Mid-Term Assessment of GESI Indicators: Hariyo Ban Program II Final Report

The program period is five years, from 15 July 2016 to 14 July 2021. The program is being implemented by four core partners: WWF Nepal as the prime recipient, with the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), and the Federation of Community Forestry Users in Nepal (FECOFUN). The program covers two landscapes: Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape and Terai Arc Landscape. The mid-term assessment of Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) indicators was conducted in four districts: Banke and Bardiya from the Terai Arc Landscape, and Chitwan, Kaski, and Tanahun from the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape. The assessment included household surveys with 518 respondents, 10 Focus Group Discussions, and 250 executive committee interviews. The results show that 82.43% of female and marginalized groups perceive that NRM members, including men and decision-makers, exhibit gender equitable and socially inclusive behavior. This value is higher in Kaski compared to other sample districts. The assessment also found that 99.23% of respondents believe that the gender role has changed to some extent, and 77.61% of respondents believe that they have adopted new roles over traditional roles in the past two years. These findings were validated by the FGD participants, who felt that men and decision-makers now show more gender-equitable and inclusive behavior compared to two years ago. However, a patriarchal mindset is still deeply rooted among NRM members, which requires more tailored-made activities and transformative approaches. The overall value for each GESI indicator has increased in the mid-term assessment. The district-wise value for some sample districts is lower compared to baseline due to more clarity and understanding of gender and social inclusion issues, respondents' ability to differentiate between gender-equitable and inclusive behavior, and replacement of some baseline respondents/executive members during the mid-term assessment. Recommendations include more GESI sensitization and capacity building among NRM groups and committees through a transformative approach, as well as more awareness-raising activities and capacity building for marginalized NRM members. Additionally, more coordination among Gaupalikas and other stakeholders at the local level is vital for addressing the root causes of gender inequality and exclusion. Capacity building on designing and delivering training, and resource mobilization is also needed to make NRM leaders self-sustainable in the long run. The assessment highlights the importance of continued support for GESI initiatives, particularly in the areas of awareness-raising, capacity building, and leadership development. The findings suggest that while progress has been made, more work is needed to address the root causes of gender inequality and exclusion in the communities.