2006 - 2009

WHY USAID/OTI WAS IN NEPAL

After 11 years of armed insurgency in Nepal, a window of opportunity for peace and reconciliation opened in late 2006. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed and, soon thereafter, an interim constitution was enacted and an interim parliament that included the Maoists was formed. In August 2006, USAID/OTI began a program to support a peaceful, democratic transition in Nepal.

USAID/OTI'S ROLE IN NEPAL

To positively affect the political transition and to assist in Nepal’s transition to peace and democracy, USAID/OTI sought to:

• Increase access to information and diverse public debate on issues critical to the political transition; and
• Increase effectiveness of key political transition institutions.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• USAID/OTI supported efforts to increase awareness of the CPA, the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections and constitutional issues through local-level initiatives and wide-reaching radio and TV programs targeting different groups of Nepali society. Following the CA elections, USAID/OTI supported the Secretariat of the Legislative Parliament to found a media resource center, a press conference hall and an internal broadcasting system to increase public access to the CA proceedings.

• To strengthen media, USAID/OTI supported the start and growth of local radio stations aiming to increase Nepalese access to information about the political transition, particularly in remote and underserved areas. USAID/OTI-supported local radio stations gathered public questions and concerns through call-in programs and subsequently connected communities with their local government officials, political party officials, civil society members and CA representatives.

• Responding to the drastic rise of identity-based politics and lawlessness leading youth into violent and criminal activities in the volatile Eastern and Central Terai districts, USAID/OTI focused on programs motivating youth to invest time and energy in small-scale community development projects. Communities responded favorably, contributing time and labor and affirming youth participation. These youth-managed small-scale development projects reached 540 Village Development Committees and included improvements to community libraries and early childhood development centers, roads and schools.