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USAID/Nepal’s economic growth programming strengthens the role of women
in agricultural market development and natural resources
management. Sound resource management is central to the Mission’s goal of
reducing poverty and generating employment for Nepal's rural
citizens, who make up 80 percent of the population. Activities
in this area also include promoting government and private
sector capacities to assess the environmental and social impacts of hydropower
projects, which are critical to sustaining the country's long term development.
Smallholder Irrigation Market Initiative
Strengthened Actions for Governance in Utilization of Natural Resources Program (SAGUN)
Sustainable Incomes for Women in Gulmi and Argakhanchi
Women in Hydropower Development
Smallholder Irrigation Market Initiative
This USAID-supported initiative encourages women’s participation in the production,
harvesting, and marketing of crops. Female-led households and female household
members benefit from increased income, reduced labor requirements, and improvements
in family nutrition. The Initiative focuses on ensuring women’s participation
in all project activities, beginning with special emphasis on defining problems
and constraints faced by women farmers and entrepreneurs. It trains women in
value-added production, post-harvest handling and agro-processing techniques,
and in developing sustainable rural institutions. Promotional and awareness-raising
campaigns target women specifically, and special efforts are made to identify
and link women’s groups to credit sources to overcome the financial constraints
faced by female headed households.
A related project, Business Development Services for Nepalese High Value Commodities and Non-Timber Forest Products, increases the participation of women in six targeted districts and involves community members, 50 percent of whom are women, in increasing annual household incomes. Women are involved in all stages of production, from collection to marketing of non-timber forest products.
Strengthened Actions for Governance in Utilization of Natural Resources Program (SAGUN)
This USAID-supported program addresses gender and social inclusion concerns in
the area of natural resource management. Under the forestry component of the
program, emphasis is placed on increased participation and decision making of
women, dalits (once known as "untouchables”), and the poor in community
forestry management, particularly at the executive level. Other capacity building
elements of the program include non-formal education rights-based workshops and
training in leadership, kitchen gardening, and income-generating activities.
As a result of these activities, the representation of women in community forest
group executive committees increased by five percent, and representation of the
poor increased by seven percent. This increased participation means that the
concerns of women, dalits, and the poor are now being addressed in group meetings
and at the general assembly. In turn, this has led to a reduction in caste discrimination
and an increase in women’s leadership of community forest groups. Gender workshops
also have empowered women to accept their new roles as community change agents.
The irrigation component of this program also encourages the participation of
women and poor farmers/small-landholders in water user associations, particularly
in leadership positions. Experience indicates that irrigation canals are better
maintained and operated when women hold key management positions. As a result,
women groups have been formed in key areas to conduct awareness raising campaigns
to support the enthusiasm and commitment that women farmers have demonstrated
in becoming members of—and candidates for—key positions in the water user association
elections. Campaigns conducted over the duration of the program, which began
in 2002, have also brought about a significant increase in women’s participation
in these water user associations. After holding key positions in Main Canal
Committees, as well as in Branch Canal Committees, women members have become
active participants in the decision making processes of their water user associations,
influencing the process to become more equitable and to result in decisions
that are more favorable to women and dalits. Income generating activities also
are supported by water user associations in some program sites.
Sustainable Incomes for Women in Gulmi and Argakhanchi
USAID is supporting this three-year activity to create income earning opportunities
for women in the underserved districts of Gulmi and Argakhanchi. The activity
builds the capacity of microfinance organizations to increase women’s access
to credit and increases local government capacity to ensure the inclusion of
women in decision-making processes and the implementation of program activities.
The activity also provides women with literacy and numeric skills training, along
with training in the skills necessary to form and successfully manage savings
and credit groups and generally improve their livelihoods. This training empowers
the women to participate in other social and political spheres that shape their
lives, thereby addressing some of the gender dimensions of the conflict currently
affecting the country. With increased incomes, women and their families will
be less likely join the insurgency and will be better equipped to manage additional
economic burdens created by the conflict. Additional activities include technical
training for livelihood development, assistance in designing livelihood strategies,
facilitation of meetings with district microfinance stakeholders, and the establishment
of a revolving funds network. As of 2005, 2,433 women have received literacy
and numeric training, 3,475 women have initiated or expanded their livelihood
activities, and 201 women’s saving and credit groups have been formed, with 5,560
women actively saving in them.
Women in Hydropower Development
The hydropower project of USAID/Nepal ensures that hydropower development in Nepal applies principles of gender equity. Therefore, women’s knowledge of local ecological and social conditions is taken into consideration and incorporated into the program planning phase. Gender participation is monitored by indicators and results that measure women’s participation in training programs, workshops, and public hearings. The Mission has developed a draft manual recommending methods for integrating gender into Environment Impact Assessments and for increasing women’s involvement and participation in hydropower benefit sharing.
Nepal's Program Objectives
Health
Economic Growth
Democracy & Governance
Trafficking
SELECTED ACTIVITIES:
Safe Motherhood Newsletter
Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) Program
Community of Love and Affection (SNEHA Samaj)
Girls’ Access to Education (GATE) Program
Smallholder Irrigation Market Initiative
Strengthened Actions for Governance in Utilization of Natural Resources Program (SAGUN)
Sustainable Incomes for Women in Gulmi and Argakhanchi
Women in Hydropower Development
Increasing Women’s Political Participation
Strengthening the Role of Civil Society and Women in Democracy and Governance (SAMARPAN)
Rule of Law and Respect of Human Rights Program
Trafficking Prevention and Gainful Employment
Visit USAID/Nepal link
to the Mission
Global Snapshot: Nepal
Homepage
Global Snapshots is a web-based series highlighting
successful gender-related activities undertaken by
USAID Missions around the world. The snapshots illustrate
Mission objectives and activities that take gender
considerations into their implementation.
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Child Marriage
