided to frontline women) better respond to & monitor pandemic in Kathmandu & responders the crisis related data & Nuwakot information Promoting Inclusive Economic Growth Nearly 17 percent of Nepal’s people still live below the poverty line today, according to the SDG Progress Report Nepal, 2020. Most are from historically marginalized groups and are largely concentrated in Province 2, Karnali and Sudurpashim. It is feared that COVID-19 along with flooding, drought and other shocks may have pushed a significant number of people who had managed to climb out of poverty back into poverty. A range of other factors – where they live, their ethnicity, gender, lack of opportunities, and more – may, of course, also play a role in that. 10 UNDP Nepal

UNDP’s efforts to eradicate poverty and promote economic growth in Nepal seek to address the relationships that link those factors and to ensure Creating jobs that the vulnerable are the priority beneficiaries and no one is left behind. & livelihood opportunities More than Helped A total of In 2020, UNDP supported impact of the pandemic. The the Government to improve assessment helped to inform economically vulnerable recovery programmes in the people received unemployed received the Farmer Relief people’s access to sustainable 2020/21 national budget. livelihood support people become micro Fund with a value of NRs. livelihoods and income The Government introduced such as skill-based entrepreneurs 100,000 to 190,000 for opportunities. The central schemes to generate training, enterprise through skills and their immediate distribution focus of our intervention was employment for poor and Reconstructed 317 community development, entrepreneurship of winter vegetable seed to ensure that the economic disadvantaged people and, with infrastructures such as agro improved development trainings. and farm equipment like growth that Nepal aims to UNDP’s technical support, it products collection centres, technologies, tools garden pipes, sprayers, achieve translates into improved expanded the Micro Enterprise cooling chambers, drinking water and agri input, to vegetable clippers, and lives and the availability of Development for Poverty schemes, community buildings, help them generate crate. UNDP supported 37 better choices for all its citizens. Alleviation (MEDPA) programme irrigation system and rural roads stable incomes palikas for the preparation of in all 753 local governments benefiting over Agricultural Plan. With 2020 dominated by with major budgetary support the COVID-19 crisis, UNDP ($19 million) from the national prioritized helping Nepal’s treasury, almost double that of people socio-economic recovery the previous year. UNDP helped efforts, starting from an to create another 19,911 micro- initial rapid assessment entrepreneurs, 60 percent of of the socio-economic them women. Initiated “agri ambulances” – 19,331 farmers (9,931 women) gained Fostered a unique model special trucks permitted to enhanced access to markets with support for of partnership that saw transport perishable agro collection centres, mobile market and strong ownership and products from farm to transportation facilities which also included participation of local market during the lockdown – 28 pick trucks. The farmers sold 8,590 tons government and to rescue farmers’ products of fruits and vegetables worth communities, with Provided short-term that would have otherwise municipalities contributing employment to over gone to waste during the 26% of the cost, local lockdown. communities 9%, third Another 2,200 farmers (61% women) party donors 14% and women and men through benefited from support in agriculture UNDP 51% to implement community infrastructure productivity-enhancing inputs over 390 schemes in 27 This is not just about independence or development initiatives Built and brought to operation and harvest management. municipalities. income; it’s a special art. I feel proud to the Chabahil Satellite Cooperative Market benefiting be able to make dhaka clothes. I want Municipalities 26% to continue this work and my education Local Community 9% simultaneously. Thanks to UNDP, Third party donors 14% Kamalamai Municipality and the district farmers from villages adjoining the Kathmandu Valley UNDP 51% MEGA for the entrepreneurship training.

- Beenu Basnet Annual Report 2020 11

Creating jobs & livelihood opportunities More than Helped A total of

people received unemployed received the Farmer Relief livelihood support people become micro Fund with a value of NRs. such as skill-based entrepreneurs 100,000 to 190,000 for training, enterprise through skills and their immediate distribution Reconstructed 317 community development, entrepreneurship of winter vegetable seed infrastructures such as agro improved development trainings. and farm equipment like products collection centres, technologies, tools garden pipes, sprayers, cooling chambers, drinking water and agri input, to vegetable clippers, and schemes, community buildings, help them generate crate. UNDP supported 37 irrigation system and rural roads stable incomes palikas for the preparation of beneﬁting over Agricultural Plan.

people

Initiated “agri ambulances” – 19,331 farmers (9,931 women) gained Fostered a unique model special trucks permitted to enhanced access to markets with support for of partnership that saw transport perishable agro collection centres, mobile market and strong ownership and products from farm to transportation facilities which also included participation of local market during the lockdown – 28 pick trucks. The farmers sold 8,590 tons government and to rescue farmers’ products of fruits and vegetables worth communities, with Provided short-term that would have otherwise municipalities contributing employment to over gone to waste during the 26% of the cost, local lockdown. communities 9%, third Another 2,200 farmers (61% women) party donors 14% and women and men through beneﬁted from support in agriculture UNDP 51% to implement community infrastructure productivity-enhancing inputs over 390 schemes in 27 development initiatives Built and brought to operation and harvest management. municipalities. the Chabahil Satellite Cooperative Market beneﬁting Municipalities 26% Local Community 9%

farmers from villages adjoining Third party donors 14% the Kathmandu Valley UNDP 51% 12 UNDP Nepal

Young women entrepreneurs supported by UNDP’s COVID recovery initiative are creating jobs for women in Sindhupalchowk. Annual Report 2020 13

Assisted GoN in preparation and Supported an innovative Skills launching of Nepal Human Mapping survey in Development Report 2020, Sudurpaschim Province, which National Review of Sustainable showed a demand for Development Goals (SDGs), SDGs Progress Assessment Report 2016-2019 and SDGs Localization Source Book and Financing skilled human resources Requirement Framework forecasted in various (Policy Costing) of the economic and service 15th Plan. sectors/occupation in the province in the next three years.

Enabling policy environment

Supported Supported the the government government in in an developing a blended assessment finance roadmap, of Socio-Economic in line with government impacts of COVID-19 ambitions to increase in Nepal. mobilization of diverse development finance sources. The roadmap provides concrete recommendations to create an enabling environment for private sector engagement in Nepal and to build government capacity to scale up the use of this financing modality. 14 UNDP Nepal

Health system support

Complementing the work of specialized agencies to bolster health systems management and capacity, UNDP supported local governments to strengthen their health systems through assessment of quarantine centres and logistics support, crisis communications training and technology support and procurement of much-needed medical supplies, including PCR testing machines, ventilators and protective gear, at the request of the province and local governments. UNDP received a huge list of requests for support for medical supplies, such as masks and other protective gear and has been able to respond to some of them.

17 high-end lab machines, including PCR machine, RNA extractor, ventilator and robots handed over to provincial labs, which helped increase the testing and treatment capacity of national health facilities.

Supported the Government with logistics for quarantine facilities, including through 200 tents, 100 bed set items, 500 mosquito nets, 30,000 water bottles & 20 water tanks.

Protective gear provided to 601 waste collectors, including informal workers and individuals from local governments and cooperatives (such as masks, gloves, sanitizers). Annual Report 2020 15

Over 165,000 surgical & cloth masks, PPEs, gloves & other protective gear to health workers, journalists and other frontline responders across the country.

1,000+ migrant returnees (women, children & elderly) transported to holding centres from border checkpoints.

Launched food and medicines delivering robots designed by youth locally to help frontline health workers at Teku Hospital, Butwal Dhagokarkhana COVID-19 special hospital and KIST hospital.

Over 14,000 units of WASH items and medical supplies distributed.

35 hand washing stations installed. 16 UNDP Nepal Annual Report 2020 17

FEATURES SUKMAYA’S DAIRY

Sindhuli district has seen a steady fall “I feel particularly glad that we have in the number of women entrepreneurs been able to offer jobs to two persons in recent years. Most had been running who had recently returned from foreign small and micro-enterprises and drove employment and want to do something in economic progress locally. Covid-19 their own country,” said Tamang. put the brakes on that. UNDP’s rapid assessment of the pandemic’s The cooperative-run dairy turns over socioeconomic impact revealed that Rs700,000 per month and makes a three out of every five employees have decent profit. Tamang wants more people lost their jobs because of Covid-19. Many to get involved in the dairy industry by business shut down completely. encouraging local farmers to buy more cows and buffaloes. The challenge was immediate and substantial. UNDP partnered with “This is just the beginning,” she said. “Our more than 30 municipalities to bring dairy has the capacity for up to 10,000 emergency employment, technology litres of milk every day.” support and skills training to over 10,000 affected communities across the country. The mayor of Dudhauli municipality, That created hundreds of enterprises and Ghanashyam Raut, is impressed with with them came some green shoots of Tamang’s efforts. recovery. “Having supported this enterprise, we’ll Trishakti Dugdha Udhyog Dairy led by soon be launching a programme to Sukumana Tamang was one of those distribute cows worth Rs. 6 million to enterprises. Supported by UNDP and farmers. We want to encourage more Dudhauli municipality, the dairy has given farmers to adopt livestock farming," said employment opportunities to more than Raut. 65 farming households – full-time jobs for local men and women. Fostering Democratic Governance Promoting democratic governance – one of the keys to development – is a major priority area for the Government of Nepal and UNDP. UNDP believes that people’s lives are better when all institutions of the government function efficiently and are responsive. As Nepal’s federal system gains momentum, the national priority has been in building the capacity of its democratic institutions at all levels to make them more efficient, inclusive, participatory and transparent so that people have greater trust in their government. UNDP is walking alongside the government in this journey, providing policy-level strategic support for key institutions and direct implementation of the programmes in the field. 20 UNDP Nepal

UNDP’s governance support spans a wide range of institutions, from the federal and provincial parliaments, National Planning Commission and the Elections Commission through provincial and local governments, This was my first to universities, think tanks and civil society organizations experience and across the country. I realized that videoconferencing Notably, the impact of all of these recorded in helping institutions to governance programmes spreads prepare for, respond to and recover facility can, in fact, across all the SDGs, whether it’s from COVID-19. UNDP’s COVID-19 be used by the climate action through parliament Response Strategy rolled out government for support or poverty eradication and immediately after the pandemic inclusion through livelihood support. hit the country in March 2020. It multiple works. This included a range of successful technology is very In 2020, UNDP focused much of interventions, from helping key its resources on helping Nepal government institutions in their helpful to connect to handle COVID-19, while continuing business continuity during the the districts and get its support for federalism, capacity pandemic, through online training updates instantly. building of national and subnational courses, guidelines and software governments, strengthening development, to supporting human - Trilochan Bhatta, electoral institutions, and enhancing rights situation monitoring through Chief Minister, service delivery and rule of law, a countrywide network of CSOs and Sudurpaschim Province particularly for the most vulnerable providing free legal aid to vulnerable people. Encouraging results were populations.

UNDP supported legal All aid committees, which provide preventative local governments and local government government prosecutors and remedial legal aid offices of provincial representatives (150 women) enhanced to over governments and and others were their capacity and skills in assemblies were equipped trained in handling cases and with videoconferencing leadership skills in investigations. With UNDP’s facilities immediately after risk, emergency support, the Office of the people, mostly women the COVID-19 lockdown and crisis Attorney-General and vulnerable people. started, which helped communications. organized special training government offices to for government attorneys. function smoothly. Annual Report 2020 21

UNDP developed SOPs and a practitioner’s guide to help judicial committees UNDP supported UNDP helped the work effectively even the Election Commission design National Human Rights UNDP digitized during the pandemic and and roll-out of comprehensive Commission mobilize human NHRC's paper-based approach increase access for women monitoring and evaluation plan rights networks (85 in complaint handling by and tools/templates. These are watchdogs and 450 rights and vulnerable people developing a mobile app and expected to enable tracking of monitors) across the country. setting up video conferencing to legal services. Over activities, document lessons This strengthened monitoring systems at the commission’s 120 judicial committee learned and inform timely of human rights situations central, provincial and management during the COVID-19 members (91 women) from district branch decisions. pandemic. 26 municipalities were oﬃces. supported in this way.

Strong institutions

UNDP’s Election Support With UNDP support, 200 journalists UNDP conducted Project conducted a youth the Office of the (90 women) improved psychosocial webinar series, ‘YUWA in Attorney General their understanding counselling and Action’, in which youth monitored 31 prisons, of federal mental health volunteers conducted seven detention processes and training for a total of virtual and centres and seven procedures, 181 conflict-affected socially-distanced surveys. Juvenile Correction parliamentary affairs people (110 women) Through this, we were able to Homes in 33 districts and relationships in seven provinces. reach 2,762 people across the during the pandemic. with the media. Expert support was country and get a better idea The monitoring given to these of the impact of COVID-19 on helped in designing people to help them the most marginalized and then adopting a prepare an communities. That, in turn, decongestion alternative report on helped policy makers and strategy for prisons UPR. planners to take action that and detention effectively addressed the centres. identified issues. 22 UNDP Nepal

UNDP launched UNDP helped to develop Over 11,445 (6,517 women) ‘Crisis MIS’ and an integrated online UNDP helped multiple benefited from legal With UNDP support, ‘SmartPalika’ apps for reporting system, along ministries to review awareness on the Ministry of Law local governments to with a mobile laws related to the newly-adopted civil and Justice prepared a collect and monitor phone-based app for legal pandemic and disaster and criminal codes draft of the Bill on Legal pandemic-related data aid lawyers to improve management and and judicial committees Aid, a key step in the and information. their work efficiency prepared a position established at the Integrated Legal Aid during the crisis. paper to help community level. Policy that the formulate a Government of comprehensive Nepal adopted. pandemic responsive law. UNDP developed SPOs and a practitioner’s guide to help judicial committees work effectively even during the pandemic and increase women and vulnerable people’s access to legal services. Over 120 judicial committee Improved access members (91 women) from 26 municipalities were to justice and supported in this way. human rights

people were reached through radio UNDP helped the National UNDP developed a phone-in programmes, which Federation of the Disabled to mobile-based application connected the public with their local conduct a rapid assessment ‘Nepal Law’ and digitized government representatives to of the impact of COVID-19 and over 300 existing laws. discuss socio-economic issues. Over lockdown on persons with 20 public service announcements on disabilities. The ﬁndings helped free legal aid, mental health issues to guide the COVID-19 response, and more were developed and notably for the needs of persons broadcast. with disabilities. Annual Report 2020 23

UNDP in partnership with UN agencies – and particularly with UN Women established a 22- bed, women only isolation centre that provides transit and holding space for women, children and their caretakers with asymptomatic COVID-19. Annual Report 2020 25

The virtual training on specialized The training on Strategic Plan service related laws built our capacity Formulation, Monitoring and on service related laws, law and human Evaluation gave us hands-on skills rights including criminal codes and make in strategic plan formulation and us technology friendly. Thanks to UNDP contouring roadmap for NHRC and Office of Attorney General (OAG) for which has helped me to engage in this initiation regarding online training planning process and contribute during pandemic situation. to draft the strategic plan

- Sur Bahadur Pariyar, capturing the voices of the public Assistant Government Attorney Dhangadi and beneficiaries to address the human rights needs.

- Manju Khatiwada, Under Secretary, NHRC

Video conferencing UNDP assessed due facilities helped diligence of business provincial parliaments and human rights in to carry out oversight the private sector, and of COVID-19 and ﬂood compliance of business response in 17-plus communities during the districts. crisis.

UNDP ensured UNDP helped the Election UNDP helped design and business continuity of Commission to draft three key launch an online course, seven provincial policies: Gender and Inclusion Nirwachan Sikchha parliaments by Policy, Human Resource Policy, (electoral education), providing video Social Media Policy and a through a smartphone conferencing facilities Partnership Strategy. Supported by application, which that helped provincial the Electoral Support Project, provides an interactive parliaments to get the these policies aim to further platform for secondary views of 3,000 strengthen partnerships with school students, teachers, people on eight stakeholders and strengthen and others to test their draft bills. organizational structures and knowledge of electoral public outreach and engagement. education. 26 UNDP Nepal

A series of orientations and mentoring sessions was held on themes such as the multidimensional poverty index, SDGs and their relevance in the context of Nepal federal structure. This helped 365 MPs (51 percent women) to enhance their capacity on effective representation, lawmaking and oversight. Annual Report 2020 27

UNDP supported UNDP helped the the Election Commission design National Human Rights UNDP digitized and roll-out a comprehensive Commission mobilize human NHRC's paper-based approach monitoring and evaluation plan rights networks (85 in complaint handling by and tools/templates. These are watchdogs and 450 rights developing a mobile app and expected to enable tracking of monitors) across the country. setting up video conferencing activities, document lessons This strengthened monitoring systems at the commission’s learned and inform timely of human rights situations central, provincial and management during the COVID-19 district branch decisions. pandemic. oﬃces.

Strong institutions

UNDP’s Election Support With UNDP support, 200 journalists UNDP conducted Project conducted a youth the Office of the (90 women) improved psychosocial webinar series, ‘YUWA in Attorney General their understanding counselling and Action’, in which youth monitored 31 prisons, of federal mental health volunteers conducted seven detention processes and training for a total of virtual and socially - centres and seven procedures, 181 conflict-affected distanced surveys. Through Juvenile Correction parliamentary affairs people (110 women) this, we were able to reach Homes in 33 districts and relationships in seven provinces. 2,762 people across the during the pandemic. with the media. Expert support was country and get a better idea The monitoring given to these of the impact of COVID-19 on helped in designing people to help them the most marginalized and then adopting a prepare an communities. That, in turn, decongestion alternative report on helped policymakers and strategy for prisons UPR. planners to take action that and detention effectively addressed the centres. identified issues. 28 UNDP Nepal

Provided expert services to the Ministry of Federal Aﬀairs and General Fortiﬁed provinces and Administration (MOFAGA) in drafting 16 laws, regulations and procedures related to the Provincial Centre for Good Governance (PCGG), standards of local governments organizational structures and the positions of employees, and rules to manage the Local Development Regional Training Centre. The endorsement of these draft laws will contribute to the implementation of federalism and the Constitution.

At least 326 members of Province Prepared As a result of UNDP’s Assemblies (165 women) were a Gender Equality and expert services, MoFAGA given orientation in the law-drafting Social Inclusion (GESI) guideline, Prepared developed a process. UNDP’s technical support including Gender-Responsive monitoring and evaluation comprehensive planning, resulted in development of an online Budgeting, for local governments. guidelines for District monitoring, and course in the law-making process. It also orientated 120 participants Coordination oversight system to be The course will be adopted from 50 rural/municipalities Committees. adopted by provincial and by the Justice Sector in planning, monitoring local governments. Training Centre under and reporting. MOLJPA.

Supported the Helped MoFAGA revise Supported the review of 14 laws, such as LISA guidelines for local development and those related to GBV, rape governments and adoption of a Capacity Development Strategy for and disaster management. Capacity Development With UNDP help, MoFAGA developed local governments. The The reviews assessed gaps Management Information a GESI Audit directive whose strategy aims to improve and challenges in the System for the Provincial objective was to localize and simplify local government eﬀective implementation Centre for Good the existing GESI Audit to support performance in delivering of laws. Governance. local governments. This is expected statutory services. to help local governments develop their own contextualized GESI Audit guidelines to ensure that all their developmental plans, programmes and policies are GESI-sensitive and -responsive. Annual Report 2020 29

FEATURES MERINA’S DREAM COMES TRUE

Merina Dudhraj is young and talented. from marginalized communities in the She is from Gulim and has always law profession. Merina reclaimed her dreamed of becoming a lawyer and dream with every last reserve of joyful helping needy and vulnerable people determination to make a success of it. to get access to justice. But like many She was one of more than 20 young other young people from her community, people, mostly from marginalized groups, she couldn’t afford the cost of studying who were awarded the scholarship that a degree in law. The expenses were would allow them to complete their simply beyond her parents’ capacity. Not education and then pursue a career in wanting to give her parents the burden of law. paying for her education, she decided to give up on her dream. “I dedicate this achievement foremost to my parents. I am forever indebted to But then she was told that her application UNDP, Access to Justice, UN Women for a full scholarship had been successful. and all my donor agencies, teachers, This would cover her studies with a full colleagues, seniors for their constant stipend and all college fees, thanks to guidance and unwavering belief in me,” UNDP’s Access to Justice project, funded said Merina, who is now working on her by the Royal Norwegian Government. The LLM. Bachelor of Law scholarship programme seeks to increase the number of women Building Resilience Within its narrow confines, Nepal is home to exceptional diversity in geography, topography and climate. But the country’s unquestioned visual appeal belies fragility and danger. Its diversity and climactic conditions make it vulnerable. Globally, it ranks fourth, 11th and 30th in vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, earthquakes and floods, respectively. 34 UNDP Nepal

It is home to one-tenth of the world’s potentially dangerous glacial lakes. And as climate change becomes ever more tangible, so Nepal’s Enhanced vulnerability also grows. The risks to the nearly Disaster 70 percent of its population that depends on largely rain-fed agriculture are self-evident. UNDP Preparedness Published a research-based Building on existing “Bipad works to mitigate those risks and reduce people’s Inventory of Glacial Lakes in DIMS”, an online platform and Response Nepal, India and Tibet was created to monitor exposure to their worst impacts. Autonomous Region of China progress and resource to inform risk metigation and allocation against Sendai adaptation plans, including DRR targets and develop furture glaicial lake lowering municipal risk profiles. Seven provinces and 16 interventions. In 2020, major achievements governments’ understanding municipalities implemented were made in helping provincial and knowledge of disaster risk DRR policy and strategic and local governments access, reduction and adapting to climate action plans by increasing analyse and map disaster risks change. UNDP also invested in resources for DRR and and vulnerabilities, including those building the capacity of national response, risk mitigation and Helped develop a system for associated with earthquakes, institutions to access climate piloting risk insurance. These generating Disaster Profiles of all floods, droughts, fires and finance, promoting renewable the administrative boundaries from activities supported provincial person-days of mason’s Assisted NDRRMA with a landslides. This contributed to and affordable energy for people local to federal levels. The profiles and local governments in training were conducted in cloud-based system on making their development efforts living in rural areas, implementing generated by the system will be very enhancing their understanding Gorkha to build the capacity storing data, analysing them resilient to disasters. UNDP’s national commitments under the useful in studying disaster trends, and knowledge on DRR and of local masons on and monitoring progress support in risk analysis and Sustainable Development Goals, frequency and potential impacts, climate change adaptation. earthquake-resilient against targets of National DRR expert mobilization resulted in the and monitoring the progress and and contribute to efforts of construction, correction and Strategic Action Plans development of e-NDC (nationally providing technical support in understanding disaster risks. The retrofitting, extension, (2018-2030) in line with the determined contributions under formulating policies on financing system is being fed into the DIMS of alternative technologies, Sendai Framework for DRR Paris Agreement on Climate biodiversity conservation. A Nepal (i.e. BIPAD Portal). etc. at global level. Change) to make Nepal a zero- significant part of the resources carbon economy by 2050, and were invested in helping local helped formulate risk profiles at government prepare for, respond provincial and local levels. These to and recover from the COVID-19 In partnership with local activities have also enhanced pandemic. governments in Gorkha, national and subnational district several communities Originally prototyped and UNDP in partnership with have been protected from implemented in Kathmandu DUDBC and Institute of potential risks of landslides Metropolitan City, UNDP helped Engineering (IOE) through 16 small scale expand the electronic building established a research eco-friendly landslide permit system (eBPS) in 4 new facility at IOE to mitigation measures municipalities: Tulsipur, demonstrate retrofitting implemented with resource Bhimdatta, Madhyapur Thimi solutions for over 1 million sharing from local and Changu Narayan non-engineered houses. governments and beneficiary municipalities. communities. Annual Report 2020 35

Enhanced Disaster

Preparedness Published a research-based Building on existing “Bipad Inventory of Glacial Lakes in DIMS”, an online platform and Response Nepal, India and Tibet was created to monitor Autonomous Region of China progress and resource to inform risk metigation and allocation against Sendai adaptation plans, including DRR targets and develop furture glaicial lake lowering municipal risk profiles. Seven provinces and 16 interventions. municipalities implemented DRR policy and strategic action plans by increasing resources for DRR and response, risk mitigation and Helped develop a system for piloting risk insurance. These generating Disaster Profiles of all activities supported provincial the administrative boundaries from person-days of mason’s local to federal levels. The profiles Assisted NDRRMA with a and local governments in training were conducted in cloud-based system on enhancing their understanding generated by the system will be very Gorkha to build the capacity useful in studying disaster trends, storing data, analysing them and knowledge on DRR and of local masons on and monitoring progress climate change adaptation. frequency and potential impacts, earthquake-resilient and contribute to efforts of against targets of National DRR construction, correction and understanding disaster risks. The Strategic Action Plans retrofitting, extension, system is being fed into the DIMS of (2018-2030) in line with the alternative technologies, Nepal (i.e. BIPAD Portal). Sendai Framework for DRR etc. at global level.

In partnership with local governments in Gorkha, district several communities Originally prototyped and UNDP in partnership with have been protected from implemented in Kathmandu DUDBC and Institute of potential risks of landslides Metropolitan City, UNDP helped Engineering (IOE) through 16 small scale expand the electronic building established a research eco-friendly landslide permit system (eBPS) in 4 new facility at IOE to mitigation measures municipalities: Tulsipur, demonstrate retroﬁtting implemented with resource Bhimdatta, Madhyapur Thimi solutions for over 1 million sharing from local and Changu Narayan non-engineered houses. governments and beneﬁciary municipalities. communities. 36 UNDP Nepal

Advanced fire fighting trainings provided to 75 firefighters, municipal police, scout members in Bharatpur, Lalitpur and Bhimeshwor.

units of Light Search & Rescue equipment and With UNDP support, the more than 3000 units of Three Municipal Emergency Ministry of Forests and rescue/relief equipment Operation centres are Enviroment prepared e-NDC to established and functional in provided for monsoon Through the EU Humanitarian In line with the UN Socio make Nepal a zero-carbon Bharatpur, Lalitpur and preparedness and Aid project, communities at the risk Economic Recovery Framework, economy by 2050. Bhimeshwor municipalities response. of disasters in four municipalities in UNDP supported with EU Humanitarian Aid Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha districts support. benefited from 35 risk mitigation Strengthened systems for measures. better disaster preparedness for response through formulation of Emergency to implement green livelihood Preparedness and people benefited from these recovery projects to generate Response Plan for local mitigation activities against landslide, immediate employment and support levels, establishment of Trainings on Search & lightning, drought for safeguarding long term recovery; and mobilized 60 Municipal Emergency Rescue, First Aid and the critical structures and youth volunteers to help identify Operation Centres and firefighting, initial agriculture lands. green business ideas, funded Resilience Funds. by local government. rapid assessment to buildings structurally assessed using Rapid Mapped disaster risks Vulnerability and vulnerabilities in Assessment digital core urban pockets of Community Emergency tools in Bharatpur, Lalitpur Bhimeswhor, Bharatpur Response Team and Bhimeshwor. and Lalitpur. members. Annual Report 2020 37

Advanced fire fighting trainings provided to 75 firefighters, municipal police, scout members in Bharatpur, Lalitpur and Bhimeshwor.

“I used to be terrified before whenever I saw fire breakouts. But the training from UNDP helped me erase some common misconceptions regarding different types of fires in our community and provided me both skills and confidence to deal with them effectively,” Santa Basaula. Annual Report 2020 39

Although the task of rebuilding Urban disaster preparedness seemed quite daunting to me at is very crucial and urgent in first, I was able to complete the Nepal. We are happy to see reconstruction of my house within local communities, especially eight months with the assistance women, in Bharatpur take from NHRP team. I very happy that ownership of such initiatives my house is earthquake resilient to strengthen systems at all and my family will be safe from levels to effectively respond to future shocks disasters in the urban pockets and save lives. - Parbati Gurung, A house owner in Gorkha - H.E Nona Deprez, EU Ambassador

Supported Karnali province to prepare Risk Supported more than 1000 households in Sensitive Land Use Plan and Waling Gorkha, mostly the poorest and vulnerable, municipality to develop an urban in constructing their quake-resilient resilience roadmap. Three municipalities homes through hands-on technical and built capacity in urban risk governance with administrative support, including in risk maps and DRR plans, emergency designing house maps and accessing housing preparedness and response plans, setting grants. Since 2018, UNDP’s Nepal Housing up EOCs and resilience funds, and readying Reconstruction Project funded by India has 261 volunteers for immediate deployment in supported 25,100 earthquake affected disasters for need assessment, SAR, households construct their safe homes. firefighting, first aid and early recovery. 40 UNDP Nepal

Supported organic Undertook policy and farming on 25 ha land institutional review of beneﬁting 290 farming the Biodiversity families (610 men and Finance landscape. 637 women).

Linking Livi elihoods with conservation

Constructed two check Supported construction 2 biodiversity dams (300m in length) in of a water harvesting information centres, Banda Tal and planted 5000 dam (18.5m) for water one bird rescue centre, culms of bamboo around storage in Sarlahi, one seed bank and two Banda Tal to strengthen which aided in Matribhumi Improved the check dams, which irrigation in 25 ha and cook stove demo/ have contributed to beneﬁting 200 research and training conservtion of natural households. centres established. wetlands.

AcActivtivee iinitiationninitiiatatiion aanandd SupportedSuS ppporrted Devevelopedloopeed a cocomprehensivmmpprrehhenssive lolobbbbyiyingng ffrroomm CCeCenternter ffoorr coconservnsere vaationtion ofof two fframeramewwororkk fof r asassessingseessiing the PubPubliclic HHealthealtth aandnd naturalnatural wewetltlandsands bibiodivodiversersityity expendxpendituriture ofof Environmental (Rhino Tal in Chitwan government, private, Development, and Banda Tal in conservation partners and UNDP/GEF-SGP grantee Kanchanpur) with total community institutions and resulted into formulation of area of 50ha and conducted assessment of a policy on banning use of formation of artiﬁcial forest user groups, protected mercury in hospitals and Chepe tal (2 ha) in Dang area related community adoption of “mercury free with co-funding institutions, local government dentistry curricula” by support from Ghorahi and private sector investment Kathmandu University. Sub-Metropolitan City. on biodiversity. Annual Report 2020 41

We have engaged the people in plantation in quarantine centres in positive and constructive Supported organic Undertook policy and farming on 25 ha land institutional review of activities at a time when they are subjected to beneﬁting 290 farming the Biodiversity stigma. These trees will be an asset to schools families (610 men and Finance landscape. and can even support to their income, besides 637 women). contributing to a greener environment.

- Nirp Bahadur Odd, Mayor of Dhangadhi Sub Metropolitan City

Linking Livi elihoods with conservation

AcActivtivee iinitiationninitiiatatiion aanandd SupportedSuS ppporrted Devevelopedloopeed a cocomprehensivmmpprrehhenssive lolobbbbyiyingng ffrroomm CCeCenternter ffoorr coconservnsere vaationtion ofof two fframeramewwororkk fof r asassessingseessiing the PubPubliclic HHealthealtth aandnd nanaturaltural wweetltlandsands bibiodivodiversersityity expendxpendituriture ofof Environmental (Rhino Tal in Chitwan government, private, Development, and Banda Tal in conservation partners and UNDP/GEF-SGP grantee Kanchanpur) with total community institutions and resulted into formulation of area of 50ha and conducted assessment of a policy on banning use of formation of artiﬁcial forest user groups, protected mercury in hospitals and Chepe tal (2 ha) in Dang area related community adoption of “mercury free with co-funding institutions, local government dentistry curricula” by support from Ghorahi and private sector investment Kathmandu University. Sub-Metropolitan City. on biodiversity. 42 UNDP Nepal

Power Output Testing Launched a tourism of 200kW Giri Khola recovery project in Mini Hydropower Milk chilling centre partnership with Nepal Green Project benefiting operated by the 100 Tourism Board to create House wiring Prepared 2,023 households, kW Gutu Solar Mini 1,600 green jobs in the training for 32 guidelines for 568 belong to the Grid at Gutu Bazar, sector for the Recovery community people Feasibility Study Disadvantaged Group Surkhet benefiting COVID-affected populations including 12 women in of Solar Mini (DAG) as defined by more than 1600 and develop a National Khatyad Khola Mini Grid Projects. Government of Nepal. people. Tourism Recovery Strategy. Hydropower Project, Mugu and Giri Khola Mini Hydropower Project, Jumla.

01 05

06 Launched Campaign 02 to promote cycling 08 04 through gamiﬁcation that incentivize cycle-commuting.

07 03

In The 150 kW Thabang Solar Mini Grid Planted 2000 smart prepaid meters Supported collaboration with (TSMG), Thabang Rural Municipality 7,000+ trees, installed in 380kW Tara Khola, municipalities in Lalitpur Metropolitan of Rolpa district and the 50 kW including Baglung and 200kW Simrutu Nuwakot & city, WWF and Vrikshya Hilepani Solar Mini Grid (HSMG), fruit trees, in Khola Rukum Mini Hydropower Kathmandu for Foundation, a prototype Manebhanjang, Okhaldhunga and around Projects, which help consumers sustainable wheelchair friendly district were successfully installed. quarantine to reduce the cost of billing and waste green pocket park was These SMGs provide electricity facilities tariff collection and avoid meter management developed and handed to 365 and 233 households, across the tampering and electricity and recycling over to the local respectively, 94% (565 HHs) of country. pilferage and enhancing systems. government. whom belong to disadvantaged administrative efficiency. groups (DAG) as defined by the Government of Nepal. Annual Report 2020 43

01 05

06 Launched Campaign 02 to promote cycling 08 04 through gamiﬁcation that incentivize cycle-commuting.

07 03

FEATURES TURNING FEAR INTO CONFIDENCE

It started with a flame. Laxmi Paudel, risk of fire. A risk assessment carried out a 43-year-old resident of Bharatpur-2, by UNDP had pointed to an urgent need to Aaptari–Milan tole, went to her neighbour enhance community understanding of fire in Gaidakot as a wedding guest. She did not risks in the area. expect that it was going to be a day that tested her fire safety skills. “There was a fire in my community in 2018. It completely destroyed three houses and During the ceremony, a fire broke out injured three people,” Laxmi recalls. in the kitchen. Several women were in there, busily frying snacks on a high heat. The Urban Disaster Preparedness They lost control of the gas stove. People project reached out to more than 200 fled, fearing a great fire. Laxmi heard the women like Laxmi through training and commotion and ran to see what was awareness campaigns on fire safety happening. She calmly turned off the gas and preparedness. This is part of a regulator, then sealed the pan’s lid. That larger initiative that aims to help local prevented the fire from getting even worse. governments identify and manage disaster risks and vulnerabilities. In 2020, at least Laxmi is one of the many Community three municipalities were supported to Emergency Response Team volunteers in map and address their vulnerabilities, Bharatpur who recently received training particularly those in urban settlements. on firefighting and kitchen fire safety through UNDP, thanks to support from EU Humanitarian Aid.

“I had no idea how to respond to a kitchen fire. The thought of it used to terrify me. But the training gave me the skills to know what to do and the confidence to deal with fires effectively,” said Laxmi.

Laxmi is also the Vice-Chairperson of a mothers’ group in Milan tole, a poor area of Bharatpur. The settlement is at a very high Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Despite notable progress in human development, achieving gender equality and social inclusion is one of the most persistent challenges facing Nepal. The payoffs of development spread unevenly across gender, ethnic and minority groups and geographic location. 48 UNDP Nepal

Kamala Damai, one of the local artisans working for Hatemalo Women’s Group, is happy to get back to business after a few months of recession due to COVID-19. In 2020, UNDP provided over 20,000 vulnerable people with livelihood support, including skills training, technology support and market linkages to help cope with the crisis. Annual Report 2020 49

Certain groups, including Dalits, Muslims, indigenous Economic peoples, gender and sexual minorities, persons with empowerment disabilities and other vulnerable groups are pushed into of women and greater vulnerabilities than others. Due to COVID-19, Nepal vulnerable faces even tougher challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Continued effort from all populations three tiers of the government (federal, provincial, and local) and other stakeholders is key to empowering women and other marginalized groups in Nepal. With UNDP support, gender In 2020, UNDP Nepal continued to work and federal, provincial and local and ethnic disaggregated across different ministries, civil society governments understand and integrate data were published in organizations, federations, academia, gender equality and social inclusion Integrated Technical and media and bilateral organizations, into their policies, programmes, and Vocational Education and and different UN agencies to advance everyday practices. Concrete results Training (TVET) Annual Report, gender equality, inclusion, and women’s have been achieved in empowering Factsheets, Infographics. The empowerment. Special attention has women and marginalized communities availability of the been given to individuals facing multiple through enterprise development and disaggregated data helped to and intersecting forms of discrimination gender-responsive COVID-19 recovery develop GESI-friendly policies, due to caste-based discrimination, framework developed in consultation plans and strategies at ethnicity, disability, or indigenous with more than 1,200 individuals federal, provincial and local belonging. Notable results were through 35 different consultations, levels. achieved in helping key institutions, particularly with women, vulnerable and including the National Human Rights marginalized groups. Some of the key Commission, Election Commission results are highlighted below:

Supported over Seven women’s UNDP supported cooperatives received building of over 19 vehicles and cooling infrastructures female farmers (60% chambers, directly such as vegetable women (out of total of 2,200 farmers beneﬁting over collection centers, supported), supported) received 6700 women market centres and most of them from agriculture input farmers. And 10 community buildings vulnerable to support through collection centres that are all gender become successful UNDP’s value chain were built in 10 and disable-friendly. micro-entrepreneurs programme funded women-led These have directly through skill training by KOICA. cooperatives, which beneﬁted over 730 and enterprise address the special persons with development needs of women disability. support. and persons with disabilities. 50 UNDP Nepal

Youth webinar series, organized by UNDP Electoral Support Project with UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UN Volunteers, allowed me not only to learn about a myriad of issues at the grassroots, but also to bring forth our own issues as part of gender and sexual minorities in the context of COVID-19. - Anik Rana Magar

Promoting human rights access to justice UNDP conducted an induction to 3,500 Conducted people, including gender equality journalists, local level assessment at leaders, social workers NHRC and and teachers and MPs, institutional gender on problems faced by equality and social persons with inclusion policy at psychosocial NHRC developed. disabilities.

482 people (234 Supported 110 UNDP worked with women) benefited conflict affected Nepal Television in from the legal aid (women) victims to broadcasting provided by gear up and raise programmes on the lawyers. UNDP their voice in rights of women and provided financial advocacy and lobby minorities in support to the Nepal underscoring the national languages. Bar Association (NBA) issue of mental Support was also in mobilizing lawyers health through given to reviewing for legal aid and psychosocial laws on GBV, rape and assistance to women, counselling. sexual assaults and needy and vulnerable also on the PWD. people during the pandemic. Annual Report 2020 51

As part of the COVID-19 recovery support, UNDP provided livelihoods support to over 284,789 vulnerable people (51% of them women). 52 UNDP Nepal

Building inclusive Helped NHRC to institutions carry out an assessment GESI Audit of the working organization’s procedures have current status been developed to on gender and contextualize the social inclusion. existing GESI The study report Supported ECN to UNDP Electoral Audit to help local recommends conduct Support Project government NHRC to take all interactions on provided ensure that the eﬀorts into “Gender Based technical input programmes, account to Violence in to update the plans and policies make changes Elections,” to Election of local for much better mark the spirit of Commission’s government are implementation of the 16 Days of Gender Inclusion GESI-sensitive GESI within the Supported MOFAGA Activism. UNDP helped (GI) Policy. and responsive. UNDP provided a organization. Supported the to develop a enhance the platform by Parliamentary model Gender and knowledge of organizing numbers Committee on Social Inclusion over 77 federal of interactions for Human Rights, (GESI) guideline MPs, 41 of them some 255 women Law and Justice for local women, for their mayors, deputy to conduct a government. The work in mayors and study on guideline is governance and vice-chairs for implementing the expected to help sustainable sharing experiences untouchability institutionalize and development, of the COVID-19 and caste-based mainstream GESI including pandemic. This also discrimination locally to ensure oversights to provided a better (Prevention and that institutional address GBV in understanding of Punishment) Act. arrangements, line with UNSCR local contexts that helped UNDP, development 1325 and 1820. UN agencies and other programmes, stakeholders to prioritize health, structures and management of quarantine, overall processes relief distribution and socio- are GESI-sensitive economic/livelihood eﬀorts. and inclusive. Annual Report 2020 53

Our local communities in core urban Initially it was quite hard to grasp the areas are being equipped with technicalities of masonry, but slowly important knowledge and skills on with practice, I learned new things fire-related risks to coordinate and through the training. support us during emergencies, - Samjhana Sunar, thanks to the series of UNDP A Mason in Gorkha initiatives on uban DRR . - Devendra Regmi, Fire Chief, Fire Brigade, Bharatpur Metropolitan City

Towards inclusive resilience

Trained over 430 women as 54 women masons Supported the National Community Emergency Response were trained on Planning Commission to Team volunteers on fire earthquake-resilient produce SDG progress preparedness and response for construction in Gorkha reports, National Review kitchen fire in urban pockets of to mainstream their of SDGs Progress (VNR) Lalitpur, Bhimeswhor and Bharatpur. engagement in the and Nepal Human Besides personal initiatives, they will construction sector, Development Report also be supporting local fire response which is largely male (NHDR) with detailed mechanisms in coordination with the dominated. analysis on GESI aspects. fire brigade during emergencies. 56 UNDP Nepal

EMPOWERING YOUTH

In 2019, UNDP Nepal partnered with a number of youth-led organizations in creating several meaningful opportunities for young people to learn and exchange ideas, innovate and actively contribute to the SDGs. The youths actively participated in debunking myths and misinformation related to COVID-19 and carried out a number of surveys that helped UNDP’s programming. Annual Report 2020 57

A total of 141 youth volunteers A team of surveyed a total of UNDP trained 588 youths, 1000+ 2762 200 youths across the nation respondents from 72 districts to of them women, to design and install contributed in fighting misinformation, find the issues faced by vulnerable Matribhumi Improved Cook Stove, an raising awareness on COVID-19, population in the context of innovative technology which makes fighting mental health stigma pandemic smokeless and efficient cooking possible

A team of 1000+ youths to 199 (93 male, 65 female, across the nation contributed 29 youth with disabilities, 12 in fighting misinformation, LGBTIQ) young people from raising awareness on COVID-19, all seven provinces who seek fighting mental health stigma, to pursue their career as and supporting behavioural development practitioners. change to help people adapt to the new normal. UNDP, UNV, As part of educating on the WHO, UNICEF and UNRCO electoral process, UNDP’s came together and launched Electoral Support Programme #CopingwiththeNewNormal launched a mobile application campaign which reached over named ‘Election Education’ 20000 people. in collaboration with Election Commission of Nepal and over A total of 141 youth volunteers 100 youths were trained to use it. surveyed a total of 2762 respondents from 72 districts UNDP trained 588 youths, 200 to find the issues faced by of them women, to design and vulnerable populations in the install Matribhumi Improved Cook context of the pandemic. The Stove, an innovative technology consolidated report from this which makes smokeless and survey helped to plan post-covid efficient cooking possible. interventions. During the training, the young people installed 9481 improved An initiative by the UN Youth cooking stoves and earned Rs Group (UNDP, UNV, UNFPA, 4.3 million. The improved stoves UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA) provided was developed with the support nine trainings in three clusters of UNDP. 58 UNDP Nepal

HOUSE BEING RETROFITTED IN GORKHA.

NEW SOLUTIONS TO OLD PROBLEMS How UNDP is promoting innovation in Nepal

RETROFITTING HOMES DISASTER PROFILES UNDP’s Nepal Housing Reconstruction Project, The National Disaster Risk Reducation and funded by the Government of India, developed an Management Authority (NDRRMA) has inherited innovative solution to retrofit quake-affected and a rich dataset comprising over 40,000 records of other unsafe houses. The technology, which uses incidents reported from across the country dating GI wire as the main integrating element, has been back to 1973. “Disaster profile” is a quick solution adopted by the Government of Nepal and used developed by UNDP to leverage these data and to retrofit over 40 houses in Gorkha. There are generate illustrative disaster profiles in Nepali or around 3.3 million houses in Nepal that are highly English, for any administrative jurisdiction, from vulnerable to earthquakes, as they were built national to provincial or palika to district levels. before building codes become mandatory and are This profile depicts in a few (six to eight) pages below approved safety standards. Most of these the primary hazards, their frequency, impacts, houses could be retrofitted using this technology trends over a certain time period, and occurrence to save time and cost of reconstruction while also calendar. These profiles could be a powerful tool making lives safer for 16 million people living in for policymakers to quickly grasp and address those houses. vulnerabilities of any area. Annual Report 2020 59

SISTER ROBOT AT TEKU HOSPITAL.

SISTER ROBOTS MAPPING AND SMART METERS FOR Together with the Robotics Association MATCHING SKILLS RURAL AREAS of Nepal, UNDP’s Accelerator Lab UNDP’s Accelerator Lab, in partnership People in rural areas whose houses are has developed and deployed three with CellApp Innovation, has designed powered by mini/micro hydropower remotely operated robots, called Sister and deployed a mobile application, plants can now pay their electric bills Robots, in hospitals handling COVID-19 Sipshala, that uses artificial intelligence through prepaid smart meters that patients in Kathmandu and Butwal. to match the skill sets of returnee are connected through a web-based These robots can perform non-clinical migrants with opportunities available monitoring system. The technology tasks, such as delivering medicine, food in Nepal. This system has been tested was introduced for the first time in over and general information to COVID-19 so far in Waling Municiaplity, Biratnagar 2,000 houses in Tara Khola micro- patients in isolation wards. A tablet Metropolitan City and Birendranagar hydro in Baglung and Simrutu Khola allows the health worker to interact with Municipality. UNDP also supported micro-hydro in Rukum. The meters were the patient as and when required. The to carry out a detailed skills mapping established with technical assistance robots have helped mitigate some of exercise in Sudurpaschim Province, from UNDP through the Renewable the risks that frontline health workers which forecasted a market demand for Energy for Rural Livelihoods programme face daily when dealing with COVID-19 51,542 skilled human resources in various and funding from the South Asia patients. sectors for the next three years. The Subregional Economic Cooperation federal government is now replicating (SASEC), Off-grid Component. the model in the remaining six provinces. 60 UNDP Nepal

RAINWATER HARVESTING FACILITY FOR FIRE FIGHTING (WITH UNDER GROUND WATER TANKS) INSTALLED AT PATAN.

RAINWATER FOR SCALING OF E-BUILDING FIRE FIGHTING PERMIT SYSTEM UNDP’s urban disaster preparedness project has UNDP developed the electronic building permit introduced a unique solution to make rainwater system (e-BPS) as a web-based application available for urban fire fighting through rainwater software suite to assist municipalities to improve harvesting facilities and underground tanks in their building permit process and to maintain strategic locations. This is expected to assist robust building database. This is an effective, fire fighting in urban pockets where emergency transparent and efficient system to ensure vehicles like fire trucks have limited access due to compliance to the National Building Code and narrow roads and alleys. The rainwater harvesting Building Bye-Laws. The system also allows system will also capture surface runoff that often citizens to submit their applications online and leads to inundation during the monsoon. The to track their status. The electronic system underground water tanks will benefit over 1,000 has great potential as the database of the households over five clusters in urban pockets buildings could be linked with property tax and and will also serve as refill points for Light other municipal services in future, and remote Portable Pumps (LPP) and fire hydrants. engagement of the structural engineers for its upscaling in medium scale urban municipalities. Annual Report 2020 61

PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS CONNECT WITH DISTRICTS USING VIDEO CONFERENCE FACILITY DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN.

FARMERS' ACCESS ATTENDING MEETINGS HUMAN RIGHTS APP TO MARKETS VIRTUALLY During the pandemic, both reporting For the first time, Nepal has fully While videoconferencing is widely and handling the cases of human rights functional fruits and vegetable satellite used around the world, Nepal’s abuse was challenging. To address this markets in Chabahil and Lalitpur that government offices still lack access problem, the National Human Rights are run entirely by cooperatives, thanks to reliable broadband internet Commission (NHRC) and UNDP jointly to the Cooperative Market Development connections, required technology, and developed and launched a mobile- Programme, a joint initiative of UNDP operating regulations and guidelines. based human rights application that and the Government of Nepal. The At the request of the government, helped enhance accessibility for cooperative-run markets have gone all 753 local governments, offices victims, especially those with physical online. These markets, connected to of provincial governments, the and sensory disabilities, to legal 71 primary cooperatives in six districts federal parliament, and provincial information and services. It also eased around the Kathmandu Valley, benefit assemblies were equipped with modern rights monitors to reach out to victims around 16,900 farmers. videoconferencing facilities, allowing and carry out their duties. The app them to continue their business even has substantively digitised the NHRC's during COVID-19 restrictions. paper-based approach of complaints by developing an online portal, an SMS system, and upgrading existing digital systems. 62 UNDP Nepal

SDG LOCALIZATION

As part of the COVID-19 Response package, lost jobs to COVID-19. Initially launched UNDP co-invested with 18 municipalities to help local governments accelerate the to design and implement over 100 achievements of the SDGs, these small interventions in some of the hardest hit demonstration projects, which made for areas across the country. Funded under impressive results in 2019, were quickly re- UNDP’s core resources, these interventions designed and re-oriented in 2020 to help were all based on local community’s selected municipalities with their COVID-19 needs and demands and aimed to provide response. Implemented through local immediate recovery support to the NGOs, these initiatives directly benefitted economically vulnerable populations, such over 11,800 COVID-19-affected people, as unemployed women and men, migrant many of them unemployed youth, Dalits returnees and the daily wage workers who and returnee migrants. Annual Report 2020 63 SUDURPASHCHIM KARNALI GANDAKI BAGMATI PROVINCE 1 PROVINCE PROVINCE PROVINCE PROVINCE

16 17 15 14 8 9 10 11

13 7 12 6 5 4 1 DISCLAIMERS: PROVINCE 5 The boundaries and names shows and 2 the designations used 3 in this map do not imply oﬃcial endorsement or acceptance by the PROVINCE 2 United Nations

1. Commercial Vegetable 5. Recovery through 10. Livelihood Recovery 15. Commercial Vegetable Farming, Dhankuta Agroforestry, Parwanipur Project, Putalibazar Farming, Guras Rural Municipality Municipality, Bara Municipality, Syangja Municipality, Dailekh PARTNER: Poverty Alleviation PARTNER: Rural Region and PARTNER: Suryodaya Club PARTNER: Women Empowerment and Rural Development Agroforestry Development Action Forum Nepal (WEAF Programme (PARDEP) Centre (RRAFDC) 11. Youth Employment Nepal) Project, Tansen Municipality, 2. Riverbed farming 6. Recovery through Micro Palpa 16. Employment generation and Livestock Support, Enterprise Support, Dudhauli PARTNER: Rural Economic trough commercial Ganeshman Charnath Municipality, Sindhuli Development Association vegetable farming, Municipality, Dhanusha PARTNER: Sahakarya Nepal [REDA] Bheemdutta Municipality, PARTNER: Community Kanchanpur PARTNER: Improvemnet Center (CIC) 7. Recovery through 12. Sustaining Progress National Environment and Micro Enterprise Support, towards the SDGs, Equity Development Society 3. Income Generation and Bakaiya Rural Municipality, Sainamaina Municipality, (NEEDS) Employment Support to Makawanpur Rupandehi Migrant Returnees, Gaushala PARTNER: Women Empowerment PARTNER: Seto Gurans Child 17. Employment generation Municipality, Mahottari and Poverty Alleviation Group Development Service trough commercial PARTNER: Community Nepal (WEPAG) Rupandehi (SGCDSR) vegetable farming, Bedkot Development & Advocacy Municipality, Kanchanpur Forum Nepal (CDAFN) 8. Agriculture for Livelihood 13. Commercial Potato PARTNER: SWEET Nepal Improvement, Pokhara Farming, Tillottama 4. Multi-layered Agro- PARTNER: Good Neighbour Municipality, Rupandehi 18. Livestock and Vegetable forestry, Harion Municipality, Service Association Nepal PARTNER: Progressive Farming, Alital Rural Sarlahi (GONESA) Multipurpose Cooperative Pvt. Municipality, Dadeldhura PARTNER: Gramin Swayam PARTNER: SEEDS Nepal Sebak Nepal (GSSN) 9. Livelihoods Recovery 14. Commercial Vegetable Project, Waling Municipality, Farming, Birendranagar Syangja Municipality, Surkhet PARTNER: DIYALO PARTNER: Interdependent Society Surkhet (ISS) 64 UNDP Nepal

Nepal Human Development Report 2020 RESEARCH & The Nepal Human Development Report 2020: Beyond LDC Graduation: Productive Transformation and Prosperity focuses on PUBLICATIONS how Nepal could meaningfully advance towards sustainable human development at a faster pace. It focuses on the present status of human development at both the 2020 national and provincial levels, exploring For a complete library of UNDP's research and a transitional strategy to graduation after assessing the likely implications of publications, visit np.undp.org LDC graduation on international trade and development finance, and evolving pathways.

Inventory of glacial lakes and A Light in the Heart: Faces of identification of potentially Nepal dangerous glacial lakes in Nepal, United Nations celebrated 75 years of TAR China, and India its establishment in 2020. As part of the Together with ICIMOD, UNDP Nepal celebration, UNDP in Nepal organized have prepared this comprehensive a virtual exhibition of photographs of inventory which provides an update on seventy-five people born with the United the status and changes in the number Nations, who are featured in this book. and area of glacial lakes in the three This book of photographs shines a light on basins - the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali people from all walks of life and reflects (including Mahakali) – along with a Nepal’s rich diversity. Moreover, young detailed methodology for the identification poets also have adorned the photos with of critical glacial lakes in remote and their poetic expression which promotes inaccessible mountain terrain using intergenerational solidaitry. remote sensing tools and technologies.

SDG Progress Assessment Open Space Report In order to make the best use of the The report reveals macroeconomic public spaces, UNDP Accelerator Lab stability during the period with about Nepal explored and mapped the available 6.8 percent annual economic growth, open spaces of Kathmandu Metropolitan reduced income poverty to 16.7 percent. City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Kirtipur This achievement is following the periodic Municipality and Bhaktapur Municipality plans that are focusing on promoting using ArcGIS in 2020. These maps can help growth, employment, infrastructure, visualize the general features, conditions, human development and resilience. The and utilizations of the public spaces to 15th Plan (2019/20-2023/24) has been explore further possibilities on their best fully aligned with the SDGs and provides a utilization. clear roadmap towards prosperity over the next 25 years. Annual Report 2020 65

UN Framework: For Responding Rapid Assessment of Socio- to the Socio-Economic Impacts of Economic Impact of COVID19 in Covid-19 in Nepal Nepal The United Nations in Nepal has designed Based on a painstaking survey of 700 the framework for responding to the Socio- businesses and 400 individuals, and Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Nepal. consultations with over 30 private sector It is anchored in government priorities, organizations and government agencies, as articulated by planning and budgeting UNDP conducted an assessment during documents at the national and provincial the first phase of lockdown in Nepal. The levels. It aims to complement and build report reveals that , COVID-19 pandemic on the government-led response. The has disrupted supply chains, shut or framework builds on short-term recovery threatened the survival of small and and resilience activities managed by the informal enterprises, and made people humanitarian country team. highly vulnerable to falling back into poverty through widespread loss of income and jobs.

Human Rights Due Diligence National Review of SDGs Assessment of Business Sector in The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable COVID19 Response Development is a blueprint of peace and UNDP Nepal and Ministry of Law, Justice prosperity for people and the planet with and Parliamentary Affairs, in collaboration a commitment that no one will be left with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers behind. Five years after the adoption of Commerce and Industry , initiated an of the 2030 Agenda, National Planning assessment of human rights due diligence Commission bring forth the second with an objective to assess the human voluntary national review, which was right compliance situation in the business prepared through collaborative efforts sector during the COVID-19 pandemic engaging all relevant stakeholders and to develop strategic approach for showcasing progress on mainstreaming necessary intervention. The assessment the development aspirations of the provides evidence-based analysis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in occupational health and safety, labor rights, all tiers of the government. environmental and community impacts etc.

Parliamentary Oversight on SDG baseline report Implementation of SDGs: A In 2020, UNDP supported in the Handbook with Checklist publication of provincial baseline report This handbook is a guiding document for of province namely Province 2, Bagmati, MPs to oversee the implementation of SDGs. Sudurpaschim and Karnali. The report The book provides a set of thematically will help to fulfill the gap by localizing divided checklist to scrutinize the multiple the SDGs and aligning the national and areas of SDGs including resources, legal provincial level goals in the local context. frameworks, mechanisms, and reporting. It It also provides a frame for monitoring also provides a set of graded questions with and evaluation, and help to engage all relevant data as a basis of argumentation. stakeholders in planning, designing and Aimed at strengthening the role of implementation process. parliamentarians in implementation of SDGs, this knowledge product is useful for parliamentarians and the policy stakeholders at the sub-national levels. 66 UNDP Nepal

LAUNCHED IN NEPAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2020 CALLS ON LEADERS TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON ENVIRONMENT

The Global Human Development Report 2020, The report was dismantle the gross imbalances of power and a flagship publication of the United Nations opportunity that prevent change. Development Programme was launched in also launched Kathmandu on 15 December 2020. in all seven Member of National Planning Commission Hon. Mr. Krishna Prasad Oli, former Finance Minister Dr. Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Mr. Pradeep provinces by the Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Executive Director of Global Kumar Gyawali launched the report in chief ministers Climate Fund Yannick Glemarec, EU Ambassador the presence of representatives from the Her Excellency Nona Deprez, UNDP Resident government, development partners, civil of the respective Representative Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labe, society organizations, private sector and the provincial UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Bernardo media. Cocco, Director General, International Centre governments. for Integrated Mountain Development Dr. Pema The report entitled “The next frontier: Human Addressed by Gyamtsho, Chair of Federation of Community development and the Anthropocene” laid out a Forestry Users Nepal Bharati Pathak, Social stark choice for world leaders - take bold steps over 40 speakers, Worker and youth leader Sapana Roka Magar joined and spoke at the launch event which was to reduce the immense pressure that is being these eight exerted on the environment and the natural also live cast from Facebook. world, or humanity’s progress will stall. events were Also in 2020, the National Planning Commission, attended by over The report argued that as people and planet with technical support of UNDP, published the enter an entirely new geological epoch, the 1000 people Nepal Human Development Report 2020, which Anthropocene or the Age of Humans, it is time provides a roadmap for the country’s non- to for all countries to redesign their paths to from across the reversible and sustainable graduation from the progress by fully accounting for the dangerous country virtually. current least developed country (LDC) status to a pressures humans put on the planet, and developing country. Annual Report 2020 67

PROVINCE 1 PROVINCE 2

BAGMATI PROVINCE (KATHMANDU) GANDAKI PROVINCE

LUMBINI PROVINCE KARNALII PROVINCE SUDURPASCHIM PROVINCE 68 UNDP Nepal

THE UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS Annual Report 2020 69

AT A GLANCE 2020 MAJOR PROGRAMME

South Asian Youth Summit Male Female People Living LGBTIQ+ Panel disucussion on the importance With Disability of the National Volunteer Policy opportunities and challenges 906 970 219 55 National Youth Conference

Involvment of young people with disabilities in achieving Sustainable Develeopment Goal by 2030 BREAKDOWN DETAILS UNlocking Skills training programmes National Volunteering Award 527 Informed INTERNATIONAL DAYS 901 52762 CELEBRATION Volunteer Respondents Mobilize International Day for Girl Child 22 International International Volunteer Day 363 Trained United Nations Volunteers International Youth Day 11 56 Global goals week Host National United Nations United Nations Agencies Volunteers

WE ARE INSPIRATION PROGRAMME BREAKDOWN IN ACTION

43.6K Indirect Reach OUR 2,090 REACH Direct 3211 Reach TrainingsNational Collabo- 11 Consultations 41 rators 2 21K Likes Webinars Partners National Surveys 3K Followers

800’ Followers 70 UNDP Nepal UNDP NEPAL & THE UN SYSTEM

UNDSS Annual Report 2020 71

UNDP functions as an integral member of the UN UNDP provided technical support to the COVID-19. Over 250 women were supported System in Nepal. National Planning Commission in drafting through this facility in 2020. 2020 was the second Voluntary National Review also important as – with the technical and UNDP’s programming in Nepal is guided by its (VNR), which was submitted to the UN financial support of UNDP, UN Women Country Programme Document (2018-2022) High-Level Political Forum in 2020. Drafted and other agencies – the National Action approved by UNDP’s Executive Board, and through a consultative process, involving all Plan-II on women, peace and security was the UN Development Assistance Framework stakeholders, the report recommend paying finalized and submitted to the government. (UNDAF) approved by the Government and the special attention to reducing inequality and The Action Plan is pending its endorsement UN country Team. addressing climate and environment risks, by the cabinet, but once it is endorsed it while also making available disaggregated will pave the way to address the issues UNDP’s country programme focuses in three data to “Leave No One Behind”. and concerns of conflict-related sexual priority areas: inclusive economic growth; violence. democratic governance, rule of law and human rights; and resilience, disaster risk reduction UNDP and UN Women in partnership with and climate change. Underpinning UNDP’s work AP1 television launched a new TV series UNDP and UN Resident Coordinator’s Office supporting Nepal’s commitment to development called “A Closer Look” to delve deeper worked together with National Human priorities is the achievement of the Sustainable into the some of the persistent harmful Rights Commission and CSOs in developing Development Goals (SDGs). practices in Nepali society, including an alternative report on Universal Periodic gender-based discrimination and violence, Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights In 2020, UNDP actively engaged supporting rape, witchcraft and how some of the Council and its effective implementation. UNCT’s collective results in a) COVID-19 women champions have successfully Crucial support was provided to ensure response, b) SDG implementation, c) LNOB, challenged gender stereotypes and the effective implementation of the UPR Human Rights and Gender equality in 2030 discrimination. In a bid to improve recommendations, including through Agenda, d) Disaster Risk Reduction, d) representation of women in newsroom, preparation of a joint post UPR strategy Partnerships and e) Business Operations. UNDP in partnership with International for Nepal. The strategy will also be Finance Cooperation (IFC) and Society instrumental in terms of establishing robust UNDP provided the technical lead to timely of Economic Journalists trained over 60 oversight mechanisms, monitoring and complete the COVID-19 UN Socioeconomic Framework. Similarly, immediately after COVID aspiring journalists and provided fellowship evaluation systems, data management and started disrupting lives in Nepal, UNDP joined and mentorship support to hone their coordination and collaboration. hands with UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, the professional skills. Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Similarly, UNDP worked together with the (ACORAB) and its Community Information The “Immediate UN Response for coherent UN family in empowering and engaging Network (CIN) to launch a radio show, “Jeevan safeguarding the livelihoods of people young people and youth organizations Rakshya” to help address the immediate socio- made most vulnerable by COVID-19 in through youth-focused and youth-led economic problems faced by the people during Nepal" project, jointly implemented by activities. Through the UNlocking Skills the lockdown. At a time when people did not UNDP, ILO, IOM and UNESCO with funding Programme, an initiative by the UN Youth have access to the relevant authorities due to from the UN COVID-19 Multi-Partner Group (UNDP, UNV, UNFPA, UNICEF, the restricted mobility, the radio program served Trust Fund, contributed to mitigating the WHO, UNFPA), over 200 youth were as an effective communication means to put socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 by trained on report and proposal writing and forth their grievances to the concerned officials. safeguarded livelihoods of over 2,800 communications skills. Volunteers for Within just two months, from April to May 2020, Action against COVID 19 engaged a team more than 1,500 people were directly connected Nepalis made most vulnerable by the to their respective leaders and authorities in the crisis. Over 64% of these beneficiaries of over 1000 youth across the country in local government to resolve their problems. were from marginalized groups. Of these, fighting misinformation, raising awareness UNDP provided direct support to create 626 on COVID, fighting mental health stigma, micro-enterprises and to provide short- and supporting behavioral change in term employment opportunities to 250 coping with the new normal. The campaign vulnerable workers in the hard-hit tourism reached to over 20,000 people through sector. social media messaging and off-line events.

UNDP in partnership with UN agencies Besides these collaborations on programme – and particularly with UN Women – areas, UNDP continued to serve the UN established a 22-bed, women-only system on the financial and administrative isolation centre that provides transit fronts, supporting 16 UN agencies, with and holding space for women, children a treasury transaction of about $34m in and their caretakers with asymptomatic 2020. 72 UNDP Nepal

Funding Sources & Partnerships

EXPENDITURES IN 2020

DONORS IN USD PERCENT

In 2020, UNDP implemented development programmes across UNDP 7,860,517 45.53 Nepal with a total expenditure of $17.2 million, of which 45.5 DFID 351,555 2.04 percent was resources from UNDP core funding. The remaining NORWAY 1,394,411 8.08 54.5 percent was mobilized from bilateral and multilateral donors INDIA 2,401,134 13.91 and agencies, Global Environment Facility, Global Climate Fund, NEPAL 1,768,633 10.25 and other sources. EUROPEAN UNION 896,278 5.19 KOREA 833,525 4.83 Breaking down UNDP’s 2020 expenditure by thematic areas, the THAILAND 389,107 2.25 greatest investment by value was in resilience and reconstruction AUSTRALIA 334,376 1.94 at 36% followed by inclusive economic growth and democratic GCF 179,870 1.04 governance, both at 32 percent. More than half of UNDP's total GEF 1,622 0.01 expenditures contributed directly or significantly to achieving GERMANY 45,970 0.27 gender equality and social inclusion. NETHERLANDS 286,637 1.66 MPTF 432,925 2.51 OTHERS 86,634 0.50 TOTAL 17,263,194 100.00 Annual Report 2020 73

36% 32% 6% 5% SUDURPASCHIM PROVINCE 1 RESILIENCE & INCLUSIVE 19% 11% NOT RECONSTRUCTION ECONOMIC DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING GROWTH 6% CONTRIBUTING KARNALI 6% PROVINCE 2 11% PROVINCE 5

32% 28% 38% 30% 41% GANDAKI BAGMATI CONTRIBUTING GOVERNANCE & SIGNIFICANTLY IN SOME WAYS RULE OF LAW CONTRIBUTING

EXPENDITURE BY OUTCOME EXPENDITURE BY PROVINCE % EXPENDITURE CONTRIBUTING TO GENDER EQUALITY & SOCIAL INCLUSION

2020 EXPENDITURE BY SDG 19% 18% 14% 10% 8% 8% 8% 7% 5% 1% 1% EXPENDITURE IN 2020

1234567891011121314151617 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) LEGEND

1. No Poverty 6. Clean Water & Sanitation 10. Reduced Inequalities 14. Life Below Water 2. Zero Hunger 7. Affordable & Clean Energy 11. Sustainable Cities & Communities 15. Life on Land 3. Good Health & Well Being 8. Decent Work & Economic Growth 12. Sustainable Consumption & Production 16. Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions 4. Quality Education 9. Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure 13. Climate Action 17 . Partnerships for the Goals 5. Gender Equality 74 UNDP Nepal

UNDP Contributing Partners

Note: This list includes bilateral and multilateral donors only. Please refer to “Funding Sources and Partnerships” for a full list of donors.

LEGEND

SUDURPASHCHIM KARNALI GANDAKI

A2J SPSP AUSTRALIA CHINA EUROPEAN UNION GERMANY CILRP CDRMP RERL NHRP VCDP CMDP

* AISN, MEDPA, ESP, SKILLS, EDFC, DISCLAIMERS: The boundaries and names shows GCF Readiness, PSP and PLGSP are and the designations used in this map do not based in Kathmandu and implemented imply o cial endorsement or acceptance by the at the national and sub-national levels. United Nations Epicentre of 25 April 2015 Earthquake BAGMATI INDIA NEPAL NETHERLAND NORWAY Epicentre of 12 May 2015 Earthquake PROVINCE 1

L umbini

QATAR REPUBLIC OF KOREA THAILAND UNITED KINGDOM UNDP UNDP Nepal’s Major Field O ces Programmatic Investment Areas Janakpur Butwal (Covers Gandaki Province) 2 | 6 | SUDURPASCHIM UNDP is thankful to all our core donors who have long been providing crucial funding to UNDP at the global level. Many of our core donors are also providing Surkhet PROVINCE direct funding to UNDP Nepal in addition to their support at the global level. Core donors are those that provide UNDP with regular resources and that is the Dhangadi pillar of UNDP’s support to the world’s poorest countries to eradicate poverty and inequality, attain sustainable development, and strengthen resilience to crisis. Core resources allow UNDP to enable coordinated, flexible, and rapid responses to development needs and emergencies; provide capability for multi-sectoral Country O ce and integrated solutions; support countries to leverage financing for the SDGs; and enhance thought leadership, innovation, and quality assurance. The top ten KATHMANDU PROVINCE 2 core donors include: United Kingdom, Japan, Sweden, the United States of America, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada and Denmark. Annual Report 2020 75 UNDP NEPAL: WHERE WE WORK AS OF JANUARY 2020

LEGEND

SUDURPASHCHIM KARNALI GANDAKI

A2J SPSP CILRP CDRMP RERL NHRP VCDP CMDP

Epicentre of 12 May 2015 Earthquake PROVINCE 1

L umbini

UNDP UNDP Nepal’s Major Field O ces Programmatic Investment Areas Janakpur Butwal (Covers Gandaki Province) 2 | 6 | SUDURPASCHIM Surkhet PROVINCE Dhangadi

Country O ce KATHMANDU PROVINCE 2 76 UNDP Nepal

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AISN Accelerating the Implementation of the SDGs MEDPA Micro Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation A2J Access to Justice MoFAGA Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration CDRMP Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management MoHA Ministry of Home Affairs Programme MoLJPA Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs CILRP Community Infrastructure and Livelihoods Recovery MP Member of Parliament Programme NDC Nationally Determined Contributions CMDP Cooperative Market Development Programme NHRC National Human Rights Commission COVID Coronavirus Disease NHRP Nepal Housing Reconstruction Project CSO Civil Society Organization NPC National Planning Commission DFID Department for International Development (United Kingdom) PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction DMGA District Micro-entrepreneurs Group Association PPE Personal protective equipment DRR Disaster Risk Reduction PSP Parliament Support Project DRRM Disaster Risk Reduction and Management RERL Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood eBPS Electronic Building Permit System RNA Ribonucleic Acid ECN Election Commission of Nepal SASEC South Asia Sub Regional Economic Cooperation Programme EDFC Effective Development Financing and Cooperation SDGs Sustainable Development Goals ESP Electoral Support Project SKILLS Support to Knowledge and Lifelong Learning Skills EU European Union SPSP HRC’s Strategic Plan Support Project GCF Green Climate Fund TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training GEF Global Environment Facility UNDP United Nations Development Programme GESI Gender Equality and Social Inclusion UNSCRC United Nation Security Council Resolution GoI Government of India UNV United Nations Volunteers GoN Government of Nepal VCDP Value Chain Development Programme HDI Human Development Index VCF Video conferencing facilities KOICA Korea International Cooperation Agency VNR Voluntary National Review LGBTIQ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Annual Report 2020 77

This report is a snapshot of the results achieved in 2020. This was possible with the dedication of the entire team including the country office and project team. Here is the UNDP Nepal team in 2020:

Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé, UNDP Resident Representative Bernardo Cocco, Deputy Resident Representative

Acharya Astha Gurung Rajendra Mishra Ira Sharma Nabin Thapa Aron Acharya Pradip Gyawali Bisam Morrice Adrian Sharma Sheela Thapa Govinda Adhikari Basant Prasad Hart Piper Murray Sushma Sharma Sushant Thapa Magar Duryodhan Adhikari Chiranjibi Jha Bipul Kumar Nakarmi Pranaya Sharma Yam Nath Thapa Timsina Chhetri Rina Adhikari Shiva Prasad Jovanovska Kristina Narasimhan Ramraj Sherpa Gomba Thapaliya Bhawani Ale Ananda KC Ajay Nepal Dambar Shreevastav Bitu Babu Tharu Ram Bahadur Amatya Ambika Kafle Bhasker Nepal Rishab Shrestha Amrit Timsina Chiranjivi Aryal Sudip Kafle Nitisha Nepali Bishnu Shrestha Beena Tuladhar Anjali B.k. Laxmi Karki Binita Nepali Yashoda Shrestha Bijendra Tuladhar Pushpa Bajracharya Aliska Karmacharya Bandana Neupane Ramji Prasad Shrestha Dadhi Tuladhar Rujika Bajracharya Aruna Thapa KC Deepak Nyoupane Himlal Shrestha Gopal Ukyab Yanki Bajracharya Purnima Khanal Mukunda Mani Ojha Himalay Shrestha Jyoti Vandari Parbati Basnet Nishan Khatri Birochan Pandey Satish Shrestha Kundan Das Yadav Satya Narayan Basnyat Ayushma Khawas Laxman Pant Dila Shrestha Kyarina Yang Yunchao Basnyat Bijendra Kim Gi Un Pantha Tika Shrestha Laxman Raja Yonzan Paramita Bhandari Jyoti Kim Kiyeon Parajuli Ashish Shrestha Manik Lal Bhattarai Krishna Kisan Yam Parajuli Bhesh Bahadur Shrestha Nikila Bhattarai Raju Kunwar Deepak Paudel Bal Ram Shrestha Niraj Bhurtel Bibesika Kushwaha Ramniwas Paudel Prem Prasad Shrestha Pradip EDITORIAL TEAM: Bista Aarati Lama Dhan Paudel Shirish Shrestha Prakash Bista Amit Lama Gyan Paudyal Anupama Shrestha Rachit Woodhatch Tom Bista Dinesh Lama Surya Paudyal Apar Shrestha Raj Raj Sigdel Kamal Bohara Hit Man Lee Hayoung Pokharel Biraj Shrestha Raj Bahadur Ranjitkar Richa Chand Dhan Limbu Bir Bahadur Poudel Arun Shrestha Rasendra Man Chaudhary Sajani Luitel Indra Poudel Pravin Shrestha Srijana Chaudhary Sajani Kusmi Luitel Indra Kumar Poudyal Ajaya Raj Shrestha Sudhira DESIGNED BY: Chhetri Sheila Lundberg Elvis Pradhan Pragya Shrestha Sujit Cruz Vincent Da Magar Binda Pradhan Sakuntala Shrestha Sushil Dawadi Dharmaraj Magar Nathuram Prajapati Rajesh Shrestha Swarnim TheSquare Design Communication Pvt. Ltd. Dhakal Bed Prasad Magnusson Anders Prasai Achyut Raj Shrestha Vijayata Jwagal, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal Dhakal Sujata Maharjan Ambika Prasai Lama Anu Siddiqui Rafeeque Tel. +977 1 5260 963 / 5531 063 Dhanchha Shrutina Maharjan Bal Krishna Rai Geetanjali Sigdel Kamal Raj www.thesquare.agency Dhungana Kedar Babu Maharjan Bharat Rai Pragyajan Singh Randhir Dongol Moti Kaji Maharjan Krishna Rai Sagun Singh Umesh Gautam Bibechan Maharjan Man Bhakta Ranjitkar Richa Singh Vijaya Gautam Abhushan Maharjan Shyam Reza Mohammad Shahid Skenderi Petrit PRINTED IN NEPAL Gautam Satish Maharjan Suresh Sapkota Krishna Prasad Sob Surendra Gautam Sushil Mahato Anil Sapkota Tek Subba Santa Gharti Nitu Manandhar Pragati Sarkar Kalpana Sunuwar Pushpa Ghimire Ranjit Manandhar Rassu Shah Jay Bahadur Swarnakar Dharma © United Nations Development Programme Giri Singh Baijanti Manandhar Suman Shekhar Shakya Pushpa Lal Tamang Gyanu UN House, Pulchowk, Lalitpur Gosain Bishwaram Maskey Soujanya Shakya Rubina Tamang Krishna Man G.P.O. Box: 107, Kathmandu, Nepal Gurung Abhilasha Maurati Pradeep Sharma Adhikari Anjana Tamata Tek Gurung Bal Mijar Pravat Sharma Anankeshor Tamrakar Niranjan Man TEL: (977-1) 5523200 Gurung Kamana Mishra Amit Kumar Sharma Bikash Thapa Akkal FAX: (977-1) 5523991 / 5523986 78 UNDP Nepal

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