United Nations Development Programme in

w Empowered Lives. no Resilient Nations. In The K Issue 57 September 2011

News of the Month

National Emergency Centre better prepared for emergencies

Within minutes of the 6.8 Richter scale earthquake on the evening of Sunday18 September that jolted Nepal and part of India, China and Bhutan, the newly established National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Kathmandu sprang into action. Soon after the incident, the NEOC made radio contacts with the hospitals in to alert them about the possible influx of injured and ordered all security agencies (Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police) to respond immediately. The NEOC was activated at level three, which means the disaster required a coordinated response of ministries and National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) selected members of Disaster Management Office in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA). Within an hour, senior officials from MoHA, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and all liaison officers from security agencies reported to NEOC. The centre contacted the Chief District Officers (CDOs) to collect information about the impact of the disaster and provided guidance and support for response. At 20:00 hours a press release was sent to all major media stations updating them on the situation and response. The following day the NEOC continued to gather information on deaths, injuries and infrastructure damage and distribute information to the media. A meeting of the Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee (CNDRC) also was organised at the NEOC the same day and recommended the cabinet to provide additional support to victims apart from current approved Government provisions. Since 2005 with funding from the European Commission and Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR), UNDP has been helping to build the Government and civil society capacities to reduce the risk from natural disasters and to deal with their aftermath. A new initiative for 2009 was supporting the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish a central Emergency Operation Centre to coordinate the Government’s response to natural disasters. The EOC was established with financial support from the Government of Australia through AusAID, technical support from UNDP, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, UN’s Department for Safety & Security (UNDSS) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The NEOC’s Disaster Information Management System is supported by the Government of Nepal‘s High Level Commission on Information Technology. In 2011, following the establishment of NEOC, 11 District Emergency Operations Centers were established and equipped for coordinating the response mechanism at the district level. As Nepal lies on a high risk seismic zone, the country, especially Kathmandu is ranked among 21 cities most vulnerable to quakes. If mega disaster strikes the country, it will have to rely on international assistance to stage the initial and crucial part of humanitarian operations. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Robert Piper stated that there has been a lot of progress compared to few years ago, “Now we have a much higher level of preparedness and awareness at the districts level than we have ever had before but while the systems are getting better we still are badly equipped.” P AGE 2 I N THE KNOW

News from the field

Danida, UNDP add facilities for Election Commission

The Danida’s Human Rights and Good Governance Programme (HUGOU) and UNDP have signed a cost sharing agreement of US$ 230,000 for the construction of Electoral Asset Store (warehouse) facilities at the premises of the Election Commission Nepal through the UNDP Electoral Support Project (ESP). UNDP has also contributed US$ 89,900 for the construction of the warehouse which will be utilised for safekeeping of about 3600 voter registration kits (laptops, webcam, finger prints equipment) that were procured during the Voter List with Photograph Programme. The warehouse will also store additional electoral materials and equipments. The scope of the proposed facility also includes construction of an assembly area for electoral kits, a vehicle parking area along with soft landscaping around the warehouse building. Women in Kamdi benefit from new Maternity Service Centre

Government health post in the same premises New Maternity Service Centre Birthing room inside the centre A Maternity Service Centre has been constructed in ward number 9 of Kamdi Village Development Committee in Banke, with the support of Local Governance Community Development Programme (LGCDP). Earlier in Kamdi, citizens only had a Government run health post which really did not cater to the needs of maternity services. It was difficult for women for regular check ups and emergency deliveries. Now, altogether 1795 households will be receiving maternity services from this centre. The Maternity Service Centre was constructed at the total cost of Rs. 1,222,702 (US$ 16, 302) out of which LGCDP contributed Rs. 917,027, the District Development Committee (DDC) contributed Rs. 122,270 while the Village Development Committee (VDC) contributed Rs. 61, 135 and the communities contributed labour worth Rs. 168,158.

The LGCDP is a joint a joint multi donor funded programme implemented by the Ministry of Local Development supported by 6 UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNCDF, UNV, UNFPA, UN Women) in all the 75 districts of Nepal. The support of 6 UN agencies has helped to mainstream gender equality and social inclusion issues into decentralization processes in the local Government. On income generation front, the main micro-enterprises adopted by the community are agriculture, livestock and small businesses like shops.

Transboundary meeting for conservation

A transboundary meeting was organised between the senior officials of the Bardia National Park in Nepal and officials of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India to strengthen local level understanding and cooperation on conservation issues. The Bardia National Park lies in close proximity of Katerniyaghat Wildlife Sanctuary of India and these two protected area systems are connected through Khata forest corridor and Karnali river flood plain. In the meeting, the participants discussed about increasing movement of wild elephants and recent incidences of crop and property damages at Bhimapur village of Rajapur area towards the Nepal side and possible ways to curb the problem. Both the parties agreed on solving water logging issues, establishing cooperation in conservation works, preventing illegal timber collection and action against poaching activities. Growing evidences suggest that conservation of mega species such as tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses are not sufficient if the conservation work is confined within the protected areas only. They must extend to greater landscape level beyond the boundaries of protected areas and beyond the political boundaries. The UNDP supported Western Landscape Complex Project (WTLCP) is supporting to coordinate and facilitate such meetings and is working to reduce conflict between human and wildlife by enhancing transboundary cooperation at all levels— from community to policy level. P AGE 3 I N T HE K NOW

News from the field

Managing solid waste through public private partnership

Until few years ago the sanitation situation of Municipality, a major industrial hub and the second largest city in Nepal was in a bad condition. Garbage was left in the open in public places. The Municipality was not able to provide a door-to-door collection service or sanitary disposal of solid wastes. According to the city data for 2008 Biratnagar, this densely populated city with 22 wards produces about 55 tons of garbage everyday.

The institutionalized form of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Nepal started with the Ministry of Local Development executed and UNDP funded Public-Private Municipality Office in Biratnagar, Morang Partnerships for Urban Environment (PPPUE) project in 2002. Until the initiation of PPPUE, the concept and utility of the PPP approach in the provision of basic services and infrastructure was not clear in Nepal. The PPPUE project and its partners have raised awareness of the potential of public private partnerships at both local and national levels and have gone a long way in creating an enabling environment for PPPs in local urban service delivery with increased access of the poor to basic services. With this initiation, the Biratnagar Municipality became the first Municipality as such to involve private sector in solid waste management services in the city.

Currently, the entire solid waste management in Biratnagar is handled by ‘Health Private sector cleaning operation in residential area and Peace for Environment’. This private operator is responsible for all levels of waste handling, from primary collection of wastes from streets, commercial areas and households until the final disposal takes place. Mani Dahal, vice chairperson in the company operating in the city for about 5 months says, “The main functions carried out by us are household collection of wastes, street sweeping, roadside drain cleaning, removal of dead animals, recruitment and training of waste management for staff, public and local residents. Altogether we are collecting garbage from 1365 households and have plans to cover 4000 households within the year.” The private operator collects fees from the households to cover operational and Garbage collection from the city area administrative costs of the collection. The fee ranges from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300 depending upon the demand of service from households. “We have 166 labourers collecting garbage two times every day, out of that 46 staff are from Municipality. The garbage collectors are paid Rs. 150 per day or Rs. 5000 per month depending upon their contracts and they are also paid for their overtime”, adds Mani Dahal. “The most challenging part is the awareness of the community. As for those households covered by the private operator, the households have been given two buckets on a cost sharing basis by the private operator and the municipality. The bio-degradable and non-biodegradable items are separated at the source of Management of public toilet by private sector collection or the household level”, says Poonam Dahal, the municipal focal point for PPP. continued......

P AGE 4 I N THE KNOW

News from the field

....continued With the project’s success in coordinating the role of private sector and the Municipality in managing the solid waste, the project’s focus has now turned towards revenue generating possibilities such as recycling products, establishing compost chambers to produce fertilizers, bio-gas attached to toilets etc. The involvement of the community is noteworthy in all the activities. The Tole Lane Organisations or the User Groups monitor and participate in the Municipality consultation forums for public services related to the Bio-gas attached to toilet for cooking, Gudri bazaar communities. PPPUE also aims to facilitate the sustainability of community based efforts by providing trainings for community groups and raising awareness of households on waste separation and recovery at different levels. This includes the training of local school teachers on source segregation and other waste management techniques to ensure the information is transmitted to students and, through them, to parents as well. Madhu Rai runs a school and is an active member of the Users Committee. At her own initiative she has opened up a small business in her house to make dustbins, pencil case, purse and fruit baskets out of the non-bio degradable items such as the covers of instant noodles and biscuits. She has also trained Madhu Rai explains her successes and challenges some and sells her products in hotels and schools in Biratnagar. The Municipality is also hiring her as a resource person for trainings. By instituting the public private partnership arrangements for solid waste management, PPPUE has helped to turn this municipal service into a commercially viable enterprise, which has helped to provide both; basic services to the community and employment opportunity for the people. Positive lessons from Biratnagar’s experience in waste management have been adopted in Dhangadi and Municipalities as well. PPPUE is supporting to bring private, community or other non-state actor Women have produced various household items out involvement in service delivery and infrastructure traditionally provided of non bio-degradable items through the public sector in five priority sectors — Solid waste management, Urban sanitation, Water supply and distribution, Renewable energy and Roads and transportation service.

Most importantly, the Morang Kabadi (Scrap Dealers) Association is an active body trying to cooperate with the Municipality in keeping the city organised, green and clean. According to Ram Bali Shah who leads the Association, “We 102 members who are registered with the Municipality are ready to invest in infrastructure for storing reusable scrap if the Municipality provides land and necessary logistics like electricity. We have irons, papers, plastics which can all be recycled. The paper factories, iron rod factories and polythene pipe factories are our main clients. Our Association has also hired about 40 women who go from door to Ram Bali Shah, chairperson of Scrap Dealers Association door to collect waste materials.” P AGE 5 I N THE KNOW

Success Story

Dhaka enterprise brings fortunes for Subhadra……...

A decade long struggle has finally Biratnagar, the two major market brought good days for Subhadra centres to the south of Myanglung. Rajbhandari, an entrepreneur Dhaka fabric and products have residing in Myanglung, Tehrathum strong domestic demand. Most of district in east Nepal. the producers have their own shops. She owns a shop which has products In Myanglung, the producers sell worth Rs. 400,000 (US$ 5,479) made dhaka products locally and in the out of dhaka fabric such as caps, adjoining districts. Encouraged by Subhadra Rajbhandari in her shop with dhaka material scarves, saris, shawls, neckties, her success, an increasing number of handkerchiefs, blouses, shirts etc. She people are involved in dhaka also has colourful threads in different business in the district. There are 6 sizes used for weaving dhaka factories and more than 300 micro- materials. entrepreneurs in Myanglung who produce dhaka products. In 2001, the UNDP Micro-Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP) Subhadra and her husband both provided 7-day training in weaving train people in dhaka weaving dhaka products and also supported which brings home around Rs. Subhadra to start her own enterprise 75,000 additional every year. Dhaka products on display in the shop and open an outlet to sell her However due to the rise in sales, MEDEP is a multi-lateral donor-funded products. Under the category of Subhadra is not able to give time to poverty reduction initiative in the 30 those belonging to the poorest trainings any more. There is a rise in districts of Nepal. group, MEDEP helped Subhadra to dhaka export with new items such as The overarching goal of MEDEP is to secure Rs. 20,000 (US$ 274) loan curtains, wall hangings, cushion translate the broader vision of the along with basic equipment. covers, table linens, bed linens, bags Government reflected in the periodic and other accessories. Several fair Within a year of beginning dhaka development plans, which is to trade organisations are already enterprise she was able to earn her address poverty through the exporting such items overseas. living, but in 2002 a fire in the shop development of micro-enterprises and destroyed all her goods. It took her 4 Subhadra participates in the local, generate employment opportunities more years to pick up the enterprise. regional and national trade fairs, and among the low-income families. occupies important position in the In 2005 again she started weaving MEDEP has created more than 53,000 community today. Her two children dhaka cloths. MEDEP facilitated her micro-entrepreneurs from among the are studying in private school and to borrow Rs 15,000 on group people living below the poverty line they live a more comfortable life collateral from the Agricultural over a period of 12 and half years. It’s compared to 10 years ago. She owns Development Bank. She gradually persistent efforts and technical a small piece of land worth Rs. increased the size of the business backstopping for almost nine years 500,000 (US$ 6849). People are ready and now employs 8 poor local led the Government to formulate a to lend her bigger amount of money. indigenous women who earn about Micro-Enterprise Policy in 2007 and to Rs. 5,000 per month on an average Established in July 1998 as a flagship include micro-enterprise as a distinct basis. Subhadra buys the raw enterprise promotion programme of category of industry in the 2010 materials mostly from Dharan and the Government of Nepal and UNDP, Industrial Policy. P AGE 6 I N THE KNOW

Success Story

Ex-combatant turns digital photographer

Krishna Chaudhary’s education came to a complete halt when she had to join the Maoist army at the age of 18. She joined the army because she was frustrated with the social and economic environment at home and she spent four years of her precious life as a combatant hoping for a bright future. In 2010, she was discharged from the cantonment in the category of Verified Minors and Late Recruits (VMLRs). Her family had no problem in accepting her back but the challenge was in pursuing a new career outside the cantonment. Her efforts to rejoin school did not work because she did not feel comfortable being in the same class with students who were much younger than Krishna Chaudhary her. Krishna opted for digital photography training under the micro-enterprise option offered by the UN Interagency Rehabilitation Programme (UNIRP), a joint initiative of UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and ILO. Upon completion of the training, Krishna received support equivalent to Rs. 30,000 to start up her own enterprise. Currently Krishna is working as an assistant at a digital photo studio in Bansgadi, 30 kms away from Banke, Nepalgunj and is earning about Rs. 3000 per month. She takes pictures, helps in processing photos and supports in other administrative works. Soon she aspires to open up her own shop in partnership with another ex-combatant who has a mobile repair shop in Dailekh district. The two plan to get married soon and settle down. She says “I am very happy that I got an opportunity to receive this training. I love my job and intend to take up a refresher course. I am receiving a lot of support from my family to start a new life.”

Guaranteeing youth rights in the new Constitution Role of youths in the new Constitution

Youth leaders from different political parties stressed the need of youth inclusion in the new Constitution during the panel discussion on ‘Youth and Democracy’ organised by the Center for Constitutional Dialogue (CCD), supported by UNDP’s Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal (SPCBN). The CPN UML youth leader Gokarna Bista said that there are many socio-economic issues related to youths hence the participation of youths should be ensured in the political, administrative and electoral system. Youth and Democracy interaction programme Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) youth leader Abhishek Pratap Shah expressed that the youths need space to work—especially in the politics and decision making. He mentioned that in all of Nepal's people’s movements, the youth participation was 99 percent but youth participation in political decision making is nil. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party youth leader Nabodita Chaudhari was of the opinion that ‘Youth’ and ‘Democracy’ are inter-related and interlinked. Therefore, if the country wants to ensure democracy, it has to first address the pressing issues of the country's youth. leader Gagan Thapa said that Nepali leaders have been successful in bringing drastic change in the political scenario but until now have not been able to build a system after the political changes. Similarly, UCPN (Maoist) leader Dama Sharma said that the state should create opportunities for the nation's youth for economic development through self-employment programmes. Shoko Noda, UNDP Nepal Country Director stated, “the timely completion of the Constitution writing process with consensus among different political parties is a challenge and the next few months will be crucial. The youth leaders from across the party spectrum could be a bridge or catalysts for reaching consensus.”

Published by, Communications Unit, United Nations Development Programme, UN House POB 107, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Nepal

Phone: 00-977-1-5523200 , Fax: 00-977-1-5523991, Website: www.undp.org.np We welcome any comments, suggestions and feedback at [email protected]