Oxfam's work in Nepal in depth

In Nepal, Oxfam's focus is on gender and minority rights, public health, livelihoods, and disaster preparedness.

The context

Despite huge natural resources, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in South Asia with per capita income of US$311 per annum (Asian Development Bank, 2007) and a substantial proportion of the population (31%) living in poverty (Nepal Living Standard Survey 2003/04). The country is home to 27 million people with the majority living in rural areas and relying on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods.

As a result of deep-seated poverty, poor governance and systematic exclusion, Nepal has experienced a decade of conflict between a Maoist-inspired insurgency and the government, with social unrest resulting in the deaths of more than 13,000 people. In 2006 the people’s movement brought to an end a period of autocratic royal rule allowing the re-establishment of parliament and the eventual signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in November of that year.

Nepal is currently going through a period of massive social and political change with hopes for an inclusive and more equitable ‘New Nepal’ starting with the Constituent Assembly elections held in April 2008, the drafting of a new constitution and the formation of a democratic, accountable and responsive government.

How is Oxfam helping?

Oxfam has been funding projects in Nepal since the 1980s. Initially, we focused on health, funding hospital equipment, working with sufferers from Hanson's disease and TB, and long-term support to rural community health services.

The level of Oxfam funding increased substantially with democratisation in 1990 as it became easier for Nepali organisations to work in the new political environment. During the 1990s, our focus moved towards income generation, water and sanitation and adult literacy and also providing assistance to Bhutanese refugee camps in eastern Nepal.

Oxfam’s current programme focuses on public health and basic livelihoods in remote rural communities in the mid and far western districts. These areas were most affected by the years of armed insurgency and exhibit some of the worst development indicators in the country. At present the programme focus is moving towards addressing chronic food insecurity and water and sanitation through a combination of direct project support with partners and advocacy.

Oxfam's water and sanitation work in Dailekh and Surkhet districts - (943KB pdf)

Water and sanitation support for landslide/flood affected families in Baitadi district - (450KB pdf)

Oxfam’s River Basin project is part of the ongoing country humanitarian programme focusing on disaster preparedness, mitigation and response as well as humanitarian capacity strengthening and policy-advocacy. The focus of this project is Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and includes the development of community disaster preparedness plans, training on emergency public health and food security, livelihoods assessment and response, development of community early warning systems, flood shelter construction, drainage improvement, riverbank protection, and training of volunteers in planning and response activities including support for humanitarian logistics preparedness.

Oxfam has been active in flood response, preparedness and DRR in the flood-prone Terai (southern plains bordering India) region for more than ten years. Currently the programme is working through local partners to support district and community level flood preparedness and response in eight districts in the Terai.

Building community resilience to recurrent floods in the Terai region of Nepal - (634KB pdf, English and Nepali)

In 2008 Oxfam played a lead role in pre-monsoon planning and supported the Ministry of Home Affairs to host a national pre-monsoon planning workshop. In Oxfam’s operational areas, flood-prone communities were supported to prepare disaster response and preparedness plans, and local partners were supported to prepare contingency plans. This included pre-positioning and pre-procurement of emergency shelter stocks and training in standard Initial Rapid Assessment formats with staff and partners.

Improving food security in communities vulnerable to food price volatility in Nepal - (629KB pdf)

In 2009 Oxfam continued to be a lead organisation in the national pre-monsoon planning process and is focusing strategically on building humanitarian WASH capacity within Oxfam, our partners and government.

The WE CAN Campaign aims to reduce social acceptance of violence against women. It mobilised 5 million converts to the themes and messages of the campaign across six countries of South Asia. In Nepal, the campaign is mobilising change makers across 42 districts. It continues to build and strengthen an alliance of more than 50 organisations to implement the campaign.

Change makers undertake individual actions to spread awareness and prevent violence and discrimination against women. Simultaneously, natural networks among change makers occur, further promoting changes in groups and institutions. WE CAN has engaged a mosaic of change makers, ranging from school children, college students, teachers, social activists, and professionals comprising men and women of all castes and creeds.

 

Last updated: December 2009