District Level Knowledge Sharing Event

Development Exchange Center (DEC-Nepal) organized a District Level Knowledge Sharing Event on 21^st December 2015 at (Development Exchange Center Nepal (DEC) Sauraha, Chitwan under the financial support of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), USA in collaboration with South Asia Partnership – Nepal (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 106 participants were present in the event. Participants included representatives of government officials (from District Development Committee, representatives from District Agriculture Service Center, District Livestock Center, Health, Education, women and child development center and Village Development Secretaries of six project sites- Siddhi, Korak, Kaule, Chandibhanjyang, Shaktikhor and Lothar). Executive members of Nepal Chepang Association; female local resource persons of the project; influential male leaders of the Chepang community, media personals and journalist from local and national levels were present in the event.

The chief guest of the event was Mr Shrawan Kumar Pokharel, Local Development Officer of Chitwan District. The program was hosted in chairmanship of Ms. Shikha Shrestha (Chairperson DEC Nepal). The program was formally inaugurated by chief guest Mr. Pokharel lighting a lamp and welcome speech by secretary of DEC Nepal Mr. Kedar Prasad Gautam.

The objectives of the program were three folds:

1.To inform all the concerned stakeholders about the project

2.To share the progress and learning of the project to concerned stakeholders

3. To encourage cross learning amongst different stakeholders

The program was jointly hosted by Ms. Rukmani Karki from SAP Nepal and Mr. Janak Karki (project co-ordinator) from DEC Nepal. Followed by Mr. Gautam; chief guest Mr. Pokharel on his speech appreciated the project has played an important role to make the nation accountable and highlighted the necessity of participation of Chepang community in governance system of Nepal. He then remarked the project has adopted best approach by making Chepang women capable to demand for their own rights and develop their own plan of actions. Similarly Mr. Shrestha chairperson stressed the women of this marginalized community are further marginalized because they are poor, lack food security and good health. Therefore, it is necessary to raise their suppressed voice.

In this program Mr Narendra Prasad Joshi presented a comprehensive presentation about the project activities, learnings from the project activities and expectations from the concerned stakeholders. Project coordinator presented the findings of community score card practiced in six VDCs; while M&E officer showed a brief documentary about the project activities. In this event the other speakers were Ms. Sushila Upreti chairperson from Women’s coordination committee, Mr. Laxman Chepang (Chairperson, Nepal Chepang Association), Mr. Arjun Thapaliya (Vetenary doctor, District Livestock Office, Chitwan); Tejendra Nath Lamichaney (Social Development Officer from Ratnanagar Municipality; Phul Maya Chepang ( vice chairperson Women Chepang Action Fora, Shaktikhor. They all shared their experience and view about Chepang empowerment program. Overall, the event provided a good platform where various stakeholders presented their cross learning.