Training Event for Local Government Officials

Development Exchange Center (DEC-Nepal) organized a training program for government officials on 8^th August 2015 at SAPDEC Sauraha, Chitwan under the financial assistance of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), USA in collaboration with South Asia Partnership (SAP) Nepal and National Chepang Association of Nepal. The event was organized as a part of the ongoing project “Reinforcing Women of the Chepang Community as Change Agents for Promoting Local Governance in Nepal.”

Altogether 37 participants were present in the event.The participants included Executive Director of SAP Nepal;
Member Secretary of DEC Nepal, government officials from District Development Committee (DDC) Chitwan, Women and Child Development Office; Village Development Secretaries of six project sites- Siddhi, Korak, Kaule, Chandibhanjyang, Shaktikhor and Lothar; government officials and representatives from Agriculture, Livestock, Education and Health department; executive members of Nepal Chepang Association; female local resource persons of the project; influential male leaders of the Chepang community; and media personals.

The resource persons of the program were Mr. Narendra Prasad Joshi (Social Accountability expert), Executive Director of SAP Nepal, Mr. Janak Karki(Social Mobilization & Social Accountability),project coordinator and Mr. Bishu Kumar Shrestha (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) from District Development Committee.

Mr. Janak Karki Project coordinator sharing project updates           Participants of the training program with project staffs

The objectives of the program were four fold:

1. To shed light on the situation of Chepang women’s engagement in local development planning process for holistic and sustainable development of Chepang community.

2. To inform the local line agencies about the objective and the activities of the project which is promoting local governance through empowerment of Chepang Women

3. To coordinate with concerned agencies to increase participation of Chepang women in local development planning process

4. To enhance social accountability among the staff of concerned agencies to ensure participation of Chepang women in local development process.

The program was hosted by Ms. Manisha Bhattarai (Learning Monitoring and Evaluation officer). For this program
chairperson was Mr. Narendra Pd. Joshi, chief guest Mr. Ram HariNeupane (Social Development Officer), and special guest Ms. Sushila Upreti (District Women Coordination Committee) shared their experience on issues Chepang Women. Resource persons also recounted their experience of previous activities with the project.The project coordinator Mr. Karki briefed about project activities and achievements made so far. The VDC secretaries, officials from DDC and representatives from education, health, agriculture and livestock departments of project sites also shared their experience on issues of Chepang women.

Overall, the event provided a good platform where various stakeholders including concerned government officials, representatives of Nepal Chepang Association and local Chepang women shared their experienceon various factors affecting of Chepang women such as lack of education, social cultural barriers, lack of information and access to services. At the end of the program the government stakeholders and line agencies committed to increase and strengthen participation of marginalized communities such as Chepang women in local budgeting and planning process.