Nepal
In Nepal, Oxfam’s focus is on gender and minority rights, public health, livelihoods and disaster preparedness.
Reaching remote communities
The mid and far western regions of Nepal are the poorest and most disadvantaged in the country. Relative to other regions, residents of these areas have a lower life expectancy and suffer more from preventable illnesses.
How Oxfam is helping
Our public health programme in western Nepal includes providing safe water supplies and latrines, and promoting good hygiene practices in remote rural communities.
At Siddhartha Primary School in Kunthari, Oxfam has built toilets and funded public health classes for pupils at the school.
The best thing I've learnt in public health class is about cutting nails, brushing teeth, and washing clothes and washing feet. We also teach our mothers and parents what we've learnt at school. 
Sushmita BK, pupil at Siddhartha Primary School
Learn more
Read more examples of our work in Nepal:
Oxfam's work in Nepal in depth
ECHO (Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission) is a funding partner of Oxfam in Nepal
Water for all
Poor access to clean water means that many rural communities in Nepal have to rely on nearby streams and rivers for their water supplies. In some cases this involves a several hour round-trip, bringing back water that is often dirty, and leading to high levels of water-borne disease.
How Oxfam is helping
Through our Oxfam Unwrapped gift catalogue we have been providing special rainwater harvesting tanks to communities living in remote areas without access to clean water.
Before we got the tanks we had to carry water for many hours. Now I feel a lot happier and healthier. We are finding fewer people suffering from diarrhoea and abdominal pains than before.
Kolisara Baral, Community leader, Tunde village
Other development work
- Improving the participation of dalit or 'untouchable' men and women in community and government decision-making processes
- Helping farmers improve the production and marketing of their crops and through this increase their incomes
Ending violence against women
One in every two women in South Asia faces violence in their daily life. In many communities, social customs and attitudes tacitly condone and support violence against women.
How Oxfam is helping
Oxfam's We Can campaign aims to break down attitudes and customs which support violence against women. In Nepal, there are some 40,000 specially-trained 'Change Makers', helping mobilise people and bring about a sea-change in attitudes towards women.
I feel so empowered now. Becoming a Change Maker has revolutionised my life. I am learning every day to cope with violence against women and to bring change!
Change Maker Rubi Lama
Learn more
Disaster risk reduction
Oxfam works to help poor communities in the flood-prone south of the country
better prepare for, and cope with, disasters.
Our disaster preparedness programme includes:
- Raising the foundation level of homes and community places
- Building and maintaining community cyclone and flood shelters
- Making communities more aware of how to cope and live with disasters
- Equipping communities with skills and aids such as rescue boats, emergency storage, early warning materials, and first aid/delivery boxes
