IRMI Quarterly Report: Oct-Dec 2014

The program aims to enhance stability through natural resource conflict resolution and inclusive natural resource management in 20 Village Development Committees (VDCs) across four districts in the western Terai region. The expected program beneficiaries are approximately 237,000 people, with 7,557 households and 45,066 family members reached so far. The program's overarching goal is to facilitate the resolution of resource-based conflicts, promote inclusive decision-making related to natural resource use and management, and reduce natural resource competition through joint environmental and economic initiatives. Theories of change underlying the program include the assumption that local decision-making related to natural resource use and management will become more inclusive, leading to a decrease in resource-related conflicts, and that Nepalis working together to reduce pressure on natural resources will lead to a decline in conflict over these resources and more sustainable dispute resolution agreements. The program facilitates natural resource-based conflict resolution, promotes inclusive management, and strengthens governance practices of Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) through various activities, including mapping natural resource conflicts, conducting joint training for key stakeholders in conflict analysis, facilitating the development of conflict resolution agreements, strengthening community user groups' internal governance, raising awareness on natural resources rights and responsibilities, supporting community participation in local government, facilitating community peace building forums, holding advocacy workshops with relevant government bodies, creating joint natural resource management initiatives, and supporting environmentally sustainable economic initiatives. During the reporting period, Mercy Corps and its partners achieved several key milestones, including establishing Natural Resource Management Forum (NRMF) boards in all target 20 CFUGs, organizing a three-day exposure visit for 41 CFUG leaders and key stakeholders of Banke district, conducting a two-day training on CFUG Governance and Management for 15 community level staff from BASE and SS, and conducting a three-day Dialogue Skills and Community Mediation refresher training for 263 key stakeholders in 14 CFUGs of four districts. Additionally, a proposal was finalized for 20 environmentally sustainable economic and 20 natural resource management initiatives in all target CFUGs, and district project advisory committee sessions were conducted in Dang and Bardiya districts. The program's progress is being monitored and evaluated through various means, including quarterly meetings, mentoring sessions, and community level education sessions. The IRMI team has also conducted 17 mentoring sessions with 253 key stakeholders, and 6 Natural Resource Management (NRM) disputes have been facilitated to resolution and agreements developed. Furthermore, district level advocacy workshops on crucial NRM issues have been conducted, and CFUG renewal has been achieved through updating of documentation, governance training, and linkages to appropriate district level offices.