South Asia Partnership – Nepal

World Accord has been involved in projects in Nepal since 1989, working together with the South Asian Partnership (SAP) - Nepal. The projects in Nepal are focused on building the grassroots organizations that are essential for fostering and nurturing the changes that are needed in the communities.

Since 1990, the community of non-government organizations (NGOs) in Nepal has flourished, but there remains a need to harness people's enthusiasm and channel the work of the organizations. Many of the NGO programs continue to provide for basic human needs, yet do little to involve people in the communities in the process. Without that involvement, people remain beneficiaries rather than becoming participants.

SCOP (Strengthening Civil Society Organization Program) trains NGOs and fledgling community groups throughout the country. Through this program, communities come together to discover collective needs and learn to do collective problem solving to come up with solutions. SCOP is also in the forefront of empowering women in the community, ensuring they are fully involved in decision making, program design and management at the village level.

Recently SCOP has extended the scope of its efforts to create participatory communities to include

• Supporting Financial Management through self-regulating systems for savings and credit at the village level
• Educating farmers on agriculture-related economic activities, training them on the operation of new farming technologies, and supporting their voice in their communities
• Involving youth in rural development groups

SAP-Nepal, with World Accord support, has been successful in growing the interest in these projects. Workshop attendance has increased and many communities have increased their capacity with more agricultural output, longer life spans for businesses and greater household security. Many more people have become active participants in their communities.