Projects

The list of projects.

UNDP

National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) with the support of United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) undertook a project to “Empowering Chepang Indigenous Women and Girls to end VAW/G and Strengthen their Resiliency”. The implementation period of the project was from 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023. The project aimed at addressing VAW amongst the Chepang Community. This one year project addressed violence against Women in the form of awareness, training, workshops, making action plans to prevent VAW and actions to take if cases of violence take place in the Community. It also undertook a qualitative and quantitative survey on violence, reviewed the municipality’s policies and programmes on this and will put an infographic billboard in the Community.The objectives of the project were:<ul><li>Raise awareness of the Chepang Indigenous community on GBV in connection with international mechanisms like CEDAW and UNDRIP.</li><li>Undertake a study on violence against Chepang Women in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality.</li><li>Identify and deliver campaigns to end all forms of violence against Indigenous Women, in particular Chepang Women in the municipality in collaboration with government and other line agencies.</li><li>To help Girls and Women prevent violence against them. </li></ul> At the end of the project two publications were also published by NIWF to document the findings of the project: “A Review of Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality's Policies and Programmes for FY 2023/2024 (2079/2080) from Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Indigenous Perspectives'' and “A Report on the Situation of Gender-based Violence against the Chepang Women of Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality in Chitwan”.

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IUCN

National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) has been working with Indigenous Women to protect and promote their rights over resources, traditional knowledge and skills, and culture and traditions. NIWF has been working with Indigenous Women from various Indigenous Communities to conduct livelihood upliftment activities. With the growing demand, NIWF facilitated the process of upgrading the successful livelihood cases to entrepreneurship and collective enterprise, especially among resource-poor Indigenous Communities with the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2023. NIWF has been undertaking different interventions to promote natural resource-based enterprises for forest-dwelling communities. The activities aim to scale up the current ongoing practices identified as good practices. Through IUCN, NIWF worked with the Bankariya (Manhari, Makwanpur), Chepang (Manahari, Makwanpur), Tharu (Kapilvastu), Danuwar (Panchkahl, Kavre) Community.With IUCN's support NIWF Conducted trainings on:<ul><li>Financial literacy for Women representatives from producer groups of the Bankariya, Chepang, Tharu, and Danuwar Communities </li><li>Developed business plans and product diversification plan for Women-led enterprises in Tharu (Bamboo based products), Bankariya (NTFP-collectors, Soap), Danuwar (Vegetable-based pickle) and Chepang (Soap).</li><li>NIWF also conducted workshops on leadership-building skills along with VGGT (Voluntary Guidelines on Tenure).</li></ul> Through this one year project NIWF focused on socioeconomic and institutional capacity building of the Indigenous Women group and their production and processing enterprises, securing tenure, building their financial and business capabilities to make the producer group and their communities resilient. NIWF enhanced the awareness and capacity of the Women’s producer group of the Indigenous Community and their local government and relevant stakeholders on the importance of promoting Indigenous Peoples’ skills and knowledge. The project concluded successfully in January 2024, profoundly transforming the lives of the Indigenous Women groups.

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Mama Cash

Mama Cash, as the first international Women's fund founded in the Netherlands in 1983, has been instrumental in bolstering the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) through targeted organizational strengthening efforts. By providing essential support in capacity building and operational management, Mama Cash has empowered NIWF to navigate challenges and effectively fulfill its mission. This partnership has enabled NIWF to overcome funding limitations, facilitating the implementation of crucial activities that would have otherwise been hindered. Through Mama Cash's support, NIWF has been able to focus on advocating for the rights of Indigenous Women and Girls of Nepal, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs addressed within their Communities and beyond. Mama Cash has been equipping NIWF with the necessary skills, resources, and infrastructure to effectively advocate for the rights of Indigenous Women and Girls and to operate sustainably over the long term.

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WFA

Since 2023, National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) has partnered with Women's Fund Asia (WFA) on the project “Strengthening Indigenous Women's Movement with Elected Indigenous Women Representatives from Sudurpaschim and Madhesh Provinces.”  The objective of this project is to build and enhance awareness and knowledge of Elected Indigenous Women leaders at Federal, Provincial Assembly and Municipal levels on international mechanisms and processes such as CEDAW, UNFCCC, CBD COP and Decade of  Indigenous language. A key outcome has been the development of a National Position Paper advocating for the rights of Indigenous Women. This initiative has fostered unity among Indigenous Women MPs, transcending their diverse political affiliations, to collaboratively address Indigenous Peoples' issues. The project further provides a vital platform for dialogue on the challenges faced by Indigenous Women and Peoples, leveraging constitutional provisions and international frameworks to advance their rights and interests.<div> </div>

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APWLD

National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) is one of the partner organizations in the Migration (MUAH) program of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, and Development (APWLD) for the year 2022-2024. With the help of this program, NIWF worked with the Indigenous Returnee Migrant Women (IRMW) of Chautara Sangachokgadhi Municipality, Bagmati Province. This was a Feminist Participatory Action Research that worked directly with the IRMW to work on the issue that is most important to them. This project helped to combat structural injustices and give grassroots IRMW the tools they need to improve their ability to gather evidence, increase their bargaining power, plan campaigns and advocacy efforts, and form movements to demand structural changes. This project worked directly with the IRMW to bring their narrative to the forefront and work alongside them to lobby for a structural change. It also gave them a platform to enhance their leadership skills while working together to challenge the negative stereotypes against Indigenous Women and Migrant Women. In 2024,  National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) together with Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and the Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) conducted Women Human Rights Impact Assessment (WHRIA) Pilot Test: Addressing Gendered Impacts of Development Projects. The impact assessment was conducted in the Majhi Communities in Manthali to determine the status of the hydropower dam project and assess the human rights situation of the Indigenous Women, particularly in exercising their right for participation, access to information and self-determination. The groups also looked at the potential impacts of the development project that threatens the very existence of the Mahji people and endangers their culture and lives. WHRIA aims to serve as a tool for Grassroots Women’s organisations in their advocacy against development projects that can harm their lives and livelihoods. Through Community visits, dialogues, and media actions, the pilot test aimed to gather vital information, document community narratives, identify human rights violations, and chart pathways for advocacy and action.

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MADRE

Since 2015, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) has collaborated with MADRE on various initiatives, including The Santoshi Project, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training, Indigenous Girls Opportunity Fund (IGOF) and Focus for Indigenous Girls (FIG). The Santoshi Project: Through The Santoshi Project, NIWF has been instrumental in providing literacy classes, stationery, and other educational materials to children from the endangered Bankariya Community in Nepal. These efforts aim to ensure that these children can lead brighter, safer, and more empowered futures. Additionally, NIWF has conducted soap-making training for the Bankariya and Chepang Women's Group, teaching them to produce soap from mugwort and aloe vera. This initiative culminated in the successful registration of their company, "Bankariya tatha Chepang Mahila Sabun Udyog," in 2023. In 2024, NIWF established a library for Bankariya children in Makwanpur. This library, equipped with over 300 books, cupboards, tables, cushions, and a TV donated by NIWF’s Vice-Chairperson Ms. Yasso Kanti Bhattachan, serves as a valuable resource to foster a love for reading and learning among the children. Integrated Pest Management (IMP) Training:  NIWF has conducted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training for 10 Women's groups across nine districts in Nepal, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Dolakha, Kailali, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Dhading, Baglung, and Kaski. The primary goal of this initiative is to empower Indigenous Women through sustainable agricultural practices. Through the IPM training, these Women have learned to cultivate pesticide-free and off-season vegetables, significantly boosting their economic empowerment by enabling them to sell their produce. As a result of this training, the Women's groups have successfully registered and now have access to municipal budgets, marking a significant achievement in their journey towards self-sufficiency and economic independence. Indigenous Girls Opportunity Fund (IGOF):  IGOF is an initiative taken by National Indigenous Women Forum(NIWF) in 2023 with the aim of ensuring equal access to education for Indigenous Girls. IGOF is dedicated to providing educational assistance and other necessary assistance to the scholarship recipient girls to support them academically. This fund provides educational aid to the selected student candidates from marginalised and endangered Indigenous Communities from economically disadvantaged backgrounds giving special emphasis in their empowerment through education. In its inaugural year, NIWF selected two candidates from Sankharapur following a thorough selection process that included interviews, home visits, and questionnaires conducted by the NIWF team. Continuing its mission in 2024, NIWF selected two more candidates from Kalinchowk Rural Municipality, Ward No. 9, through a similarly rigorous selection process. Focus for Indigenous Girls (FIG): Focus for Indigenous Girls (FIG) is a sister organization of the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF). FIG aims to create awareness among Indigenous Girls and Youth on critical issues such as climate change, sex, gender, sexuality, and gender-based violence. By addressing these topics, FIG seeks to empower young Indigenous individuals. Through its programs, FIG provides leadership and advocacy training, equipping Indigenous Girls and Youth with the skills and knowledge they need to become effective leaders and advocates within their Communities and beyond. Relief Distribution Program to Earthquake victims of Rukum West: With the support from MADRE, NIWF also distributed relief to the earthquake victims in Aathbiskot Municipality Ward No. 11 of Rukum West, Nepal in 2023. The relief was distributed to 100 Magar Indigenous families. NIWF team provided them with the provision of essential items such as blankets to shield against the harsh cold, as well as supplies of rice, lentils, and cooking oil. These provisions aimed not only to alleviate immediate suffering but also to offer some semblance of comfort and stability during this challenging period of recovery. In the face of adversity, the collaborative efforts of NIWF and the support extended by MADRE stands as a testament to compassion and solidarity, providing critical aid to the earthquake-affected Communities of the Aathbiskot Municipality, Ward No. 11 in Rukum West, Nepal.

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