Quarterly Progress Report
(January - March 2003)
Mitigating the Impact of the Maoist Conflict on Children and Youth in Nepal
Submitted to:
USAID Nepal Rabibhawan Kathmandu Nepal
Submitted by:
Save the Children US Himalayan Field Office Kathmandu Nepal
Date: 8 May 2003
Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary…………………………………………………….. II. Administrative/Management Achievements………………… III. Program Achievements……………………………………………..
A. Overview of Goals and Objectives……………………………… B. Achievements against Objectives and Indicators……………
1.0 Advocacy……………………………………………………………. 2.0 Restore and Increase Access to Quality Education………………. 3.0 Mitigate the Psychosocial Impact of Fear and Violence on Children………………………………………….. 4.0 Improved Psychosocial and Economic Support to At-Risk Children………………………………………………… 5.0 Contribute to Partners' Capacity, Program Learning And Policy Development through Research………………………
1 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 10
IV. Lessons Learned………………………………………………………. V. Plans for the Next Quarter ………………………………………… VI. Budget Expenditures ……………………………………………… Annexes: Case Studies …………………………………………………...
List of Acronyms
BASE CiC CWIN DDC DEO DCWC DIP DPHO DWO ME MHP NGO NRCS PNGO PHC SAFE SC/US TOT USAID VDC Backward Society Education Children in Conflict/Crisis Child Workers in Nepal District Development Committee District Education Office District Child Welfare Committee Detailed Implementation Plan District Public Health Office Dalit Welfare Organization Monitoring and Evaluation Mental Health Project of the Institute of Medicine Non-Governmental Organization Nepal Red Cross Society Partner Non-Governmental Organization Primary Health Care Social Awareness for Education Save the Children Federation, Inc., US Training of Trainers United States Agency for International Development Village Development Committee
I. Executive Summary
The Children in Crisis/Conflict (CiC) program is designed to mitigate the negative impact the current Maoist crisis has had on children and adolescents, with Save the Children US building from its existing educational, child and adolescent development programs to reach this specific, highly vulnerable, target group. This quarterly report covers the period between January – March 2003. During this period Save the Children US, together with its partners, accomplished the following activities. The significant achievements during this period are: Program Officers and grassroots level implementation staff hired. CiC Detailed Implementation Plan reviewed and finalized with PNGOs. CIC Program Orientation conducted for staff and board members of PNGOs. District level orientation conducted to stakeholders. School based assessment conducted. Master Training of Trainers on psychosocial counseling conducted. District level Training of Trainers on psychosocial counseling conducted.
Three-hundred and three directly affected children identified, with intermediate support
provided to 59 children.
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II. Administrative/ Management Achievements
A. Hiring Staff for CiC project
During the reporting period, Save the Children US (SC/US) recruited for two key program positions: the Program Officers for Kailali and for Kathmandu. In February, Mr. Surendra Chaudhary was hired for the Kailali position. Recruitment for the Kathmandu position continued throughout this program period. (Although beyond the time period covered by this report, SC/US is happy to report that Ms. Anjalee Thakali-Sakya filled this position in mid-April). Project partners also engaged in major recruitment this quarter. With assistance from SC/US, project partners developed hiring criteria and conducted interviews, primarily for the position of Social Mobilizer. Altogether 13 males and 11 females were hired to fill open positions. Fifty-four percent of the staffs hired are from the Dalit community and six percent from the Tharu community.
B. DIP and M&E Plan Finalized
The Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and Monitoring & Evaluation plans, which had been preliminarily completed during the previous quarter, were finalized and agreed to by all partners during a workshop held from January 8 to 10 in Nepalgunj. In addition to ensuring all partners clearly understand the DIP and project indicators and means of verification, this workshop was also a forum for all CiC Program partners to get together and share their experiences and expertise, and to seek technical assistance where and when necessary.
C. Program Orientation to PNGO Board Members and Staff
A two-day orientation program was organized at the SC/US office in Kailali on 3-4 February for staff members and board members of CiC Program partners. The purpose of this program was to orient participants to the program’s objectives and implementing mechanism, and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of staff members versus board members. Participants represented BASE, NRCS, DWO and SAFE (See table 1) Table 1. Participants on Program Orientation to PNGO Board members and staff PNGOs NRCS BASE DWO SAFE Total Male 3 2 4 6 15 Staff Female 3 3 3 2 11 Board Member Male Female 1 2 1 2 6 Total 7 7 8 10 32
D. District Level Orientation to Stakeholders
Considering that the CiC Program is new and will be engaged in sensitive work, SC/US and its partners believed it was important to ensure clear understanding about the program by all stakeholders who may be directly or indirectly involved, including government line agencies, nongovernmental organizations, human rights activist, representatives of bar association, and social workers. Accordingly, stakeholder orientation programs were held in Kailali (5 Feb 2003), Bardia (5 March 2003) and Banke (16 March 2003). The main objective of the orientations was to familiarize participants with the program goal, strategic objectives and the process to support activities.
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Table 2. Participants on Program Orientation for District Level Stakeholders District Kailali Bardia Banke Date 05.02.03 05.03.03 16.03.03 Participants Male Female 54 9 38 19 35 7 Total 63 57 42
In addition to introducing these stakeholders to the CiC Program, this orientation also played a general advocacy role, raising the issue of children in conflict to members of government and civil society.
III. Program Achievements
A. Overview of Goals and Objectives
Below we restate the program goals and objectives for USAID’s easy reference.
GOAL
To improve the care and protection of children and adolescents affected by the current conflict in Nepal.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
1.0 Initiate advocacy efforts to protect the rights and neutrality of children and adolescents in the conflict 2.0 Restore and/or increase children’s and adolescents’ access to quality education and health services in SC/US impact areas 3.0 Mitigate the psychosocial impact of fear and violence on children and adolescents 4.0 Improve the psychosocial and economic support systems for at-risk children and adolescents affected by the conflict 5.0 Contribute to partners' capacity, program learning, and policy development through research into the impact of conflict on children and adolescents. SC/US’s proposed program response support the achievement of results in four areas: Advocacy Support for children and adolescents generally affected by the conflict Programming for at-risk children and adolescents Program learning
B. Achievement against Objectives and Indicators
As will be seen by the below reported activities, good progress was made this quarter, both in continuing to lay the foundation for the program and in initiating some core program activities.
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1.0 Advocacy General Advocacy All of the above-reported orientation meetings played important advocacy roles, as well as program management roles, involving stakeholders in the program and encouraging them to focus on the issue of children in conflict. In addition, a series of meetings were held with government and civil society leaders from the grassroots level all the way to the national level. Our partner NGOs (PNGOs) introduced the program and discussed CiC issues in general with various District and VDC-level stakeholders, such as District Child Welfare Committees (DCWC), District Education Offices, District Public Health Offices, District Development Offices, District Administration offices, local teachers, social workers, local community organizations. The SC/US Regional Office in Nepalgunj has also formed strong links with district level line agencies, and on a national level, SC/US has participated in meetings with the Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB) to ensure cooperation and coordination. All of these meetings served to ensure that this issue of children in conflict remains very much on the minds and in the hearts of community, district and national leaders. Advocacy for Schools as Zones of Peace In January 2003, one of our PNGOs, CWIN, led discussions with our other PNGOs on a paper regarding the necessity of establishing schools as peace zones, as well as sharing a code of conduct for all staff working with the children in the affected areas. CWIN gathered feedback from this discussion with participants regarding this “schools as zone of peace” paper, and more recently, gathered additional input from the members of the newly-established Children in Conflict Coordination Committee in Kathmandu. Advocacy with Children's Groups Two new Child Clubs (Shiv Shakti in Jamuni VDC and Jyoti in Sorahawa VDC) were formed by the Dalit Welfare Organization (DWO) in Bardiya during this reporting period. Members of these two new clubs, as well as 48 pre-existing Child Clubs (CC) and 15 Junior Red Cross (JRC) chapters received orientation on child protection and development from our PNGOs. These Child Clubs & Junior Red Cross chapters will be mobilized for community awareness-raising campaigns on children's protection and development in the future. Table 3. Child Protection and Advocacy Groups
PNGOs BASE DWO NRCS TOTAL 50 46 4 15 15 # of Child Clubs # of Junior Red Cross
Progress toward Indicator 1.1: Document Drafted Establishing Schools as Peace Zones & Respecting Children’s Rights to Neutrality and Protection As noted above, significant progress was made in the preparation of this document, which now exists in draft form. Progress toward Indicator 1.2: Child Protection and Advocacy Groups Established at National, District and Local level
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At the national level, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare has formed the Children in Conflict Coordination Committee (CICCC), convened by the Executive Director of the Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB). The CCWB is mainly responsible for establishing effective coordination and linkages among the organizations working and planning to work in the field of Children in Conflict. While no formal district and local committees were established during this program period, the series of advocacy meetings held forms a strong foundation on which to build these groups in the coming months. Progress toward Indicator 1.3: General Amnesty for Children/Adolescents No major progress was made toward this indicator this quarter. 2.0 Restore and Increase Access to Quality Education During this quarter, a school-based assessment was carried out in all CiC Program VDCs, with an aim of learning about the existing situation of schools, specifically identifying basic requirements for quality education and exploring the types of sanitation and health facilities available at the local level. It took extensive time to collect the necessary data for this due to a lack of updated information. The analysis of the gathered data currently is under compilation. Once the analysis is complete, appropriate strategies will be developed together with representatives of the District Education Office (DEO), School Management Committee (SMC), teachers, parents and other concerned stakeholders to restore and/ or increase children’s and adolescent's access to quality education. Progress Toward Indicator 2.1: Implementation of Solutions to Relieve Overcrowding The final results of the school-based assessment conducted this quarter will allow for the development of appropriate strategies to address overcrowding in schools. Progress Toward Indicator 2.2: Increased School Retention Among 10-16 year-olds Similarly, the school-based assessment final results will allow for the development of appropriate strategies to increase school retention of children aged 10 to 16. Progress Toward Indicator 2.3: Community Awareness Campaigns by Community Groups Advocacy orientations carried out this quarter with 65 different Child Clubs and chapters of the Junior Red Cross set the groundwork for the development of awareness campaigns by these local groups in the future. 3.0 Mitigate the Psychosocial Impact of Fear and Violence on Children Master Training of Trainers (TOT) on Communication Facilitation To mitigate the psychosocial impact of fear and violence on children and adolescents, a 15-day Master TOT on Communication Facilitation with children affected by the conflict was organized by the Mental Health Project (MHP) of the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu from 9 - 23 Feb, 2003. The participants came from Kailali, Banke and Bardiya, and included CiC Program Project Coordinators, Board Members or our PNGOs and Primary Health Care (PHC) workers from the District Primary Health Offices. (PHC workers were included to build support from government health networks at the district level.)
Table 4. Master TOT for Communication Facilitation with Children affected by the conflict Venue Date Male Kathmandu 09-23 Feb, 2003 14
5
Participants Female 1 15
Total
The general objective of the TOT was to develop and improve the knowledge and skill of the trainees involved regarding communication facilitation with children affected by conflict. It provided them both knowledge and skills to work as a facilitator in future. District level TOT in psycho-social counseling Two 10-day district level TOTs in psychosocial counseling for children affected by the conflict were organized this quarter: one from 9 - 18 March 2003 in Nepalgunj and from 23 March - 1 April 2003 in Dhangadhi. The participants include all CiC Program Social Mobilizers, representatives of Health Posts from targeted VDCs, teachers and social workers. The TOT was conducted by representatives from the MHP. Additionally, Master TOT trainees also facilitated during the training to further hone their skills. Table 5. Participants of Psychosocial TOT (District Level)
Venue Date Participants Male Nepalgunj Kailali 9-18 March 2003 23 March- 1 April 2003 12 11 3 10 Female 15 21 Total
Participants from both the Master TOT and District level TOT will conduct a basic five-day training at VDC level for social workers and teachers, with one selected from each ward of all working VDCs. Effective Parenting in Conflict Training Prepared During this quarter, the MHP worked to develop a manual for training parents in effective parenting in conflict. As soon as it is finalized, a TOT will be conducted and program implemented . Similarly, SC is in regular contact with Boston University to assist the MHP and CiC Program partners to identify and train Master Trainers for psychosocial counseling and community participation for such programming. A series of meetings were held with the MHP for coordination with district partners to implement psychosocial training. Progress Toward Indicator 3.1: Community Organizations Received Training in Communitybased Psychosocial Support The Master and District Level TOTs that took place this quarter set the stage for the training of local organizations in this area. Progress Toward Indicator 3.2: Parents Trained in "Effective Parenting in Conflict" The MHP currently is working to develop and appropriate training manual for training trainers in "Effective Parenting in Conflict." 4.0 Improved Psychosocial and Economic Support for At-Risk Children Altogether, PNGOs identified 303 children who had been directly impacted by the crisis during this reporting period. A total of 59 of these children received some initial support from partners. In the future, a feasibility study will be conducted to identify appropriate income generation-related activities for children and female-headed households.
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Table 6: Number of At-Risk Children Receiving Direct Support
PNGO/ District BASE, Kailali NRCS, Kailali SAFE, Banke Support provided (School uniform/ stationery/ fee/ toys/ medical) 16 (School uniform-14, medical support-1, toys support-1) 36 (School uniform-14, stationery- 3, food stuff-19) 1 (School fee support)
DWO, Bardiya Total
6 (school uniform) 59
Progress toward Indicator 4.1: CiC Units Established to Identify, Support and Monitor At-risk Children While some at-risk children were identified by PNGOs this quarter, no CiC committees have yet been established at the local level. Progress toward Indicator 4.2: At-risk Children Referred by CiC Units Referrals will begin only after local CiC committees have been formed. 5.0 Contribute to Partner's Capacity, Program Learning and Policy Development Through Research While no research was conducted during this quarter, as already noted above, PNGO staff members participated in CiC program orientations that laid the foundation for their delivery of programs to mitigate the impact of the conflict and promote the rights and neutrality of children in conflict. Progress toward Indicator 5.1: PNGOs trained in designing and delivering programming for children in conflict All PNGOs received an orientation in the program design, laying the groundwork for more comprehensive training in the future. Progress toward Indicator 5.2: Established CiC Committees at district and village level monitoring and reporting on child protection. CiC committees not yet established at the local level. Progress toward Indicator 5.3: Nepal Program Learning Group established. Not yet established. Progress toward Indicator 5.4: Program Impact Study Initiated. Initial school-based assessment conducted this quarter.
IV. Lessons Learned
Program implementation is dramatically assisted by taking the time to develop good working relationships, and by building trust within the local community. PNGOs have extensive local networks that should be mobilized to increase program efficacy.
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The involvement of media/ journalists needs to be initiated as a part of the advocacy, from the national level to the local level.
V. Plans for the Next Quarter
Formation and training of District Level CiC committees in Kailali and Banke, with support from CWIN. Finalization of roles and responsibilities of District level CiC committee with CWIN. CiC program orientation and formation of CiC committee at the VDC level. Regular meetings with CiC committees. Additional Child Club formation to mobilize advocacy for child protection and development. CiC program orientation and street drama training for members of Child Clubs and Junior Red Cross chapters. Feasibility assessment of income generation activity for female & child-headed families affected by the conflict. Interaction with DEO, District Education Committee and line agencies to minimize overcrowding in schools. Interactions with VDC level stakeholders such as School Management Committee, Parents, teachers and social workers to relieve overcrowding in needy schools. Psychosocial counseling and effective parenting training at community level. Further Identification of children and families affected by the conflict Immediate support to children at risk and support to the generally affected school children.
VI. Budget Expenditure
As evident from the attached spreadsheet, the budget is slightly underspent for the January to March 2003 time period. This underspending is primarily due to delays in starting major program implementation strategies due to the time taken to negotiate with partners, finalize the DIP and other preparations. It is expected that budget expenditures will increase markedly during the next quarter.
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Save the Children Mitigating the Impact of the Maoist Conflict on Children and Youth in Nepal-AID Financial Report Grant # 367-G-00-02-00216-00 C.C. Budget Head LOP Budget Yr 1 Budget Total Total Total $ $ Expenses Expenses Expenses Thru Janthrough 31 Dec.'02 March'03 March '03 $ 9,603 4,551 9,196 463 3,149 26,962 4,861 31,823 10,754 2,361 2,097 2,849 2,857 4,407 42,975 68,299 12,314 80,614 20,357 6,912 11,293 3,312 2,857 7,555 42,975 95,261 17,176 112,437 Yr 1 Budget Spent % Annual Budget Balance $ 28,416 10,021 4,051 586 8,803 58,719 148,515 259,111 35,951 295,062
Salaries 101,188 48,773 Fringe Benefit and Allowance 35,415 16,933 Travel & Per Diem 30,960 15,344 Supplies & Equipment 3,897 3,898 Contractual STTA 24,159 11,660 Other Direct Costs 129,163 66,274 Subagreement 294,600 191,490 Sub-total Direct 619,382 354,372 Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) 80,618 53,127 Total Program 700,000 407,499 Note: The above total does not include HO charges of March 2003 Fund Status $ a) Total Receipt 127,000 b) Total to-date expenditure 112,437 Balance due to/from (a-d) 14,563
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42% 41% 74% 85% 25% 11% 22% 27% 32% 28%
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ANNEX-1
Case Studies
I can't believe he's dead…
"I can't believe he's dead," says Mrs. Devi Chaudhary, weeping. Her husband, Khushi Ram
Chaudhary, had joined the Maoist party and dreamt of a future in which the state was in their favor, the poor would have good opportunities, society would be free from exploitation, and there would be no more discrimination. But, Devi says, he left nothing, he did not achieve his dream, and he left her alone without any support. Her husband was studying at Kailali Multiple Campus and living in a small house nearby. One day, police went to his house to trap him, but he escaped and went into hiding. On several occasions the police and army came to Devi's house searching for her husband but he was not ther e. It was then the family that suffered. The police beat both Devi and her sons. They threatened to shoot the whole family if Khushi Ram could not be found. One night the police entered the house at 10 p.m. Devi told her two sons, aged 10 and 8, to run away, and her younger son Rajiv hid himself under a bed. The police found him and kicked him around like a football. "They hit me and dragged me towards the road," Devi says. The police put guns to the heads of Devi and her sons and demanded to know where they were hiding Khushi Ram. Police arrested Khushi Ram's elder brother, Sita Ram, ordering that he find Khushi Ram within ten days or be shot. While Sita Ram tried his best to find his brother, he could not. The police tortured him several times and he finally committed suicide on Magh 3, 2056 BS. The family found his body hanging on a tree in the jungle near their village. After the death of Sita Ram, the police did not stop harassing the family. Crushed by sorrow and torture, Khushi Ram's father died on 11th Magh 2057 BS. Mr. Khushi Ram was ultimately killed by security forces on Magh 2058. Devi lives in Sade Pani VDC Ward No. 2 Jurpani, Kailali with her two sons, along with her widowed sister-in-law and her five children. As a household of nine people with no husbands to support them, they are barely managing to pay for food and the children's schooling. Devi does not know how much land they have, as the certificate is in the bank. She has to repay a Rs. 60,000 loan and their debt is increasing rapidly. Devi says that she never walks about her village or visits her neighbors because of shame and sorrow. When walking through the village, her eyes cannot focus and she feels as though her legs are becoming heavy and the earth is reeling beneath her. Ram Chandra, Devi's older son, said that he would be a "Thulo Manche” (big man) if his father were alive, but now he is not sure that his mother can support his education. Devi longs simply see her husband's body one last time. If she could perform the last rites according to her culture, then her soul would be satisfied.
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We could't Save his life
Mr. Ram Prasad Chaudhary, 24, had been in the Nepal Army for four years when he returned to his village from Rolpa district to celebrate Maghi, Tharu New Year, in January 2003. His young widow, Mrs. Ashi Devi Chaudhary, 20, describes the day: "We had lunch together as a family. Nobody felt the tension of daily work; everybody was enjoying various kinds of festival activities. The young boys and girls were dancing in the yard; adults were drinking homebrewed beer. It was a wonderful day." Ram Prasad came home around 10 PM and the family had just gone to bed when a large group of Maoists came and abruptly turned their happiness into sorrow. "Some people came to our home and broke down the door. They entered our room and asked, 'Where is Ram Prasad?' Then they started beating him. I begged them to spare my husband; I fell down at their feet pleading with them not to take my husband. My mother in-law also begged them to forgive her son and not take him away.'' For more than half an hour, Ashi Devi clung to Ram Prasad, desperately trying to save him as the crowd tried to drag him away. ''They threatened us by touching a gun to our head. They showed us the lightning knives and threatened to cut us if we told anyone." Ram Prasad's mother, Mrs. Dashani Chaudhary, 45, added that they wept and asked them to deliver the punishment inside the house but not take him outside. "We showed them his two children, and requested them to release him for the sake of the children but they did not listen us." Ashi Devi tearfully recounts how the people separated her from her husband. She tried her best to save him but could not. "They took him outside, closed the door and forced us not to tell anybody. They circled our house after they took him outside and then left after a few minutes. Afterwards, we spent the whole night in shock, weeping and praying to god to save him. We informed our neighbors and they tried to find Mr. Ram Prasad, but there was no way." The next day the villagers discovered his body on the ground near the village. He was found bound, gagged, and decapitated. Sixteen-year-old Saitu Ram, Ram Prasad's brother, said that the village people had no answers for the tragedy. He added that the villagers informed the police and military, who came and took away the dead body. Ram Prasad left behind a family of six--his wife, daughter Sangita and son Sunil, a younger brother and sister, and his mother. Sangita, 5 is in Kindergarten in the village school. Saitu Ram has dropped out of school and is working to support the family. The family has a very small amount of land that is not enough to feed them for the whole year, which is why they has sent Ram Prasad to work in the Nepal Army. His mother now says, "Mero dunga dubayo (my boat has sunk). How will we survive?"
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