Project Summary

Project Title: Enhancing Cultural Diversity for Dignity and Development of Indigenous Communities in Nepal Project
Funding Partner: European Union, represented by the European Commission
Document Source: projectsummary6.pdf

Overview & Implementation Details

Project Name: Enhancing Cultural Diversity for Dignity and Development of Indigenous
Communities in Nepal Project
Funding Partner: European Union, represented by the European Commission
Start Date: January 2010
End Date: December 2012

Summary of the Project
IGD, the lead of the project provides overall
leadership
role
which
include
overall
management
and
coordination,
thematic
leadership, monitoring and evaluation, project
finance expenditure verification, communication
and
reporting with stakeholders and donor.
The project is funded by the European Union
under its thematic call ‘Investing in People- Access to local culture, protection and promotion of
cultural diversity is implemented by Institute of governance and
Development (IGD)
as
the
lead
of
the
project
in
partnership
with
World
Vision
Advocacy
Forum
(WVAF),
Nepal
Tamang
Ghedung
Association
(NTGA), Gurung Tamu National Council (GTNC) and Nepal
Chepang Association (NCA) has been implementing the project in the selected 80 Village
Development Committees (VDCs) of Kavrepalchowk, Rasuwa, Dhading, Makwanpur, Chitwan,
Lamjung, Kaski and Gorkha districts of Nepal for a total of 36 months. The Overall Objective of
the project is to contribute in protection and promotion of cultural diversity and creativity for
improving wellbeing and dignity of indigenous communities in Nepal by achieving. Major
Interventions of the project include dialogues on the promotion of cultural diversity and exchange,
training on cultural rights, critical mass for protection and promotion of cultural diversity,
documentary films on treasures of artistic, historical and cultural heritage, creativity in education,
documentation of best indigenous knowledge and practices, revitalization and renovation of
traditional social institutions for local governance, folk theatre group and celebration of unique
forms of indigenous cultures, iinstitutional capacity building of IPOs, traditional enterprises of
cultural goods (art and creativity), common forum for partnership (CPG), exhibition for promoting
cultural goods. Target Groups and Final Beneficiaries of the project are indigenous communities
particularly, Gurungs, Tamangs and Chepangs, their organizations and social institutions in the
selected districts. The project districts are selected on the basis of history of exclusion, existence
of ancestral domain, cultural heritage and folklore and representative size of population of
indigenous communities of Nepal.

Detailed Description of the Actual Services provided
ToT on Cultural Rights at Dhulikhel,
Cultural Rights Training in Rasuwa
CPG Member Holding Meeting,

 Creating spaces at the village and district levels where local citizens including indigenous
peoples discuss and demand services from public agencies especially VDCs, health posts
etc.
 Empowering citizens through trainings/ citizenship education about their rights- social
cultural rights in particular - and enable them to engage with local agencies and context
their decisions/programs.
 Capacity buildings of indigenous people to vocalize their demands while sensitizing local
agencies about their obligations to respond and be held to account.

Significance & Legacy

This project contributed directly to IGD's institutional knowledge base and helped establish long-term networks among local communities, civic leaders, and government stakeholders.