ActionAid International Nepal ActionAid International Nepal is an anti-poverty, human rights- based organisation established in 1982. We are an associate member of the ActionAid International federation, and we aspire to become a full affiliate at the beginning of this strategy period. REFLECTIONS ActionAid International is active in over 45 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe, with international secretariat in Johannesburg, South Africa. We have worked in & LEARNING partnership with more than 100 civil society organisations, social justice movements and people's organisations in 27 districts to fight against poverty and injustice.

2013

COUNTRY OFFICE EASTERN RESOURCE WESTERN RESOURCE Apsara Marga, Lazimpat CENTRE CENTRE Ward No. 3, Kathmandu, Nepal Panchali, Ward No. 16 Belaspur, Sanchayakosh Marga P.O. Box. 6257 Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal Ward No. 16, Nepalgunj, Tel.: 977-1-4002177 Tel.: 021-470575, 471637 Banke, Nepal Fax: 977-1-4002118 Fax: 021-472635 P.O. Box: 75 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel.: 081-526298, 524245, Website: www.actionaid.org/nepal Fax: 081-522536 Email: [email protected] AAIN in Media / AAIN Publications 2013

Disclaimers

The materials and the geographical designations in this report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ActionAid International Nepal concerning the legal status of the country, zones, districts, municipalities, village development committees or areas or concerning the delimitation of its boundaries.

Copyrights

ActionAid International Nepal (AAIN) reserves all rights of ownership (copyrights) of this document. Therefore, no part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without written permission of AAIN.

However, readers are free to make use of it for non-commercial purposes in course of development work. AAIN asks, however, that proper acknowledgements be given whenever this document is so used, and that a copy of any document produced with the assistance of original materials quoted from this document be sent to AAIN for inclusion in its Library or Documentation Centre.

DESIGN & PRINT PROCESS: Design Communication Pvt. Ltd. TheSquare [email protected]

Printed in Nepal. VISION WE WORK WITH “A Nepal without poverty and injustice in Women, Dalits, Highly Excluded which every person enjoys his or her Indigenous People and People Living right to a life of dignity.” in Poverty

MISSION OUR APPROACH “To work with people living in poverty We adopt a human rights-based and excluded people to eradicate approach as our overarching framework poverty and injustice.” to fight poverty, injustice and inequality and believe the state is the primary duty bearer for the dignity and well-being of WE BELIEVE its citizens. Poverty is a denial and violation of human rights stemming from a historical process of exclusion and injustice. It is a complex, dynamic and multifaceted phenomena associated with social constructs such as gender, caste, ethnicity, location, physical ability and class.

Contents

> Acronyms 04 > Glossary 06 > Country Director’s Message 08 > Working areas of AAIN 11 > Executive Summary 13

THE CONTEXT 16

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW 18 > Natural Resources and Livelihood 19 > Disaster Risk Reduction and Emegency Preparedness Response 26 > Participatory Democratic Governance 31 > Women's Rights 36 > Quality Education in a Safe and Equitable Environment 41 > Other Organisational Initiatives 48

ORGANISATIONAL PROCESSES AND CHANGES 50

LEARNING AND CHALLENGES 56

GLIMPSE OF QUANTITATIVE ACHIEVEMENT 2013 57

LRP PARTNERS ORGANIZATIONS 59

PROJECT MANAGED BY AAIN IN 2013 60

AAIN IN MEDIA / AAIN PUBLICATIONS IN 2013 61 Acronyms

ActionAid AA ActionAid International Nepal AAIN Annual Plan and Budget APB Building Disaster Resilient Community BDRC Child Centred Learning CCL Curriculum Development Centre CDC Chief District Officer CDO Citizens Education Report CER Community Forest Users’ Groups CFUG Country Office CO Central Resource Centre CRC Country Strategy Paper CSP District Agriculture Development Office DADO District Administration Office DAO Deepening Democracy DD District Development Committee DDC District Disaster Relief Committee DDRC Department of Hydrology and Meteorology DHM Disaster Management DM Disaster Management Committee DMC Department of Education DoE District Project Advisory Committee DPAC District Public Health Office DPHO Disaster Risk Reduction DRR Eastern Resource Centre ERC Great Britain Pound GBP Government of Nepal GoN Human Rights-Based Approach HRBA Human Resources and Organisational Development HROD International Non-governmental Organisation INGO Information Technology IT Local Disaster Risk Management Plan LDRMP Local Governance and Community Development Programme LGCDP Local Rights Programme LRP Mahila Adhikar Manch MAM Ministry of Education MoE Memorandum of Understanding MoU Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare MoWCSW National Building Code NBC National Center for Educational Development NCED Non-Governmental Organisation NGO Nepali Rupees NRs. Participatory Democracy Initiative PDI Public Interest Litigation PIL People Living in Poverty PLiP Participatory Monitoring and Accountability PMA Partner Non Government Organisation PNGO Participatory Planning Process PPP Participatory Review and Reflection Process PRRP Promoting Rights in School PRS Parent Teachers' Association PTA Participatory Vulnerability Assessment PVA People with Disabilities PWD Resource Center RC Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques REFLECT Reach Out to Asia ROTA Right to Information RTI School Improvement Plan SIP School Leaving Certificate SLC School Management Committee SMC Sexual Reproductive Health Rights SRHR School Sector Reform Plan SSRP Unpaid Care Work UCW Violence against Women VAW Village Development Committee VDC Village Education Committee VEC Western Resource Centre WRC Women Rights Forum WRF Glossary

Unit of measurement of land in the Terai. One bigha is equal to Bigha 0.67 hectare/6,772.63 m²

A land grant made by the state to individuals, usually on a tax Birta free and inheritable basis.

A conservative social practice for women in certain districts of Western Chhaupadi Nepal, which prohibits a woman from participating in normal family and community activities during menstruation as she is considered impure.

A person or community considered to belong to so called "lowest Dalit caste" in the Hindu caste hierarchy. The Dalits are also often referred to as untouchables.

A committee of members elected to serve (in accordance with the DDC District Development Committee Act, 1992) as the executive body of authority in each of the 75 districts of Nepal. Candidates for election to a DDC represent the VDCs (VDCs) within that district.

Unit of land measurement in the Terai. One dhur is equal to 16.93 m² Dhur

Our human rights-based approach centres support People Living in HRBA Poverty to become conscious of their rights, to organise themselves to claim their rights, and to hold duty bearers to account. AAIN builds on international human rights law, but goes beyond a legal or technical approach, supporting people to analyse and confront power imbalances and take sides with the PLiP.

Our long-term programmes in particular districts and communities AAIN LRP refers to all of its programmes as rights programmes, which may be implemented at local, national and international levels. From 2012, AAN has been referring to all its DA/DI as LRP to ensure consistency. Agricultural bonded labourer, particularly those that existed in Western Nepal. Kamaiya Abolished after the promulgation of Kamaiya Labour (Prohibition) Act, 2002.

Female bonded labour Kamaiya. Kamlari

Unit of measurement of land in the Terai. One kattha is equal to 338.63 m² Kattha

The Madhesi are the native people of Nepal who reside in the southern, plains or Madhesi the Terai which they also refer to as Madhesh. The Madhesis comprise about 40 per cent of the total population of Nepal.

A caste-group within the Dalit community in the Terai. Musahar

A sponsorship mechanism in which child sponsors from the United Kingdom have Next Step the option to transfer their support from one particular area of funding to unrestricted funds after completing five years of support.

We avoid talking about “poor people” which has an element of condescension. PLiP “PLiP” emphasises a common humanity and poverty being a state that people are living in, which ActionAid is trying to end.

Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques – an REFLECT innovative approach to adult learning and social change, which focuses on the theory of Paulo Freire and uses participatory rural appraisal methodologies.

A committee of members elected to govern a certain village development area VDC (in accordance with the VDC Act, 1992). Candidates for election to a VDC represent the wards into which the VDC area is divided. Country Director’s Message

Dear All, need for critically analyzing the emerging macro and global contexts, at the same time, Namaste and Warm Greetings! social and ecological justice initiatives need to get built from local community level. It is my pleasure to share ActionAid AAIN’s local rights programmes (LRP) International Nepal’s Reflections and continue to focus on achieving the rights and Learning 2013 with you. The year has seen sustainable solutions for people living in AAIN deepen and further its HRBA approach poverty (PLiP), women and other to achieve wellbeing and social justice in marginalized groups through its four Nepal through the second year of strategic objectives. In 2013, AAIN entered implementation of its fourth Country Strategy two new LRP’s in Doti and Sankhuwasabha Paper “Equitable Actions to End Poverty”. districts to set its new journey in those regions. With the engagement of our local ActionAid is a learning organization – CSO partners, strategic partners, local therefore, as well as engaging in various community groups, REFLECT circles, actions for desired changes, we do networks and cooperatives, AAIN has been continuously engage in critical reflections promoting seed banks, organic farming, land over actions and draw on learning. We call it ownership campaigns, disaster resilient a 'praxis mode of HRBA actions', in which systems and mechanisms in schools and we keep on sharpening our 'theory of communities. LRPs also aim at addressing change'. We have learnt that there is huge women’s rights issues at local level including 9

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

community campaigns on VAW, safer city “International Participatory Democracy campaign, promoting care economy for Conference” in 2013, which provided a wider justice, right to education, quality common platform to facilitate and trigger education and child centered learning and discourses on critical issues and aspects of reinvigoration of popular education. democratic nation-building, as well as ways of promoting democratization at all level. As well as building and strengthening CSO The evolution of "Forum for Participatory partnerships, ActionAid strongly believes in Democracy" at national level has connected and also practices constructive itself to similar initiatives and discourses in engagements with governmental agencies the eastern and western regions of Nepal. from local to national level. In 2013, by recognizing our long experience and I hope you will find this report informative expertise AAIN was approached by the and re flective of the collaborative efforts of Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local our staff and partners with people living in Development as a lead agency to develop poverty on their quest to lead secure and Social Mobilization and Local Accountability digni fied lives. I would like to thank and component of LGCDP-II, which we acknowledge the support and commitment completed quite successfully. AAIN has of our rights holders, partners, supporters, also continued to partner with institutional donors, national board of governance, staff and high-value donor agencies during the and other stakeholders including the year. AAIN has been successful to win an government agencies for their continuous EU funded multi-country project and unwavering support. We look forward 'Strengthening Women’s Collectives' being to your continued support in 2014. implemented in Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Another similar initiative was Aid- Match project funded by Dfid aid match Best wishes, funds. Early Childhood Development Centers funded by Guy Foundation were also implemented in 2013. Bimal Kumar Phnuyal Envisioning a poverty-free, democratic and Country Director truly prosperous Nepal, AAIN in partnership with Institute for Governance and Development (IGD) organized the second

Working areas of ActionAid International Nepal

ActionAid International Nepal’s (AAIN’s) long-term partnership programmes LOCAL RIGHT PROGRAMME AND PROJECTS and projects at the field level are currently being implemented in 27 districts. MANAGED BY DISTRICTS TOTAL LRP s LRP PARTNERS VDC s & PROJECT Additionally, AAIN has short-term engagements with several other MUNCIPALITIES PARTNERS

non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, alliances, Eastern Resource Centre 9814 70

networks and forums across the country. Kathmandu Office 94829 14*

Western Resources Centre 9712 65

Total 27 19 34 164 14

* 7 out of 14 project partners are from LRP.

Country Office Kathmandu

Western Resource Centre (WRC) Nepalgunj

LOCAL RIGHT PROGRAMME (LRP) Programme Districts Managed by Western Resource Centre ongoing - LRPs Bardiya, Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Bajura, Post - LRP HRBA Initiatives Banke, Doti, Palpa, Baitadi

Programme Districts Managed by Kathmandu Office PROJECTS KEY Rasuwa, Dolakha, Makwanpur, Mahottari. Kaski, Aid Match Project Chitwan, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur Eastern Resource Centre (ERC) Saksham Biratnagar Strengthening Women’s Collectives Programme Districts Managed by Eastern Resource Centre Early Childhood Development Centre Siraha, Dhanusha, Morang, Jhapa, Bara, Parsa, Udayapur, Empowerment and Democracy Terhathum, Sankhuwasava AAIN adopts a Human Rights-Based land reform agenda. Various local groups like institutions like family, community and the Work (UCW) is about focusing on care process is equally contributing to enhance the Participatory Democracy" at national level has EApproacxh (HRBAe) whichcencourauges the tivREFLEeCT Circles,SJana Saruokar Munmch, Land mstate is valuedaand recrogniysed. Women’s economy for wider economic justice. Number participation of parents, children, teachers’ connected itself to eastern and western regions conviction of people living in poverty (PLiP), Right Forum, farmers group, Mahila Ahikar network/groups, Reflect circles, Mahila of different training and capacity building unions, SMCs/PTA, communities and local civil of Nepal too. It was envisioned to establish women, Dalits and other marginalised people Manch (MAM) and freed Haliya network were Adhikar Manch (MAM), VAW networks have initiative took place on UCW covering its society organisations in collectively monitoring forum as a common platform to trigger to ask questions, claim rights, make decisions active in organising and mobilising the been organised and capacitated to explore framework and understanding in 2013. The and improving the quality of public education. discourses contributing to national and hold institutions to account. It reaffirms community people. AAIN with the LRP and address issues related to VAW and capacity building workshops brought together development strategies of democracy and the role of popular struggles, social justice partners have been facilitating joint ownership women’s rights. A series of capacity building government officials from MoA, Department of Along with the promotion of quality learning, democratisation, develop web-based movements and civil society actions for rights on the land campaign aiming to protect initiatives have been taken at the LRP and Social Security Fund, Labour department, and strengthening public education system, information sharing platform, continue research conscientiousness conscientisation and the women's rights to land. As a result, altogether national level and as a result of which 560 CBS, National Women Commission, partner AAIN also aims to provide safe education to through fellowship, development of popular transformation of unequal power relations. 2093 women within our programme areas women have been developed as women’s organisations. These workshops and trainings school going children. More than just primers and issue based discourses to develop received joint or single land-ownership- rights leaders. These leaders are now actively were an opportunity to develop an advocacy assessment of the school system, in facilitation and strengthen critical mass on AAIN refers to all its programmes as rights certificate in 2013. engaging in ensuring women’s political, social strategy on UCW that ActionAid and partners of the PNGOs, 129 schools conducted PVA of democratisation of democracy. programmes, which is being implemented at and economic rights by working together with could roll out to make women’s UCW visible in schools to address potential hazards and local, national and international levels. From Nepal’s geography, geology, climate and lack women’s movement to foster access to Nepal. Our partner organisations also took this climate change. An initiative was also taken for AAIN took lead in the Social Mobilisation and 2012, AAIN has been referring to its long-term of proper infrastructure planning make the various services provisioned by the state and understanding and concepts in local level as such concept to be incorporated in the school Local Accountability output of LGCDP-II in partnership programmes and projects at the country extremely vulnerable to various types ensuring women’s rights. well. UCW, though regarded as new issue curriculum. Strategic Implementation Plan development field level as Local Rights Programmes (LRP). of disasters. In terms of building resilience to during 2012 is now being massively discussed process. AAIN proposed a Livelihood A Total of 27 LRPs are being implemented disaster, it implies to improving the capacity of The concept of safe cities and public space is giving rise to some perceptible impacts. A total REFLECT Circle is a platform for the PLiP and Improvement Programme in Citizen’s now with two new LRPs that were initiated in the communities with respect to discussed and established in this year in order of 7,123 PLiP have been sensitised on Unpaid marginalised people, especially women to Awareness Center (REFLECT), harmonisation Doti and Sankhuwasabha districts in 2013 understanding resources, knowledge and to address incidents and issues of VAW and Care Work (UCW). The process of time diary reflect upon their situation and take a collective of social mobilisation tools and techniques, where as, two LRPs of Batadi and Dang were skills. Taking all these into account, AAIN girls and sexual harassment in public space has also been playing a major role in action to solve their issues and problems Ward Citizen’s Forum as entry point for phased out in 2013. along with its partners carried out different including public transportation. Pilot initiatives ascertaining the evidence of time spent by identified in their communities. The Circle development activities, institutionalisation of initiatives and programmes with the disaster of safe cities programs and campaigns are women on UCW. focuses on the dissemination of popular democratic practices such as reformation of Agriculture is the mainstay of Nepalese vulnerable communities to build resilience operationalised in Kathmandu, Morang, education which is regarded as one of the most Ward Citizen’s Forum as well. Government has livelihood system. In 2013, we continued our system and mechanism. A total of 1251 PLiP Chitwan and Makwanpur districts informed by The objective of quality education focuses on effective tools of adult empowerment. This appreciated the constructive engagement of focus towards the promotion of sustainable (especially disaster vulnerable communities), participatory audience insight research and integrated response to advance free and Circle apart from being an empowerment tool AAIN in developing the strategic implementation agriculture for sustainable livelihood. social mobilisers, students, and teachers from development of programming framework of quality education at basic level and reinvigorate also concentrates on adult education, plan. It has also seek the support to develop the Sustainable agriculture is based on the different LRPs received various components safe cities. The issues related to sexual popular education. Quality education ensures especially educating women. 2070 participants training materials and capacity development of principle of agro-ecology, and farming of disaster risk reduction training to fight harassment and VAW and girls in public education that is essential in the holistic have been able to read and write through stake holders in implementation of social practices based on farmers’ knowledge, skill against vulnerability such as Participatory spaces and public transportation are development of an individual. It focuses on REFLECT Circles while 8149 rights holder are mobilisation and local accountability initiatives of and local inputs are promoted across AAIN’s Vulnerability Assessment (PVA), Disaster massively discussed in REFLECT Circles, learning which strengthens the capacities of well-informed about civic education. LGCDP-II. working areas. AAIN closely worked with Management Plan (DMP), importance of early women’s group at community, national level children to act progressively on their own behalf different farmer groups/cooperatives and warning system etc. Through the Building and the issues were also conversed with through the acquisition of relevant knowledge, AAIN engagement on Mahakali, Gandak and AAIN continued its engagement in promoting networks to help build capacities in sustainable Disaster Resilient Community (BDRC) project drivers, conductors, trade unions, police and useful skills and appropriate attitudes.Child Koshi river campaigns was continued this year social audit as a process of ensuring agriculture. Promotion of community seed with Practical Action as the consortium partner other employees of transport sectors to Centered Learning (CCL) is one of the as well in partnership with Forum for Local accountability and transparency practice. In this banks, organic farming, and collective farming 400 people (especially local government and sensitize them and also to make them approaches that are promoted in 206 schools Development in Kanchanpur, INDRENI in light, AAIN held its 10th National Social Audit in are some of the areas of intervention for the school officials) were provided orientation on accountable towards issue. An awareness in the working areas for maintaining the Nawalprasi and Abhiyan Nepal in Koshi. Water 2013 with representatives from concerned promotion of sustainable agriculture. At structural and non-structural vulnerability in campaign was also carried out using various standard and quality of education. Schools are commons is a national and cross-border issue government line agencies, various networks, community level, an integrated method of Pokhara (Kaski). tactics and also through social media building applying this approach while trainings are being and is linked to water politics. AAIN and its federations and alliances, representatives from community seed bank has been initiated to coalition with wider women’s movement, provided from different organisations working in partners have been organising various other I/NGOs, representatives from bilateral improve the farmers’ access to quality seeds. AAIN’s strategy on women's rights focuses on networks and organizations. Two safe houses the field of education. Some students from workshops, meetings and trainings from local and multilateral donor communities, and media the integrated process for bringing about have been established in Chitwan and private school have also shifted to community- to national level to amplify the issues of water representatives. Land is more than monetary value since one transformation in communities by engaging in Makwanpur, initiated through Sakcham managed schools in Morang and Tehrathum commons. cannot live without land nor labour without an women’s sexual and reproductive health rights project, in order to provide victims a secured due to the CCL approach and English medium AAIN’s long-term partnership programmes and access to it. It is a major source of power linking with VAW in both private and public shelter, counseling and other services. teaching. AAIN in partnership with Institute for projects at the field level are currently being which determines the status of the people in sphere and overall economic justice to women Governance and Development (IGD) organised implemented in 27 districts. Additionally, AAIN society. In 2013, AAIN and its partner with increased meaningful participation of One of our major objectives is to make society Right to Education (RTE) is promoted with “International Participatory Democracy has short-term engagements with several other organizations continued a joint land ownership women in decision-making level building their sensitised about the contribution of women frameworks like Promoting Rights in Schools Conference” in December 2013. The non-governmental organisations, community- campaign underscoring women’s rights to agency. Keeping strategy at the centre, AAIN which can be achieved through due (PRS), CER (Citizen Education Reports) and conference was a step forward towards based organisations, alliances, networks and land which gained momentum with a focus on works for the formation of agency of women recognition, redistribution and reducing of MOST (Mobile Onsite Support Team). The participatory democracy discourse building on forums across the country. community sensitisation to pressurise political and especially marginalised rural and urban workload of women that have been meted out REFLECT participants, LRP partners and the experiences from "National Conference on parties and government officials along with poor women so that their contribution to the to them in an unjust manner. Unpaid Care education watch groups are using PRS as a Participatory Democracy in Nepal" held in framework to improve quality of learning. The 2012. The evolution of a platform "Forum for AAIN adopts a Human Rights-Based land reform agenda. Various local groups like institutions like family, community and the Work (UCW) is about focusing on care process is equally contributing to enhance the Participatory Democracy" at national level has EApproacxh (HRBAe) whichcencourauges the tivREFLEeCT Circles,SJana Saruokar Munmch, Land mstate is valuedaand recrogniysed. Women’s economy for wider economic justice. Number participation of parents, children, teachers’ connected itself to eastern and western regions conviction of people living in poverty (PLiP), Right Forum, farmers group, Mahila Ahikar network/groups, Reflect circles, Mahila of different training and capacity building unions, SMCs/PTA, communities and local civil of Nepal too. It was envisioned to establish women, Dalits and other marginalised people Manch (MAM) and freed Haliya network were Adhikar Manch (MAM), VAW networks have initiative took place on UCW covering its society organisations in collectively monitoring forum as a common platform to trigger to ask questions, claim rights, make decisions active in organising and mobilising the been organised and capacitated to explore framework and understanding in 2013. The and improving the quality of public education. discourses contributing to national and hold institutions to account. It reaffirms community people. AAIN with the LRP and address issues related to VAW and capacity building workshops brought together development strategies of democracy and the role of popular struggles, social justice partners have been facilitating joint ownership women’s rights. A series of capacity building government officials from MoA, Department of Along with the promotion of quality learning, democratisation, develop web-based movements and civil society actions for rights on the land campaign aiming to protect initiatives have been taken at the LRP and Social Security Fund, Labour department, and strengthening public education system, information sharing platform, continue research conscientiousness conscientisation and the women's rights to land. As a result, altogether national level and as a result of which 560 CBS, National Women Commission, partner AAIN also aims to provide safe education to through fellowship, development of popular transformation of unequal power relations. 2093 women within our programme areas women have been developed as women’s organisations. These workshops and trainings school going children. More than just primers and issue based discourses to develop received joint or single land-ownership- rights leaders. These leaders are now actively were an opportunity to develop an advocacy assessment of the school system, in facilitation and strengthen critical mass on AAIN refers to all its programmes as rights certificate in 2013. engaging in ensuring women’s political, social strategy on UCW that ActionAid and partners of the PNGOs, 129 schools conducted PVA of democratisation of democracy. programmes, which is being implemented at and economic rights by working together with could roll out to make women’s UCW visible in schools to address potential hazards and local, national and international levels. From Nepal’s geography, geology, climate and lack women’s movement to foster access to Nepal. Our partner organisations also took this climate change. An initiative was also taken for AAIN took lead in the Social Mobilisation and 2012, AAIN has been referring to its long-term of proper infrastructure planning make the various services provisioned by the state and understanding and concepts in local level as such concept to be incorporated in the school Local Accountability output of LGCDP-II in partnership programmes and projects at the country extremely vulnerable to various types ensuring women’s rights. well. UCW, though regarded as new issue curriculum. Strategic Implementation Plan development field level as Local Rights Programmes (LRP). of disasters. In terms of building resilience to during 2012 is now being massively discussed process. AAIN proposed a Livelihood A Total of 27 LRPs are being implemented disaster, it implies to improving the capacity of The concept of safe cities and public space is giving rise to some perceptible impacts. A total REFLECT Circle is a platform for the PLiP and Improvement Programme in Citizen’s now with two new LRPs that were initiated in the communities with respect to discussed and established in this year in order of 7,123 PLiP have been sensitised on Unpaid marginalised people, especially women to Awareness Center (REFLECT), harmonisation Doti and Sankhuwasabha districts in 2013 understanding resources, knowledge and to address incidents and issues of VAW and Care Work (UCW). The process of time diary reflect upon their situation and take a collective of social mobilisation tools and techniques, where as, two LRPs of Batadi and Dang were skills. Taking all these into account, AAIN girls and sexual harassment in public space has also been playing a major role in action to solve their issues and problems Ward Citizen’s Forum as entry point for phased out in 2013. along with its partners carried out different including public transportation. Pilot initiatives ascertaining the evidence of time spent by identified in their communities. The Circle development activities, institutionalisation of initiatives and programmes with the disaster of safe cities programs and campaigns are women on UCW. focuses on the dissemination of popular democratic practices such as reformation of Agriculture is the mainstay of Nepalese vulnerable communities to build resilience operationalised in Kathmandu, Morang, education which is regarded as one of the most Ward Citizen’s Forum as well. Government has livelihood system. In 2013, we continued our system and mechanism. A total of 1251 PLiP Chitwan and Makwanpur districts informed by The objective of quality education focuses on effective tools of adult empowerment. This appreciated the constructive engagement of focus towards the promotion of sustainable (especially disaster vulnerable communities), participatory audience insight research and integrated response to advance free and Circle apart from being an empowerment tool AAIN in developing the strategic implementation agriculture for sustainable livelihood. social mobilisers, students, and teachers from development of programming framework of quality education at basic level and reinvigorate also concentrates on adult education, plan. It has also seek the support to develop the Sustainable agriculture is based on the different LRPs received various components safe cities. The issues related to sexual popular education. Quality education ensures especially educating women. 2070 participants training materials and capacity development of principle of agro-ecology, and farming of disaster risk reduction training to fight harassment and VAW and girls in public education that is essential in the holistic have been able to read and write through stake holders in implementation of social practices based on farmers’ knowledge, skill against vulnerability such as Participatory spaces and public transportation are development of an individual. It focuses on REFLECT Circles while 8149 rights holder are mobilisation and local accountability initiatives of and local inputs are promoted across AAIN’s Vulnerability Assessment (PVA), Disaster massively discussed in REFLECT Circles, learning which strengthens the capacities of well-informed about civic education. LGCDP-II. working areas. AAIN closely worked with Management Plan (DMP), importance of early women’s group at community, national level children to act progressively on their own behalf different farmer groups/cooperatives and warning system etc. Through the Building and the issues were also conversed with through the acquisition of relevant knowledge, AAIN engagement on Mahakali, Gandak and AAIN continued its engagement in promoting networks to help build capacities in sustainable Disaster Resilient Community (BDRC) project drivers, conductors, trade unions, police and useful skills and appropriate attitudes.Child Koshi river campaigns was continued this year social audit as a process of ensuring agriculture. Promotion of community seed with Practical Action as the consortium partner other employees of transport sectors to Centered Learning (CCL) is one of the as well in partnership with Forum for Local accountability and transparency practice. In this banks, organic farming, and collective farming 400 people (especially local government and sensitize them and also to make them approaches that are promoted in 206 schools Development in Kanchanpur, INDRENI in light, AAIN held its 10th National Social Audit in are some of the areas of intervention for the school officials) were provided orientation on accountable towards issue. An awareness in the working areas for maintaining the Nawalprasi and Abhiyan Nepal in Koshi. Water 2013 with representatives from concerned promotion of sustainable agriculture. At structural and non-structural vulnerability in campaign was also carried out using various standard and quality of education. Schools are commons is a national and cross-border issue government line agencies, various networks, community level, an integrated method of Pokhara (Kaski). tactics and also through social media building applying this approach while trainings are being and is linked to water politics. AAIN and its federations and alliances, representatives from community seed bank has been initiated to coalition with wider women’s movement, provided from different organisations working in partners have been organising various other I/NGOs, representatives from bilateral improve the farmers’ access to quality seeds. AAIN’s strategy on women's rights focuses on networks and organizations. Two safe houses the field of education. Some students from workshops, meetings and trainings from local and multilateral donor communities, and media the integrated process for bringing about have been established in Chitwan and private school have also shifted to community- to national level to amplify the issues of water representatives. Land is more than monetary value since one transformation in communities by engaging in Makwanpur, initiated through Sakcham managed schools in Morang and Tehrathum commons. cannot live without land nor labour without an women’s sexual and reproductive health rights project, in order to provide victims a secured due to the CCL approach and English medium AAIN’s long-term partnership programmes and access to it. It is a major source of power linking with VAW in both private and public shelter, counseling and other services. teaching. AAIN in partnership with Institute for projects at the field level are currently being which determines the status of the people in sphere and overall economic justice to women Governance and Development (IGD) organised implemented in 27 districts. Additionally, AAIN society. In 2013, AAIN and its partner with increased meaningful participation of One of our major objectives is to make society Right to Education (RTE) is promoted with “International Participatory Democracy has short-term engagements with several other organizations continued a joint land ownership women in decision-making level building their sensitised about the contribution of women frameworks like Promoting Rights in Schools Conference” in December 2013. The non-governmental organisations, community- campaign underscoring women’s rights to agency. Keeping strategy at the centre, AAIN which can be achieved through due (PRS), CER (Citizen Education Reports) and conference was a step forward towards based organisations, alliances, networks and land which gained momentum with a focus on works for the formation of agency of women recognition, redistribution and reducing of MOST (Mobile Onsite Support Team). The participatory democracy discourse building on forums across the country. community sensitisation to pressurise political and especially marginalised rural and urban workload of women that have been meted out REFLECT participants, LRP partners and the experiences from "National Conference on parties and government officials along with poor women so that their contribution to the to them in an unjust manner. Unpaid Care education watch groups are using PRS as a Participatory Democracy in Nepal" held in framework to improve quality of learning. The 2012. The evolution of a platform "Forum for

THE CONTEXT

NATIONAL Migration of the youth to the urban areas and The influences of private schools are Long awaited election of Constitution foreign countries has increased for better increasing as compared to the community and Assembly (CA) concluded along with services and employment. This migration government schools even in rural and remote unexpected political topsy-turvy. Candidates phenomenon though contributed in income areas. Given this scenario, there is wider from both First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) and and better lifestyle of the households, has also criticism that the government’s huge Proportionate Representation (PR) system directly increased the workload of women in investment for quality education is yet to yield representing various political parties have been the community. Now women besides working satisfactory results. There is a growing confirmed; however inclusiveness like in earlier as homemakers are also subjected to realisation that all the education stakeholders CA could not be achieved this time. This has agricultural works. should engage in the discourse of quality become a major political shift in a country as it education of public school from local to national has also given a hope for development and With increased number of farmers shifting level to fulfill the gap in the days to come. completion of constitution making process. The towards organic production practices, safe and alliance led by CPN-Maoists, a breakaway healthy products are available in the local Engagement of National Women Commission party of UCPN (Maoist) boycotted the election towns and in the villages. However, use of (MWC) on various women’s rights agenda questioning the legitimacy of the electoral chemical fertilizers and pesticides still remains including monitoring of VAW should be process as interim government was led by an issue. Farmers have diversified their considered more active than earlier. Some serving Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. livelihood options such as vegetable farming, major discourse on the issues such as abortion The periodic election gave opportunities for grocery shop, akbare chilli production, stinging of girl child, property rights and women’s rights political leaders to once again reach ground nettle (sisnoo), production and marketing and in civil code could take place at national level. and connect with people. They were welcomed dhaka weaving. These activities are mainly Likewise, UCW and even development of for making election happen, but also in the initiated by the women of the working areas. women’s forum and networks are some major meantime subjected to wrath of people for not Notwithstanding the improvement in the quality milestones. The various organisations including being able to write constitution within the of the products as mentioned above, the MAM got together to deal with various forms of stipulated time. This situation also brought Nepalese farmers are not getting fair price as exploitations; verbal, physical, and sexual some opportunities for national and local level per the production cost due to the open among others thereby providing solidarity to this programmatic interventions . boarder policy, where products are easily and movement. Freed Kamlaris exerted pressure cheaply brought in, from India. from ground to national level and became PROGRAMME successful in influencing the government that Even though Nepal is said to be an agricultural Enhancing the internal efficiency and quality of gave rise to the 10-points-demand. country, the perception of the youth towards education still remain a big challenge. There agriculture has not been positive as the are lots of challenges to bring the public school ORGANISATIONAL OVERVIEW education on right track because the statement per se. Land still has not been Mid-term Evaluation of AAIN by Social accountability is hardly observed in public perceived as an opportunity by the youths of Welfare Council country. Agriculture still is less attracted sector schools. Education in Nepal has been ActionAid as a development organization is when it comes to employment for the youth recognized as fundamental right of every working in Nepal since 1982. It has signed a today. However, progress has been observed citizen. But, a large majority of students' right to “General Agreement” with SWC as and low income household, marginal farmers, free education is violated as they are unable to continuation on earlier agreement for another wage labour are making their livelihood from pay users fee levied in different pretext largely five years, spanning from December 2010 to both on farm and off farm. Women’s collective due to government inability and inconsistency December 2015. This mid-term evaluation is action and their progress such as farming to monitor and adequately finance basic the outcome of the provision of the “General akbare red chilies or weaving the dhaka fabric education. The physical infrastructures of the Agreement” and covers AAIN’s operation and can be taken as some examples when it schools do not meet the bare minimum programmes. A group of consultants from comes to changing the perspective of requirement for the delivery of quality SWC visited the programme areas of AAIN for agriculture (off farm/ on farm) and employment education. the evaluation in June 2013 and report being opportunity. produced and shared with AAIN and SWC. Governance and Democratisation Dalit Awareness Society, Deurali Society and Building Disaster Resilient Community Programme (GDP) Prerana as the partner NGOs. The project has (BDRC) Governance related initiatives like Participatory begun delivering its services and facilitation BDRC Project with Practical Action as the Democracy Initiative (PDI), Deepening from March 2013 which will run through consortium partner and Siddhartha Club and Democracy (DD) and Health Governance were February 2016. The objective of the project is Community Support Group as local partners managed by Governance and Democratisation to increase women’s equal access to and implemented DDR from January 2012 to Initiative (GDI) team along with the thematic control over their incomes. This action will also December 2013 in Pokhara Sub-metropolitan in support to deliver the CSP objective on make an important contribution to women’s Kaski. An agreement was signed later for final promoting good governance. This initiative was social and economic empowerment within their evaluation following a preliminary draft report also taken up as a knowledge hub of the households, communities and decision-making received from SWC evaluation team after field governance programme which contributed in structures from local to national or government visits. The project was extended by one month the National Development Strategy. The past level. in order to wrap up the project activities. experiences have informed us to expand this work in LRPs with elaborated knowledge and Expansion of LRP areas HROD Policy and Operational Documents programme initiatives. By the end of 2013, it Two LRPs in Doti and Sankhuwasabha The HROD Policy was developed in line with went through a phenomenon which led to the districts started this year where AAIN carried new CSP IV. After various consultation initial idea of integrating its aspects into the out the appraisal of the area to initiate long- process with staff, board and in an international LRPs having cross cutting understanding of term partnership programme. An appraisal is level, the policy has been approved by AAIN’s participatory democratic governance in other an exercise undertaken to explore and national board of governance. The HROD programmatic areas and now named as GDP. understand the context, feasibility and value of Policy will be ready to be rolled out in the first new long-term partnerships and programmes quarter of 2014. Along with the HROD Policy, many operational guidelines were also revised AIDMATCH on the basis of financial, technical and political The AIDMATCH project is funded by Irish Aid, considerations. It also includes in depth and developed in 2013. These included covering Bardiya, Nawalparasi and analysis of potential long term partners with operational documents on recruitment of Sankhuwasabha districts with Kamaiya Mahila possibility to meet requirements of different outsourced human resources, publication Samaj, Inderni Social Development Forum and types of available funding and availability of guidelines, department profiles, and HROD The Society Touch Nepal as the partner technical capacity to make the programme a procedures, guidelines on development NGOs. The project has already begun success. positions and annual performance review delivering its services from August 2013 and guidelines. These documents are being fine- will run through July 2016. The project has tuned and aimed to be rolled out in 2014. ROTA: Quality Education through Disaster focus on the vulnerability of the women and Resilient Schools youth pertaining to disaster. The project has an The ROTA project along with its local partner Handover of CRC managed LRPs objective of making people resilient towards Forum for Awareness and Youth Activities With the closure of Central Resource Centre disasters vis-a-vis mitigating the effect of the Nepal (FAYA Nepal) concluded services in (CRC) office which was based in Bharatpur, calamities. It promotes the skills while September 2013 in Kailali. National learning Chitwan, in 2012, the management of the CRC developing capacities of these target groups. and sharing workshop was held in January at based LRPs have been handed over to Eastern Besides disaster and mitigation, it covers the Hotel Annapurna, Kathmandu where 64 Resource Center (ERC), Western Resource areas of food security livelihood and aspects of participants that comprised of government Center (WRC) and Kathmandu Country office climate change education and awareness. The officials, academicians, education journalists, (KCO). A review of the both Resource Centers risk reduction and mitigation process involves representatives from donor agencies and was done during the last quarter of 2012 with many of the indigenous methods as well. INGOs attended the workshop. The project assessments on programme operation, cost publications and video documentary were also effectiveness and overall value addition. In 2013, based on the assessment the allocation Strengthening Women’s Collective Project displayed and disseminated during the The SWC project is funded by European workshop. of LRPs which was under CRC was handed Commission covers Tehrathum district with over to concern Resource centers. PROGRAMME Overview

AAIN has set its programme priorities building on the context of various levels, reviewing the performance and experience of its previous interventions. PLiP are always at the centre of its intervention. AAIN focuses its programmes and organisational priorities while designing plan and budget. It focuses on result based intervention which is ensured through various systems, structures and frameworks.

This objective will centre on building an integrated response to enable people This objective aims to build an integrated response for overall democratization living in poverty and marginalised people to ensure food security and resilient of policy spaces and governance mechanisms, and for transforming the livelihood systems, covering both “on and off farm” opportunities. We will attitudes and behavior of duty bearers and social elites. We will do this by facilitate this by empowering people living in poverty and marginalised people enabling and empowering people living in poverty and marginalised people to to claim and enjoy economic rights and advance policy propositions to claim and enjoy their rights and advance policy propositions to: i) advance ensure: i) suitable agriculture for public investment; ii) pro-poor economic political representation and participation in decision-making bodies; ii) facilitate policies, institutions and infrastructures; iii) an end to gender discrimination public accountability seeking mechanisms; iii) build capacity to influence the around ownership of resources and wages; iv) rights to natural resources state’s annual planning process; iv) monitor and advocate for quality and and their sustainable use for ensuring food security; v) accountability of equity in basic services; v) facilitate alternative policy forums and critical service providers; and viii) the sustainable use of natural resources. discourses for national development strategies; and vi) link politics of mobilization with alternative knowledge-building.  

Objective 1 Objective 2 Ensure improved livelihoods and build disaster Facilitate political advancement of people living in resilient communities by enabling people living in poverty and marginalized people to hold duty bearers poverty and marginalised people to claim productive to account, develop propositions for national

resources. development strategies and deepen democracy   Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA)

The HRBA is central to AAIN's fight against poverty and injustice, and the empowerment of people to claim and exercise their rights. In order to enjoy their rights, people need to understand and be empowered to claim them, with

the solidarity and support of others. It always ensures PLiP  at the center of its programme interventions 

Objective 3 Objective 4 Engage with women and girls to build their active Support all children to attain quality education in a agency to challenge and take action against all forms safe and equitable environment of discrimination and injustice against their body,  sexuality and unequal burden of work 

This objective aims to build an integrated response to advance free and This objective focuses on building an integrated response to changing quality basic education and reinvigorate popular education. It strives to women’s conditions and positions and to identifying, analyzing, enable children and young people from poor and marginalised challenging and taking action against patriarchy in all its forms. We will do communities to develop into drivers of change and harness the potential this by building the active agency of marginalised women to claim and of adult literacy towards broader democratization of society. We will do enjoy their rights and advance policy propositions to: i) have their this by enabling and empowering citizens’ groups, people’s productive contribution to the family, community and state recognized; ii) organizations and social justice movements to advance education rights challenge patriarchal values and harmful traditional practices; iii) address and policy propositions to: i) advance accountability in public schools; ii) gender-based discrimination and violence in public and private realms; iv) promote child-centered learning; iii) mainstream the Promoting rights in facilitate national development strategies from a feminist perspective; v) schools framework in selected public schools; iv) promote a culture of ensure female participation in decision-making bodies at all levels; and vi) safety in public schools; and v) reinvigorate popular education. facilitate leadership-building of marginalised women. NATURAL RESOURCES AND LIVELIHOOD

Agriculture is the mainstay of Nepalese rights to land but responsibility of taxes livelihood system. Therefore, our main focus incurred while using land. These taxes paid will be towards the promotion of sustainable open up opportunities for landless famers to agriculture for sustainable livelihood. access government services. However, given the context of natural resources for agricultural production (water Women rights to land speaks about women’s and land) getting scarce, other economic single and joint land ownerships along with alternatives for improving the situation of pro- the whole system of state handling land and PLiP should not be undermined. Land is more its endeavours of land reform. Since 2012, than monetary value since one cannot live the joint land ownership campaign without land nor labour without an access to underscoring women’s rights to land got it. It is a major source of power which momentum with focus on community determines the status of the people in sensitisations to pressurise political parties, society. government officials along with land reform agenda. Various local groups like REFLECT Land and Agrarian Reform Circles, Jana Sarokar Manch, Land Right Movement and Engagement in Forum, Land learning centres, farmers group, Policy Formulation MAM and freed Haliya network were utilised Land and agrarian reform movement deals with actively in organising and mobilising the farmers’ rights to land and overall progress of community people. They conducted agriculture sector. The land right movement awareness programmes and networking for focuses on tenancy rights, women rights to legal orientation, mass conscientisation land and land for shelter for the squatters. Land through media and policy discourse with key reforms are not only about demanding their stakeholders.

Vegetable nursery training 20

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AAIN contributed to this national level advocates and land activists different land are the key sources of livelihood for PLiP policy formulation remaining a part of the related forums have shown their solidarity and marginalised people although access working committee formed for the to achieve this common goal. Land Rights and control over natural resources of reviewing of the national land policy. The Forums in various districts are those communities are still questionable policy has been prepared and circulated spearheading a campaign for joint land across the working areas. Most of the by the government for comments for ownership and single land ownership of resources are captured by elite masses. which discussions on the draft have taken women to ensure their rights to land. When we talk about access to resources, place at the village and district level with community forest is one of the most experts on land and natural resources. As a result, altogether 2,093 women have important natural resources for rural Dialogues and suggestions were received joint or single land-ownership- population. With an aim to ensure PLiP integrated in the process to ensure the certificate. The ownership of land by and marginalised people’s access to and voices and needs of the local farmer from women resulted into a practice of control over natural resources, partners different levels. including women in household decision NGOs have been advocating and working making processes. It has not only closely with concern government The long awaited Agriculture enhanced their confidence but also the authorities and groups and alliances. As a Development Strategy (ADS) was elevated increased number of women result of continuous advocacy and formulated and submitted to the having legal title to land has ultimately lobbying, community people have government .There were many debates increased women’s stake in family and increased their access to community and discussions around the ADS enhanced their dignity in society. It has forests throughout the LRPs. This formulation process and its content as provided a room for women whereby they indicates access of people especially well. Citizens’ perspectives were can involve in income generation women, small holder farmers to submitted to the government to review the activities such as taking bank loan, community forests at a significant level. strategy and make it farmer- friendly starting small entrepreneurs in order to where AAIN and its alliances were live a dignified life. A total of 39 PLiP have been able to actively involved. make a net income of NRs. 5,600 from Despite such movement in progress, we Access to and Control over selling bamboo canes and mango fruits still cannot close our eyes to the male Natural Resources after leasing 3 hectares land of Aishwarya dominated society which limits women’s Natural resources (land, water, forest etc) Ban Batika of Lalgadh, Dhanusha. access to land. Here again, patriarchy might not be the sole responsibility for the limited access of land rights to women. Lack of awareness, the legal provision and discriminative thinking towards women’s ownership of land can be major challenges.

Land is not considered only a means of production, but a major source of power and prestige to the people. Therefore, AAIN with the LRP partners have been facilitating the campaign for joint ownership on land aiming to protect women's right to land. After series of orientation, social mobilisation and policy discourse with key stakeholders, Community involved in farming 21

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Likewise, Saraswati REFLECT Circle has been able to make NRs. 25,000 as net income from selling fishes while leasing a pond of Bhimsen CFUGs at Hadiya VDC in Udayapur. A total of 35 women have been able to represent and take leadership roles in CFUG in Tehrathum district. Similarly, Thami community of Kalingchowk and Khopachu VDCs of Dolakha succeeded in reaching an agreement for leasing 10 hectares of land for 10 years with Gaurishankar Conservation Area for collective herbal farming. They have earned NRs. 350,000 this year directly benefitting 65 families.

Thami community involved in herbal plantation Promoting Sustainable Acquisition of Identity Card The government announced to provide 5 Agriculture Bonded Life of Haliya Sustainable agriculture as a movement is (1690 square meter) to 10 katthas (3380 Haliya is a label given to an agricultural directly concerned with farming methods square meter) of land to each of landless bonded labour who works on land owned based on peasants’ knowledge and local squatter families in villages and 5(84.645 by others. Haliya the bonded labour are inputs across working the LRPs. AAIN square meter) to 10 dhurs (169.29 square counted to be 20,000 in total who are closely worked with different farmers’ meter) to each of such families in the living under miserable conditions in mid groups, cooperatives and, networks to urban areas as per the recommendations and far-west regions of Nepal. Despite help build capacities of local farmers in of High-Level Landless Squatters´ government's historic declaration of areas of sustainable agriculture. Problems Resolution Commission. liberating Haliyas, their status is still Promotion of sustainable agriculture takes Unfortunately, the Commission has disconsolate. It has come to public notice into account the technical aspects of already been dissolved prior to the that the good numbers of freed Haliyas farming such production, processing and implementation its recommendation by are still subjected to bonded labour in marketing, agro-biodiversity management the incumbent government. Thus, 10,636 Bajura due to the dominant power of and other aspects such as, gender, landless people submitted application in landlords associated with loan which is farmers institutions. With increased facilitation of AAIN’s partner organisations legally prohibited. The local partners in awareness about the sustainable use of for recognition as landless squatter Bajura have launched campaigns to take natural resources and safety and quality dwellers in concerned districts, except the Haliyas out of loan as per policy of products from organic farming, Tehrathum. Even amid political dispute provisions. As a result, 175 out of 234 considerable number of farmers in the and instability in different districts, some Haliyas have been freed from their loan LRP areas are in the process of of the districts have been able to identify amount of NRs. 15,76,000 in working transforming to the sustainable way of squatter landless people. After verification VDCs. Starting from 2013, their farming. by district committee, 2,333 landless identification and loan free campaign has squatter families out of 10,636 received been carried out intensively and 771 out The availability of quality seed plays a squatters identity cards including around of 1,365 Haliyas have received Haliya vital role in enhancing sustainable 358 people in Dhanusha, Udayapur and identification card due to regular agriculture. While looking from the Morang districts. discussions at Reflect Circles. livelihood perspectives, production or the quality of production depends up on 22

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sustainable methods of agriculture. There of partner organisations have registered PNGOs have been helping impart skill is also a need for promoting the aspects their groups in respective district and knowledge on sustainable agriculture of agro biodiversity to ensure food development offices. The outcome of this to the small holders. After knowing the security in few working areas that are programme was the engagement of adverse effects of chemical fertiliser and reeling under food scarcity problems. farmers groups getting involved in pesticide on ecology and economy, 102 collective farming in barren land or small holders have minimised the usage At community level, community seed cultivating on lease-land while securing of chemical fertiliser. Altogether 65 banks have been initiated to improve the necessary inputs from different farmers have been trained in compost farmers’ access to quality seeds. government and non-government making under ‘One house, one compost Community seed banks are important organisations. Farmers are now able to pit’ campaign. Out of which, 30 initiatives in agro-biodiversity conservation secure their budget for quality agriculture households have prepared and are using for food security. Seeds bank is very services and inputs which includes compost in their fields in Udayapur. essential in promoting sustainable information on seeds, seed banks, agriculture which is used for preservation fertilisers, technical supports in irrigation The above mentioned initiative has helped of the local seeds that is aimed at strongly from the VDCs itself. PLiP and marginalised communities discouraging hybrid seeds. Seven across the working areas of AAIN lessen community seed banks have been initiated The promotion of kitchen garden has also the expenditure in purchasing vegetables by LRP partners namely SSDC, SN, HRC, been gaining momentum in the working and fertilisers. Besides improving food Peacewin and Muslim Samaj. Two areas. . Establishment of kitchen garden security at community and individual community seed banks are established in has contributed to improved nutritional levels, sustainable agriculture practices Jumla by RDGP. Altogether 13 varieties of status of the family through diversified practice have contributed to improved local seeds have been collected and food intake and also contributed to family ecological health and empowered many stored in these banks. This initiative is the income by selling the surplus. landless and small holders,. beginning for the realization of seed rights and food security and has also supported farmers groups besides knowledge CASE STUDY building for seed rights and sustainable males from Dalit community got associated agriculture. It has been observed that such SEED BANKS SPROUT with the programme. This initiative also concept, methodology, management and IN JUMLA provided trainings and orientation on policy advocacy of community seed bank With an aim of protecting local seeds and help farmers’ rights to seeds, treatments of seeds initiatives should be further strengthened in promote institutional capacity of community and seed banks management. As a result, LRPs. Nevertheless, LPRs are taking seed banks, an initiative was taken by RGDP, 15 varieties of local seeds were collected in initiative bringing together the stakeholders Jumla. The initiative had focus on creating a the seed banks. It also brought different and communities in terms of promoting linkage between the farmers group organisations working in the protection and seed rights and promoting sustainable underscoring framers’ rights to seeds and preservation of seeds together to form a agriculture practices. sustainability of farming per seed rights. network which later transformed into district Registration of framers group is an aspect network with 17 members from 14 different that binds the small farmers and framers In 2013, RGDP expanded its capacity to community seed banks in Jumla. Aworkshop group to get institutionalised thereby supporting framers group, educating the organised by DADO with different other persuading the government to become framers on networking as well as awareness organisations such as DDC, World Vision, accountable by providing various services and capacity building. Two community seed RDGP and NARC recommended adoption entitled to the framers. The process of banks were established in Depalgau and of separate strategy for the promotion of registration itself is a major aspect in MahatguaVDCs. Together 55 community seed banks and their sustainability. empowerment of the farmers. Therefore, members, comprising 28 females and 14 the framers in coordination and facilitation 23

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CASE STUDY indigenous knowledge and its market alternatives, either farming tobacco or medicinal strategy, promoted different levels of AKARKARA; A MEDICINE herbs. As tobacco causes harm to human technical off/on-farm capacity building FOR IMPROVED health, they thought of opting for medicinal herb. trainings to PLiP across its LRPs for LIVELIHOOD “I earned 75,000 rupees by selling akarkara, a During the discussion they identified a medicinal better livelihood. medicinal herb, in the last season. The earnings herb called akarkara which was being used by a large factory in their district to produce herbal had been of great help in supporting livelihood of AAIN and its partners initiated a my family and also buying stationeries for my products. mechanism called “Start and improve son. I am feeling great!” says Manita Uraw, 25, your business” to develop who lives in Biruwaguthi village of Parsa district “With proper idea and orientation from ActionAid, entrepreneurship capacities for with her husband, a son and father and mother- we went to the factory and put forward our in-laws. thoughts”, Manita recalls, “The factory got sustainable livelihood. Such action helps interested and sent their experts to test our soil. build understanding about the importance Manita continues, “I had a small agricultural field The test gave us a green signal. Following the of entrepreneurship development and its where I used to grow wheat that would sustain testing phase, the company gave us the seeds connection with women’s economic for free. We cultivated it and sold the root (the only 3 months in a year. For the rest of the year, I empowerment. They can also build their main herbal part) to the factory at 450 rupees per would resort to labour works and faced difficulty knowledge and skills on market in fulfilling all the needs of my household. kilo.The akarkara farming has not improved my understanding, analysing the risks and life alone but also of 15 other women.” opportunities associated with business, As informed by Manita, they have a REFLECT building relationship with market and Circle named ‘Women’s Claim Centre’ where 29 women from the village are involved. Here developing their business plan women come with pens and exercise books to accordingly. Such initiatives help promote learn, read and write for an hour followed by a capacities of PLiP and eventually discussion on alternative ways of earning transform them into entrepreneurs. livelihood that lasts another one hour. While

discussing, one day they came up with two After realising the potential areas of business such as akbare chilli and ginger cultivation, dhaka weaving, wool activities and in market sphere in close Promoting Women as production, poultry farming, stinging nettle coordination with VDC office. The entrepreneur production, candle making, herbal AAIN along with its local partners gives committee comprises of 21 members plantation, fisheries, and pigs/ goats priority to indigenous skills and traditional where 9 members are from women rearing, partner organisations designed technical skills such as knitting the dhaka collectives while 3 are government different levels of capacity building fabric or growing akbare chilly in its representatives. The market is also activities including exposure visits for the working areas. Hatbazar being the local supported with construction of 8 stalls groups. This has opened up avenues for market for both men and women traders, where 3 stalls are allocated for local women to identify the areas of their accessing to its management committee women traders and women farmers. A expertise, interest and knowledge in order is still far-fetched for women given the proper area for haatbazar is also fixed in to kick start potential businesses. existing social norms and coordination with Agricultural non-recognition of their productive role. Development Area Office and VDC. As a result, a total of 160 small farmers successfully indulged in collective farming Thus one hatbazar management Promoting Secured and in Morang, Dhanusha, Kapilvastu, Dang, committee has been reformed in Sustainable Livelihood and Bara districts where each of them Morahang VDC of Tehrathum to enhance AAIN along with the partner organisations could make earnings of approximately women's involvement in economic while identifying local potential 24

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economic activities. This haatbazar (a CASE STUDY local market-place) boasts eight stalls where placements for three individuals I AM ABLE TO FEED NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO are reserved for local women MY FAMILY traders/farmers to help involve them in “I am very happy with the increased income economic activities. Likewise, Bajura through vegetable farming. This year I have Entrepreneur Promotion Committee has earned 10,000 rupees in one season, been established to promote local however, I’m growing more vegetables now. production and now they are in process of With increment in my income I need not take situation was not same in earlier days. I had establishing three small entrepreneur loans to meet medical expenses of my family, difficulties to meet household needs from the promotion centres selling local woolen sole income of my husband. I thank ActionAid rather I am able to feed fresh nutritious foods clothing, agro-based and other handmade for providing training on vegetable farming to my family. I am very happy to live a life of products. dignity,” says Ashakali Tharu, 35, from which opened a new source of income to Shivpur village in Kapilvastu. women like me.” Food Security Campaign in Bajura Food security situation is severe in the Ashakali has five members in her family ActionAid along with the local partners has hills and mountains of mid and far- including two sons. Her two children study in provided two-days-long vegetable farming western regions of Nepal. AAIN has been class ten and seven while her spouse works training to 100 people of Kapilvastu. Among working with the local partner organisation as an agricultural labour. Ashakali continues, them 50 people are doing commercial in Kolti of Bajura district to reduce the “This (increased) income has really helped in vegetable farming which has helped them to plight of food scarcity. The state of food my children’s education and health. But, boost up their income. scarcity is attributed to many factors, mainly socio-economic conditions, political NRs. 10, 000 per month. The farmers in While entrepreneurship being promoted, and natural environment. AAIN and the Rasuwa have started collecting and the gap of market areas has also been LRP partners of Bajura have engaged in producing medicinal herbs that fetches fulfilled with the introduction of Haatbazar the process of mass conscientisation and them a whopping NRs.27,00,000. Similar Management Committee in Morahang empowerment of groups, networks and case has surfaced in Udayapur where VDC of Tehrathum. This concept in alliances pertaining to the agenda of food small farmers are harnessing economic coordination with VDC has directly security and sustainable agriculture. benefits by converting stinging nettle into increased the involvement of women in ready-to-eat-powder. Fish collection centres initiated by three communities; "I realised after the exposure visit that it (akbare) is not Mahji, Musahar and Bote have even just a chilli but a precious red gold, and we can started earning NRs. 21,000 every season. harvest more if we work collectively and labouriously." – Devi Maya Shrestha, Bipun Women Collectives, Such initiatives are not only promoting the ideas for secured livelihood but also Ambung sharing the importance of collective "We want to make our dhaka weaving group as a actions for better results. The module for collective farming and selling the products model group in our VDC."- Shantila Khapung, collectively is getting popularity. Faktanglung Women Collectives 25

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With an aim of overcoming this food Work Equal, Pay Equal labour community. There is a gap scarcity situation, Hunger Free Campaign A provision for the fixation of minimum between strategic campaign plan and was launched in July 2013 in Kolti wage is enshrined in The Labour Act policy analysis of fair and equal wage. through a concerted effort of MAM in (1992) as per the recommendations coordination with HRC, PEACEWIN and made by Minimum Wage Fixation Securing Shelter for PUSH Bajura. Altogether 200 community Committee. Despite continuing efforts by Freed Kamaiyas (FK) women and inhabitants of Kolti partner organisations, equal and fair pay AAIN has continued supporting low cost participated in a rally chanting slogans for women and men still remains an issue housing for freed Kamaiya families. In like "Adha roti khaiyo, abhiyanma aiyo" across the working districts. PNGOs 2013, a total of 25 houses were (We rather eat half piece of bread but we along with Agriculture Labour Union and constructed in Dang through local partner support the campaign), “Rati rati chamal other stakeholders have worked together RHERI with the financial support of First bechna paidaina adhikarko hanan garna several times on inclusive representation Hand Charity Challenge based in the UK. paidaina" (you cannot snatch away our and fair wage practices. They also It has not only ensured their rights to rights, by selling rice during the night) and discussed the matter frequently and shelter but also saved them from so on. Given the shortage of rice (to use pressurised the concerned authorities to monsoon and wild animals hazards. as seeds) during the paddy plantation implement fair wages at local level. Besides, it has created opportunity for season, community people worried about their children to attend school regularly the production of paddy until its harvest. Advocacy and lobbying efforts eventually thereby increasing their attendance in the More than 80 per cent populace from 11 resulted in the increment of wages by NRs. community schools. The low cost housing VDCs depend entirely on Khadya Dipo (a 50 to NRs. 200 across the working areas. programme was effective in four districts state run store for food grains) the entire Likewise, one kilogram of food grains namely Bardiya (RKJS), Kailali (FAYA year except 3 months of their own increased for agriculture labour in working NEPAL and SBBM), Kanchanpur domestic production. areas of Dibya Yuba Club in Parsa, a local (NNSWA) and Dang. All together 1150 partner of AAIN. Now, a labour receives 7 houses have been built so far since 2004. Through the campaign people protested kilos of wheat or rice as a daily wage. against unavailability of food grains at Most of the freed Kamaiyas are still fighting food store as well as unaccountability of The wage rate for women increased from for livelihood, thus, are compel to work as local authority towards fulfilling people's NRs. 250 to NRs. 300 in Bajura; from wage earners at local landlords’ farm, brick basic needs and also pressurised the NRs. 150 to NRs. 320 in Nawalparasi; kiln, or construction site in the urban area store for quick service by giving them an from NRs. 350 to NRs.375 in Bardiya and to meet their basic necessities. AAIN has ultimatum of 3 days. Otherwise, they from NRs. 250 to NRs. 350 in working facilitated income generating activities such would protest until their demands are VDCs of Kapilvastu as per the wage rate as on/off vegetable farming, poultry farming responded by the authorities. In this way, fixed by District Wage Fixation and also enhanced vocational skills to Kolti Khadya Dipo relayed the people’s Committee. Mobilisation of the Land promote alternative employment demand to District Agricultural Office in Rights Forum, Jana Sarokar Manch, land opportunities for freed Kamaiya families of Martadi and the latter eventually took the right activists and REFLECT Circles is Gangapraspur VDC in Dang. issue to the highest authority in proving to be instrumental in advocating Kathmandu. As soon as the demand equal and fair wages in Nawalparasi. letter was submitted to the aforementioned authorities, a total of 200 The wage rate practiced relatively higher quintals of rice got transported from than that set by the committees in Surkhet to Kolti. particular areas needs to be reviewed periodically with consultation of wage

Shelter and drinking water support for freed kamaiya 26

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DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE

Nepal’s geography, geology, climate and CASE STUDY lack of proper infrastructure planning make especially if the kitchen is inside the house. the country extremely vulnerable to AWARENESS BUILDING Bamboo houses must be covered with mud various types of disasters. These are IN FIRE AFFECTED to keep away fire. The results of such efforts COMMUNITY evident by the exponential rise in the Ram Udgar Yadav of Aurahi 5, Siraha deems are now seen in the community, as they are frequency as well as severity of disaster disaster preparedness to be very essential now applying the messages in daily lives. impacts that hit the nation. People’s ability because a small carelessness can result into to be resilient and to claim their rights will a big disaster. A total of 461 houses were Gangaram Yadav of Aurahi 6, another be essential for them to adapt to climate ravaged by fire rendering many families participant expresses that during disaster the change, respond to and rebuild after displaced. The inferno incurred huge priority be given to rescuing pregnant women, elderly people and children. It is necessary to disasters. collateral losses also claiming a life of one child. Ram Udgar expressed that, had they plant trees around the house for safety. had the skills and knowledge of rescue Amerika Devi suggests that they need to Building resilience means understanding operations they would not have suffered that keep essential contact numbers of Red and addressing the root causes of much. Addressing this community’s need a Cross, police, District Disaster Relief vulnerability (social exclusion, lack of three-day-long disaster preparedness Committee, ambulance, fire brigade for the access, lack of access to natural orientation and fire fighting training was reporting and rescue purposes. resources and lack of assets and facilitated by LRP partner Dalit Janakalyan economic opportunities) with an integrated Yuwa Club to help build the community Community members are now practicing their approach. In terms of building resilience to capacity building on disaster preparedness. learning about disaster preparedness, to disaster, it implies to improving the ensure safety. They are now taking up capacity of the communities with respect Promod Kumar Rajak, one of the participants household campaigns for awareness rising to understanding resources, knowledge of training is now engaged in spreading his on disaster preparedness. Community level and skills. Taking all these into account, learning from the training with other disaster management committee is also formed to discuss on disaster related issues AAIN along with its partners carried out community members to prevent losses and and create disaster management fund in the different initiatives and programmes with reoccurrence of such disasters. He along with other participants are organising meetings to community. All 461 houses gutted in the fire the disaster vulnerable communities to spread basic messages for preparedness like are now rehabilitated and the households build resilience system and mechanism. keeping match boxes far from reach of have also opted for improved local stoves for children, keeping a bucket of water in the cooking discarding the traditional ones. CAPACITY AND KNOWLEDGE kitchen, putting off fire properly after cooking BUILDING ON DISASTER Capacity and knowledge building is crucial in mainstreaming DRR into Through Building Disaster Resilient also understood the significance of PVA development. A total of 1251 PLiP Communities (BDRC) project in Pokhara, and use of this assessment to develop (especially disaster vulnerable 400 people (especially local government local early warning mechanism. communities), social mobilisers, students, and school officials) were provided teachers etc from different LRPs acquired orientation on structural and non- PARTICIPATORY VULNERABILITY knowledge on various components of structural vulnerability. This sort of ASSESSMENT (PVA) disaster in order to fight against its capacity building programme imparted PVA can be referred to as a tool, process vulnerability, through PVS, DMP, great amount of awareness and or a mechanism where communities get importance of early warning system etc. knowledge on how to take preventive involved to identify their vulnerability due modes for being safe and secured. They to disaster. In the due process community 27

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people are educated on possible hazards CASE STUDY and mechanism to minimise the impact by creating groups to inform the community effective”, opine the residents of PVA AND ITS Subhakamana tole. about local early warning system, EFFECTIVENESS establishing emergency funds, developing “It’s not a single risk; we are rather entangled Lok Darshsan Koirala, VDC Secretary of disaster management committees and with many risks of disasters. We came to Ward No. 9 of Pokhara Sub-metropolitan plans. Altogether 86 PVAs were know this realty during the participatory vulnerability analysis. We, the dwellers of our deems the project's strategy of conducting conducted in various communities of the tole prepared the vulnerability map in-front of PVA exercises an effective means. He LRPs and project areas. The process all by drawing lines on the ground as per the reiterates, "The project has organised PVA helped the communities prepare the guidance of BDRC facilitators. The map exercises in schools where many people disaster management plan (DMP) in order showed the areas of risks in our tole and its gathers at a given point of time or the to cope and reduce the possible hazards. vicinity," recounts Sunita Chhetri, 24, of vulnerable communities that are always at the Pokhara Sub- metropolitan, Ward No. 11, perils of disasters. Moreover, the PVA exercises conducted at ward level witnessed DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN Subhakamana Tole. According to the women an encouraging participation of people of all (DMP) gathered during the interaction for case-study Though disaster is the natural the elderly people in the PVA shared their quarters, that included the elderly people who phenomena (natural hazard) we can experiences of disasters that occurred in thier had experiences of the devastating earthquake of 1934 (1990 B.S.) to people reduce the risk and can be safe to an tole and its neighbourhoods in the past. But, representing different political parties, social extent. After the conduction of PVA, the women as a group had a transect walk of workers, women, youths as well as people disaster management plans were the tole from the top to the bottom, observing the possibility of disasters in every nook and from vulnerable communities.” In PVAs, the prepared in order to reduce the risk faced corner. “We like the PVA methodology as participants not only discussed disaster or by the vulnerable communities. In this everyone avails not an opportunity to put post disaster situations but also found to be regard, our partner organisations forward his or her opinions and views in keenly discussing about measures to be facilitated the communities prepare DM identifying the foremost risks but also come adopted in pre disaster situations. This plan and as result of this, they have been up with suggestions or means for protecting helped PVA participants develop better able to prepare 83 DM plan in different the community from possible disasters. understanding of disasters vis-a-vis protecting LRPs and project areas. The retrofitting of Therefore, the PVA methodology is very themselves in the events of disasters. some schools which are in risk, establishment of emergency fund, construction of retaining walls and dams are some measures needed to be carried out for safer and protected livelihood. Therefore, with facilitation of DMCs, the activities listed in the DM plan were incorporated in VDC planning.

Emergency Fund Establishing emergency fund has been coming up as a good practice, in order to reduce or mitigate the hazard faced by marginalised and vulnerable communities and provide immediate response/ relief to the disaster victims. With initiation by AAIN’s local partner HRC, airlines services sectors and local stakeholders of Participatory vulnerabililty ranking exercise 28

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Kolti, the 21st council meeting of Bajura has formally established an emergency fund titled “district level emergency disaster management fund”. A total of NRs. 231, 000 was collected for emergency responses over the period of 2013. Four disaster victims have been supported by this fund. This has been a good practice for generating local resources, building solidarity on disaster management and encouraging the private sectors to uphold their promises of corporate social responsibility as well. Likewise, in most of the LRPs, communities have been able to establish emergency fund thereby getting immediate response in case of disaster Community involved in road maintainance after being affected by flood in Bardiya occurrence. BDRC project supported NRs. 15, 00,000 for establishing DM fund in the Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City. Support to DDRC/DEOC in Disaster Preparedness and Municipality has allocated additional Response Planning amount of NRs. 10, 00,000 which has certainly brought about trust within the There are trained human resources with the DDRC (in the security forces) but as the DDRC/DEOC lack rescue equipments and gears, they have not been able to mobilise the human resources during emergency. While responding to their request, the BDRC project has provided rescue gears and other equipments that can be used during earthquake, fire and flood for the team of 50 rescuers. Additionally project has provided some equipment that can be used to rescue the people from gorge and sink holes, a very recurring accident in Kaski district. Some equipment such as deep water diving and power cutters are in the procurement process and will be transferred once available. This whole process has made the rescue team very confident. They expressed that now they are comfortable and confident while rescusing during the time of disaster.

government system while discharging families affected by the flooding in the relief mechanism to vulnerable Karnali River and supported nutritious communities. foods to 15 women after their delivery period. Similarly bags and stationary were Humanitarian Support for supported to around 200 flood victim Disaster Victims children of Rajapur area through AAIN’s AAIN supported relief materials for 613 LRP partner KMJS in coordination with disaster victims this year. The Aurahi fire District Disaster Relief Committee victims (2063 persons) have not been (DDRC). AAIN and its partners have also reported in this report since the incident extended their supports to the victims of occurred in 2012. However, the relief fire outbreaks in various working areas. A package was continued this year too. fund amounting to NRs. 4000 has been Simulation for Earthquake preparedness AAIN distributed relief supports to 134 secured and 75 kilos of rice accumulated 29

REFLECTIONS & LEARNING 2013

by DMC in Aurahi in Siraha district. for effective implementation of the buildings found very effective to ensure Around 1705 saplings were planted in building code. Process guideline for the safe building construction. The Sundarpur VDC in Morang district. A total implementation of NBC within municipality compliances of NBC at fields very much of 26 disaster management committees was prepared and approved by municipal depend on capacity building of masons have been headed by women. board. Municipality has set forth minimum /contractors vis-a-vis orientation/ criteria, rules and regulations for counseling to house owners rather than National Building Code construction of new buildings. the stringent permit processes. in Pokhara Overall, safe building construction should The Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City has Action plan for NBC, focusing on its major be a common interest of community taken lead role in the implementation of processes facilitated the implementation. people to enforce NBC at ground level. building code despite the big challenges Compulsory registration and license BDRC project backed-up technically and in construction fields. BDRC project system for contractors working in financially while conducting major provided financial and technical supports municipality for construction of new activities in this regard. Community Based Disas ter Risk Management (CBDRM) programme in the leadership of National Building Code (NBC) municipality and with technical and financial support of BDRC has also greatly Nepal National Building Code is a set of standard practice document, in compliance with contributed in awareness raising on safer Building Act and Building Regulation and approved by Government of Nepal, which comprises construction and necessity of NBC. of earthquake resistant design and construction technology taking in account of Nepal’s geology, environment using locally available construction materials and technology as much Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City is moving as possible. It is an engineering tool for ensuring structural safety of buildings keeping in mind forward with successful implementation of convenience of occupants. The main purposes of the building code are to protect public NBC in building permission and health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of construction processes. It has set a good buildings and structures. Nepal National Building Code has made provision that earthquake example of effective enforcement of NBC loads have to be considered along with the vertical loads when carrying structural analysis among the municipalities of Nepal after and design of buildings. Lalitpur, Dharan and Byas municipalities.

CASE STUDY

subjected to punishment several times while women, not only in terms of numbers but also SITA YADAV; AN AGENT trying to break the shackles of the patriarchy. as active and key position holders. OF CHANGE “The initiation of DMC formation has opened up an opportunity for community women to The same practice was evident during the initial This initiation was a turning point to make exercise their rights to participation and stages of the DMC formations when women solidarity of women that intervened the VDC decision making on various issues,” shares participation was very much restricted and planning process persuaded the duty bearers Sita Yadav, DMC Chairperson. According to discouraged on the basis of myths on gender to allocate NRs. 116,000 for skill and capacity her freedom for girls is confined within the role and abilities. Speeding up consultation development of the community women. Now socio-cultural cage, where a woman or a girl amongst community women, Sita was able to under the able leadership of Sita, community has to hide their faces behind the veils upscale women participation during village women are assuming the role of agents of restricting themselves from participation and gatherings that collectively demanded reforms change and are involved in vital registration, articulating their concerns in domestic and in the DMC formation, as a result of which the education campaigns and asserting their rights public spheres. She herself had been present DMC have a good representation of for development. 30

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CASE STUDY

and ward level programme for cutting down the thereby involving in united action. "In early days, YAM MAYA’S MISSION old simal tree. when I requested community people to OF MITIGATING participate in interaction programme related to DISASTER AAIN in consortium with Practical Action have Yam Maya reiterates, "Plans and programmes disasters and disaster risks reduction, many been implementing Building Disaster Resilient about mitigation of disaster risks should not be didn't follow it. I even tried to convince them by Communities (BDRC) project in Pokhara to act in treated as ones that can be implemented slowly visiting door to door. Some would pretend of reducing risk of disaster. This project has been or in a time consuming way, instead, they should headache while other would say that they were working in collaboration of local government and be implemented and completed in a short period not free as they had to take care of their wards. two other local partner organisations (Community as far as possible, but it is getting too late." But things have changed a lot now. People value Support Group and Siddhartha Club). it, thus, is not so difficult to convince them, as Yam Maya was in favour of disaster risks earlier," Yam Maya shares elatedly. She is Yam Maya Giri, 61, of Shankar Tole, Pokhara reduction programmes implemented in her tole suffering from orthopedic problems. Her eldest Sub-municipality Ward No. 1, sporting a black with facilitation of CSG and BDRC project since son Raj Kumar Giri says, "She has pain, but she coloured bag tells that the bag has been the very beginning. She recalls, "CSG conducted has not given up her work.” When quizzed about apparently working as an office for her since Reflect in our tole to learn about disasters, her health she says, “One should work for the last year. Fishing out a file from the bag she disaster risks in the community and measures on social welfare.” Her husband too has full praise shows a copy of a minute of group discussion risks reduction. We learned many important for his spouse’s relentless work. "It's fine, dated 16 December 2013 wherein a decision things about disasters through the group engaging oneself in social work is far better than was taken to formulate a plan to protect the discussion. We also learned how to be safe languishing idle at home," he compliments. settlement from possible disasters. The during the event of earthquakes or rescue the decision includes, requesting Sub-metropolitan people stranded in floods. Though, I have been Sobha Gurung, 24 , Chairperson of DMC Office for inclusion of programme and involved in tole reform committee since long (Disaster Management Committee) of Shankar allocation of budget in its central level period, but the programme initiated by BDRC Tole looks up to Yam Maya as the pioneer of this programme in order to prevent erosion caused helped me understand disaster risks reduction campaign and shares," She is not working for by Bhushe (a narrow and deep stream) to be better and encouraged to work on that area." her personal interest , wherever she goes she implemented and completed in the coming puts forward the agenda of disaster risk fiscal year, sub-metropolitan level plan and Yam Maya encourages the community people to reduction for the benefit of the community . " programme for appropriate drainage system understand about disaster risks reduction

Masson Training in Pokhara 31

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

AAIN believes in the values of just and audit, RTI, social security, vital To ensure the values of meaningful democratic governance needed to create registration, community score card, participation forums like REFLECT, ward active citizenry with their meaningful citizen charter, participatory planning citizen forum (WCF), and trainings are participation in social movement to process etc. Such tools enforce the facilitated by the LRP partner ensure accountability of the government government to provide the basic services organisations. The interactions and towards its citizen. to the people (health, education, discussions revolve around different agricultural services etc.) they are issues having direct links with the Democracy is all about ‘downloading entitled. transformation of the community. power’ - as well as continuously building and strengthening citizens’ power. The active citizenry is also the part of Participatory Planning Democracy and democratisation are the society and is directly or indirectly related Process (PPP) is a bottom ubiquitous phenomenon. It’s continous with the discourse that plays a pivotal movement which starts from the people’s role in influencing public policy or up plannning process. It heart and mind for the popular delivery. These factors also include the decentralises the planning sovereignty and dignity of the poeple. issues related with national development process, allowing the local strategy which has people at the centre. The process of empowerment to PLiP is Therefore, AAIN as an organisation plays people and other initiated by providing information through a part of breaking the limits and strive on stakeholders to identify different formal and informal groups like ensuring inclusive policy from the rights REFLECT. The participation and perspective. their needs and plan representation of people is ensured accordingly for fulfilling through campaign and community MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION mobilisation along with the dissemination Underscoring the central value of these needs. It aims to of information. With community being democratisation, participation is given promote the participation empowered accountability of the duty priority to influence any kind of decision of the people themselves bearers is ensured with tools like social being taken for the people by the system. in the planning process and to make optimum use of the local resource. It also stresses in the cooperation and coordination of all the key stakeholders and believes that discussion and interactions among them will solve the problems they are facing.

Community based planning process 32

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The platform and groups have contributed CASE STUDY in empowering the people in community to claim or enjoy their rights and live a life vowed “Now, I will form a Women Advocacy A JOURNEY FROM A VICTIM of dignity. Forum in my own village and will fight TO MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT violence against women”.After coming back CANDIDATE Communities are being mobilised in the Like many young girl in Dalit-Madhesi home from the programme, she started going community, Radhika Pasi, 23, of Badauli to each house of her village and proposed the participatory planning process (PPP), VDC, Kapilvastu was a victim of early child women to form women’s group. Her immense where LRP partners conduct and facilitate marriage system. She got married at the age dedication and motivation came out to fruition the campaign to empower PLiP with 14 of 9 with a boy from neighbouring country, some months ago when she formed a local steps discussion about PPP through India. After the marriage she stayed in her level Women Advocacy Forum under her REFLECT. This process increased the natal home and completed SLC (grade ten) chairmanship with 13 women members. At number of inclusive representation and examination. When aged 17, she had her present, there are 28 women members in the gauna* and sent to her husband’s home in forum and the forum is actively engaged in meaningful participation in decision India. Her dream of a happily married life went mitigating VAW and claiming women’s rights. making process including government on vain when her in-laws and husband started KSSC identified and appreciated her programmes and services. torturing her. Her education had been the contributions for social transformation and greatest issue for jealousy accusing her of provided her the REFLECT Circlefacilitator A total of 7,874 (including 2,891 women) being over educated. Finding it unbearable to role in Badauli REFLECT Circle in connection PLiP actively participated in ward level withstand every day torture she ran away to with Participatory Democracy Initiative (PDI) her natal home. No one from her husband’s project. She received training on community planning while 21,810 people participated family ever came to take her back. Now, she development facilitator from AAIN. She is also in village council in the local planning is living with her parents and passes her days a trainee of fellowship project of AAIN and process. Community groups/ networks/ engaging in social transformation works for has completed her 3 modules of training. PLiP submitted 759 proposals through her community. planning processes amounting to NRs. “There has been no woman VDC secretary 5,35,71,550 whereas 489 proposals In her initial days of return, Radhika would till today and the election can only make a stay forlorn. During the institutional way for women to be nominated from Badauli amounting to NRs. 3,90,56,656 approved programme of Shikhar Organisation in village,” she had reiterated... This statement by the local government. For instance, a partnership with KSSC Kapilvastu, a partner was soon realised when she got nominated Dalit community became successful in organisation of AAIN, some social mobilisers by Nepal Sadbhawana Party for Proportional building 10 toilets for individual came across Radhika while forming groups in Representation (PR) in the recent elections households and 42 toilets for public while the village. They asked her to be in the group for CA. She has not only participated and 115 women increased their income by but she refused. But, with regular follow-ups represented herself in various groups, and consistent motivation, she agreed to be a committees and party activities but in the taking hosiery training. Likewise, women member of the women’s group. Gradually, she meanwhile motivated other women of her group from Khatiwada VDC of Doti have transformed her loneliness into the groups’ community to participate and represent in been able to gravel the road of their VDC activities and later became the chairperson of various groups and committees. and also constructed two community that group. Seeing her active participation buildings. Along with this they have been and dedication, Shikhar Organisation selected (*Gauna is a custom and the ceremony able to get 236 solar system bulbs for her in their board members committee. associated with the consummation of marriage. It is associated with the custom of their 236 household in Doti district. During her involvement, she got opportunity to child marriage. The ceremony takes place receive various trainings and workshops. several years after marriage. Before the Such empowerment and participation Once she got opportunity to represent her ceremony the bride stays at her natal home. have increased and enhanced the organisation in the interaction programme of Marriage is considered only as a ritual union leadership quality of the people in the Women Advocacy Forum organised by and conjugal life begins only after gauna; that AAIN working areas with the facilitation of KSSC. There she came across the cases of marriage is consummated only after the violence meted out to women in their houses gauna ceremony.) partner organisations. The participation which reminded of her own story. There, she and representation of women definitely 33

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increased in different forums like forest Participatory monitoring and Score Card (CSC). A series of users’ groups, drinking water groups, interaction/consultations with district WCFs, health facility management accountability tools (social authorities (health post, schools etc) were committees and school management audit, public hearing, citizen conducted before evaluation as per CSC committees. The formal and informal process. groups along with women led groups charter, public audit, have been able to submit proposals for participatory planning In Bardiya, 2 VDCs and one veterinary funds to VDC and municipality for office are in process of placing citizen carrying out trainings, capacity process, community score charter. In Bajura, Asal Shasan Club and development programmes and skill Samundrapal Gadi Youth Club organised development workshops. These cards etc.), ensures the public hearing on the services provided programmes have made a positive impact transparency and by the DDC and VDC which has on women who are now able to engage pressurised them to be transparent. The themselves with income generating accountability of public LDO in Udayapur instantly provided 50 activities. Such transformation has not services that being provide pieces of wires and constructed only led to enhancement of embankment as the result of discussion representation and participation but also by the government. and sharing during public hearing contributed in empowering women in the programme. communities. events of social audit and public hearings have been successfully conducted by Similarly, owing to its space for sharing different service providing organisations. ENSURING TRANSPARENCY opinion about the services, community AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF score card is used for measuring the Owing to relentless efforts of LRP PUBLIC SERVICES AND ITS quality of services for the community partners and service providers QUALITY people while involving the service Social services are the fundamental rights themselves, the trend of showcasing providers in the process. The community which are to be delivered effectively and citizen charter in government offices like and service providers set forth indicators efficiently to the PLiP and marginalised health posts and VDCs, organising social in order to measure and monitor the people. AAIN with the partner audit and public hearing increased this efficiency and effectiveness of service organisations aim to hold local year indicating the service providers to delivery in the community. The impact of government accountable using various have become more transparent. The the community score cards was seen in participatory monitoring and accountability culture of practicing accountability tools Bajura where the farmers were earlier tools to ensure quality, equity and gender and processes by local institutions has ignorant about the services of Agricultural responsive public services. also been improved. In 2013, altogether Service Centre (ASC). A community 346 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) discussion was organised between the is one of the tools for and local institutions conducted their community and ASC to provide 11 VDCs Social audit transparency and accountability which social audit. This endorses seriousness of of Kolti region access to the agricultural has been practiced by the duty bearers local institutions towards accountability services of. As a result, the framers with the facilitation of our partner and transparency. Changes in perception availed services like distribution of seeds organisations. Public hearing creates a and attitude of local institutions and on time and small scale irrigation. space for our marginalised community to government authorities can be termed as Likewise, registration of farmers’ groups raise their voice, express their views achievements of this initiative. The was made. which ultimately support to regularise the regularity of VDC secretaries, presence of system of service delivery in a service providers in health posts and AAIN shared experience on Community transparent manner. With the facilitation teachers in schools have improved in Score Card process to improve local and support of partner organisations 346 many districts after the use of Community service delivery based on the evidences 34

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generated from the field. A paper on CASE STUDY "Evidence Based Advocacy through Community Score Card" has been shared qualitative and effective service delivery. LIFE CHANGES with wider audiences during First National Therefore, CSC method got spread over 9 THROUGH COMMUNITY Conference on Health organized by more VDCs. SCORE CARD Ministry of Health and Population and “Progress programme in the health sector is development partners. of paramount importance that supports the “After CSC, there has been drastic service providers to be accountable, improvement in service delivery. Earlier, only Social Security Allowance transparent and qualitative. This also raises 15 – 17 patients would come seeking the A total of 17,658 PLiP received social interest among service receivers towards services whereas the number reaches up to security allowance across our programme health post services,” argues Yam Prasad 35 -40 daily”, informs Tola Bhurtel, in-charge areas. Despite the state’s policy of Bhusal, Secretary of Narayani VDC in of the health post. The CSC has made provision for allowances, the local Nawalparasi. aware all the groups including Dalti, government apparatuses sometimes Jananjati and other marginalised people refrain from providing such allowances in Since last 20 months, ‘Loktantra Majbut about the services, facilities and medicines time. Therefore, our partners and Banau’ (deepening democracy) programme delivered at the health post. communities keep monitoring their has been implementing different activities in activities to make them accountable. Narayani VDC to make service providers Similarly, CSC’s engagement in Shivpur participatory, accountable, responsible and Health Post has helped ensure quality REFLECT Circles have become effective transparent. Regarding this, from last few service of health post for the local people. means of monitoring services of local months, CSC method is being implementing CSC has been widely practiced in health government. RTI is another effective tool in the community to ensure qualitative posts across all LRPs. Besides the health in monitoring the distribution of social service which also shows positive posts, SEED have practiced it in District security allowances. For example, a local impression on the community level. Agriculture Development Office and SSDC youth group in Siraha recovered in Kopuwa VDC. This year, CSC was expenses that were illegitimately misused Earlier, through video documentary and practiced in 14 government offices from all by one VDC secretary. The VDCs in posters the community was made aware the working areas of LRPs. Owing to the Dhanusha districts are now distributing about the services provided by the impacts of CSC, Agriculture Service Centre the social security allowances promptly government. Discussions were facilitated in provided seeds and appointed Junior and properly owing to series of the community among community people Technical Assistant (JTA) in Bajura. campaigns organised in the leadership of and the health workers for the improvement Similarly, Malika Agricultural Group also got local community. Such campaigns are of the existing services. This resulted in NRs. 100, 000 for small scale irrigation. organised in collaboration and solidarity with other like-minded organisations.

Janasarokar Manch

Janasarokar Manch has been established as civil society network in 11 working districts to provide a common platform for debate/dialogue/discourse/discussions on public concerns. Service providers, policy makers, media, civil society organisations/networks and rights holders are using this platform for discourse and improved action. Project and LRP partners are working closely under this umbrella. Minimum Condition and Performance Measure (MCPM), SLC examination, quality education, child friendly VDC, improved agriculture and health services, PPP, women’s rights, open defecation free (ODF) areas, water rights, equal wages, voters’ education, CA election observation, campaign against GBV and right to information (RTI) were the issues addressed by Manch. One RTI centre has been established in Doti district in joint collaboration of Janasarokar Manch and National Commission for Right to Information. 35

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Right to Information (RTI) CASE STUDY A RTI Centre has been established in When they approached their VDC they were Doti district with joint initiation of RTI COMPELS VDC told that the distribution period was already Janasarokar Manch and National SECRETARIAT TO over. However, they collectively asked about Commission for Right to Information. PROVIDE INFORMATION “We approached the VDC secretariat for the the amount of resources that was allocated Through the campaign, people have budgetary information but we were turned through an application but the application was become aware about their rights and deaf ears. Later we tried more officially rejected saying that such information was not using RTI as an effective tool to avail tendering an application, but we failed again. for sharing. However, they did not give up. They collected email address and contacted information from concerned duty bearers Next time with the help of toll free number of National Information Commission and and public institutions which is crucial in National information Commission we submitted the copies of application and approached the affiliated organisation Dalit collection of evidences for advocacy citizenship certificate for the information. But Janakalyan Youth Club and its advisor Ashok purposes. A total of 600 RTI activists are to our surprise, the VDC called us and Kumar Kamati. He emailed the commission now actively contributing and advocating provided concerned information.” the copies of all applications along with a through social media especially the copy of citizenship certificate. facebook. Rastriya Dalit Network and Basanta Sada and Bijay Sada chairpersons They have become successful in receiving an Dalit Network Udayapur mobilised 22 of Child Rights Club of ward No. 2 and 4 of Badai VDC respectively, came to know about amount of NRs.17, 200 for both the child district/village level Dalit networks to the budget allocation for the capacity clubs (NRs. 8600 for each). With this financial achieve and strengthen inclusive public development programme for children through support they have successfully organised policy. An orientation on inclusion was the leadership programme provided by Dalit different training programmes, quiz contests provided to 45 clubs, women’s groups Janakalyan Youth Club. They decided to and cultural programmes. and local institutions in Udayapur. reach out for the budget that they were entitled to.

CASE STUDY

MOBILE CAMP FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS District Administration Office Bajura organised an integrated mobile camp about the services pertaining to citizenship card, social security allowance, health, veterinary and agricultural services in Piluchaur,Rugin and Kawadi VDCs. Programme staffs facilitated these services from the camp considering hardship of villagers, women and people with disability, PLiP and marginalised people living in geographically remote areas. As a result, they received citizenship cards and availed the health examinations from the camp. Similarly elderly, people with disability, PLiP, Dalits and women received their citizenship cards owing to regular information facilitation and access to camp. The camp was organised for Rugin and Bichhiyan VDCs in Kawadi at the first stage while 9 VDCs in Piluchaur were taken for second stage. Through this mobile camp a total of 675 people got citizenship cards, 200 cases of death got reported, 50 people took migration certificate, 356 people availed veterinary medicines services for their pets while 6 men and 3 women acquired land ownership certificates.

Participatory Community literacy mapping 36

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“Uniting the power Awareness and education have created WOMEN'S RIGHTS space where girls and women can openly AAIN’s strategy has clearly stated through women discuss about their bodily rights with other patriarchal dominance of the social, collectives has filled us members of community. The hesitation to political and economic domains in Nepal speak about the matter is not an issue which has led to unequal distribution of with guts to fight any more in many of the communities we power to women. They have less work with as it is understood as their authority than men in decision-making against any kind of rights and nothing to be ashamed of. and little control over their sexuality, challenges and bodies, movements and lives. Women’s Women Voicing out on “Violence reproductive and productive roles in the violence" – Laxmi Against Women” family are not duly recognised by the Khapung, Faktanglung Street dramas, door-to-door awareness family/community or state. This has programmes, posters, wall paintings, perpetuated different forms of VAW. Women Collective, interactions with stakeholders and PLiP Keeping strategy at the centre, AAIN Morahang were carried out. MAM capacitated on the works for the formation of agency of legal aspects of domestic violence and women and especially marginalised rural regular supports by the LRP partners ov er their body. A total of 6348 women and urban poor women so that their strengthen MAM thereby empowering and girls are educated through different contribution to the institutions like family, women to raise the cases of violence. formal and informal institutions. Students community and the state is valued and Owing to several levels of interactions, have started taking part in discourses and recognised. The male dominated society orientations on women’s rights, VAW and protest pertaining to any forms of gender- has created an unjust environment for GBV, womanhood has become vocal for based violence and discrimination. women who are subjected to violence and all the unjust and violence they are going Likewise, the numbers of pregnancy gender based discrimination. The through. The numbers of reported cases tests, cases of safe delivery and other organisation hence works with the women of VAW found to be increased due to health check-ups have increased for creating a just society for them, while empowerment of women. Two safe comparatively. they fight for inclusive representation at houses have been established in Chitwan decision making level to enjoy the rights and Makwanpur, initiated through entitled to them. Sakcham project, in order to provide victims a secured shelter, counseling and Women’s Awareness on other services. Reproductive Health Rights and Control over their Body Tradition and the culture of our society have violated women’s rights to bodily integrity, sexuality, sexual autonomy and other fundamental freedoms. With an emphasis on sensitisation, AAIN and its partner organisations have been facilitating various programmes and discussions to sensitise women and girls on the issues of women’s reproductive health rights, sexuality and its impact, sexual abuse to teenage girls and control

Women discussing on their issues 37

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municipality, Lalitpur sub-metropolitan city CASE STUDY office, Madhyapur Thimi municipality and In this programme they performed street MAKING CHHAUPADI A Kirtipur municipalit and Program Manager play and sang songs onstage as well. HISTORY of UNHabitat Nepal were present as main AAIN’s LRP partners PEACEWIN and HRC Local level political leaders and other speakers. Apart from them various including district level stakeholders and participants also expressed their representatives from women rights religious groups jointly conducted anti- commitment for 7 point chhaupadi Kolti organizations, colleges/ university, media chhaupadi campaign in Bajura. Religious declaration. Similarly, the process, for and community women and men were groups were formed in 5 VDCs and were declaring chhaupadi free VDC committees present. This has shown the commitment mobilised to raise awareness in the working was expedited with monitoring from for safer cities and raised awareness areas of Peacewin. Similarly, in working stakeholders. A brief discussion was also among different stakeholder. The document VDCs of HRC, a VDC level committee to made with community. As a result, developed out of the initiative has been implement 7 point Kolti chhaupadi Bramhatola VDC was declared the first shared nationally and globally at both declaration was formed where 105 chhaupadi free VDC in the district. In organisational and policy maker's level. members of WRF and adolescence groups addition to this, Dewalkot of Sappta and participated from 5 VDCs. They have been Kolti 2 were also declared as chhaupadi AAIN launched the second report in the mobilised around their villages free communities. Beside this, Kolti Ward series, Women and the City II: Combating demonstrating chhaupadi slogans written on No. 3, Gurdauli Gotri Ward No. 9, violence against women and girls in urban placards to ensure their reproductive rights. Pandusen Ward No. 6, Baadhu Ward No. public spaces – The role of public Similarly they have demanded for their 7 and Jagannath Ward No. 5 are in services. It highlights how lack of access rights stipulated in the interim constitution, process of declaring them chhaupadi free to public services such as transport, CEDAW and international treaties. wards. street lighting and electricity, along with proper housing and sanitation, increases women’s vulnerability to violence and Safe Public Space / Safe Cities awareness and education on safe cities. often exacerbates the consequences of In Nepal, AAIN had been laying The participants were also capacitated on that violence. The report was launched by groundwork for Safe Cities Program for safety audit participatory toolkit and action the Minister of Women, Children and the past two years. In 2012, as part of a plan was prepared to conduct the safety Social Welfare. A research team of 9 multi country research, AAIN initiated an audit in the working area. members from various departments of action research program focusing on use AAIN and Activista Nepal was formed for of public transportation by urban women AAIN along with its partners and Safe cities audience insight research as and girls. The major issues identified in community women conducted a workshop well. Interviews of various stakeholders the research were sexual harassment and to show solidarity in an action that goes were taken and the reports were insecurity of girls and women in public beyond raising awareness about violence submitted to the international research spaces. Discriminatory cultural values to feature how grassroots women and team. An international report has been and norms, weak legal and justice women's organisations partner with launched after the analysis of the system, weak public service policies, government authorities to concretely build compiled data. The research findings will implementation gaps and violation of safer cities. Minister for Women, Children be a basis for preparation of campaign basic rights and entitlements are the and Social welfare, Director General of document and designing the international major reasons behind this problem. As Transport Division of Government of campaign of the year 2014. Along with continuation of this work, in 2013, AAIN Nepal, the Senior Superintendent of this AAIN’s safe cities programming introduced safe cities campaign to raise Police from Nepal police, Chief Executive framework was also developed. public awareness. Numbers of capacity Officers and representatives of 5 different building training/workshops and policy municipalities namely, Kathmandu The concept of safe city and public space dialogues were carried out to raise metropolitan city office, Bhaktapur are discussed in order to identify the 38

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issues on violence against girls and women in public space and Research on Women’s Unpaid Care Work transportation. Pilot initiatives of safe city are seen in Morang, Chitwan and Over the past two years AAIN piloted the UCW programme which aimed to recognise and value Makwanpur districts. An advocacy women’s unequal responsibility for UCW. The participatory research was one major aspect of campaign for safe shelter is underway in this program and it showed that rural women in Nepal spend close to 5 hours on household Kathmandu as well. chores while men spend 56 minutes only. Women spend more time on subsistence agriculture than men and have only 24 minutes per day to participate in social and cultural activities such as community discussions, while men have nearly 2 hours per day for the same purpose helping The issues related to VAW and girls in them to build their social power. As a result, women in the communities have little time to engage public space and transport are massively in paid work and also to take rest which is also needed for their good health. These findings are discussed in REFLECT Circles and the from ActionAid’s report titles Making Care Visible. In addition, UCW Resource Guide has been issues were also conversed with drivers, translated into Nepali to support LRPs engage in this work. Findings of the scoping were also conductors and other employees of widely shared with partners and stakeholders, which guided and helped in understanding transport sector. An awareness campaign engagement issues of UCW at policy level. was also carried out by different activities such as disseminating pamphlets, mobilise youth, etc. time diary is playing a major role in ascertaining the evidence of time spent "The initiation of Unpaid Care Work by women on UCW to show difference of community child care One of our major focuses in women rights women’s and men’s engagement in UCW is to make society sensitised about the and its wider impact on attainment of centre is really contribution of women which can be women’s rights along with their increased appreciable. Political achieved through due recognition, participation in decision making level. redistribution and reduction of workload of parties and local It was evident that UCW was obstructing women that have been imposed to them government are also in an unjust manner. Unpaid Care Work women’s participation in different social, (UCW) is about focusing on care economy economical and political spheres thereby positive towards its for wider economic justice. Number of excluding them from getting involve in different training and capacity building decision making process. In order to establishment. We will initiative took place on UCW covering its redistribute and reduce the work hours of support the collectives framework and understanding in 2013. women in UCW at community level and to Different LRPs and National level partners shift them from UCW to paid work and best to our ability to make are working on building awareness by engage in other productive activities plus this centre effective and sensitising community regarding UCW. allocating time for their own selves 2 pilot community child care centres have been sustainable." – Ishwori established at Shreejung and A total of 7123 women and men have Prasad Bhattarai, been sensitised on UCW and tool like Phakchamara VDC in Terhathum in time diary (time diary collection is a coordination with Singadevi and Principal of Shreejung process/survey to ascertain more Makhamali women’s collectives, VDC concrete evidences and numbers that level MAM and VDC office. Likewise, Higher Secondary show the amount of time that women, in other 2 model community child care School. particular, spend on UCW and other kinds centers are established in Parsa and of work to build understanding and Mohottari districts. The outcome of this perspective on care economy and initiative (child care centers) in relation to economic justice. The adoption of tool like UCW is yet to be seen. 39

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CASE STUDY “I wish somebody rooster alarms her the dawn too has would say you A TIME DIARY OF waked up”. She fetches water from a tap SABITRA TOLANGI worked a lot, you “Whatever hardship I have experienced, it is close to her house and makes breakfast done now. I don’t think I will be able to do more for her family. She then sweeps the house might be feeling (laughs). Now it is time for us to sing, dance, with a broom and cleans the mess made play and forget all those hardships.” by the pets and takes care of the cattle. tired, so, take a rest She adds, “However, our [women’s] work for a while." – Sabitra Tolangi 47, belongs to a strict Dalit is never seen.” According to her time community in Ward No. 6 of Hamarjung diary, she spends six hours a day on Dilmaya Khapung, VDC in Tehrathum. She is married and household chores such as cooking, Faktanglung Women has two sons and a daughter. Her cleaning and washing dishes and clothes. daughter too is married whereas her sons She also spends over four hours a day Collective, Morahang working on the family farm. Since she is are yet to get unmarried. She is involved “Collective meeting with ActionAid’s UCW programme where alone in the house with her son, she is she keeps and monitors a time diary on a responsible for all the works inside and has provided a regular basis to track the different outside of the house. activities she has been engaging over a space for us to take year long period. Women who participate Sabitra says that she has not seen any rest for a while from in the programme meet regularly at change in her neighborhood regarding the REFLECT Circle known as “Abhiyan recognition, reduction and redistribution of the daily household Chautari” to discuss their UCW and the work and women still face a lot of chores, learn new impact it has on their livelihoods and hardships. She believes that in order to wellbeing. end these hardships women need skill things and also build development trainings to earn their own on synergy for She wakes up at 3 am in the morning, as livelihood so that both the women and she puts in her own words “as soon as the their work are respected. taking actions against VAW."- Naina Kala Shrestha, Ambung

Women; The Rising Leaders organization at the national and local Associations, VDC councils, Community AAIN CSP has clearly indicated that level. Different women from women’s Forest Users Groups etc. 39 women from developing leadership qualities in women groups, networks, MAM, Saving and different working areas of AAIN are are by supporting their access to and Credit groups, REFLECT circles etc., holding key positions as chairperson, control over decision making bodies at were capacitated through this initiatives. treasurer or secretary. Their accession to local and national levels, enabling them to This year total of 560 women have been such positions has provided them demand justice on the issues of violence developed and capacitated as women’s opportunities to make decision in their are some of the key areas to be rights leaders. Now these women have favour and confront unequal power performed. To achieve this goal, a series been able to be the member of different relation. With their representations in of capacity building initiatives have been formal groups i.e., School Management such committees and groups, they are organized by AAIN along with its partner Committees, Parents Teachers now in the position to advocate or lobby 40

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VDC/municipalities budget in favour of allegation, Chhaupadi, child marriage, Policy Level Engagement for a women. These leaders are now actively campaign on Safe cities, Land Rights Just Society engaged in ensuring women’s campaign, Ensuring quality education for With constructive engagement with participation, involvement in different local children, International women’s day, 16 National Women’s Commission (NWC) to national level decision making process. days activism etc. MAM in consultation and Ministry of Women, Children and They have been progressively coming with district chapters and AAIN has been Social Welfare (MoWCSW), a final draft ahead with the demand for justice on the able to develop and consolidate demands of ‘Crime Investigation Manual’ has been issues of VAW. of rural women and pointed out gaps in developed incorporating the present implementation of gender recommendations collected through Strengthening MAM plan and policies. This has also been consultation meetings with various This year too AAIN continued its support submitted to Ministry of Women, Children stakeholders at different levels. to MAM (a national network of women’s and Social Welfare and this will be agency for change) to build and expand worked into 10 years strategy paper being Ongoing advocacy with consultation for its network by organising different level of prepared by them in collaboration with the enforcement of verdicts on Dowry and capacity building initiatives and different stakeholders. AAIN in to pass the bill on witchcraft related crime collaborative works. It has been able to coordination with MAM developed is in the process. Policy lobby has been create space for marginalised women and women’s proposition to use as tool during done with ministry to consider the bill on strengthen their network locally and the times of election of constitution witchcraft developed earlier is going on. nationally. MAM has not only assembly to lobby on agendas of women This work is a coordinated effort with strengthened its network but through at local level. MAM engagement from SAKCHAM project as well. collaboration and coordination with other local to national level are well recognised various women’s network and by the policy makers and women’s rights Partnership with ASMITA and MAM for organisation for solidarity and joint action, organisations thus consulted for several national policy advocacy and national it is evolving as a strong women agency. national agendas like 33% representation women’s forum and Women’s conference MAM has been actively engaged in of women on election process, national for identity, power and transformation. It different Local to National campaigns level campaigns like One Billion Rising has created a platform for women’s rights such as campaign against witchcraft and other policy discourses as well. activists and academicians to generate discourse to improve knowledge, build perspective and consciousness in women’s movement. The program generated a discussion around women’s rights issues and brought academicians, development practitioners and activists on the same platform of different generation. The forum discussed on 25 different papers receiving comments from wider audiences which later will be come out in the form of feminist book.

Signature campaign on VAW 41

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QUALITY EDUCATION IN A SAFE AND EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT

This objective of quality education focuses CCL- Quality Education Improved at Slum Areas on integrated response to advance free and quality education at basic level and The children living in slum areas have improved their quality of education. This was made possible reinvigorate popular education. It strives to through child learning centre established to support quality education of the children living in slum enable children and young people from area and children of home based workers. Most of the parents in such areas are uneducated and PLiP and marginalised communities to are away from home for daily wages labour or work, due to which they have very limited time to develop into drivers of change and harness look after their children. Three CLCs (Child Learning Centers) have been established in LRP 32 the potential of popular edycation towards that benefitted 192 students. The Saturday classes helped the children do their home assignment broader democratisation of society. As vis-à-vis participating in extra curriculum activities. CCL process has helped transform the organisation we are working towards teaching- learning practice at schools, from teachers centered to child centered. This has also enabling and empowering citizens’ groups, supported increase child's retention at school while enriching his or her learning. people’s organisations and social justice movements taking into consideration the the community. Schools are applying this private school have also shifted to key issues such as accountability in public approach while trainings are being provided community-managed schools in Morang schools, child-centered learning, and using from different organisations working in the and Tehrathum due to the CCL approach promoting rights in schools framework in field of education. Some students from and English medium teaching. public schools.

Quality Education and Supports for English and Computer Lab improved teaching CCL approach learning process Quality education has been promoted in a ROTA project implemented by AAIN trained English teachers teaching in grade 4 to 7 to rights-based framework, documented in support public schools provide better quality English education. A total of 36 teachers (32 Promoting rights in schools, which outlines male and 4 female) from 22 secondary level schools were provided trainings through two a charter of 10 basic rights that all schools simultaneous sessions in June 2013. The training was facilitated by a team of trainers from should respect. It puts the rights of the child, NELTA (Nepal English Language Teachers Association). Besides the training, project and all children, at the centre in all aspects supported the schools on their efforts of improving the conditions of classrooms to make of the school and its surrounding education suitable for English labs. As a consequence of this, 5,773 students from grade 4 to grade 7 community. Along with these aspects, from 22 schools are benefited by English lab. improving the quality of learning is area coverage of quality education. Child Similarly, ROTA project supported six project schools to introduce computer education for quality Centered Learning (CCL) is one of the education. More than a computer classroom, the lab served itself as a place where students and approaches that are promoted in 206 teachers alike could search/research according to their need. These schools are now role models for other schools in the surroundings. During reporting period, 7 teachers from 6 schools received schools in the working areas for maintaining trainings on Information Communication Technology (ICT) based education and use of computer the standard and quality of education. in teaching. The project also supported the schools on the management of ICT based education REFLECT participants and LRP partners through regular visits of IT personals and interactions with teachers. The selected project schools organised meetings and interactions with namely Rastriya SS in Daharberiya, Janjagriti HSS in Tikapur and Mohanyal SS in Joshipur SMC/PTA and head teachers in the schools received a set of IT equipments (one laptop, seven desktop computers, one printer, one of their respective working areas on the multimedia projector, one UPS and one internet router). Besides this, Karnali HSS in Narayanpur importance of child friendly learning practice received computer maintenance support for 6 computers alongside a multimedia projector while and need for CCL approach of learning in Karmeshor HSS in Lalbojhi and Rastriya HSS in Khailad received a multimedia projector. 42

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"Nowadays the children members, and administration and finance "Before, people had staffs based on 10 education rights are more active in assessing the overall governance and never thought about learning process. The accountability. The LRP partners of AAIN, their support in School DSS in Dhanusha, DJKYC in Siraha and regularity of students is CBC in Udayapur carried out the PRS in Improvement Plan. But, 3 schools to produce CER. increased and dropouts since we adopted the also have been reduced School improvement plan (SIP) is another participatory process statutory document that schools need to significantly in our school. develop and update every year with we have been getting It is due to the adoption of supports of school stakeholders. With results that prove facilitation of the partners the schools are CCL, we also changed formulating and operationalising the otherwise.” Sant Ram ourselves, and our school code of conduct . Orientation of Chaudhary, head the education act and policy to the behaviour is more child teachers, PTAs and SMCs was teacher, Shiv PS conducted bringing about the changes friendly after getting like active participation in participatory Ensuring Free Education Free education as fundamental rights, school assessment planning process and training on CCL." Ramita free education campaign along with making school code of conduct in ROTA school enrollment campaign at Bohara,CCL teacher project areas in Kailali. Similarly, social community, school, VDC and district level audit is another process to enhance School Governance has been led by the LRP partners and Right to Education (RTE) is promoted with transparency and accountability while their alliances for the easy access and to frameworks like Promoting Rights in improving school governance. promote free education. School-going- Schools (PRS), CER (Citizen Education age-children from freed Kamaiya, Muslim, Reports) and MOST (Mobile Onsite School governance has improved Haliya and Dalit communities were Support Team). The REFLECT progressively in LRP working areas enrolled in various schools through participants, LRP partners and education holding accountability in preparing school intensive school enrollment campaigns at watch groups have been advocating for the improvement plan, conducting social audits various levels. Child clubs, networks, adoption of PRS framework to improve and preparing code of conduct at schools. women education committees, VDC quality of learning by organising meetings, LRP partners facilitated and supported for education committees, REFLECT Circles, interactions and discussions with the updating their SIP throughout the LRPs. SMCs, PTAs were mobilised for free resource persons, SMC/PTAs and school Some notable achievements have education campaign in the working teachers. Other frameworks like MOST are surfaced in the school governance due to districts. Door-to-door visit was also done used to strengthen governance in schools, the mobilisation of PLiP and local people in taking child club members to influence by identifying the gaps, developing action formulating and implementation of school other children to join school. plan and henceforth materializing it. policies and programmes. Participation of As a result, 323 community and the teachers, guardians, school government schools have been declared CER is another tool and a process follow management committee, parents teachers completely free and they are providing up of the school operating system. It is a association and child clubs have supported quality education owing to continuous participatory product of PRS through in strengthening governance system of campaigns by rights holders under the community assessment, individual schools. facilitation of PNGOs. interview with SMC/PTAs, teachers, guardians, stakeholders, child club 43

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orientation for schools and mock drill (duck- School Assessment Board cover-hold) practice have been successfully carried out. The All 75 project schools of Kailali have established self-assessment board as a tool to monitor dissemination of information in such school’s status on rights to education and school safety. There are 13 indicators for self- manner led to some immediate precautions assessment. The schools decide about the status after arriving at consensus among teachers, such as cutting down of old and breakable students, SMC and parents. Self-assessment board has helped in facilitating regular review and trees from school compound, preparing assessment to improve overall school performance and ensure quality and safe learning ‘GO BAG’ to protect important documents environment. Similarly, 75 project schools have prepared and been adhering to school code of and goods such as citizenship cards, land conduct that clearly defines the role and responsibility of teachers, SMC, PTA and the students in ownership certificates, gold or valuable order to strengthen school management practices. The code is displayed either through visual ornaments from loss and damage. Other narrative or displaying the board in the schools. essentials such as some money,

Governance of the schools is checked and balanced as well progressively in the working areas medicines and some ready-to-eat-food also where SIP, SA and code of conducts are prepared and implemented. As a result, many kept in the bag. Similarly, it was noteworthy achievements have surfaced noticeably in the school governance owing to the mobilisation of to find children engaging themselves in PLiP and local people in formulating and implementation of school policies and programmes. awareness raising among their parents Participatory involvement of the teachers, guardians, SMC, PTA and child clubs have supported in while practicing for early preparedness. strengthening governance system of schools.

Engagement with the ministry to In Bajura, a VDC level SMC has been formed for strengthening school governance to improve develop DRR resource book quality education at schools. Likewise, district level SMC networks have been reactivated in AAIN ROTA project constructively engaged Banke, Dang and Kapilvastu whereas new district level SMC networks have been set up in Bajura with CDC, NCED at national level for and Banke. Five VDC level free education committees in Bajura are functioning to improve school lobbying and advocacy to develop the DRR governance and quality of education. Social audit committees are actively engaged in carrying out resource book, learning materials and ToT SA in their respective schools. manual for teachers on DRR education in

Seven district level SMC networks and 5 VDC level networks in Sankhuwasava are also active to schools. Following the signed MoU with ensure good governance in schools. Altogether 1296 SMC members have been oriented about Ministry of Education and its departments, their roles and responsibilities through 27 events to strengthen school governance. Now in Dulari the three sub committees led by CDC and of Morang district SMC/PTA, school teachers and resource persons are jointly developing and NCED were mobilized with its consultation effectively materialising the SIP. A total of 340 schools have developed participatory SIP with the meetings for preparing DRR resource book, active involvement of SMC/PTA and teachers. learning materials and ToT manual. Finally they finalized all documents in technical Kathmandu and DEO in Kaski to make that support of Co-Action, advocacy partner of Safe School Along with quality learning, dissemination of happen. The DoE and DEO are expected to AAIN. After field test and finalization of all education and governance of the schooling finalise the curriculum within project period. documents, the project printed and system, AAIN also aims to provide safe disseminated DRR resource book, learning education to school going children. More At Community level, REFLECT has been materials and ToT manual for teachers' than just assessment of the school system, mobilised to hold interactions between training to all project schools and national in facilitation of the PNGOs, 54 schools PLiP and school team to make safe and district level government stakeholders. conducted PVA of schools to address environment for effective learning by These publications have been supporting to potential hazards and climate change. An constructing earthquake resistant schools the schools for DRR education in schools. initiative was also taken for such concept to with safe compounds. Though LRP The publications are forwarded by be incorporated in the school curriculum. partners have not been able to initiate the concerned governments- CDC and NCED. Series of discussions were held with local curriculum development on climate Now, these publications are widely Department of Education (DoE) in change and DRR, however, DRR accepted for DRR education in schools. 44

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Ensuring Disaster Management CASE STUDY Plan programme in SIP support was provided by the project team and Community managed schools have MAINSTREAMING DRR IN education supervisor of DEO, Kailali. Following incorporated the DMPs in their school EDUCATION AAIN ROTA project had adopted two prong the series of discussion and consultations the improvement plans. Action plans have also strategies for lobbing and advocating for task team drafted the local curricula to been developed to ensure safe school inclusion of DRR and safe schools. The project incorporate DRR education for grade 4 and 5 environment and physical structures. A total facilitated DEO and education resource centre under the provision of 20% local curricula. After of 128 Disaster Management Committees of Kailali district to assess the need of local developing the draft of local curricula for DRR (DMCs) received a budget of NRs. 925,000 education, a meeting of SMCs of all community curriculum in primary grades as per the from DDCs and VDCs in Morang, Parsa, schools under Bhajani resource centre was prevailing education policy; and in national level Siraha and Udayapur districts to ensure organized to discuss on inclusion of DRR in the project engaged with Curriculum safe physical infrastructures. They are also Development Centre (CDC), National Center local curricula. That meeting unanimously lobbying with DEOs to allocate earthquake for Educational Development (NCED) and approved to include the local curricula finalized resistant building construction block grants. Ministry of Education for lobby and advocacy to by Task Team. Bandhu Secondary School has planted tree develop the DRR resource book, learning After the approval from SMCs at education saplings on the school grounds whereas materials and Training of Trainers (ToT) manual resource centre level an orientation on use of for school teachers to mainstream the DRR local curricula for DRR education was Pancha Laxmi Primary School has education in schools. conducted where District Education Officer also retrofitted to two-room blocks. After the series of consultation meetings with oriented teachers. Now the local curriculum for The project schools piloted by ROTA education resource centre and DEO, a meeting DRR education has been adopted by 36 public of the social study teacher of Bhajani resource schools under Bhajani resource centre in Kailali ‘There were lots of risk in centre was conducted to discuss on the need district. The project has supported to DEO, and scope of local curricula in schools. The Kailali, Bhajani Resource Centre for printing school’s area but we did meeting was concluded by forming a 9 and also provided the learning and resource not understand the cause member's task team for local curricula under materials to the schools as reference materials the leadership of Resource Person of Bhajani for classroom teaching-learning. nor had capacity to education resource centre where the technical analyse the risk factor. After orientation, we did vulnerability and capacity analysis and prepared a preparedness and response plan as part of school improvement plan. It helped us make safer school for our students.” — Bhim Bahadur Chaudhary, Head Teacher, Krishna Dhoj Chand Secondary School

Child center learning approach 45

REFLECTIONS & LEARNING 2013

project have conducted vulnerability CASE STUDY assessment through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methodology through the overburdened with my household chores that ENROLLED AT 50 use of tools like context mapping, seasonal Sita Pantha, 50, from Gajaheda village has I hardly get free time to sleep. In my early calendar, disaster timeline, disaster ranking, joined school last year in class three. Sita days in school children would laugh at me problem tree analysis, physical observation elucidates "After participating in REFLECT finding an old lady in their classroom. Now inside schools for non-structural Circle formed by ActionAid, I was encouraged they are my friends.” She passed grade one with second position in her class. Therefore, vulnerability assessment. A community and to join school. I learned about our rights to she has been upgraded to class three directly. focus group discussion was held with education in the REFLECT. Now, I feel that education leads us to self development and She tells that her husband supports her in school stakeholders including child clubs also provides us skills and confidence." household chores. Her children also members, teachers and SMCs in facilitation According to Sita she has six members in her encourage her to study. of the project team and LRP. Following an family with three sons and one daughter. All orientation on PVA, they successfully her sons are abroad for labour work. So, she "Seeing my enthusiasm on studies, other analysed the hazards, vulnerability, is bound to depend on other people to women are also encouraged to join school. capacity and resources of the schools in communicate with her sons if she is left This year, twenty seven years old Jasuda their areas. They also identified both illiterate. Now, she can send emails to her Chaudhary also enrolled in class eight. In my disaster risks and safe places for timely sons abroad. “I am very happy,” she recalls, opinion age should not be a limitation for evacuation in the event of emergency. “But the days were not same earlier. I was so education," Sita concludes. These reports were made available to the schools to help them prepare DP plans and safety audit, the teachers, students, SMCs Capacity building activities have given rise SIPs. and parents review their plan, which are to significant changes in schools and earlier prioritised during the PVA in schools. growth in the level of awareness among While identifying the risk and developing They assess the variability and risk through students, teachers, parents and local plan to mitigate the possible risks, PVA safety audit annually wherein they analyse communities have been observed reports have set a baseline in schools any shortcoming to reduce the disaster risk significantly. Trained DRR taskforces for carrying out safety audit against the as well as how capacities are being search and rescue, early warning and vulnerability status. Adopting the tool of developed at local level. communication, emergency fund mobilisation and first-aid are taken in place to respond the disaster situations. CASE STUDY

she has chilly, cucumber and other Similarly, ‘education in emergency’ tool has REFLECT FOR CHANGE Anurupa B.K. of pokhara sub-municipality vegetables in her kitchen garden from which trained teachers about INEE (Interagency used to work in others houses and would she earns NRs. 12000 in one season. Network for Education in Emergency) and bring home left-over foods for her children. its standards, developing contingency plan But, after getting engaged in REFLECT “I would get nervous even to tell my name during and post disaster situations to organised by Siddhartha Club, AAIN partner but now I can talk in mass”, she shares with ensure the rights of children in the event of a confidence, “ When looking back I see organization, her attitude towards life and emergency. The participants have gained how unintelligent I was. REFLECT has work has changed completely. Initially, she theoretical knowledge and practical skills in would ignore the facilitators who would call taught me many things and availed me different stations. In schools, trained her to join the REFLECT Circle. many opportunities that brought about huge teachers and students have effectively change in my life. Now I have realised that utilised their skills while administering the Later, she got interested in a programme there are two kinds of poor people, one from first-aid in schools. Life jackets, stretchers, called ‘one house one kitchen garden’ where heart and other form wealth. I belonged to she got training on kitchen garden and the first category before.” helmets, megaphones, emergency lights bought chilly saplings worth NRs.2000. Now, etc., were supported to the schools located in flood prone areas. Through the 46

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

simulation exercises in schools, the REFLECT Circle in a community is a (MoE). The MoE presented a draft on students, teachers and parents were platform where discussions and interactions SSRP SWAP extension document that orientated to use the safety materials while lead to self analysis of the community availed the participants an opportunity to practicing the safety exercises (drills) every sharing ideas and experiences. These review and reflect on the document. A six months. Now, the school communities Circles are actively involved in discussing detail feedback was also submitted through have been resourceful with essential social and political issues that are pertinent NCE Nepal to be incorporated in the materials for safety operations and also in their communities.. Women of REFLECT document. As a result of this initiative, MoE have been using the materials and Circles are actively engaged in various has started inviting NCE-Nepal in its major equipments during the floods for rescuing. campaigns and activism such as fight education policy discussions deeming The materials are also made available to against chhaupadi engagements is civic NCE-Nepal a representative of CSOs. community people and government's education, participation and representation emergency responders. in decision making bodies / committees, A round-table-dialogue on ‘Millennium PPP, fight against VAW, budget tracking Development Goals (MDGs) and Children’ REFLECT as Platform for and mobilisation of VDCs and DDCs, was organised in solidarity with Global Empowerment campaigning for ODF areas, free education, Campaign to frame post-2015 REFLECT Circle is a platform for the PLiP equal and fair wages for same work, development agenda. The programme and marginalised people, especially women women’s rights to land across the LRPs. was jointly organised by AAIN with to reflect upon their situation and take a Such campaigns have been organised by Ministry of Women, Children and Social collective action to solve their issues and REFLECT to ensure their access to health Welfare and SOS Children’s Village problems identified in their communities. It services and management as well as Nepal. It brought together over 120 is a platform where issues related to their productive natural resources such as stakeholders from across the country communities are discussed openly in order access to and control over land by landless including government officials, to come up with a collective solution for the people and tenants to ensure their rights to international organisations, civil society overall development of empowered food and livelihood. organisations, academic institutions, communities. AAIN along with its partner I/NGOs, universities and youth organisations has been facilitating the Policy Engagement organisations. The outcomes and Circle from its very beginning. The Circle AAIN facilitated policy workshop on recommendations of this round-table are focuses on the dissemination of popular School Sector Reform Programme expected to contribute to the global education which is regarded as one of the (SSRP) extension document at the discourse on post-2015 development most effective tools of adult empowerment. national level bringing together key agenda. A resource book has also been This Circle apart from being an stakeholders in education including published contributing to the thirteen empowerment tool also concentrates on teachers’ union, student representatives, periodic plans of the country. Furthermore, adult education, especially educating representatives from Karnali region, the recommendations were submitted to women. With 316 REFLECT Circles in representatives from different state-level the Chairperson of the erstwhile interim working areas, 1,755 participants have commissions like National Women’s council of ministers to have reflect on been able to read and write while 8149 Commission, National Dalit Commission as outcomes prior to Nepal’s representation rights holder are well-informed about civic well as education related media people and at the UN Summit. education. The empowerment and organisations working for rights to education are very necessary to inculcate education. The workshop also reflected on the idea of meaningful participation to the AAIN’s critical and constructive participants which ultimately make engagement with government since it was participants to understand the importance organised in partnership with National of democracy while deepening its practices. Campaign for Education (NCE) Nepal and in collaboration with Ministry of Education 47

REFLECTIONS & LEARNING 2013

CASE STUDY

GOING HIGHER IN EDUCATION Sangita Chuahan, 17, lives in Prasuram VDC in Parsa district. She passed the SLC examination in second division from Kanya Secondary School of Parsa. She is a member of child club formed under local rights programme implemented by Divya Youth Club in partnership with AAIN since 2004. She is actively engaged to promote awareness for child rights, child education and elimination of early child marriage. She herself was proposed for marriage when aged 14 . However, she became successful in convincing her parents that she was very young and eager to achieve higher education. If she had married she would have quit for sure her dream of pursuing higher education. Given the hardship of daily life her parents suggested her not join the higher education. But, DYC provided her an education support of NRs. 4000 that enabled her to enroll for higher education.

School enrollment campaign

CASE STUDY

decided to take a loan of NRs. 5000 from a on her commitment she challenged the notion that PRABHA IS EMPOWERED “REFLECT HAS ENCOURAGED ME. IT cooperative and started restaurant business at women could not undertake technical jobs by HAS OPENED WINDOWS OF small scale. During this very time she became an successfully completing level 1 and level 2 VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES AND active community member by getting involved in trainings. This training has imparted on her BOOSTED UP MY CONFIDENCE”, Diyalo Janamukhi Sikhshya Kendra (a REFLECT technical knowledge while uplifting her economic PRABHA TIMILSINA. Circle) of Makwanpur Mahila Samuha (MMS). conditions. She has also received SIYB training She enthusiastically participated in discussions to scale up her business with enhanced technical Youngest of four children, Prabha, 25, lives in and other activities organised by the group. Her knowledge. Now, she makes an earning of NRs. Shikarpani Tole of Churiyamai VDC with her enthusiasm to work for women was soon 15,000 per month through electrical works. She is mother Devaki Timilsina and her four siblings. recognised by her community members. also planning to open her own electric shop in She was very young, when her father deserted Therefore, she stood for the post of president of coming days. her mother for another woman, which brought Wada Nagarik Manch (Ward Citizen Forum), and emotional and economical crises in the family. won the election. Now, she is also a member of “The credit for my success goes to my struggle Being a single mother of four children, Prabha’s VDC level network and secretary of VDC level and hard work. Now, I have realised that life is not mother and elder siblings had to work in other Women’s Network. Even though she is involved just a path of thorns. I am happy for the fact that people’s houses for income. Thus, they dropped with many organisations, she still manages time people look up to me as an example that women out of school to sustain household expenses. to attend skills development training programmes. can excel in technical jobs. I am thankful to my She undertook a three-months-long training mother and REFLECT for supporting me. I keep Soon after Prabha’s older sister got married, her course on house-wiring organised by MMS in on working for women’s rights in my society,” mother became sick that prevented her from coordination with Government of Nepal’s Self- Prabha concludes with a smile. going to school as well. At a tender age of 17, she employment Fund Campaign. Standing resolute 48

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

OTHER ORGANISATIONAL INITIATIVES

Strengthening Campaign Resource Development Centre in canal survey work at Chadani and on Water Commons Tarahara, Nepal in 2013. A five-member Dodhara has been initiated by Engagement of AAIN on Mahakali, code of conduct drafting committee was Government of Nepal. Furthermore, some Gandak and Koshi river campaigns was also formed to draft the code of conduct of the VDCs; Masuriya and Gadairya in continued this year too in partnership with for smooth functioning of the forum. Kailali; Chadani and Dodhara in Forum for Local Development in Similarly, Nepal was entrusted the Kanchanpur and Lali in Darchula along Kanchanpur, INDRENI in Nawalprasi and responsibility to lead the forum for first with DDC Kanchanpur have allocated Abhiyan Nepal in Koshi. Water commons two years. Abhiyan Nepal is equally budget for interaction and research work is national and cross-border issue and is mobilising local committees and affected on water rights. Likewise, maintenance linked to water politics. AAIN and its communities living in the river basin of the work has started in the Gandak basin partners have been organising various Koshi River. areas as demanded by Gandak Struggle workshops, meetings and trainings from Committee. Besides this, a blacktopped local to national level to amplify the issues Water commons is road is under construction over the canal of water commons. Moreover, linkage of national and cross- side of Nepal in connection with the water commons with disaster is crucial. implementation of 21 points agreement. The events of water commons are border issue and is However, monitoring the quality of confined within certain areas in the region linked to water politics. construction work is still a challenge given weak bilateral coordination between India lacking solidarity with concerned AAIN and its partners stakeholders within Nepal and India. The and Nepal. With the initiation of strategic partners engaged in the issues have been organising REFLECT Circle of Gandak, water rights of water commons are amplifying this various workshops, initiative has been successful in sourcing issue in coordination with Indian an amount of NRs. 240,000 for culvert journalists. It is disheartening that various meetings and trainings construction from District Development major political parties are least bothered from local to national Committee, Nawalparasi. A workshop to prioritise these very pertinent issues in titled ‘Strengthening Peoples’ their election manifestos. However, level to amplify the issues Perspectives on South-Asia Water national and international pressure play of water commons. Commons’ was also organised in 2013. an important role in to pressurising The workshop, after rigorous and Government of India (which should be Likewise, various groups have been enriching discussion, concluded by our priority too) and AAIN and its partners organised and mobilised to engage in the setting and clarifying objectives for the are moving forward to make this happen. reviewing of bi-lateral river treaties. The comprehensive study on water commons Indo-Nepal Saptakoshi Jal Adhikar Manch water rights campaign has been as a regional initiative boasting of study (a water rights forum) was formed on 6 grounded and widened from local to design, methodology and framework, April 2013 in Supoul Simrahi, Bihar in national level. Through this initiative, expected outputs and outcomes, risks India involving 13 members (7 from Bihar umpteenth youths are organising and and challenges, and way forward, within a and 6 from east Nepal). It aims to create amplifying the issues with widespread clear timeline. This initiative is expected pressure about the issues of the solidarity for water rights campaigns. An to take this movement more effectively. Saptakoshi River up on both Nepalese initiation has been made to create critical and Indian governments to make justice masses among the college-going International Conference on through internationalisation of the issue. students through series of interactions Participatory Democracy The forum has summoned its second and water related dialogues. Owing to AAIN has adopted the concept of meeting-cum-workshop at Human continued pressure by such groups, the participatory democracy a practical 49

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

means for democratic development of the analyses on various issues were in Strategic Implementation Plan country. AAIN in partnership with Institute comprehended by substantive discussion development process. Some of the good for Governance and Development (IGD) throughout the conference. Contextual practices such as district meet of organised “International Participatory issues "Inclusion and Democratic transformative social mobilisation Democracy Conference” in December Governance in Nepal", "Democratisation practitioners, formal cooperation with 2013. The conference was a step forward of Local Governance", "Civil Society, local bodies through MoU, mobilisation of towards participatory democracy Nation Building and Democratisation", loose forum (Janasarokar Manch) have discourse building on the experiences "State Building for Democratic been incorporated in the document. from "National Conference on Governance", "State, Women and Moreover, implementation of Livelihood Participatory Democracy in Nepal" held in Democratisation", "Multiculturalism, Improvement Plan in Citizen’s Awareness 2012. As an outcome a publication on Peace and Democracy in Nepal" were the Forum/REFLECT, harmonisation of social “Participatory Democracy- Issues and Nepal specific topical papers presented mobilisation tools and techniques, Ward Reflection” was published. The evolution and discussed. Furthermore, the Citizen’s Forum as entry point for of a platform "Forum for Participatory experience from Nigeria and South Africa, development activities, institutionalisation Democracy" at national level has Latin America, Asia and Europe on of democratic practices such as connected itself to eastern and western participatory democracy added reformation of Ward Citizen’s Forum etc regions of Nepal. It was envisioned to ingredients for the quality deliberation. have also been proposed. Government establish forum as a common platform to has appreciated the constructive trigger discourses contributing to national The notion of participatory engagement of AAIN in developing the development strategies of democracy and strategic implementation plan. democratisation, develop web-based democracy emphasises information sharing platform, continue on promoting active Fellowship for research through fellowship, development Deepening Democracy of popular primers and issue based citizenship. It highlights The fellowship for deepening democracy discourses to develop and strengthen the need for continuously project is all about capacity development critical mass on democratisation of innovating and of PLiP specially focused on youth democracy. Nepal moving ahead in the development through revitalizing and re constitution making process makes the indigenising democratic energizing adult and civic education. It discussion more contextual and relevant. means and mechanisms. aims to enhance the capacity of the youth AAIN has acknowledged the value of just to facilitate the democratization process and democratic governance as a major Participatory Democracy at local level and adds value in terms of component for development. AAIN in its can also be perceived as deepening and widening democratic CSP IV corresponds the participatory practices. The project has targeted 100 democracy as the strategic direction in a continuous popular master fellows to build their abilities to achieving the just and democratic society. movement towards perform function, solve problems and The local stakeholders presented their deepening and widening achieve objectives through linking the views on participatory democracy at local capacities works in social mobilisation level in regional PD conference in eastern democracy, rather than process. In 2013 100 master fellows from and western regions. They discussed advocating for a particular 48 districts who are performing as a front about the challenges and the line activists associated with LRP, opportunities that lay ahead in making the democratic model. projects, network and alliances are democracy visible and compatible to the obtaining different courses and modules people’s aspiration. Involvement with LGCDP-II of HRBA to development. AAIN took the lead in Social Mobilisation The papers with visions and deeper Local Accountability output of LGCDP-II OrganisationaL Processes & Changes

Sponsorship Supporter Retention PNGOs. All these have significantly Child Sponsorship is one of the major contributed in improving the quality of the funding sources of AAIN. Retention of supporter communications and we believe supporters is the key priority of the all these have helped in retaining the organisation. Therefore, AAIN took various supporters. initiatives to improve supporter communications – child sponsorship Growth Rate of Sponsorship The growth rate of the links for 2013 is 2.22 reports and child message. per cent. The reason for the growth is due to unplanned supporter transfers from AAIN conducted series of sponsorship ActionAid China and ActionAid Haiti. Not trainings for the PNGOs to strengthen their considering this transfer, AAIN would have skills on child sponsorship aiming to seen a negative growth of 3.74 per cent. improve child sponsorship reports and the AAIN plans to maintain its current link quality of child message. It also organised levels in 2014 through continuation of the an inter-LRP exposure visit for PNGOs for supporter retention initiatives and by adding cross sharing and learning best practices 1100 new links. and a pilot drawing training in one of the

REGULAR FUNDING MECHANISM AS OF LINKS

Child Sponsorship Dec 2013 10,208

Next Step (Non-child sponsorship) Dec 2013 2,660

The growth rate of the links for 2013 is 2.22 per cent. The reason for the growth is due to unplanned supporter transfers from ActionAid China and ActionAid Haiti. OrganisationaL Processes & Changes 52

ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

Programme - Led Funding Plan The workshop was organized to analyse required), within 5th of following month (PLFP) the historical to present involvement of (with very few exception) and quality PLFP was developed with the input from AAIN in different projects. This workshop assurance is done by the assigned programme directorate and other proved to be highly successful and finance focal persons. If any errors are programme colleagues. This exercise efficient. Over the course of the identified same is communicated to the allowed the fund raising team to develop workshop, it became clear that: 1) a lack partner immediately. This has resulted a deeper understnding of programme and of consolidated learning vis-à-vis project into capturing of the accurate financial programmatic needs in planning funding management has been an organisational information which again will lead to strong strfategy and priorities. The process has setback and 2) AAIN absolutely needs a financial system. also supported to develop a channel for common understanding of department enhancing the relationships with funding linkages around project management and Regular bilateral meetings with LRP affiliates, both around institutional and this fact needs to be endorsed across the partners and in case of project partners’ high value funding opportunities. Based organisation. coordinate with RCs and internal audit on our need and donor intelligence, we along with visits from CO finance resulting can devise donor engagement strategies Cost effectiveness to minimisation of finance risk. Audit in order to meet AAIN’s objectives. Good working environment and timely recommendations are ensured to be logistics support for different workshops, implemented immediately and complied Project Management Initiative meetings etc. and timely procurement of with. This has resulted into more The objective of this initiative was to the required items with cost effectiveness strengthened internal control system improve AAIN’s contract and grant and quality as well as eco friendly, or thereby minimising financial risk. management system. AAIN’s Country value for money are ensured. Following Director, senior management team the ‘go green’ campaign, AAIN staffs are AAIN annual financial update members, project management staff, more conscious to save the electricity, Actual Regular Giving Income in 2013 finance staff, and other colleagues fuel, paper and encourage the group was GBP 1.893 million, which is in line gathered and contributed to critical and travel through go green concept. with 2013 actual. There has also been a participatory deliberations around project decrease of around 12 per cent in the management practices. Financial Management actual other income (partnership) as Ensuring the timely and quality reports, all compared to the previous year. The financial reports are received from LRP overall income position of AAIN for the partners and project partners (where year 2013 is as follows:

- GBP ‘000

2012 2013 INCOME ACTUAL PLAN ACTUAL

Regular Giving Income 1,894 1,821 1,893

Other Income 1,857 1,718 1,636

Total Income 3,751 3,539 3,529 53

REFLECTIONS & LEARNING 2013

The funding Affiliate wise breakdown of the Regular Giving Income for 2013 is as follows:

REGULAR GIVING INCOME 2013 2013 COMPOSITION PLAN ACTUAL 2013

ActionAid UK 538 557 29%

ActionAid Spain 397 335 18%

ActionAid Italy 468 560 30%

ActionAid Ireland 213 207 11%

ActionAid Greece 205 234 12%

Total Cost 1,821 1,893 100%

In 2013, 32 per cent of AAIN's Regular Giving Income was obtained from unrestricted sources (Next Step & Big Step) and the remaining 68 per cent has been restricted to LRPs. Out of the five funding Affiliates, the largest funding Affiliate for Nepal in 2013 was Italy with a contribution of 30 per cent of the total income followed by the UK and Spain which contributed 29 and 18 per cent respectively.

Expenditure 4 per cent was spent on office and per cent for support costs whereas 1 per The actual expenditure of AAIN for 2013 service costs whereas 2 per cent of the cent was spent for governance. The total increased by around 5 per cent from the actual expenditure was spent on expenditure stood at 3.2 million. The year 2012. Of the total actual expenditure transportation. The statutory cost analysis comparative expenditure chart is as in 2013, 79 per cent was spent under suggests that 88 per cent of the overall follows: grant and community inputs. Salary and expenditure in 2013 was made for project benefits for the year stood at 15 per cent, costs, 5 per cent for fundraising costs, 6

NATURAL COST CLASSIFICATION 2012 2013 ACTUAL PLAN ACTUAL

Grants and Community Inputs 2,339 2,550 2,528

Salaries and Benefits (staff costs) 522 700 493

Travel and transportation 76 102 76

Office and service costs 129 170 123

Total 3,066 3,522 3,220 STATUTORY COST ANALYSIS

Project Costs 2,640 2,986 2,832

Support Costs 224 292 186

Fundraising Costs 179 215 173

Governance Costs 23 29 29

Total 3,066 3,522 3,220 54

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Information Technology (IT) Ensuring monitoring mechanisms programme from efficiency, governance, Hard disk base multisite backup system AAIN systematised the process of financial and accountability point of view has been implemented in ERC and CO quarterly performance plan and report to to ensure the partnership programme is office to ensure data availability with track the performance of programme and effectively functioning. upgraded internet speed in all locations function in line with annual plan and for smooth operation of video conference budget (APB). In AAIN’s CSP we have Programme audit is an important element and remote assistance tools like Skype, made a strong commitment to deepen to assess the effectiveness of the Team viewer etc for remote support. and show the impacts of our work more programme implemented by the explicitly on the lives of people we work organisation and develop the internal IT also involved itself in programme with (women, Dalits, highly excluded control system to identify the gap through training sessions for school indigenous people and PLiP) holding between policies and practices. In AAIN teachers on office application and other collectively accountable to delivering on context, programme monitoring and useful tools to conduct IT class in school. our strategic objectives and strengthening evaluation has always been a core Four community schools were equipped our participatory monitoring and component to see the achievements and with Desktops, Laptop, Printer, Scanner evaluation system. To be able to meet to track the impact in the PLiP with and internet service. IT designed IT this commitment to show impact, we positive transformative changes in their course for fellowship training and developed two levels of monitoring and lives. AAIN has always valued its supported to manage IT lab and IT evaluation (M&E) requirements; i) accountability towards PLiP, training throughout fellowship training. frameworks, guidelines, LRP strategies governments, supporters and donors and etc. ii) monthly management brief, other stakeholders in the process of CSP Monitoring Framework Quarterly Performance Plan (QPP), empowering PLiP. Country Strategy Paper of AAIN; Quarterly Performance Report (QPR), Equitable Actions to End Poverty – 2012 PRLM reports, event and time bound In 2013, one programme audit was to 2017 has clear milestones with based reviews and reflections, annual carried out in Rasuwa district as a piloting concrete results by end of 2017. AAIN learning documents etc. process. The process has educated and has worked on producing CSP monitoring informed us to assess the programme framework ensuring its result areas and QPP is line with our APB, which ultimately audit aiming to observe the programme focuses for all strategic objectives and is in line with our CSP. QPP will provide a from efficiency, governance, financial and organisational priorities. The process had lens to explore on our activities and give accountability point of view to ensure the been initiated in consultation with different directions to achieve desired results for partnership programme is working as departments, functions and units. the period we have committed in our anticipated to provide areas of Workshops were organised in resource APB. QPR gives us an idea whether the management or programme response. centres and Kathmandu country office to particular department or unit is able to The programme of any organisation discuss on the framework writing a draft perform desired key performance should be guided by the system and as per the inputs received. Along with indicators or not. policies to make it sustainable. Therefore, this, the Organisational Effectiveness this visit was very crucial to identify Department developed a coverage table Programme Audit strengths and weaknesses along with format to capture quantitative information. AAIN introduced programme audit as a insights for days to come regarding The content of the format focuses on the holistic approach of auditing (Social, partnership programme management. quantitative indicators identified in CSP Financial, Programme and Governance). monitoring framework. It will support us to AAIN initiated ‘programme audit’ of Ensuring effective financial get informed about the quantitative partners to develop the internal control management and strong internal achievement according to our programme system identifying the gaps between control system interventions. policies and practices. The concept of Out of 46 planned internal audits, the unit programme audit is to observe the has been able to conduct 47 audits which 55

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includes few unplanned audits as well multilateral donor communities, media In order to strengthen team spirit amongst which were in demand by other representatives. Along with this, staff and to foster team culture, a team departments and units. Regular audit has representatives from our partners and building exercise was carried out for staff supported to ensure timely flow or PLiP were also present during the at the six monthly programme reflection remittance and receipt of monthly process. It supports us to learn from our and learning meeting. Fight-back training financial report. Audit follow ups have experiences and we review our work, was conducted for all women staff to become an integral part of regular review accomplishments and reflect on them in a better equip women to tackle any form of by the programme personnel which is critical way. This process allows us to violence at public spaces. This training very important and has helped in draw lessons from our actions that build was organized as a part of AAIN’s annual maintaining financial discipline and our knowledge about power, change and women’s forum which is a platform for all accountability. Governance audit is also human rights-based advocacy. With these women to deliberate on the issues of an integral part of internal audit which insights we arrive at a position to revise gender sensitivity at workplace and to ensures good governance system and our plans and strategies. look at AAIN’s policies and practices from process in the partner organization. This women’s perspective. process has supported to strengthen the Staff Management internal control system. Celebrating The HROD department facilitated the Registration of AAIN in Nepal finance day has become a very important recruitment process and 10 positions In 2013, discussion about the most event in all partner organisations. This were filled in 2013. Leadership appropriate form of registration was taken has been introduced in 2013. This development through internal forward in consultation with relevant initiative supported to create awareness development processes was carried out government officials, stakeholders and regarding importance of financial and staff movements were implemented staff members. Following this, it was management to the non finance human accordingly. The HROD team underwent decided that AAIN will be registered as a resources. a job evaluation training after which job national NGO, and the process to be evaluation of positions was facilitated from 2014. Ensuring Organisational institutionalized as a part of the HROD Accountability system. AAIN has been promoting Social Audits at all levels within its system and among its partners not only for proving its own accountability but also as a forum for advocating transparency and accountability to improve and strengthen good governance. The objectives of social audit are to become accountable and transparent, receive critical feedback from stakeholders and create advocacy space for rights to information.

AAIN held its 10th National Social Audit in 2013. National social audit primarily targets various external stakeholders at national level i.e. representatives from concerned government line agencies, various networks, federations and alliances, other I/NGOs, bilateral and AAIN’s tenth national social audit 56

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LEARNING AND CHALLENGES

The government of Nepal has made the management through participatory services. It has been observed that many provision to give discount for making joint planning process (PPP) of Village of the cases that are filed are withdrawn land ownership certificate (male and Development Committee (VDCs) and only because of the lengthy process one female). The women joint land ownership District Development Committees (DDCs) has to go through. campaign has already started however is a major challenge over the period. For there is need of further strengthening the its effective mainstreaming, disaster
The concept of the UCW is facing campaign providing model for women’s preparedness and response plan should difficulties to grow in the community due to economic security. Dissemination of be more focused on preparedness the strong hold of the patriarchal structure. information and campaign for joint land reflecting on local development process. Therefore, proper training and orientation ownership needs to be reinforced. Such At the same time, our intervention needs of time diary and its use is crucial and issues should be regularly discussed at to enhance the understanding on disaster essential. Mechanism to recognise, REFLECT Circles and Community Based risk reduction (DRR) and climate change redistribute and reduce UCW for women is Organisations (CBOs). Lack of legal to the wider stakeholders. essential for its sustainability. Due to lack awareness with discriminative perception of ownership, government has not towards women regarding the transferring
Despite the continuous effort on mainstreamed UCW in the process of of ownership is foremost hurdle. Besides eliminating bonded labour-Haliyas are still development and has not accepted to this, mass awareness and dissemination found working to pay off their debt. It incorporate in the VDC level planning. of information on policy provisions to rural points out the existing loopholes as well However, use of tool like time dairy is women is still a challenge. as helps to direct government and policy playing an important role for sensitising and makers to provide an alternative and realising the work overloads for women.
Development of sustainable agricultural permanent rehabilitation mechanism. The models in the ground is very important as collaboration of likeminded organisations
Dowry related crime has spread rapidly the present sustainable agriculture is equally important to support the in all communities. Tendency of taking schemes and plans do not cater the need initiative of the government in this respect. and giving dowry is influencing other of small holder farmers and is just seen as communities (ethnic/indigenous technical issue completely missing out
There is a huge gap on equal wage rate communities and other castes). Efforts rights action. Specific sustainable for equal work. A strategic campaign plan have been done to reduce this social evil agricultural models are to be developed and policy analysis is required to establish but still challenge lies there given the as examples for policy advocacy and also fair and equal wage. absence of control mechanism. to advocate government for the replication of such through their plan and budget.
With the awareness of budgetary
Despite various improvements and provisions and participatory planning implementation of free education,
The replication of kitchen garden or process, submission and approval rate of challenges still prevail. The process of organic farming at larger scale, along with community proposals has increased liberal promotion has not been ensured at seed banks has technical hurdles. This whereas the budget ceiling of VDCs has school resulting into decreasing child can also indicate the potential of not increased as per the demand of the learning achievement. When youth and knowledge and training at that level. community. child club members are involved in the Budget allocated by the government is not enrollment process the campaigns are sufficient to ensure the sustainability of
The issue of Talaki (divorce) women in much effective. The village education plan agriculture. Muslim community and its social is never effective as long as the village implications have not been mainstreamed education committee does not function
Mainstreaming the disaster risk which act as hurdle to get social security well. 57

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GLIMPSES OF QUANTITATIVE ACHIEVEMENT - 2013

The table below shows the highlights of the quantitative achievements of 2013 as per four strategic objectives of AAIN's CSP IV: Equitable Actions to End Poverty.

OBJECTIVE QUANTITATIVE COVERAGE

1. To ensure improved livelihoods and build disaster
4,309 people have increased access to and control over natural resilient communities by enabling PLiP and resources (i.e. community forest, buffer zone fishing pond)

marginalised people to claim productive resources.
2,093 PLiP got joint and single land ownership certificate
2,211 land rights activists developed and mobilised in land rights movement.

7 community seed banks established
27 LDRMP developed at community level.
83 community level DM plans developed.
National Building Code implemented in Pokhara Sub-metropolitan.

2. To facilitate political advancement of PLiP and
16,840 PLiP had representation and participation in different groups, marginalised people to hold duty bearers to account, forums, committees, networks etc.

develop propositions for national development
2,786 PLiP acquired leadership position. strategies and deepen democracy.
759 Community Planning submitted to VDC out of them 489 approved

Transparency and accountability practices at local government institutions (108 Citizen Charters, 346 Social Audit, Public Audit and

Public Hearing).

8991 PLiP access to local services (Education/ health/ agriculture)
17,658 PLiP are successful to acquire social security allowance and 7523 received citizenship and voter ID. 58

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OBJECTIVE QUANTITATIVE COVERAGE

3. To engage with women and girls to build their active
6,348 women and girls sensitised on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights agency to challenge/ take action against all forms of
7,123 women and men sensitised on unpaid care work discrimination and injustice against their body,
739 VAW cases reported and 245 received justice throughout LRPs sexuality and unequal burden of work. and project areas.

2 safe houses established in Chitwan and Makwanpur, information desk & one door crisis management committee formed.

4 model community child care centres established in Parsa, Mahottari and Terhathum.

560 local women activists developed in LRP working areas.

4. To support all children attain quality education in a
65 schools use PRS framework to improve the quality of public safe and equitable environment. education in community and government schools.

24 schools’ citizen's education report (CER) developed
65 schools updated SIP
1,027 out-of–school-children enrolled.
82 freed Kamaiya children and 29 Kamlahari received scholarships through ROTA project.

5,773 basic grades students benefitted from English and computer lab.
129 schools conducted PVA and prepared DM Plan.
75 schools executed safety audit to monitor risk reduction plan.
62 schools’ infrastructure constructed to meet safe school standard and building code.

8 school buildings retrofitted and 3 earthquake resistant schools built in Pokhara.

2,070 PLiP became able to read and write their names through REFLECT Circles.

4 youth information centres established in coordination with Activista. 59

REFLECTIONS & LEARNING 2013

LOCAL RIGHTS PROGRAMME (LRP) PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

(Rasuwa) Manekor Society Nepal (MSN) LRP14 Nepal Agro forestry Foundation (NAF)

(Dolakha) Ecology Agriculture and Rural Development Society (ECARDS) LRP 15 Human Rights Awareness and Development Centre (HURADEC)

(Kapilvastu) Sahaj Nepal (SN) LRP 16 Siddhartha Social Development Centre (SSDC)

(Parsa) Arunodaya Yuba Club (AYC) LRP 17 Divya Yuba Club (DYC)

(Siraha) Dalit Jana Kalyan Yuba Club (DJKYC) LRP 18

(Dang) Society for Environment and Education Development (SEED) LRP 19 Boat for Community Development (BCD)

(Dhanusha) Dhanusha Sewa Samiti (DSS) LRP 21 Social Development Path (SODEP)

(Kaski) Siddhartha Club (SC) LRP 23 Children and Women Empowerment Society (CWES)

(Nawalparasi) Indreni Social Development Forum (ISDF) LRP 24 Majhi Musahar Bote Kalyan Sewa Samiti (MMBKSS)

(Bara) Janchetana Jagaran Abhiyan (JJA) LRP 26 Rural Development Centre (RDC)

(Morang) Madan Bhandari Memorial Academy Nepal (MBMAN) LRP 27 Nari Bikash Sangh (NBS)

(Udayapur) Nepal Social Development People Empowerment Centre (NESPEC) LRP 28 Chelibeti Club (CBC)

(Bajura) Human Resource Centre (HRC) LRP 29 Participatory Effort at Children Education and Women Initiative Nepal (Peacewin)

(Banke) Bheri Environment Excellence Group (BEE Group) LRP 30 Nepal Muslim Samaj Bikas Chetana Kendra (NMSBCK)

(Terhathum) Dalit Awareness Society (DAS) LRP 31 Deurali Society (DS)

(Kathmandu Valley) Homenet Nepal (HNN) LRP 32 Nepal Mahila Ekta Samaj (NMES)

(Bardiya) Kamaiya Mahila Jagaran Samaj (KMJS) LRP 33

(Sankuwasabha) The Society Touch (TST) LRP 34 60

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PROJECTS MANAGED BY AAIN IN 2013

PROJECTS DONOR IMPLEMENTING PARTNER PROJECT PERIOD

1. Kamaiya Housing Project AA UK Rara Human and Environmental November 2012 to Dang: Resource Development Initiative November 2013

2. Saksham Irish Community Development Project, January 2012 to Mahottari: Aid/ActionAid Dibya Yuba Club, December 2015 Parsa: Ireland Makwanpur Mahila Samuha, Makwanpur: Chitwam Sakriya Samuha, Chitwan: Mahila Adhikar Munch Kathmandu: 3. Quality Education through Disaster ROTA Forum for Awareness and September 2010 to Kailali: Resilient Schools Youth Activities, Nepal (FAYA) September 2013

4. Building Disaster Risk Resilient in DFID Siddhartha Club, Child and April 2012 to Kaski: Pokhara Sub-metropolitan Women Empowerment Society Nepal March 2014 (Consortium with Practical Action Nepal)

5. Citizens Actions for Improving Basic HPAF-OXFAM Makwanpur: Rural Women Service April 2012 to Health Care Services Centre (in technical assistance of The October 2013 Patan Academy of Health Sciences)

6. Promoting Access to and Control IGT/AAI Kamaiya Mahila Jagaran Samaj December 2011 to Banke: over Free Basic Health Services at Indreni Social Development Forum May 2013 Nawalparasi: Local Level through Citizens Rural Community Health Center Sindhupalchowk: Participation in Governance Process Dalit Jana Kalyan Yuba Club Siraha: 7. Participatory Democracy Initiative Danida Equality Development Centre, Samaj Sewa Doti Doti: AA Denmark Rastriya Dalit Network, January 2012 to Kailali: Centre for Women’s Development, Dalit Welfare December 2013 Banke: Organisation, Kalika Self-reliant Social Kapilvastu: Centre, Siddhartha Social Development Centre , Social Resource Development Centre Nepal, Palpa: Women Welfare Association, Vijaya Development Resource Centre, Nawalparasi: New Young Star Club, Bara: Apang Bikas Sangh, Muldhar Mahila S Udayapur: ewa Kendra, Feminist Dalit Organisation, Dalit Network Udayapur, Nawa Prabhat Nepal

8. Deepening Democracy DANIDA Social Resource Development Centre Nepal January 2011 to Palpa: SAHAMATI Morang: Santhal Indigenous June 2013 Nawalparasi: Upliftment Association Nepal, Underprivileged Children Association Nepal Sunsari: 9. Strengthening Women’s EC Dalit Awareness Society March 2013 to Terhathum: Deurali Society Collectives Project February 2016

10. Aid Match Project AAUK, DFID Kamaiya Mahila Jagaran Samaj August 2013 Bardiya: and Aid Indreni Social Development Forum to July 2016 Nawalparasi: Match Fund The Society Touch, Nepal Sankhuwasabha: 11. Early Childhood Development Centre Guy Foundation Community Support Group January 2013 to Kaski: October 2014

12. Fellowship to Deepening Democracy DANIDA Capacity building of Fellow January 2013 to in Communities in Nepal AA Denmark (area not specified) December 2014 AAIN in Media / AAIN Publications 2013

Disclaimers

The materials and the geographical designations in this report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ActionAid International Nepal concerning the legal status of the country, zones, districts, municipalities, village development committees or areas or concerning the delimitation of its boundaries.

Copyrights

ActionAid International Nepal (AAIN) reserves all rights of ownership (copyrights) of this document. Therefore, no part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without written permission of AAIN.

However, readers are free to make use of it for non-commercial purposes in course of development work. AAIN asks, however, that proper acknowledgements be given whenever this document is so used, and that a copy of any document produced with the assistance of original materials quoted from this document be sent to AAIN for inclusion in its Library or Documentation Centre.

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Printed in Nepal. ActionAid International Nepal ActionAid International Nepal is an anti-poverty, human rights- based organisation established in 1982. We are an associate member of the ActionAid International federation, and we aspire to become a full affiliate at the beginning of this strategy period. REFLECTIONS ActionAid International is active in over 45 countries across Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe, with international secretariat in Johannesburg, South Africa. We have worked in & LEARNING partnership with more than 100 civil society organisations, social justice movements and people's organisations in 27 districts to fight against poverty and injustice.

2013

COUNTRY OFFICE EASTERN RESOURCE WESTERN RESOURCE Apsara Marga, Lazimpat CENTRE CENTRE Ward No. 3, Kathmandu, Nepal Panchali, Ward No. 16 Belaspur, Sanchayakosh Marga P.O. Box. 6257 Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal Ward No. 16, Nepalgunj, Tel.: 977-1-4002177 Tel.: 021-470575, 471637 Banke, Nepal Fax: 977-1-4002118 Fax: 021-472635 P.O. Box: 75 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel.: 081-526298, 524245, Website: www.actionaid.org/nepal Fax: 081-522536 Email: [email protected]