Government of Nepal

Ministry of Finance

AID MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR NEPAL

DCA Nepal focuses its activities in the State # 5, 6 & 7 (Previous: Mid-Western and Far-Western region) of the country as per its country’s strategy. Similarly, after the earthquake in 2015, DCA is also working in seven earthquake affected districts which will be continued through this project too. The poorest and most affected populations are concentrated in these districts of Nepal. Small holder farmers, landless and land poor, migrants/returnees, minor ethnic groups or castes such as Dalit, Indigenous/Janajati, and communities living along the river banks (Majhi and Bote) are among the vulnerable and marginalised communities. Women are more disproportionately affected in food security and economic empowerment because of their gender role in household level. Despite their extensive role in agriculture production, they lack access and control over productive resources like land. This has not only increased the workload of the women but they have become more vulnerable for social security and protection issues. There is also significant trend of youths out-migrating to urban areas or India for employment.

Several researchers have concluded that food security and livelihood issues are more severe in the province 5,6 and 7 of Nepal. Many small farmers with marginal land has no access to irrigation services, while the impact of Climate Change has been seen in the depletion of water resources and hence the decline in the productivity of both winter and summer crops. There are challenges in the infrastructure development owing to Nepal’s difficult topography and socio-cultural practices. Financial institutions and markets are more centric to city/urban areas, which affects investment in the rural areas. Land issue is also one of the major challenges for these regions; tenure insecurity, under customary land, lack of integrated land use policy and underdeveloped land information systems. In addition, social discriminatory norms, harmful tradition (e.g. Badi, Chaupadi, Kamlari and Deuki) and malpractices such s hild marriages, polygamy, dowry system and witchcraft are still exist. Women’s role in decision making and leadership is near to negligible in these provinces.

DCA supports for the capacity development and leadership of women, Dalits and marginalised community for their active participation and representation in decision making flora from the municipal to the national level. DCA also empowers women groups to participate and collaborate with local government in elimination of caste and gender-based discrimination as well as other social ill practices that has been restricting women to participate in social and economic activities.

Nepal ranks 145th with a score of 0.54 in Human Development Index (HDI) and poverty, illiteracy, health problems and migration are the major problems in DCA’s focused provinces.  Food poverty is the highest in Far-West region (parts of province 6 and 7) with 39% while the non-food poverty is highest in Mid-West region (parts of procince 5 and 6) with 45.5%. The major causes of food security in these regions are lack of access to roads, irrigation, technology, markets and information, frequent occurrence of natural calamities, rise in food price, and decrease in sale of high value products.

Accordingly, DCA works with smallholder farmers through market based strategic interventions like improving production through sustainable farming practices, commercialisation, enterprise development, capacity building and technology transfer, strengthening local institutions, and infrastructure development such as collection centres and agro-based processing plants.. Community awareness and collaboration with government to improve services and resources will be strengthened.

Due to the food crisis, out migration of youth (men and women) for labour to urban areas and aboard (India and other countries) is a common coping strategy of communities to address food security situation in these areas. have been practiced for generations. This has led to the “Feminisation of Agriculture” where women play a major role in the agriculture production. This has not only increased the workload of the women but they have become more vulnerable for social security and protection issues. Nepal ranks 115th (0.497) in the 2016 Gender Inequality Index (GII) which signifies that there is large disparity between men and women to achieve reproductive health, empowerment and labour market. The Mid and Far-Western region of Nepal can still find discriminatory norms, harmful tradition (e.g. Badi, Chaupadi, Kamlari and Deuki) and malpractices like child marriages, polygamy, dowry system and witchcraft. Women, Dalits and marginalised communities’ role in decision making and leadership is near to negligible in these regions, thus they are excluded from any democratic processes

The diverse geography, climatic conditions, rugged & steep topography and extreme weather events places Nepal at the 20th  position in the most disaster-prone countries in the world. It is also at 11th for the country most at risk in earthquakes and 30th  at risk to floods and landslides. DCA supports policy advocacy through civil society organisations for a comprehensive disaster management act and policy, collaborate with government agencies to roll out Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). Nepal ranks 4th  in terms of Climate Change vulnerability, and erratic rainfall and temperature have increased the risk of both natural as well as man-made disasters in the country. DCA incorporated Climate Change mitigation and awareness programmes along the DRR programmes to build a resilient society.

1.1.1Interaction, meetings, workshop, and dialogue between CSOs, communities and local government on food/nutrition security schemes, financial services , insurance schemes and technologies including market services1.1.2Support to organize special day’s celebrations, and mass meeting in collaboration with local government related to food security, Rights to Food, food sovereignty  1.1.3Agriculture inputs support to poor and vulnerable households ( seed, fertilizer, bio-pesticides)  1.1.4Construction of multiple Use Water Systems (MUS) and water source protection 1.1.5Orientation and training to leader farmers, cooperative members, communities on government policies, programme and provisions related to agriculture, micro-enterprise development and youth employment    1.1.6Support to disseminate best practices and technologies related to land management, agriculture development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, food security and natural resources issues among government, policy makers, parliamentary and other stakeholder  1.1.7Develop LDCRP in working Wards/Municipalities in collaboration with local government  1.1.8Study and research on indigenous crops, climate friendly technologies, climate change adaptation, high value crops and market jointly with university, LI-BIRD  and government research institutions  1.1.9Technical training to local disaster management committees and networks on disaster preparedness and response (EWS, FA, CBSAR, assessment and safety planning) 

1.2.1Technical training to farming communities and leader farmers in diversifying livelihood options, climate change, value chain products in collaboration with thematic unit of local government 1.2.2Interaction between market management committee/cooperatives and market actors (wholesaler, private sectors) to promote agro-based micro-enterprises and market system 1.2.3Material support to establish farm/off farm based micro-enterprise (poly house, drip irrigation, mulching carpet, nets, bee keeping, mushroom farming etc)1.2.4Gender friendly basic tools and equipment support (corn shellar, water can, mini tiller, thresher,  harvester etc) 1.2.5Local human resource (youth and migrant returnees) developed on VAHW, EDF, CFT, JTA, Insurance Agent etc through vocational training  1.2.6Demonstration established in zero tillage practices, indigenous crops (tharu alu, beans, garlic) and river bed farming 1.2.7Material and equipment support to cooperatives (furniture, computer, stationary, mobile) in collaboration with local government   1.2.8Material and equipment support to agri-products collection ceners (mobile, weighing machine, carat, information board, furniture, stationaries and building construction) in collaboration with local government   1.2.9Material and equipment support to establish seed bank, ware house, grain bank (bamboo, racks, building construction, utensil, furniture, stationary) in collaboration with local government  

2.1.1Formed and Strengthen Group and network  2.1.2Community awareness on existing policies, legislations, programme and other social and economic issues/provisions 2.1.3Capacity building training and workshop to communities on organizational management, social mobilization, strategy development, programme planning,   gender and Social Inclusion (GESI), social audit, etc 2.1.4Materials and equipment support to establish  community level information center (computer, furniture etc)2.1.5Information dissemination initiative on GBV, discrimination, social security schemes, etc 2.1.6Stakeholders Dialogue/Chalfal Chautari 

2.2.1Collaborative initiatives with local government in line with government programme and plans 2.2.2Conduct action research on good governance & social security scheme Jointly with University 2.2.3Interaction, meeting, workshops and dialogue  between communities, CSOs, local government and other stakeholders on local development issues and potential solation measures2.2.4Support for community mobilization including  HRDs and their institutional development 2.2.5Jointly work in policy analysis and programme development with CSOs and government related to human rights  issues 2.2.6Training on case documentation and process to justice 2.2.7Technical support to CSOs and local user’s groups/committees to develop their programme and strategies 

3.1.1Material and equipment support to establish emergency response systems and mechanism at organizational level 3.1.2Develop Nepali version of SFDRR document and disseminate at national and local levels in collaboration with government  3.1.3Support partner and network to participate at regional and global platforms  3.1.4Orientation on national and international policies, framework, standards and guidelines on Humanitarian Response  to groups, networks and other stakeholders3.1.5Disseminate information related to new DRR&M Act, Policy and Strategic Action Plan at Province and local level in collaboration with government 3.1.6Collaborative initiatives with local government to strengthen DRM and emergency response capacity   3.1.7Ttools and equipment to Municipality Emergency Operation Centers (MEOCs)  - computer, furnitures3.1.8 Material and equipment support to establish DRR and Climate Change Adaptation Learning Centre in collaboration with local government 

3.2.1Capacity building training to  networks (ACT Nepal Forum, DPNet, AIN, CNDRC, DDRC), cluster members and other humanitarian organisation representatives  on immediate and  lifesaving assistance,  early/long term recovery, and care and maintenance, CHS, Cash Transfer, and MEAL 3.2.2Exchange and sharing workshops, interactions and dialogue on disaster management

Outcome 1.1: People’s organisation and CSOs have increased capacity and documented evidence to effectively influence local and national duty-bearers for increased access to rights and entitlements related to food security, responsible business, climate change, natural resources and DRR.

Outcome 2.1: Individuals, role models and communities have increased skills and knowledge, and are linked to strong networks and alliances at different levels to reduce caste-based/gender discrimination, and to monitor and enhance their access to resources, services and justice. Outcome 3.1: DCA and partners have increased advocacy capacity and have contributed to the development and implementation of Humanitarian response/DRR policies, strategies, guidelines and frameworks  

Overall Objective:

Most marginalised and vulnerable communities and their organisations in our partner intervention areas are empowered, resilient and protected to improve their access to public and private sector services and resources and participate in decision making processes.

Specific objectives 

1. Poor and vulnerable right holders, especially small scale farmers, landless, ethnic minorities, migrants/returnees have increase resilience, diversified livelihoods and manage disaster and climate risks
2. Women, Dalits, returning migrants/families, w/human rights defenders and other marginalised groups have improved  access to state and non-state resources and services, have increased their representation and influence in decision making fora, face less discrimination and have enhanced their access to justice
3. Communities are resilient and have enhanced capacity to cope with disaster, respond effectively and save lives and properties