Project Summary

Project Title: Strengthening Voice of Marginalized Groups in Constituent Assembly Process in Nepal
Funding Partner: The Asia Foundation/RDIF
Document Source: projectsummary8.pdf

Overview & Implementation Details

Project: Strengthening Voice of Marginalized Groups in Constituent Assembly Process in
Nepal
Funding Partner: The Asia Foundation/RDIF
Start date: September 2007
End date: December 2009

IGD supports the effective participation of people in Constituent Assembly process in Nepal. IGD
implemented activities towards "Strengthening the Voice of Marginalized Groups in Constituent
Assembly Process in Nepal" in 12 districts from June 2008 to September 2009 as a constituent
organization of CoCAS. IGD was responsible for implementing activities in 12 districts of Western
and Central Development Region of Nepal. They are Mustang, Myagdi, Parbat, Kaski, Syanja,
Tanahun, Lamjung, Gorkha, Manang, Arghakhanchi, Rupandehi, and Dolkha districts.

1.2.1 Objectives

To support the effective participation of people in Constituent Assembly process in
Nepal,

To support the enable marginalize groups to identify and articulate their concerns, and
engage and develop the capacity of constituent assembly representatives to
effectively represent marginalized groups.

1.2.2 Facilitation of Community Declaration Process

Altogether 13,009 people participated in community declaration dialogues.

Male 48% and Female 52% participants attended the community declaration
dialogues.

Brahmins 6%, Chhetri 5%, Janajati 53%, Dalit 22%, Mdhesi Dalit 5% and Muslim 9%
took part in community declaration dialogues.

123 facilitators among them Male 46 (37%) and Female 77 (63%) trained to facilitate
the community declaration dialogues.

Altogether 241 community declaration dialogues were conducted in 224 VDCs/
Municipalities.

10 Brahmins, 6 Chhetri, 139 Janajati, 52 Dalit, 11 Terai Dalit and 23 Muslim
communities were selected for community declaration dialogues.

Community declaration meetings covered by prominent media such as national and
local newspaper, FM Radio and TV channels.

1.2.3 District Declaration/ Public Forum/ Public Hearings

28 CA members, 61 local leaders, 37 government officials, 295 ethnic leaders, 107
civil society representatives, 91 press and 83 others were participated in district
declaration/ public forum programs.

District declarations from 75 districts compiled and consolidated into a citizen national
manifesto for CA. This is being handed over to CA.

National Manifesto Contents :

Inclusive PR election system.

Social and cultural rights should be guaranteed as fundamental rights.

Non-discrimination policies.

Access and control of indigenous communities over natural and cultural resources.

Mother tongue as national language.

Protection of cultural resources of indigenous people.

Language, nationalities and culture as determining factor of self-governing autonomy.

Right to environment and education.

Protection of traditional resource skills.

Participant submitted District Declaration to CA Members
(Suresh Ale, Kumar Rai & Hasina Begam)
Participants at Community Declaration meeting, Lete,
Mustang

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.