LWF Nepal ANNUAL REPORT 2009 The Lutheran World Federation Nepal ACRONYMS ACT - Action by Churches Together HFA - Hugo Framework for Action AIDS - Acquired Immuno – Deficiency Syndrome HH - Households AIN - Association of INGOs HIV - Human Immuno Deficiency Virus BRP - Bhutanese Refugee Project IEC - Information Education Communication BRCF - Bhutanese Refugee Children’s Forum INGO - International Non Government Organisation BRWF - Bhutanese Refugee Women’s Forum IPM - Integrated Pest Management CBO - Community Based Organization ISDR - International Strategy for Disaster Reduction CBOF - Community Based Organization’s Federation ILO - International Labour Organisation CBDP - Community Based Disaster Preparedness JTA - Junior Technical Assistant CDC - Child Development Centre JUS - Jana Uthan Samaj CEAPRED - Centre for Environmental and Agriculture Policy Research, NDP - Nepal Development Project Extension and Development NNDS - National Network of Disaster Affected Communities CSSD - Conscious Society for Development NNDSWO - Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organisation DAC - District Advisory Committee NTFP - Non Timber Forest Product DAO - District Agriculture Office OCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs DAP - Disaster Affected People OHCHR - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights DDC - District Development Committee PE - Peer Educators DDRC - District Disaster Reduction Committee PLWHA - People Living With HIV AIDS DEO - District Education Office PWG - Peace Working Group DEP - Dalit Empowerment Project RHMSF - Rashtriya Haliya Mukti Samaj Federation DEPROSC - Development Project Service Centre SEEP - Socio Economic Empowerment Program DMC - Disaster Management Committee SLIP - Sustainable Livelihood Improvement Program DMT - Disaster Management Team STI - Sexually Transmitted Infection DPNET - Disaster Preparedness Network SWC - Social Welfare Council FHKEP - Freed Haliya and Kamaiya Project UNHCR - United Nations High Commission for Refugees FKWDF - Freed Haliya and Kamaiya Women Development Forum VAHW - Village Animal Health Worker GEEP - Grant for Economic Empowerment Program VDC - Village Development Committee HAP - Human Accountability Principles WFP - World Food Program Cover Photo - Kamu Sunuwar and her daughter Amrita © LWF Nepal/Shreya Singh Kamu is a resident of Bhardeu V.D.C in Lalitpur district of Nepal and is a member of a women’s group supported by LWF Nepal’s Women in Business project. Belonging to a Dalit community, Kamu has been struggling alone to raise her children after her husband abandoned her for another woman. Despite the struggles in her life, Kamu is adamant about giving a bright future to her children. She has even started saving for her children’s higher education. Kamu is also thinking of taking loan from the group’s endowment fund and start poultry farming. Her daughter Amrita who has recently been promoted to grade one, enjoys going to school. Editor Co-Editor Consultant Editor Photographs Shreya Singh Roopshree Joshi Allen Armstrong LWF Nepal’s Photo Library unless otherwise stated Layout Design at: Digiscan Pre-Press, Naxal, Kathmandu Printed at: Format Printing Press Pvt. Ltd., Hadigaon, Kathmandu The Lutheran World Federation Nepal “Uphold the rights of the poor LWF NEPAL WORKING DISTRICTS and oppressed” Nepal Program The Lutheran World Federation Nepal (LWF Nepal) is a country program of LWF/DWS Geneva. It has been working with marginalized and oppressed communities of Nepal for over 25 years in the areas of relief and rehabilitation, advocacy and networking, empowerment and organizational development. Established in 1984, LWF Nepal is a leading international NGO active in both development and humanitarian work. Originally engaged in sectoral development and community development approach, LWF Nepal switched to empowerment approach in 1997. It currently follows the right based approach in it’s development interventions and considers it as the key to development. Mission Inspired by God’s love for humanity, LWF Nepal challenges and responds to the causes and consequences of human suffering and poverty through empowering and promoting the human rights of the displaced, marginalized and vulnerable within Nepali society to claim and enjoy their rights. Vision People of Nepal living in a democratic and just society in peace and dignity united in diversity and empowered to achieve their universal human rights. Core Values Dignity and Justice Inclusiveness and Participation Accountability and Transparency Dedication, Compassion and Decency Thematic Areas • Emergency Response and Disaster Risk Management • Sustainable Livelihood Development • Peace, Reconciliation and Human Rights Cross Cutting Issues • Gender • Environment • Health, HIV and AIDS The climatic conditions also did not favor Nepal this year. strengthened at national , international and regional levels. Agriculture largely suffered due to late and excessive As a result of continued pressure from LWF Nepal and other FOREWORD monsoon rains while flash floods and landslides caused havoc likeminded agencies affilated to Disaster Risk Reduction It’s been a year since the historical throughout the country. This even led to the postpomement network, the government of Nepal passed the disaster risk Constituent Assembly elections were of some of our activities as the focus group members were management strategy while a draft of the refugee law was held in Nepal for drafting a new and unable to give time during the initially planned schedule due also prepared and submitted to the Government of Nepal for inclusive constitution in the country. to the changed monsoon pattern. consideration. Thriving to establish itself as one of the youngest federal democratic Food insecurity increased in the country due to poor winter This was an important year for us as we completed 25 years republics in the world, the politics of harvests in parts of the Far- and Mid-west, while the normal of our dedicated inteventions in uplifting the rights of the Nepal went through many ups and Nepali consumer was badly hit by the rise in food prices and poor and opressed people of Nepal. We have come a long downs this year without bringing transportation costs. way over these years. We have learned and grown from any major improvement to the our experiences with each passing year and which has also country’s peace process leading to The mid and far western hilly areas of Nepal were severely helped us in becoming a very local organisation despite increased disappointments among affected by a diarrhea outbreak in May 2009 that claimed being international. the common people of Nepal. over 400 lives. LWF Nepal rapidly responded to the need of diasaster affected communities with the support from We achieved some great milestones like the freedom of After the fall of the government lead by the Communist Party ACT International and carried out relief operations in three Kamaiyas and Haliyas due to our untiring efforts and our of Nepal (Maoist), the largest political party in Nepal after their diarrhea affected districts of Nepal. belief in the causes we supported and our zeal to develop controversial decision to sack the then Chief of Army Staff and a society which is just, equitable and free from all kinds of later reinstated by the President a new coalition government A bomb blast at the Assumption Church in Kathmandu Valley discriminations. However, there are still lots that need to be of 22 political parties lead by the United Marxist Leninist party, killed 3 people while 26 people died when a church building done to address the issues of poverty and discrimination in the third largest political party, took the helm of governance collapsed in the eastern part of the country. Nepal among others. We intend to continue working with in May that was followed by a series of protest by the Maoist added responsibility, utmost dedication and sincerity even and the stalling of the house for over six months. The case of Avian Influenza (bird flu) and Swine Flu (H1N1) in future to adress these issues. It would be unfair if I don’t was found first time in the country, out of which one case thank our donors, implementing partners, stakeholders, The key political parties failed to reach a consensus on was identified in one of our project areas in Jhapa district dedicated staff members, line agencies and all those people important issues like the restructuring of the state, devolution but situation was under control as lot of awareness had been who have directly or indirectly supported and accompanied of sate powers and integration of Maoist combatants among carried out by us in advance. The power outage of upto 12 us through all these years. We would have never been able to others which further deepened the political deadlock. As a hours a day affected the productivity of the country and all come this far without your support. We would sincerely like result, the constituent assembly calender saw 8 amendments the sectors were affected, including our organisation. to express our gratitude to you and request you to extend this year putting a big question mark on the timely drafting similar support to us even in future as we believe that of the constitution within the set deadline of 28 May 2010. Despite being a politically unfavorable year for the country, together we can certainly contribute towards the making of LWF Nepal continued working with utmost dedication in a better Nepal. Something that saw headway this year was the procedure for order to