SAJHEDARI BIKAAS PROGRAM Quarterly Conflict Assessment (November 2013) Produced by Pact (Contract No: AID-367-C-13-00003) Program Areas/Program Elements: A06/A025, A08/A036, A06/A026, A08/A025, A08/A036, A18/A074 Submitted to THE DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE OFFICE THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) NEPAL MISSION Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal Submitted to USAID November, 2013 Contracting Officer Represenative Meghan T. Nalbo Submitted to the DEC by Nick Langton, Chief of Party, Sajhedari Bikaas Program PACT Inc. Nepal Sushma Niwas, Sallaghari, Bansbari, House No 589 Budhanilkantha Sadad, Kathmandu, Ward No 3 Post Box No. 24200, Kathmandu, Nepal This report was produced and converted to pdf format using Microsoft Word 2010. The images included in the report are jpg files. The language of the document is English. Sajhedari Bikaas Project Partnership for Local Development Quarterly Conflict Assessment (November 2013) An initial perception assessment of conflicts, tensions and insecurity in Sajhedari Bikaas project districts in Nepal’s Far West and Mid-West regions. Sajhedari Bikaas Project Partnership for Local Development Quarterly Conflict Assessment A initial perception assessment of conflicts, tensions and insecurity in Sajhedari Bikaas project districts in Nepal’s Far West and Mid-West regions (November 2013) Prepared by Saferworld for the Sajhedari Bikaas Project (Under Contract no. AID-367-C-13-00003) This study/assessment is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Saferworld and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Introduction Sajhedari Bikaas Project is a USAID-funded 5-year project aimed at empowering communities to direct their own development. The project is carried out in six districts of Mid-West and Far-West districts, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali and Kanchanpur. Existing and emerging conflicts are or have the potential to become obstacles to community development, inclusive and accountable decision-making and improved governance. To ensure that the Sajhedari Bikaas project is based on sound analysis of the context and understanding of the conflict environment, and to enable it to spot and react to changes in the context, a series of conflict assessments will be carried out during the first half of the project. This report summarizes key findings from the first in a series of conflict assessments that was carried out by Saferworld in September 2013 for the Sajhedari Bikaas project. The conflict assessments are carried out quarterly in six districts of Nepal: Kailali and Kanchanpur (Far West); and Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet and Dang (Mid-West). Rather than providing a full analysis of the conflict situation in the districts every time, they focus on changes that have occurred since the last assessment was carried out [in this case, since February 2013 when the Rapid Conflict Assessment (RCA) was carried out] and are intended to provide an understanding of developments and trends over time. Where issues highlighted by respondents are relevant to better understand the general situation and longer-term developments in the target districts, these have been mentioned. For this first assessment, 60 key informant interviews (KIIs) were carried out with representatives from the administration, security and justice service providers, civil society, and others well placed to comment on conflict and security dynamics. 12 group discussions (GDs) were also held with representatives from local communities and youth, mainly at the district and regional level (see Annex 1, Methodology). As the findings are based on qualitative research, they reflect the perceptions and opinions of those consulted; many of the findings would benefit from more in-depth analysis, as the assessment was only able to touch upon them rather than exploring these issues in detail. Field research took place on 11–19 September 2013; this was a period when preparations for and debates around the elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA) planned for 19 November 2013 were ongoing, but before the security situation deteriorated as a result of (partly violent) attempts to intimidate party candidates and/or to disrupt elections. Sajhedari Bikaas Project (ref: AID-367-C-13-00003) Quarterly Conflict Assessment Report 3 An executive summary at the start of the report outlines key findings from the districts, highlighting the main commonalities and differences between the locations researched. This is followed by district-specific chapters that cover key issues and developments, focusing on the last six months. The report concludes with some recommendations for Pact on key issues and priorities to consider in the upcoming project phases. A list of acronyms can be found at the end of the draft report. The methodology, final versions of tools and guiding questions used can be found in the annexes. Sajhedari Bikaas Project (ref: AID-367-C-13-00003) Quarterly Conflict Assessment Report 4 Table of Contents Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Executive summary ......................................................................................................................... 7 Key findings ......................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Districts Assessment..................................................................................................................... 10 Kanchanpur ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Kailali ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Bardiya .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Banke ................................................................................................................................................ 25 Surkhet .............................................................................................................................................. 29 Dang .................................................................................................................................................. 33 3. Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 36 Annex 1: Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 40 Annex 2: Guiding questions for Sajhedari Bikaas conflict assessment ........................................... 44 Sajhedari Bikaas Project (ref: AID-367-C-13-00003) Quarterly Conflict Assessment Report 5 Abbreviations CA Constituent Assembly CPN-M Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist CPN-UML Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist-Leninist DDC District Development Committee GD Group Discussion KII Key Informant Interview JTMM Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha NC Nepali Congress RCA Rapid Conflict Assessment SGBV Sexual and Gender-based Violence SP Superintendent of Police UCPN(M) Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) UFW Undivided Far West VDC Village Development Committee WCO Women and Children Officer YCL Young Communist League Sajhedari Bikaas Project (ref: AID-367-C-13-00003) Quarterly Conflict Assessment Report 6 1. Executive summary Major developments in the six districts covered by this assessment in the period since the Rapid Conflict Assessment (RCA) was carried out in February 2013 have centered on the elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA) scheduled for 19 November 2013. Apart from the emergence of political issues relating to the elections, the situation in these districts remained largely unchanged over the last six months. Key findings Political tensions, conflicts and/or violence At the time of data collection, tensions related to preparations for the CA elections existed mainly between political parties or within the parties themselves, and did not involve the general public in the districts. Few incidents of violence and intimidation had taken place, but many respondents expressed concerns that violence could increase as the elections approach. The risk of violence was especially highlighted by respondents from the Far West (Kailali and Kanchanpur districts) and youth. Most respondents wanted to vote in the elections, but also said that the security situation would determine whether or not they go to the polls. There is a high level of frustration with political parties among respondents, and expectations that any positive changes will occur after elections are low. People are expected to vote along identity lines much more than in the past; this is a result of the polarization that followed the 2012 conflicts and tensions over the federal model for Nepal, as well as widespread disappointment with parties' promises on other issues. As well as highlighting the role of security providers, including the Nepal Police, many respondents said that it was crucial for political parties and their leaders to speak out clearly against violence in order to ensure that elections take