Past Projects
1. Community Organizing for Sustainable and Empowerment based Livelihood Empowerment Phase 2
Project Overview:
Nepal is undergoing a complex transition to a federal system following the Constitution of 2072, with three tiers of government federal, provincial, and local still struggling to function effectively. Challenges such as weak infrastructure, unclear division of authority, limited experience, and poor coordination have hindered governance. At the local level, limited capacity and understanding of federal mechanisms risk misuse of power and weak public participation, particularly among marginalized groups. Although inclusion has been prioritized, it remains insufficient, and corruption and lack of accountability continue to undermine development efforts.
At the same time, deep socio-economic issues persist. Limited industrialization and seasonal agriculture leave many unemployed and food insecure, especially small farmers, landless laborers, and marginalized communities. Malnutrition among women and children is widespread, and poverty is exacerbated by low agricultural returns and weak job creation. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these conditions by reducing income opportunities and straining food security. Despite modest progress in human development indicators, significant inequalities remain, particularly in gender and access to resources, weakening social cohesion and limiting inclusive growth.
Sudurpaschim Province:
Bajura- Jagannath rural municipality
Lumbini Province:
Banke- Kohalpur Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality
Bardiya: Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality and Gulariya Rural Municipality
Dang: Banglachuli Rural Municipality and Dangisharan Rural Municipality
Karnali Province:
Jajarkot: Bheri Municipality, Chhedagad Rural Municipality, and Shivalaya Rural Municipality
Duration: January 2021 – December 2025
Total Budget: 1.3 million Euro
Donor: The Development Fund, Norway
Implementing partners/consortium:
- Paschim Jajarkot Bikas Samaj, Jajarkot
- Samaj Bikas Sanjal, Dang
- Sambriddha Samaj Samaj, Dang
- Bheri Samudayik Bikas Samaj, Jajarkot
- Tribeni Bikas Samaj, Banke
- Janashakti Bikas Samaj, Bardiya
- Nepal Gandharva Samaj, Banke
Beneficiaries: 12,213 households from poor, marginalized, climate-vulnerable women, and food insecure Dalits, women, and lead farmers.
2. SHAKTI (Empowered Civil Societies of Nepal)
Project Overview:
Nepal underwent a major political transformation after the Nepalese Civil War, transitioning in 2008 from a centralized system to a federal structure with municipal, provincial, and national governments. This shift created new roles for civil servants and aimed to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance under the vision of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.” Development indicators have improved, with Nepal’s Human Development Index rising from 0.537 in 2010 to 0.602 in 2020, and its Multidimensional Poverty Index significantly decreasing. The country has introduced progressive policies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, established inclusion-focused commissions, and increased representation of women, Dalit, Janajati, and people with disabilities in governance. Social protection programs and national health insurance schemes have also been implemented.
Despite these gains, poverty and inequality remain widespread, driven by unequal resource distribution, geographic challenges, social discrimination, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many rural communities lack access to basic services such as clean water, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, while food insecurity and climate-related disasters like floods and landslides continue to worsen livelihoods. Social exclusion persists due to entrenched caste, gender, and ethnic biases, and participation in governance is often minimal for marginalized groups. Women have limited economic decision-making power, and youth migration for foreign employment has reduced local human resources. Newly established government structures face capacity gaps, with officials requiring further training to operate effectively in a decentralized, accountable system, while communities need stronger organization and awareness to engage in civic processes and advocate for their rights.
Sudurpaschim Province
Bajura- Gaumul Rural Municipality & Jagannath Rural Municipality
Kailali- Gauriganga Municipality
Kanchanpur-Beldandi RM
Duration: October 2022 to November 2025
Total Budget: NPR 4,86,43,125
Donor: SHEP/ Irish Aid Ireland Gaumul RM & Jajannath RM of Bajura
Implementing partners/consortium:
- Samabesi Bikas Samaj, Kailali
- Kanchanpur Samudayik Bikas Kendra, Kanchanpur
Beneficiaries:
3600 Households from marginalized Community people, Women. Youths, Dalit, Janjati, PWD
3. Enabling Truth, Memory, and Justice
Project Overview:
This program will promote and facilitate the effective participation of conflict victims in a credible and victim-centered transitional justice process, working through four local partners and across 13 municipalities in Nepal. The program will strengthen the capacity of local civil society to document human rights violations, support locally led advocacy, educational initiatives, memorialization, archiving, and truth-telling activities, and facilitate the empowerment of victims, survivors, and their families through mentorship, entrepreneurship and psychosocial support (PSS). Conflict victims will be able to live with dignity and recognition of their experiences, as well supported by initiatives thatpromote their mental and psychosocial well-being and sustainable livelihoods.
Karnali Province
Surkhet – Chingad Rural Municipality, Chaukune Rural Municipality, and Birendranagar Municipality
Rukum west (Musikot Municipality, Triveni Rural Municipality)
Rukum East (Bhume Rural Municipality)
Duration: January 2022 to January 2025
Total Budget:
Donor: International Alert/US Department of State
Beneficiaries:
4. Community-led Agroecological Practices for Food Sovereignty (CAPFS)
Project Overview:
The project was implemented in wards 7, 8, and 9 of Junichande Rural Municipality, targeting 600 households from Dalit, Janajati, and Chhetri communities. It followed the FEST (process-led community development) approach, forming 24 Community Development Groups (CDGs) with 25 members each, which later created a Palika-level network. These groups engaged in action-reflection processes, strengthened linkages with local government, and built capacity to access resources and participate in planning. The project emphasized agroecology as a sustainable solution, promoting practices such as kitchen gardening, agroforestry, and organic farming using local resources. It also sought collaboration with local and provincial governments to integrate agroecological approaches into policies and budgets, aiming to improve food security, climate resilience, and especially women’s empowerment.
The target area faced severe food insecurity, poverty, and marginalization due to remoteness, limited infrastructure, and social inequalities. Although most households depended on agriculture, only a small proportion could produce enough food year-round, with diets lacking diversity and nutrition. Traditional mono-cropping, limited irrigation, deforestation, and increasing reliance on chemical inputs had reduced soil productivity and sustainability. Water scarcity, climate risks, and dependence on seasonal migration especially to India further weakened livelihoods. Governance challenges, including low participation, weak accountability, and caste and gender discrimination, continued to exclude marginalized groups, particularly Dalits and women, from decision-making and economic opportunities, reinforcing cycles of poverty and underdevelopment.
Karnali
Jajarkot: Junichande Rural Municipality (wards no. 7, 8, & 9)
Duration: January 2022 to December 2024
Total Budget: NPR. 1,58,11,819
Donor: Fastenaktion, Switzerland
Beneficiaries: 600
5. Solidarity Camp
Project Overview:
An Earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck at Ramidanda in Jajarkot in the middle of the night on 17th Kartik, 2080. But, Jajarkot and Rukum had to bear the human loss. 153 people lost their lives in Jajarkot and Rukum, more than 300 people were injured. Houses built on old structures were collapsed. The Earthquake devastated, some of them became homeless, some of them lost their vermilion, some of them lost their children in front of their eyes and many people became orphans easier. Initiatives are being taken from all sides to overcome the uncomfortable situation.
This solidarity camp aimed to develop and promote feeling of solidarity and volunteerism among community members. For the earthquake- survivors, it is the continuation of physical/muscle support to the most affected communities so that they can restart their day-to-day communities. Further, the target is also to document the process of solidarity camp to be shared among wider community
Karnali
Jajarkot- Bheri Municipalty ward no. 1 & 4
West Rukum- Sanibheri Rural Municipality ward no. 7
Duration: December 2023- March 2024
Total Budget: NPR 33,96,607
Donor: Fastenaktion
Beneficiaries
Six solidarity camps- 126 household and 4 public structure including public school and ward rebuilt. 114 volunteers from CBNOs, Community groups from Dang, Banke, Bardia, Kailali, Kanchanpur, and Surkhet along with 128 local volunteers were mobilized.
6. SAHAJ PROJECT (Integrated Program for Strengthening Security and Justice)
Project Overview
The Community-Police Partnership program aims to build a peaceful and secure society by strengthening collaboration between the Nepal Police and local communities. Guided by the slogan “Har prahar, gaun ra nagari, toltolma Nepal Prahari,” the program focuses on increasing public awareness of security, preventing crime and violence, and promoting community engagement. It supports coordination, information sharing, and joint actions on issues such as crime control, disaster management, and road safety, in collaboration with local stakeholders and organizations like Nepal Scout and the Nepal Red Cross.
Building on lessons from the SAHAJ project, International Alert is implementing a follow-up initiative to strengthen effective practices, enhance mutual accountability between communities and police, further institutionalize community security mechanisms within the Nepal Police, and document key learnings for future programming.
Karnali Province
Surkhet- Birendranagar Municipality, Panchapuri Municipality, Bheriganga Municipality, Lekbhesi Municipality
Dailekh- Dullu Municipality, Guransh RM
Rukum west- Sani Bheri Municipality
Lumbini Province
Pyuthan- Jimrukh RM
Kapilvastu- Kapilvastu Municipality
Rupandehi- Kotahimai RM
Banke- Baijyanath RM
Project duration: July 2023 to December 2023
Donor: International Alert, IJPSJ/UK AID
Total Budget: NPR. 32,11,003
Beneficiaries: Women and Marginalized individuals
7. WASH SDG
Project Overview
The WASH SDG Programme was implemented by Sahakarmi Samaj to promote the use of inclusive and sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Banke and Surkhet districts of Nepal. The project focused on addressing gaps in access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene practices, particularly among marginalized and underserved communities. Many households in these areas faced challenges such as unsafe water sources, inadequate sanitation facilities, and low awareness of hygiene practices, which contributed to poor health outcomes and increased vulnerability.
The programme adopted a community-led approach to create demand for affordable and sustainable WASH services. Through the facilitation for empowerment and social transformation (FEST) approach, community WASH groups were mobilized and strengthened to identify their needs, invest in WASH solutions, and take collective action. The project emphasized behavior change, capacity building, and local ownership, enabling communities to improve their WASH conditions while advocating for their rights and ensuring long-term sustainability of services.
Lumbini Province
Banke
Surkhet
Duration: July 2020- 31 March 2023
Total Budget: NPR 1,88,32,500
Donor: Simavi, The Netherlands
Beneficiaries: 2450
8. Facilitating the Implementation of the activities under the Accountability ProjectWASH SDG
Objectives:
- To enhance the communication/ feedback loop between the citizens and the government, and raise awareness
Karnali Province
Surkhet: Chaukune rural municipality, Dailekh: Narayan municipality,
Paschim Rukum: Tribeni rural municipality
Duration: 20 April 2023 – 20 Oct 2023
Donor: UNDP
Total Budget: NPR. 29,90,199
Beneficiaries: 2000
9. Enhancing Citizens' Participation in Sub-National Good Governance (EU Project)
Project Overview:
Project Description : The project “Enhancing Citizen’s Participation in Sub-National Good Governance in the Context of New Federal System in Nepal” is led by the consortium partners Sahakarmi Samaj, Dalit Development Society (DDS), Centre for Dalit Women Nepal (CDWN), Terre deshommes Foundation in Nepal (Tdh), and IM–Swedish Development Partner. The project wasimplemented in 12 Palikas of three districts of Karnali Province i. e., Jajarkot (Bheri, Shivalaya,Junichande, and Chhedgad), Kalikot (Khadachakra, Naraharinath, and SanniTriveni) and Salyan (Siddha Kumakh, Kapurkot, Triveni, Kalimati, and Darma) to empower citizens and civil society at large to independently play their role in the governance and development processes for an inclusive and participatory democracy conducive to inclusive and sustainable growth.
Period: Jan 2019–Dec 2022
Donor: European Union
Budget: NPR 12,64,13,460
Coverage
Jajarkot (Junichade, Bheri, Shivalaya, Chedagad); Kalikot (Khadachakra, Narharinath, Sanni Triveni)
Beneficiaries: 21,756 (13,158 female, 8,598 male)
10. Covid-19 Emergency Responses in Nepal [CERN]
Objectives:
- Strengthen local public health institutions to improve emergency Covid-19 Testing & treatment.
- Awareness-raising on prevention, testing, treatment, and Vaccinations through electronic and print media
- Improve access of hard-to-reach PSNs on Vaccination
Key Achievements:
- 18 health institutions, including zonal and district hospitals, benefiting 68,341 individuals (35,445 females and 32,893 males)
- Enhanced access to health services such as awareness campaigns, testing, hospitalization, and vaccination drives
- 17,341 vulnerable individuals received coaching on COVID-19 awareness and vaccination encouragement.
Province: Lumbini
District: Banke and Bardiya
Municipality:16 Palikas Banke & Bardiya, Bheri Hospital & Bardiya Hospital
Duration: July 2021 to June 2022
Total Budget: NPR. 19,534,889
Donor: CORDAID Netherland
Beneficiaries: 164,240- Public health institutions, and COVID-19 victims.
11. Joint Response of ACT Alliance Nepal to the Second Wave of COVID-19
Objectives:
- To improve WASH facilities and IPC mechanisms in school
- To improve the mental well-being of COVID-19 victims
- To support for livelihood of migrant returnees during the pandemic
- To support health institutions for effective service delivery during the pandemic
Lumbini Province
Banke- Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan city and Kohalpur Municiapality
Dang– Duduwa Rural Municipality and Gadhwa Rural Municipality
Duration: 1 August 2021 TO 30 April 2022
Total Budget: NPR 1,14,92,375
Funding Organization: Act Alliance (ICCO Cooperation Nepal)
Beneficiaries:
4,021 household covered and health institutions, schools, COVID-19 isolation centers, migrant returnees
12. Capacity development of Community Groups/Tole Bikaas Committee and Community Governance Strengthening Program
Project objectives:
- To support the existing mechanism of local government for effective mobilization, implementation, and management of local government for Community Groups/ Tole Bikaas through strengthening their organizational, management, and mobilization capacity.
- To create an enabling environment for those mechanisms to have access to resources by developing coordination and collaboration with various organizations.
Sudurpaschim Province
Bajura- Jagannath Municipality, Budinanda Municipality, Badimalika Municipality, Gaumul RM
Karnali Province
Jajarkot- Bheri Municipality
Duration: June 2019 – July 2024
Beneficiaries: 80% of households of the total household coverage of the mentioned palikas.
Total Budget: NPR. 3,00,000 each from rural/municipality
Donor: Bheri Municipality of Jajarkot district, and Jagannath Municipality, Budinanda Municipality, Badimalika Municipality, and Gaumul Rural Municipality of Bajura district.