CARE Nepal Annual Report 2008

Message from the Country Director
the diversity and richness of Nepal was reflected in the 601 seat
In 2008, Constituent Assembly (CA) elections through the election or
nomination of 197 women and 50 Dalits. This led to the initiation of programs which
provided opportunities for communities to challenge the structure, system and policies
of the past. These programs have been utilizing new and innovative approaches based on
an in-depth analysis of the root causes of poverty and social injustice. They have been
mobilizing the poorest women and men in communities to demand access and control over
resources to ensure a better quality of life. CARE Nepal has facilitated the engagement
between women’s groups from 25 districts and CA members to assist them in collecting
feedback from stakeholders on key issues which needed to be addressed in the constitution
making process.
CARE Nepal has identified three primary focus areas for its current programs:
1. Empowering women by focusing on the economic, social, political and cultural aspects
of their lives. It has been tracking achievements resulting from changes in access and
control over resources and how this brings about behavioural changes in patriarchal
norms and age old stereotypes.
2. Securing access to natural resources and livelihoods for the poor and vulnerable
including Dalits, landless people, women and those most frequently affected by natural
disasters
3. Addressing issues of justice and equity through engagement with civil society and state
actors on issues of identity in cultural and ethnic terms
CARE Nepal has been working in collaboration with around 80 partner NGOs and hundreds
of community groups on 24 projects and initiatives in 42 districts in Nepal. Many of these
programs have now focused on key aspects of governance, rights and equity. CARE Nepal
has identified and worked with the poorest people in the most marginalized communities
while amplifying their voices and concerns around issues which affect their lives and
opportunities for improvement and growth.
During the year, CARE Nepal has been restructuring field operations to form three
cluster offices in Janakpur, Bharatpur and Doti to serve their surrounding areas. This has
granted greater authority, accountability and inclusion to all stakeholders in key decision
making processes. The new structure highlights the strategic role and responsibilities
of collaborating partners. The strategic function of the country office has also been
restructured to separate program development and implementation from monitoring and
impact measurement. The country office has been involved in networks like the Association
of International NGOs (AIN) to create a more credible development space in Nepal. It
has also been involved in various networks to prevent sexual and gender based violence
(SGBV), violence against women, tracking rights violations through the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and implementing United Nations Security
Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325.
CARE Nepal is committed to gender equity and diversity. This is best reflected in its own
staff. Of the total staff hired in 2008, 58% are men and 41% are women. The percentage
of staff from the Terai and Dalits among the new recruits was 37% and 14% respectively.
Further, after several years, there are now 13 women in managerial positions and above in
CARE Nepal.
The emerging social and political scenario in Nepal will pose further challenges for
agencies like CARE Nepal. New developments in the state may lead to a different policy
framework within which international and national development agencies will have to
function. This change in structure will be further influenced by Nepal moving towards a
federal system. However, there are significant opportunities for Nepal to benefit from
decentralized and focused development initiatives.
Alka Pathak
CARE Nepal continues to work according to CARE’s global focus and priorities by assisting the poorest women
and girls, who live in situations of poverty and deprivation – to create a world where all people have the
opportunity to realize their full potential and find their own voice. Because in the end that is the key to ending
injustice and poverty.
The CARE International Confederation of twelve member organizations has its Secretariat in Geneva. CARE
Nepal operations are coordinated by its “Lead Member” CARE USA.
The Annual Report ’08 1