Women for Peace and Democracy (WPD) – Nepal

TRANSFORMATIONS

Transformations is a video done with WPD – Nepal by the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) in conjunction with World Accord. It highlights the partnership model that World Accord espouses and the excellent work being done by WPD in rural Nepal. 

LOCATION

7 rural communities in Central Nepal

PROGRAMS

Rights and Economic Development for Nepal’s Empowered Women (RENEW)

Funded in large part by Global Affairs Canada, RENEW (Rights and Economic Development for Nepal’s Empowered Women) is a new project for World Accord and Women for Peace and Democracy. It also includes four other Nepali organizations (Indrabhumi Saving and Credit Co-operative (IBSCC), Rural Self-reliance Development Centre (RSDC), School of Environmental Science and Management (SchEMS), and the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) and the private sector contribution from the Egg Farmers of Ontario to strengthen poultry and egg-producing operations of women and women’s groups in the program. It is a full gender equality integrated four-year project in Makwanpur and Nuwakot districts of Nepal, with a total budget of 1.475 million dollars.

We aim to enhance social and economic empowerment of women and girls, especially from Dalit and most vulnerable groups. We will achieve this ultimate outcome by bringing a human rights-based approach to economic and social growth – focusing on climate change adaptation, enhanced performance of micro/small-scale enterprises, increased access to the products and services required by these enterprises, as well as on the social empowerment of women and girls enabling them to effectively engage in their communities. This approach will strengthen their aspirations, confidence, decision-making autonomy, and leadership while also promoting a strong sense of community inclusion and sisterhood. We expect that this will result in positive choices, allowing women and girls to increase their enjoyment of their human rights. Furthermore, capacity-building by our local partners will enable them to increase women’s and girls’ participation and leadership in community decision-making while better promoting and advancing human rights and gender equality.

This project aligns with Global Affairs Canada’s commitments to FIAP, particularly through supporting efforts to reduce sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) and strengthening women’s organizations that advance women’s rights. It contributes to increasing women’s access to economic opportunities and resources. Thus, women and girls will be able to achieve the economic independence they need to take control of their lives while working to end gender discrimination by promoting and protecting human rights and building stronger institutions. Strategic and complementary partnerships equally play a key role in ensuring sustainability with the partner community organizations working alongside the national one and reinforcing each other’s capacities. We will also implement this project with other key stakeholders such as government officials from local to national levels including the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, women’s and youth organizations, leaders, etc.

Additionally, RENEW aligns well with the Sustainable Development Goals, chiefly those pertaining to gender equality (5), reducing inequality (10), inclusion (16), partnerships (17) in addition to no poverty (1), zero hunger (2), improving access to financial services and benefits (8) and climate action (13). RENEW equally contributes to advancing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women which Nepal ratified in 1981 and the Optional Protocol to the Convention which was ratified in 2007. INSEC also advocates using the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights which was ratified in 1991. Finally, this project supports the Paris Accord which “Nepal highlights as a living instrument meant for serious implementation, in tandem with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

Français

RENEW (Droits et développement économique des femmes autonomisées du Népal), financé en grande partie par Affaires Mondiales Canada, est un nouveau projet pour World Accord et son partenaire Femmes pour la Paix et la Démocratie (Women for Peace and Democracy). Il comprend également quatre autres organisations népalaises, le Centre de développement de l’autonomie rurale (RSDC), l’École de gestion et de sciences environnementales, et la coopérative d’épargne et de crédit Indrabhumi ainsi que le Centre de services du secteur informel (INSEC)). Nous comptons également sur l’appui  du secteur privé des Egg Farmers of Ontario pour renforcer la production de volaille et d’œufs des femmes et des groupes de femmes participantes. Il s’agit d’un projet qui se terminera en 2023 et sera mis en oeuvre dans les districts de Makwanpur et de Nuwakot, qui intègre l’égalité des genres et est doté d’un budget total de 1.475 million de dollars.

Nous visons à renforcer l’autonomisation sociale et économique des femmes et des filles, en particulier des Dalits et des groupes les plus vulnérables. Nous atteindrons ce résultat ultime en liant une approche fondée sur les droits de la personne à la croissance économique et sociale tout en mettant l’accent sur l’adaptation au changement climatique, l’amélioration des performances des micro / petites entreprises, l’accès accru aux produits et services requis par ces mêmes entreprises, ainsi que sur l’émancipation sociale des femmes et des filles en leur permettant de s’engager efficacement dans leurs communautés. Cette approche renforcera leurs aspirations, leur confiance en elles-mêmes, leur autonomie décisionnelle et leur leadership, tout en favorisant un fort sentiment d’inclusion communautaire et de sororité. Nous nous attendons à ce que cela aboutisse à des choix positifs pour les femmes et les filles, leur permettant ainsi de mieux jouir de leurs droits humains. En outre, le renforcement des capacités de nos partenaires locaux leur permettra d’accroître la participation et le leadership des femmes et des filles dans la prise de décisions au sein de la communauté, tout en améliorant l’avancement des droits de la personne et de l’égalité des genres.

Ce projet est conforme à la Politique d’aide internationale féministe, d’Affaires mondiales Canada, notamment en soutenant les efforts de réduction de la violence sexuelle et basée sur le genre et en renforçant les organisations de femmes défendant les droits de la femme. De plus, il contribue à accroître l’accès des femmes et des filles aux opportunités et ressources économiques. Ainsi, elles seront en mesure d’obtenir l’indépendance économique dont elles ont besoin pour prendre leur vie en main, tout en s’efforçant de mettre fin à la discrimination entre les genres, en contribuant à la promotion et protection des droits humains et en renforçant les institutions. Les partenariats stratégiques et complémentaires jouent également un rôle clé pour assurer la durabilité avec les organisations communautaires partenaires travaillant aux côtés des organisations nationales et se renforçant mutuellement. De plus, nous mettrons en œuvre ce projet en œuvre avec d’autres parties prenantes clés, telles que des responsables gouvernementaux aux niveaux local et national, notamment le Ministère de la condition féminine, de la jeunesse et de la protection sociale, des organisations de femmes et de jeunes, des dirigeants, etc.

Par ailleurs, RENEW s’aligne sur les Objectifs de Développement Durable, notamment ceux concernant l’égalité entre genres (5), la réduction des inégalités (10), l’inclusion (16), les partenariats (17), l’absence de pauvreté (1), la faim zéro (2), l’amélioration de l’accès aux services et avantages financiers (8) et les mesures relatives à la lutte contre le changement climatique (13). RENEW contribue également à faire progresser la Convention sur l’élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination à l’égard des femmes que le Népal a ratifiée en 1981 et le Protocole facultatif à la Convention ratifié en 2007. INSEC préconise aussi l’application du Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels qui a été ratifié en 1991. Enfin, ce projet soutient l’accord de Paris qui pour «le Népal est un instrument vivant destiné à être appliqué sérieusement, parallèlement au Programme de développement durable à l’horizon 2030».

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Socio-Economic Empowerment Program for Women & Marginalized Populations (SEWAM)

The SEWAM program supports agricultural production and micro-enterprise-based income generation through rural groups. Since the start of the project, WPD-Nepal has provided training in income generation, micro-credit, and support to strengthen Mutual Development Organizations. These local groups serve as sources for rotating credit, mutual support, and collective action for income generation and community development. They also coordinate advocacy with local governments and other service providers through which groups can also access land and services.

WPD- Nepal’s RENEW partners in Nepal

http://schems.edu.np/

Links

Canada announces support to small and medium organizations for innovative projects as part of the Feminist International Assistance Policy

2017 Call for Preliminary Proposals – Development Impact Window – Canadian Small and Medium Organizations for Impact and Innovation – Selected Projects

NEPAL

Nepal has a population of 31 million. About half of them live below the international poverty line ($1.25/day). Along with Afghanistan, Nepal is the poorest country in South Asia. Its GDP per capita places Nepal 209th in the world. The country has an unemployment rate of 25% of employment leading to high pressure to migrate.

Nepal’s adult literacy rate is around 55%, and 40% of the country’s income comes from agriculture. Nepal is one of the countries most intensely affected by climate change and glacier melts. Nepalese society is still healing and in transition following a 10-year civil war that destroyed infrastructure & caused deep social rifts.

Successive post-war governments continue to work on drafting a new constitution and re-integrate ex-combatants. Nepal is a crossroads where many cultures and religions in Asia meet; including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Nepal is a very ecologically diverse country with ecosystems that range from the highest mountains in the world to fertile plains and lush forest valleys.

Region of Work

Seventy-five percent of program participants are involved in subsistence agriculture (paddy and vegetable farming; raising small animals). About ¾ of participants lack enough food for up to 6 months of the year. The nature of the terrain (soil fertility, slopes, etc.), availability of water, and farming techniques used are the major constraints responsible for low productivity. In most of these cases, off-season vegetable farming has the potential to provide a more reliable diet and income. This is a focus of training. High levels of illiteracy (92% for women, 65% for men) persist.

Most participants in WPD programming are born into lower caste or ethnic minority groups and experience systemic discrimination that limits their access to education and economic opportunities.

 NepalCanada
Population30.4 Million35.1 million
Size147,181 km29.9 million km2
Ranking- Human Development Index#157 in the world#11 in the world
Life Expectancy#165 in the world#13 in the world
Population below the Poverty Line25%9.4%
Carbon Footprint per person#204 in the world#14 in the world
Employment in Agriculture75%2%
Internet Users0.1%82%
Women in Parliament33.2%25%
Cost of Basic Needs Basket for a Family of 4 $2,300
Average Monthly Minimum Wage$72.75$1,690
GDP Per Capita#209 in world#27 in world

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