Project description

Title: Supporting Measures to Strengthen the Peace Process
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Nepal
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR)
Overall term: 2007 to 2013

Context

The Maoist party of Nepal began its ‘People's War’ in 1996, amid widespread discontent at the lack of progress on poverty reduction and social reform. In November 2006, the Maoists and the seven parties that were represented in parliament at that time signed a peace agreement with the aim of creating a modern constitutional state with a parliamentary democracy. One milestone in this process was the election to the Nepalese Constituent Assembly in April 2008, which was rated as free and fair.

The government has the difficult task of continuing the fragile peace process. In the medium term, the government's role – in cooperation with the international community - is to promote structural changes by peaceful and democratic means.

As provided for in the peace agreement, the 19,600 Maoist ex-combatants have been interned in 28 camps (cantonments) since November 2008. The ex-combatants are to stay there until a decision about their future has been reached at political level. The failure to meet the basic needs of both the internees and the population living near the camps has led to friction and conflicts.

Objective

The living conditions of the interned ex-combatants and of the people living in communities next to the cantonments are improved.

Approach

The cantonments are located in the south of the country, where the basic infrastructure is inadequate. The focus is on building or rebuilding systems to supply water and basic sanitation as well as healthcare facilities that can be used by both target groups.
 
In order to improve the healthcare services, which are also to be made available to the people in the surrounding communities, a number of measures have been put in place to train selected internees. In addition, efforts are being made to ensure that the health facilities themselves are in working order.

To prepare ex-combatants for reintegration into society and to provide new opportunities for gaining income, vocational training and other formal education options are offered to ex-combatants and people from nearby villages, enabling them to work in the healthcare sector.

The project is endeavouring to create a suitable climate for dialogue between the Maoist ex-combatants and the inhabitants of the neighbouring communities by ensuring that both parties benefit equally from all the measures introduced and that women in particular are given support. In addition to increasing literacy levels, activities also aim to raise awareness of health, hygiene and housekeeping issues.

By meeting the legitimate needs of both the Maoist ex-combatants and the neighbouring population, the project contributes to stabilising the peace process.

Results achieved so far

There is a functioning drinking water supply in all 28 cantonments and selected communities also have secure access to this service. 228 sanitary facilities have been built, greatly improving hygiene conditions in the camps.

The internees and surrounding communities make use of the functioning health facilities available. The interned ex-combatants and the population of the surrounding communities use joint functioning health facilities. More than a quarter of the 19,600 Maoist ex-combatants have taken advantage of medical check-ups and 45 of those wounded during the war have received specialist medical treatment. Around 1,500 trained Maoist ex-combatants are now working as health assistants in the 29 health facilities in the cantonments.

Over 10,000 ex-combatants have received training and are putting their newly acquired skills to good use in the cantonments. This has greatly improved the services provided, for example in healthcare, water supply, administration and accounting.

The project has set up 25 learning centres in the neighbouring communities for 450 women from disadvantaged population groups. The women use the knowledge provided to gain a better understanding of their rights and become more actively involved in community affairs. There has been a considerable improvement in their health, hygiene and food situation. All the learning centres have introduced micro-savings systems and investments have enabled the women to strengthen their income situation, in particular through sales from breeding goats and pigs as well as growing vegetables.