NACRMLP

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NACRMP

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NACFP 4

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NAFP ( 1 - 3 )

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Summary:

In 1997 the Nepal Australia Community Resource Management Project implemented a literacy program aimed specifically at improving the literacy of rural women and increasing their participation in the management of community forests. Following an evaluation in 1999, which showed that the literacy program was not meeting all of its’ objectives nor was it cost-effective, the Women’s Empowerment Program (WEP) was developed and introduced.

The WEP includes a large gender equity component designed to develop the organisational management skills of women members of the Forest User Groups (FUGs) to enable them to participate in decision-making processes for community development. In addition the curriculum has retained literacy and numeracy training designed to reinforce those skills. The program uses a group-learning approach whereby the participants arrange and organise activities. Training is based on a participatory learning approach, which relies on the participants’ experiences, practical skills and knowledge. The participants determine how often each group should meet and also set the topics which they would like discussed. Facilitators, trained by the Project, oversee the program and act as change agents rather than as classroom facilitators. FUGs are largely responsible for meeting the costs of the program and for its management.

The program is being implemented in 15 FUGs and outcomes are being monitored. As part of the developmental process for WEP, workshops are held periodically for the facilitators to review the program and provide additional mentoring and training. Early results have shown that the program has been received favourably by the women and their guardians as well as by the FUG committees. Further monitoring will be required to determine whether the Program is meeting all of its objectives.