Nepal
VSO Nepal's work focuses on addressing the root causes of multi-dimensional poverty. This includes work to reduce the marginalisation of women, girls, ethnic and caste groups in society. Our work supports the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) relating to overall poverty (MDG 1), primary education (MDG 2), gender equality (MDG 3) and maternal health (MDG 5).
We implement comprehensive and holistic strategies either through our own, or joint, programming with other development partners. Our strategies work across a range of basic needs in order to create sustainable change. For example, our strategies address areas of health, education and livelihoods simultaneously, while applying gender perspectives and ensuring social inclusion.
Education
Our education work focuses on marginalised children (especially girls) getting and retaining, a quality education through inclusive and child-centred learning. This means supporting the Government in implementing the School Sector Reform Plan which incorporates the "Education for All" goals. VSO works with the Government at different levels, including the Ministry and Department of Education and local government districts. We also work with local non-governmental organisations to help align their work with government strategies. Our education programme currently focuses on six districts in Nepal.
Health
Our health programme aims to strengthen the demand and supply of health services and improve the access, capacity and quality of curative health services. Our approach complements the Government’s Nepal Health Sector Programme II to improve the management and delivery of services. This involves strengthening community-based services (including primary healthcare) and outreach work in both health promotion and treatment.
Secure livelihoods
VSO Nepal is working to increase food and income security for poor households in a way that is compatible with the environment and adapts and develops climate change resilience. This includes work related to increasing food productivity especially at community level, and supporting community efforts to diversify their income base.
Our programme supports work to increase the capacity and accountability of government and NGO service providers. We also support projects that include marginalised people in making decisions related to livelihood issues that affect them.
Our work on gender equality
Women and girls face sexual discrimination from all sections of society in Nepal. Our programmes have a gender specific focus to ensure women and girls benefit from our work. The overall objective of our work on gender is to see self-confident women and girls empowered through the support of their own families and communities.
Inclusive engagement and community cohesion
VSO Nepal also emphasises inclusive approaches in our programmes to engage the ‘whole system’. This is to create the sustainable communal and societal change needed to bring the excluded into the mainstream and move the poor out of poverty. This approach links to our work on gender, and also recognises that social hierarchy and exclusion runs through Nepali society. Our work aims to the change attitudes and the power structures controlled by elites to one that includes the community in identifying and addressing development goals.
Contact us
Get in touch with VSO Nepal at:
PO Box 207, Kathmandu, Nepal
