New book: Economic Empowerment of Indigenous Women in Nepal

Minister for Women, Children & Senior Citizen Tham Maya Thapa launched a new book "Economic Empowerment of Indigenous Women in Nepal," published by UNDP and National Indigenous Women's Federation on Saturday.

 

This book highlights the landscape of indigenous women in Nepal and finds out key challenges and opportunities of their economic development. UNDP Nepal in partnership with National Indigenous Women's Federation carried out this research with an objective to deepen the understanding on economic status of indigenous women particularly whether they are able to exercise their rights as provisioned by the Government's plans and policies, and inform the concerned stakeholders on the effective measures to address the specific needs for economic empowerment of indigenous women.

 

Presenting a summary of the findings of the research, Indigenous women's book research team leader Dr. Krishna B Bhattachan underscored on the need to ensure indigenous peoples' ownership and control over lands, territories and resources, and reach of indigenous women in decision-making levels.

 

The book examines issues of loss of ancestral lands and restricted access to forests and natural resources, strong patriarchal divisions of labour, including land ownership norms and participation in decision making processes. It also addresses the development of eco-tourism and of production of high-value cash crops, so as to provide recommendations on how best to empower indigenous women so that they can continue to maintain, preserve and promote, their culture, traditional skills and heritage.

"Indigenous people are the wealth & economic agents to transform Nepal into a prosperous country, they should be equipped with skills/ knowledge and opportunities to learn," said Renaud Meyer, UNDP Country Director, launching the book.

The book has provided specific recommendations, including reforms in a number of laws relating to management of natural resources, to ensure economic empowerment of indigenous women.

Qatar Red Crescent, Gorkha Municipality and UNDP tie up to rebuild community infrastructure in Gorkha

The Qatar Red Crescent and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nepal today signed an agreement to rehabilitate and rebuild community infrastructure and facilities in Gorkha.

 

The Community Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement Project aims at enhancing the access of approximately 10,000 earthquake-affected people to improved community infrastructure and services. The total budget of the project is NRs 36.8 million (US$ 335,330), out of which Qatar Red Crescent will contribute NRs 16.5 million (US $150,000), UNDP NRs. 3.3 million (US $30,000) and the Gorkha Municipality and communities NRs. 17 million (US $155,370).

 

The agreement was signed by Rashid Saad Almohanadi, Director General of Relief and International Development at Qatar Red Crescent, and Renaud Meyer, UNDP Country Director in Nepal at the UN House in the presence of Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Nepal H.E. Yusuf bin Mohamed Al-Hail. Upon signing the agreement, Almohanadi said, "We are pleased to be part of this six-month collaborative project with UNDP and Gorkha Municipality and look forward to help earthquake affected communities to improve their health and disaster resilience."

 

The project includes construction of two irrigation schemes, a drinking water system, a school building, a health post and over 200 toilets and putting in place a hospital waste management system. The project is complementary to the planned interventions of the local government and coordinated by the concerned ward chairs of the Gorkha municipality.

 

"UNDP is pleased to sign this agreement with the Qatar Red Crescent. We want to see this as the beginning of a new partnership to mobilize the generosity of Qatar in helping Nepal build resilient communities and achieve progress on its broader development objectives." said UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer. "We hope we can reach other needy communities in the future with similar interventions."

 

"We would like to thank Qatar Red Crescent and UNDP for their support to the community infrastructure projects, which will be implemented with full participation, leadership and ownership of local communities. The Gorkha municipality and the local people are contributing almost half of the total budget," Rajan Raj Panta, Mayor, Gorkha Municipality. 

वाढी, पहिरो पीडितका परिवारलाई राहतका लागि सरकारसँग आग्रह

केही दिनदेखिको परेको अविरल वर्षा पछि आएको वाढी, पहिरो र डुवानको कारणले देशका विभिन्न जिल्लाहरुमा धनजनको ठूलो क्षति भएको र जनजिवन अस्तव्यस्त भएको छ । वाढी पहिरोबाट कैलाली, बाँके, सिन्धुली, रोल्पा, चितवन, पर्सा, महोत्तरी, सुनसरी लगायतका जिल्लाहरुमा डेढ दर्जन भन्दा बढी व्यक्तिको मृत्यु भइसकेको तथा ठूलो संख्यामा मानिसहरु वेपत्ता र विस्थापित हुनका साथै कैयौं व्यक्तिहरु घाइते भएका छन् । हजारौ हेक्टर खेतियोग्य जमिन डुवानमा परेको, पहिरो र डुवानका कारण सडक यातायात अवरुद्ध भएको घटनाप्रति नेपाली कांग्रेस गहिरो दुःख व्यक्त गर्दै सम्पूर्ण पीडितहरुको यो संवेदनशीलताप्रति नेपाली कांग्रेस सहानुभूति प्रकट गर्दछ ।

वाढी र पहिरोमा परि जीवन गुमाउनु भएका सम्पूर्ण दिदीबहिनी तथा दाजुभाइहरुमा नेपाली कांग्रेस भावपूर्ण श्रद्धाञ्जली अर्पण गर्दछ र उहाँहरुका शोक सन्तप्त परिवारजनहरुमा हार्दिक समवेदना प्रकट गर्दछ । साथै, घाइतेहरुको शीघ्र स्वास्थ्यलाभको कामना गर्दछ । 

प्राकृतिक विपतको यस संवेदनशील घडीमा प्रभावित नागरिकको जीवन रक्षा, उद्धार र राहतको कार्यलाई प्रभावकारी रुपमा तत्काल संचालन गर्न तथा पीडितका परिवारलाई तत्काल अति आवश्यक सामाग्रीहरु— खाद्यान्न, लत्ता कपडा, भाडाकुडा, औषधी र अस्थायी बसोबासको यथाशीघ्र उचित प्रबन्धका लागि सरकारसँग नेपाली कांग्रेस आग्रह गर्दछ । बाढी, पहिरो र डुवानका कारण क्षति भएका सडक, विद्यालय, पुलपुलेसा लगायत भौतिक पूर्वाधारहरुको यथाशीघ्र पुनर्निर्माणका लागि समेत सरकारसँग आग्रह गर्दछ । 

वाढी पहिरो प्रभावित सम्बन्धित जिल्लाका नेपाली कांग्रेस तथा भ्रातृ एवं शुभेच्छुक संस्थाका सबै निकायहरुले पार्टी, भ्रातृ एवं शुभेच्छुक संस्थाका साथीहरुलाई परिचालन गरी उद्धार, राहत र उचित बसोबासको व्यवस्था मिलाउन सहयोग पु¥याउँदै पहिरो एवं डुबानमा पर्न सक्ने थप जोखिम क्षेत्रको पहिचान गरी उक्त क्षेत्रबाट अन्य सुरक्षित स्थानमा मानिसहरुलाई स्थानान्तरण गराउने कार्यमा जुट्नका लागि नेपाली कांग्रेस निर्देश गर्दछ । 

KOICA-UNDP partnership to benefit 10,000 fruit farmers

The Government of Nepal, UNDP and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed this week an agreement to implement a project on "Valuechain development of fruit and vegetables in Nepal" aimed at raising the incomes of nearly 10,000 smallholder farmers through strengthening the value chain of fruit and vegetable production in the country. As part of the project, there will be special focus on production maximization, post-harvest technology development and rollout, and improved market linkage.

Under the agreement, KOICA will support US $5 Million and UNDP will contribute US$0.5 million respectively for  a joint initiative to be implemented in about 40 municipalities in twelve districts in Province 3 and 4, namely Dhading, Kavre, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Nawalparasi, Tanahun, Gorkha, Kaski, and Syanja until the end of 2022.

The MoU was signed by Dr.Hyungkyoo Kim, Country Director KOICA Nepal Office and Renaud Meyer, Country Director UNDP. Before that, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance: Mr. Shreekrishna Nepal, and the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperatives: Mr. Tej Subedi signed the project document with the UNDP at a function held at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu on 26 June 2018.

The valuechain development project focuses on increasing production, reducing post-harvest losses and improving the marketing system for selected fruit and vegetables. Through its efforts, cooperatives and farmers' groups will have better access to production technology, as well as improved crop production practices. Post-harvest technologies will be developed and transferred to farmers in collaboration with the Nepal Agriculture Research Council. Support to physical facilities, organizational management and access to market price information will be provided to collection centers and satellite markets to improvemarket linkages. 

Marketed volumes of fruit and vegetables are low in Nepal and farmers have limited access to agriculture technology. Post-harvest losses are high, with estimates suggesting losses between 10 and 14% for fruit and vegetables. Careless handling of crops during loading and unloading, and lack of storage facilities at collection centres are some contributing factors.In this context, this programmewill also help to establish 20 collection centres and satellite markets. The programme will help Nepal achieve the Sustainable Development Goals with a direct contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).

KOICA-funded earthquake-resilient health post building inaugurated in Nuwakot

Three years after the 2015 earthquake, the Belkot municipality finally unveiled a modern, earthquake-resistant and disabled-friendly health post with general medical services and berthing facility.

 

Honorable State Minister for Health and Population Ms. Padma Kumari Aryal, Korean Ambassador H.E Park, Young-Sik, UNDP Deputy Country Director Sophie Kemkhadze jointly inaugurated the newly build Belkot Health Post on Tuesday in Belkot, Nuwakot.

 

It is one of the 10 health posts being constructed in Nuwakot district with the funding from KOICA and UNDP's technical and operational assistance, from initial damage assessment and safe demolition, debris management to site preparation and reconstruction.

 

These health post buildings, built based on modern Korean technology, are anticipated to last for more than 30 years. These 10 health posts, once reconstructed in the next few months, will directly benefit over 28,000 people in the district.

 

The Belkot health post and all other nine health posts under construction are disabled friendly and there is a provision for birthing center. Taking into consideration the importance of safe disposable of hospital waste, all the health posts are well equipped with hospital waste management system and health post staff were trained on safe waste management.

 

On the same day, State Minister Aryal and Korean Ambassador also laid the foundation stone of Trisuli Hospital Nuwakot building being supported by the Korean government on Tuesday 24 April 2018. "There has been a significant progress in the post-earthquake reconstruction. We are thankful to our development partners who have helped us bring smiles to the faces of people through their crucial support in the reconstruction of health post and other public infrastructure," said Aryal.

 

Opening the fully furnished health post in Belkot, Korean Ambassador Park Young-sik said he is hopeful that new modern health post will make health services more accessible to the local people.

 

UNDP's Deputy Country Director said since community engagement, capacity building and livelihoods recovery were priority areas for UNDP, the health post reconstruction process also included training of local masons on safer reconstruction. "In building back these health post, more than 600 local people were provided temporary employment through cash for work scheme," said Kemkhadze. "In addition, over 80 local masons were trained on disaster resilient reconstruction, forming a pool of local capacity on recovery and reconstruction."

कोइका र युएनडीपीले निर्माण गरेको पहिलो स्वास्थ्यचौकीको स्वस्थ मन्त्रीबाट उद्घाटन

सन् २०१५ को महाभूकम्पपछि सुरु गरिएको पुनर्निर्माण कार्य अन्र्तगत संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघीय विकास कार्यक्रम(युएनडिपी)ले स्वास्थ्य तथा जनसंख्या मन्त्रालय, जिल्ला स्वास्थ्य समिति तथा स्वास्थ्य व्यवस्थापन समितिसँगको साझेदारी र गडतन्त्र कोरीया सरकारकोे सहायतामा नुवाकोट जिल्लाको बेलकोट नगरपालिकामा निर्माण गरेको स्वास्थ्य चौकीको आज उद्घाटन भएको छ । 

यो स्वास्थ्य चैकी सहीत युएनडिपीले कोरीया सरकारकोे सहायतामा नुवाकोट जिल्लामा थप ९ वटा आधुनिक, भुकम्प प्रतिरोधात्मक र अपांगमैत्री स्वास्थ्य चैकीको निर्माण गरीरहेको छ ।  यी संरचनाहरु ३० वर्षभन्दा लामो समय संचालनमा रहने र यसबाट २८ हजारभन्दा अधिक जनसंख्या प्रत्यक्ष लाभन्वित हुने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ । बालकोट नगरपालिकामा निर्माण सम्पन्न गरिएको यस भूकम्प प्रतिरोधात्मक र अपांगमैत्री स्वास्थ्यचौकीबाट स्थानीयवासीले साधारण स्वास्थ्य सेवा र प्रसुती सुविधा प्राप्त गर्नेछन् । अस्पतालको सुरक्षित फोहर व्यवस्थापनको महत्व ध्यानमा राखेर सबै अस्पतालहरु फोहर व्यवस्थापन प्रणालीद्वारा सुसज्जित हुनेछन् ।

सन् २०१६ सेप्टेम्बर १४ मा नेपाल सरकार र गणतन्त्र कोरिया सरकारबीच भएको सझौताअनुसार सञ्चालन गरिएको नुवाकोट जिल्लामा विपद्पछिको स्वास्थ्य सेवा पुनस्थापना कार्यक्रमक अन्र्तगत १० वटा स्वास्थ्य चौकी र विदुर नगरपालिकामा ५० शैयाको त्रिशुली अस्पताल कुल ८.६ मिलियन अमेरिकी डलर (रु ८६ करोड)मा निर्माण हुन लागेको हो । 

आज एक समारोहबीच नेपालका लागि कोरिएन राजदूत एच.इ. पार्क, योङ—सिक, स्वास्थ्य तथा जनसंख्या राज्यमन्त्री पद्माकुमारी अर्यालले संयुक्तरुपमा नव निर्मित वेलकोट स्वास्थ्य चौकी को उदघाटन तथा त्रीशुली अस्पतालको शिलान्यास गर्नुभयो ।

समारोहलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै राज्यमन्त्री पद्माकुमारी अर्यालले निर्माण सम्पन्न स्वास्थ चौकी तथा आजै शिलान्यास गरिएको अस्पतालको निर्माणले नुवाकोवासीलाई सुगम र गुणस्तरीय स्वास्थ सेवा उपलव्ध गराउन सहयोग गर्ने वताउनुभयो । "स्वास्थ उपचार सुलभ बनाउन आवस्यक संरचनाको निर्माण र सुधारको साथसाथै, हामिले स्वस्थ रहन र रोग बाट टाढै रहन हाम्रा खानपान, वानि व्यवहारमामा पनि सुधार ल्याउन आवस्क जनचेतना र स्वस्थ्य शिक्षामा पनि जोड दिनु आवस्यक छ" ।

समारोहलाई संक्षिप्त सम्बोधन गर्दै राजदूत एच.इ. पार्क, योङ—सिक ले कोरिया सरकारले कोइकामार्फत नुवाकोट जिल्लामा विपद्पछिको पुननिर्माण कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गरेको बताउनुभयो । उहाँले यसबाहेक पनि नेपाल सरकारलाई स्वास्थ्य, शिक्षा र कृषि क्षेत्रको साथै मानव संशाधनको क्षमता अभिवृद्धिमा सहयोग गरेको जानकारी दिनुभयो । 

युएनडिपीका राष्टिय उपनिर्देशक सोफिया केमखाजेले भूकम्प प्रभावित क्षेत्रका समुदायका लागि उत्थानशील निर्माण गर्न स्थानीय समुदायको सहभागिता, क्षमता अभिवृद्धि र जीविकोपार्जनमा सुधारमा जोड दिएको बताउनुभयो । 

सो अवसरमा कोइकाका राष्ट्रिय निर्देशक डा किम हेयुङ्यो बालकोट र विदुर नगरपालिकाका मेयर, अस्पतालका मेडिकल सुपरीटेण्डेट र त्रिशुली अस्पतालका अध्यक्षले पनि मन्तव्य व्यक्त गर्नुभयो । 

समारोहमा नुवाकोडका विभिन्न स्थानीय तहका पदाधिकारी, विभिन्न दातृ निकाय(जिएनआई, जिआइजेड)का प्रतिनिधि र स्थानीय वासिन्दाको उपस्थिति थियो ।

Ms. Chhali Maya Thami of Sorung Khola bags ³Leadership Award for Community Resilience²

24 March 2018

Kathmandu, Nepal

 

Ms. Chhali Maya Thami of the Sorung Kohla community has been conferred with the "Leadership Award for Community Resilience."

 

The award – sponsored by UNDP and the Himalayan Consensus Initiative -- is offered to a collective project that reaffirms a community's ethnic identity—in this case the 30,000-member minority Thami community in the Dolakha home district of Nepal – which is economically disenfranchised, and successfully tests and promotes a new approach to environmental resilience.

 

The award was co-presented by Renaud Meyer, Country Director of UNDP Nepal and Laurence Brahm, Founder of the Himalayan Consensus Initiative during the opening day of the 2018 Himalayan Consensus Summit on 23 March 2018.

 

The award highlights the efforts of a community to establish and manage an integrated approach to production and distribution of "cardamom," a plant that has a deep and widespread root system that maintains moisture and saves the soil. Importantly, when processed, cardamom can also become a highly profitable flavoring used today in masala and chai latte. It is therefore an agricultural product that boasts a large, growing market both in the region and globally.

 

"For UNDP it is very important to highlight the direct link between sustainable management of the environment, community empowerment and local economic development. This link needs to be supported by policies and promoted by institutions. Only when these three elements are ensured can countries achieve the SDGs and deliver on their commitment to Agenda 2030," said Meyer.

 

 "The cardamom project and the work of the Himalayan Consensus are both aligned with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and highlight in a tangible way the positive expression of community integration and empowerment," said Brahm.

 

"I am highly pleased to receive this award. This has demonstrated that there are many women in Nepal who can take the leadership roles for the greater good of their community despite the odds. I feel further encouraged to work towards building resilience of the economically backward community," said Thami upon receiving the award.

 

The award was decided by an independent jury comprising of experts from UNDP and Himalayan Consensus.