RUPANTARAN - Women empowerment through economic transformation of the most marginalized women of Humla, Nepal
The proposed project area is the most underdeveloped region of Nepal, characterized by extreme poverty compounded by illiteracy, high degree inequalities and exclusions, damaging socio-cultural practices, food insecurity and gender-based violence. Province No. 6, has the most severe poverty amongst 7 provinces with more than 50% of the population living below the poverty line. It is in the north-western part of Nepal which is characterised by high mountains, difficult geographical terrain, is vulnerable to climate change and disaster risks, far from road access leading to isolation from the rest of the mainstream development process. Women face particular challenges, as the majority are illiterate, lack the knowledge and skills for commercial farming. They are unaware of local available services and have a limited influence on decision-making on matters affecting their lives – both within the household and in their communities.
The overall aim of this project is to create an enabling environment for the most-marginalized women from remote mountain region of Nepal to exercise their Economic, Social and Cultural (ESC) rights.
Linking with the overall aim, the specific objectives of the project are; 1) to achieve 40% increment in income of marginalized women and their families and improvement of local products value-chain by 2021 and 2) to have in place one policy/strategy that creates an enabling environment for local business and a working system that promotes good governance at local level by June 2021.
The project supports woment to organise themselses as farmers groups and cooperatives. They learn new skills and increase their productivity. The women also received training on their economic and social rights. The project will also support the value-chain study of the most promising products from the area, to increase earning opportunities. The project also supports training of CSOs to engage in advocacy to influence local government policies and program in favour of women's rights and opportunities.