Conflict affected rural women heading toward self-reliance
After a decade-long armed conflict, Nepal is moving forward with the peace process. From October 2012 to March 2015, in a Joint UN Programme with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Women, FAO has been supporting the peace process in Nepal through the Gender Responsive Recovery for Sustainable Peace (GRRSP) Programme.
The armed conflict in Nepal, from February 1996 to November 2006, took the lives of 10,297 men and 1,013 women. As with any conflict around the world, the decade long armed conflict in Nepal affected women and children the most. In November 2006, the Government of Nepal and the CPN party signed a peace agreement, hereby entering the post-conflict phase of transformation and reconstruction. In order to address the issues of women and ensure their full participation as agents of peace and security in the country, Nepal has developed a National Action Plan (NAP) to implement United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1325 and 1820.
Although some positive changes in the area of women’s empowerment have been observed, loss of lives and property, sexual harassment and violence, displacement and loss of livelihood continue. There has been a widespread increase in foreign migration, especially of young men, resulting in women becoming heads of households, contributing to the feminisation of the rural economy. Victims of gender based violence (GBV) during the conflict continue to suffer from stigmatisation and physical and mental conditions. The ensuing labour shortage has had an adverse effect on the economy, and ultimately on the livelihood of rural Nepalese people. Although the post conflict period has showed remarkable changes in respect of gender and social inclusion, domestic and gender based violence and social/public discrimination have continued.
FAO has supportedGender Responsive Recovery for Sustainable Peace (GRRSP) in collaboration with ILO and UN Women, to work with women affected by the armed conflict that followed the Maoist insurgency in Nepal in 1996. The project was designed to address the economic,social and psychological effects of the conflict on women and their families. FAO has provided training to women to enhance their skill aiming at increasing income by boosting agricultural productivity in the districts of Kavre, Ramechhap and Sindhuli. 796 women affected by the conflict have been trained in the best ways to cultivate a range of crops, including ginger, potato, mushroom, tomato and beans. Besides, they were given basic training in raising goats, pigs and boar bucks.
Members of the Bhirkot Kalika Women Farmers Group in Deurali VDC, in Ramechhap were taught on how to prepare mineral blocks, provide balanced feed to animals, and control external and internal parasites of the animals. Mineral blocks have been instrumental to ensure that animals receive essential minerals and avoid iron and calcium deficiencies. Introduction of mineral blocks has proven to a boon for goats to recover from poor nutrition, weight loss and adverse effects caused by parasites.
Manmaya Shrestha, Chairperson of the group, said that they learnt how to make mineral blocks using local materials with a mixture of red clay, the outer shell of chicken eggs, wheat flour and salt, for their goats. She said, “We learnt that red soil is a source of iron, the outer shell of the egg provides calcium, iodized salt provides iodine and wheat is a source of energy.” She noticed the hair of the goats became shinier and their appetites increased after regular use of the mineral blocks. Now, the animals are healthier and more productive. The weights of the goats are recorded having increment by 25 percent after regular use of the mineral blocks and balanced feed. Around three-quarters of the households that participated in the training have since adopted the recommended agricultural techniques.
Sabitri Bhetwal is chairperson of the Lilawati Sustainable Peace Development Women Farmers (Lilawati Digo Bikas Mahila Krishak Samuha). She has also received training in sweet and snack production and makes an income using her skills in these areas. She is now an influential local leader and a successful entrepreneur.
The programme significantly improved knowledge and skills of conflict affected women and their families for improving agricultural productivity. The technical and entrepreneurial skills of conflict affected women and their families were enhanced. Additionally, the Programme contributed to an increased capacity of local institutions and concerned service delivery agencies for gender responsive planning and implementation mechanisms.
The success of the project has been related to the fact that the implemented activities were strongly build on the potentiality of entrepreneurship and the locally available resources and interests of the beneficiaries.