Consultancy Services for Accelerating Progress toward the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Nepal: A Joint Pilot Contributing to Support Implementation of the Agricultural Development Strategy, Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme (RWEE)

Project Description

Recognizing the existing challenges and opportunities amidst the changing landscape and centre staging rural women’s agency and rights, the four UN agencies – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) – have come together to deliver as one, to accelerate progress for the economic empowerment of rural women and to assist rural women to lift themselves out of poverty, while promoting the equitable and inclusive growth of Nepal. The joint programme (JP) has been designed as a follow up on commitments of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on “the improvement of the situation of women in rural areas”, in November 2011, which reiterated a focus on rural women’s economic empowerment. It is in line with the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) and its follow up processes, which reaffirm the role of rural women in sustainable development and climate change. The programme also takes forward the commitments of the Istanbul Plan of Action (IPoA) – in the development of which GoN played a leading role – that calls for focused intervention on agriculture development with increased investments.

To achieve the goal, four outcome areas have been provisionally identified based on context specific issues and potentials, and within the framework of the global programme
Outcome 1: Rural Nepalese women and their families have improved food and nutrition security.
Outcome 2: Rural women have increased income to secure their livelihoods.
Outcome 3: Rural women’s representation and leadership is strengthened in local communicates for gender responsive governance.
Outcome 4: A gender responsive policy environment is secured for the economic empowerment of Nepalese rural women.

Assignment Description

Under the technical supervision of RWEE joint working group and the overall supervision of Economic Empowerment Unit Manager, UN Women, the consultant conducted the following: • Preparatory Phase • Desk Study: Reviewed project documents, government periodic development plans, final draft ADS; UNDAF (2013-2017); SGs 7 point action plan; existing evaluations, baseline studies and supplementary research related to gender-responsive agriculture and women’s economic empowerment, Annual Work Plan and Strategic Plans of all four UN agencies involved, Outcome documents of CSW, CEDAW concluding observations to Nepal Government and any other key publications and initiatives • Developed overall framework and work plan with time line. • Developed programme management and operational modality • Developed criteria for districts and VDC selection. • Facilitate identification of geographical coverage. • Design and conduct series of consultations and start-up workshops (three consultations and two national workshops). • Developed M&E framework of the project • Developed framework (guidelines and checklists) for the GESI strategy for the implementation of ADS and support the MoAD to institutionalize it – based on rigorous and intensive consultations with women’s groups, women farmers, UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG), Development Partners, GoN partners, Agriculture and Gender experts to ensure robust alignment with local context for effective institutionalization. • Developed framework for situation analysis and baseline survey. • Developed recommendations to strengthen and track gender-responsive monitoring of the ADS • Inception Period of Implementation Phase • Beneficiary Selection • 10 VDCs of 3 districts selected • Approx. 250-300 beneficiary households per VDC • Total approx. 43,000 beneficiaries • Situation Analysis/Baseline Survey • Developed detail work plan to carry out situation analysis. Selected sample VDCs with proper justifications. Prepared questionnaires for individual interview, household survey, group interview and discussion. • Conducted Orientation Training of the data collection team. • Data collection, including data related to programme indicators at the individual, household and group levels using participatory qualitative and quantitative methods, based on representative samples in the selected project districts; • Discussions and meetings with UN Women team at various stages. Carry out consultations on prior planning and methodology with the UNWomen Economic Empowerment Team; and • Report Preparation: Develop quality Situation Analysis Report. Ensured high quality final editing and report writing. • Prepared Baseline Survey Report in Pilot Program Districts (Sindhuli, Sarlahi and Rautahat). • Prepared Situation Analysis Report of Pilot Program Districts (Sindhuli, Sarlahi and Rautahat). • Analysis of Recent Evaluations and Studies of Economic Empowerment Programmes • Review different evaluations and studies of economic empowerment programmes in Nepal. • Develop an Analysis Report to document innovations, best practices and key recommendations for the programme to incorporate. • Ensure high quality final editing and report writing. • Organize Start-up and Inception Workshop • Organize half-day start-up workshops in three working districts inviting technical working group, District Agriculture Development Committee (DADC), District Agriculture Development Office(DADO), District Livestock Services Office (DLSO), Women and Child Development Office (WCDO),District Public Health Office (DPHO represented in DADC and other relevant district and national level stakeholders • Mapping and capacity assessment of partners to take the project activities forward in programme districts. • Support MoAD to institutionalize and monitor gender responsiveness in ADS implementation GESI Unit. • Finalization of programme documents. • Develop Work Plans/Strategies • Develop Knowledge Management Plan • Develop Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Information Management System • Develop Communications Strategy. • Develop Risk Management Plan (including consideration and mitigation of climate and environment-related risks) • Develop Transition or Exit Strategy • Video Documentation • Produced 3-5 min documentary video capturing inception period of the programme (in English and Nepali) • Implementation Phase • Developed GESI Strategy to support the ADS implementation on the basis of comprehensive and intensive review of key initiatives related to gender-responsive agriculture and women’s economic empowerment as well as prior rigorous consultations with relevant stakeholders. Ensure robust alignment with local context for effective institutionalization. • Prepared GESI Strategy as a print-ready version for publication with final editing, peer review and translation, as well as the preparation of a dissemination strategy. • Developed recommendations for GESI responsive agricultural research • Prepared Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Strategy as a print-ready version for publication with final editing, peer review and translation, as well as the preparation of a dissemination strategy • Prepared Program Concept and Implementation Modality for Pilot Program Districts (Sindhuli, Sarlahi and Rautahat) • Donor Reporting Contributed to progress reporting to the programme donors as and when requested by the Economic Empowerment Unit/UN Women and the Working Group