At village level
LFP works with the rural communities through community forest user groups, with specific focus on the poorest and most excluded people. These include economically poor households and socially disadvantaged groups and individuals – women, lower and formerly 'untouchable' (Dalit) castes, indigenous ethnic groups (Janajati), religious minorities (such as Muslims) and marginalised plains dwellers (Madhesis). LFP has a multi-stakeholder approach to supporting and strengthening Forest User Groups (FUGs). It works with a range of partners towards effective and coordinated service provision and social and economic empowerment of poor and excluded people. Partners range from central and local government structures to non-governmental and community based organizations. At district level
LFP works with local government and non-government partners at district level. It works in close partnership with the District Forest Office and civil society partners including local NGOs and forest user networks such as the Federation of Community Forestry Users of Nepal (FECOFUN). It also works with a range of wider stakeholders such as the Agriculture Development Office and Veterinary and Livestock Development Office through coordination by the District Development Committee. LFP works with local NGOs which can access remote areas and have a commitment to working with poor and excluded communities. LFP has found that the capacity of partner NGOs can be developed through working together in genuine partnership (rather than a contractual arrangement). LFP is working with about 50 local NGOs in long-term partnerships towards sustainable provision of services. LFP follows a transparent, fair, competitive and rigorous processes to select partner NGOs. It follows the spirit of the government's 'non governmental service provider guideline' while selecting NGOs. See initiative paper Working with NGOs. At regional level
LFP works with the regional directorate of forests in planning and monitoring the programmes and their performance. The regional directorate closely monitors practices across LFP districts and feeds into policy discourse at central level. At central level
LFP works with other donors and the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and Department of Forests on scaling-up effective programmes and strategies to promote pro-poor and inclusive forestry policies and practices at the national level and to formulate field-responsive forest policies and strategies. Some of the most significant recent engagements include: - Working with the Ministry on the development of a Gender and Social Equity Vision and Gender and Social Inclusion strategy.
- Working with the Department of Forests and other forestry sector actors for the revision of the Community Forestry Guidelines from a pro-poor and social inclusion perspective.
- Supporting the Sustainable Forest Management Task Group for the revision of forestry sector policies.
- Participating in the Gender, Poverty and Social Equity Learning Group for the development of monitoring indicators to consolidate the contribution of the forestry sector towards meeting the national objectives of poverty reduction and social inclusion.
- Strengthening Ministry and Department monitoring systems with a disaggregated database for the incorporation of gender, poverty and social equity related data and information.
LFP leads and facilitates communication between central, district and local institutions, and other forestry-related stakeholders and networks. This occurs within the framework of LFP's Communication Strategy that helps guide LFP's communication and learning processes at the different levels. |
