DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS


CARE to Nepal

CARE Nepal is among the largest International Non Government Organisations (INGOs) in Nepal. This humanitarian organisation places special emphasis on involving poor, vulnerable and socially excluded groups such as women, dalits and marginalised groups in local development processes. The projects that CARE Nepal implements are diverse. This diversity enriches the portfolio and expands CARE reach to various ministries, government line agencies, departments, civil society organisations, their networks, CARE International members and donors.

Apart from its country office at Pulchowk, the organisation operates through cluster offices at three locations: Janakpur - for central Terai, Bharatpur - for central hills and Doti - for mid and far-west regions. CARE Nepal is currently working in partnership with over 80 local NGOs, 10 different networks and approximately 1,000 community based organisations. It operates in 46 districts, with a major focus on mid and far-western regions, through 24 community development programmes and national initiatives.

CARE International

CARE is one of the world’s largest private international humanitarian organisations fighting global poverty. It is a nonsectarian organisation. CARE works with poor communities in 72 countries around the world. Women are at the heart of CARE’s community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.


Overview

CARE started work in Nepal since 1978 and has undergone several strategic changes over the years. CARE’s early emphasis in Nepal was addressing basic needs through direct implementation of infrastructure and agriculture extension activities, and heavy investment in natural resource management. This focus changed in 1990s with the introduction of a more diversified portfolio and a new focus on community-based ‘human infrastructure’ development. Since 2000, CARE Nepal is working in partnership with local NGOs, Networks, Federations and community groups addressing issues relating to human rights and the underlying causes of poverty.


Areas of Work

The programmes at CARE Nepal deals with various issues including improving people’s access to food, health, education, economic opportunities, effectively managing natural resources, and safe environment. It not only promotes good governance, peace and disaster risk reduction, but also strives for capacity building of the poor and marginalised so that they exercise their rights and participate in decision making. Currently, it is working on three projects: Women Empowerment, Livelihood and Natural Resource Management, and Equity and Social Justice.


Partners

CARE Nepal works through formal and informal partnerships with communities, local organisations, local and national governments and the private sector. It also cooperates with other international and national development agencies. These agencies include Association of International NGOs (AIN) at a broader level to specific organisations like National Forum for Women Rights Concern (NFOWRC), Federation of Community Forest User Groups (FECOFUN), Dalit NGO Federation (DNF), Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), National Association of PLHAs Networks (NAP+N), and Disaster Preparedness Network (DP-Net).


Donors

Ranging from generous individual donors, private donors and Foundations, CARE Nepal is currently receiving funding for its programmes from Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Department for International Development (DFID), Disaster Preparedness-ECHO (DIPECHO), European Commission’s Humanitarian Office (ECHO), European Commission (EC), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and CARE organisations in Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, UK and USA.


Vision for Nepal

From the high Himalayas to the plains of the Terai, CARE Nepal seeks to facilitate the making of a peaceful and harmonious society in which poor, vulnerable and socially excluded people live in dignity, and their rights are fulfilled. To realise this vision, CARE Nepal will work for sustainable development resulting in greater gender and caste equity and improved livelihood of the poor, vulnerable and socially excluded.

Lex Kassenberg
Country Director, Care Nepal


How long have you been associated with Care International? What are Care Nepal’s major projects for the communities here?

I have worked for CARE for a total of about 22 years now. CARE started in Nepal in 1978. At that time, it was set up for the construction of suspension bridges in the remote areas. It was also involved in building irrigational canals. CARE worked towards natural resources management including water resource management. The focus has shifted over time; we are more of a rightsbased organisation now working for the rights of people and communities. It emphasises on women empowerment. CARE is working in 45 districts covering all the regions of Nepal.


What is your current focus with your work here in Nepal?

We want to continue being an important player in the development of Nepal. One of the major tasks we have is empowering and working with the communities. The global policy for CARE is to make a long term commitment with the communities. We want to implement one project and then try to find more resources and funding to continue with the same community. In the end, we want to get them a broad package of activities. This will enable the communities to look forward to an improved life in a very sustainable manner.


What, according to you, is CARE Nepal’s ultimate objective in Nepal?

Irrespective of the number of projects we initiate in Nepal, it is ultimately the responsibility of the Nepali people themselves to assume ownership of all the activities that we implement. CARE Nepal is here to facilitate the Nepali people. The ultimate success for an organisation like CARE obviously is when there will be no need for international agencies like ours. However, we are happy to be working here for the betterment of the communities and it gives us immense satisfaction.