Quarterly Newsletter from Japan International JICA Nepal Office Cooperation Agency October to December 2011 | VOLUME 63 FROM THE FIELD Engendering development - Santosh Chhetri Dil Maya BK was confined to kitchen and heard. But when household chores until three years ago. the GeMSIP came Like other Dalit women, she had no idea on to our VDC, we are her role in the community and information slowly learning how to access state services. Under compulsion to voice our concerns to stick to the traditional roles of women, and problems. Amid the 38-year-old woman from a socially loads of household excluded group was totally oblivious of the works, we have term ‘gender’. been sparing time to actively involve in Konwar Laxmi Photo: FOR SOCIAL EQUALITY: Mainstreaming issues of gender and Her neighbor, Motikala BK, found herself the social activities,” excluded groups through the Gender Mainstreaming and Social engrossed in daily household works for says Debaka BK, also Inclusion Project (GeMSIP), a technical cooperation project of JICA. years without knowing that inequality based a native of Jagtradevi, on gender roles hinders equity based social which is one of the VDC among Phedikhola Even women from other communities have and economic development of her village. and Archale VDCs of Syangja district where realized the importance of the inclusion of Like Dil Maya, she is also a Dalit woman Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Dalit women. “Brahmin women are also of Jagtradevi VDC-2 in Syangja district, Project (GeMSIP), a technical cooperation supporting to increase the number of Dalit who had experienced greater challenges in project of the Government of Nepal (GoN) women in different local groups like Aama accessing rights, benefits and opportunities and the Japan International co-operation Samuha, Women’s cooperative, and User provided by the state for the upliftment of the Agency (JICA), is being implemented. Groups,” says Dil Maya, who is also a disadvantaged communities like theirs. In member of VDC IPC (Integrated Planning their village, neither govt service providers Launched in February 2009 mainly in Committee) of Jagtradevi VDC. The VDC nor they themselves were aware of the fact selected VDCs of Syangja and Morang level IPCs are formed in an inclusive that they were an important agent of change districts, GeMSIP is trying to integrate manner ensuring representation of people until some years ago. However, the scenario gender and social inclusion issues making from socially disadvantaged groups like is gradually improved now with their the whole VDC level development process women, single women, PWDs (People with participation in every activity from ward gender responsive and socially inclusive. Disabilities), Dalit, Adibasi/Janajati, Other level planning to the evaluation process. Debaka BK is among those women who Backward Communities (OBC), children as They have gone beyond their domain of are appreciative to GeMSIP for visible well as NGOs and local political parties in kitchen from the traditional stereotypes of changes their community has seen. the targeted areas. ...contd on Page 2 women from passive to change makers. “Because of the GeMSIP we came to know Today, women here have made significant that there should be gender equality in strides with anchoring role, breaking all the VDC level activities. In our village, INSIDE through the traditional norms and coming we hadn’t seen any significant progress n JICA Award for Shrestha Page 2 forward to participate in the development even after the government ensured 33 n NPPR Page 3 activities outside their homestead. percent representation of women in every n News in Brief Page 4-5 state organ. Now, after implementation of n A memorable trip Page 6 “Earlier, we didn’t get any chance to lead GeMSIP, we have started executing this n JICA Press Tour Page 7 or represent any development committees. policy into action by ensuring women’s n From the horse’s mouth Page 8 Our voices and opinions were never representation in all local level committees.” Similar are the changes at Phedikhola, a coming out of a low-profile status, has earned the GeMSIP in line with the MoLD policy northern VDC of Syangja dominated by reputation as a woman leader. “I used to have proved to be effective to materialize Janajatis. “Earlier, it was seen that most spend most of my time inside home, but GESI integration in the development of the rural women were not confident now I can voice for women’s representation process, he adds. enough to express themselves in the group and inclusion in every activity. I did so in the meetings. Most of the members were shy recently held Ward meeting too,” she says. Another government official is encouraged and unable to speak up and participate in Through the Ward level planning meetings to see representation of disadvantaged local activities. But now most of them can local communities are identifying their needs groups in ward and VDC level planning express their needs and are calling for equal and problems and also equipping themselves process. This project has developed a opportunities in participation and decision with skills to submit GESI responsive feeling among the excluded groups that making process,” says Maina Gurung of proposals to the VDC. they are exercising inclusive democracy, Phedikhola-2. says Thanapati Neupane, Member Secretary The increasing level of awareness among of GESI IC Syangja and Program Officer After GeMSIP started its activities here, an rural women has helped in speeding up of DDC Syangja. “Realizing the positive inclusive IPC was formed in accordance with development activities, says Syangja LDO impacts of the GeMSIP at the grassroots level, the GoN’s existing policy and guidelines Rammani Bhattarai. He is hopeful that the the DDC Syangja has started expanding on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion project will be expanded to more VDCs. GeMSIP model in 15 LGCDP’s program (GESI) that calls for inclusion of women, “GeMSIP’s process oriented participatory VDCs.” Neupane feels that GeMSIP children, Dalit, PWDs and excluded groups approach ensuring people’s participation, has strengthened the VDCs’ capacity to to ensure their meaningful participation ownership, and good governance, ensure equal and inclusive participation in in the planning process of VDC, said says transparency and accountability is making planning, implementation and monitoring VDC Secretary Shreeram Acharya. a lot of difference at the local level.” GESI of VDCs level activities and services. IC (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion At Archale VDC, also in Syangja where the Implementing Committee), IPCs and Ward (Mr Chhetri is Public Relations Officer of project is picking up pace, Maya Darmali, Citizens Committees established under JICA Nepal) JICA Award for Shrestha Chairman of JICA Alumni Association in community Forum of SAARC Countries Chandi Prasad development by Shrestha became the first Nepali national using the network to receive the JICA Recognition Award of JICA Alumni for making noteworthy contribution Association of to the community development and Nepal (JAAN) and conservation of forest and watershed, as also for promoting well as for promoting JICA’s activities in JICA’s activities in the SAARC member countries. On October Nepal,” he said, 21, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal expressing hope Chhetri Santosh Photo: Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Office Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki hands office Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki handed over that Shrestha will over the certificate of JICA Recognition Award to Chandi Prasad Shrestha. the award to Shrestha, who is the former work more actively Home Secretary. Shrestha is among 21 for the economic and social development Shrestha has contributed to JICA projects persons and four organizations from all in Nepal. since he was the Secretary of Ministry of over the world selected for this award. Forest and Soil Conservation. He was the After receiving the award, Shrestha, President of JICA Alumni Association of “In recognition of your many years of thanked JICA for honoring him with Nepal (JAAN) for two terms between 2004 cooperation with the work of Japan this award. “This is indeed a recognition and 2010. He has utilized the JAAN network International Cooperation Agency and for a team work; a recognition for the for community development. your deep understanding of the promotion transformation of an organization in a of international cooperation, I am pleased to dedicated social mobilizing institution; a Tadashi Fujiwara, Charge d’ Affaires at the present to you this certificate of appreciation recognition to address the human needs; a Embassy of Japan, praised Shrestha for his as an expression of our sincere gratitude to recognition for cultivation of collaborative constant support and collaboration in the you,” reads the award certificate signed by approach; and a recognition for harnessing implementation of JICA projects. President of JICA Sadako Ogata. trust and mutual understanding among the people of Japan, Nepal and SAARC Similarly, JAAN President Dr. Dilli R. Shakya JICA Nepal Chief Kawasaki also countries,” he said. “The award has expressed his happiness for the recognition congratulated Shrestha for wining this energized us to work more with synergies of his association’s community development award. “I appreciate his involvement for the better tomorrow of all.” activities. 2 A constructive dialogue for development effectiveness - Ram Bhandari NEPAL PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE REVIEW Photo: Santosh Chhetri Santosh