Reference :
V-P-NP-E-00216
Date :
26/05/2008
Caption :
Rukum. The MEI (Micro-Economic Initiatives) team leader is teaching the volunteers about how the project of economic assistance helps needy families of the missing.
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
Economic Assistance for Families of the Missing
by Susannah Cernojevich, Delegate Nepal
As Nepal is changing, so are the activities of the ICRC. Especially, how the ICRC continues to assist the most vulnerable families affected by the conflict - families of the missing.
Over the past two years, the ICRC has started an innovative project to continue assisting families of the missing affected by the conflict. The MEI (Micro-Economic Initiatives) is a joint project with the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) that allows the ICRC to continue assisting victims in a post-conflict context and help families get their lives back on track.
Already implemented in 23 districts in Nepal, the ICRC and NRCS are starting the MEI program in the final 12 additional districts of the project plan by training NRCS volunteers in how to identify, assess needs, and learn the process of delivery and monitoring the program in their communities. The ICRC and the NRCS are hoping to help more than 4200 families before the MEI project is complete by the end of 2008.
Rukum, located in mid western Nepal and at the center of fighting during the civil war, is one of these final districts. Fourteen trainees arrived at the NRCS headquarters in Rukum to learn how they can help the families of the missing and other needy victims of the conflict. The Team Leader of the ICRC Micro-Economic Initiatives project, Mr. Govinda Dahal, said at the opening press conference, "Like we have started the MEI program in Nepal, we are starting the MEI program in Rukum."
The trainees came from throughout the district and ranged in experience from farmers to teachers to students. Some had to walk two days to reach the training site. But, what they had in common is that they are all volunteers with the Nepal Red Cross Society.
Mr. Yagya Bahaduroli, farmer and student from Muru, VDC said, "I have been in the NRCS for four years. I was working as a secretary in a sub-branch when I learned of the MEI program and wanted to participate."
Five of the 14 trainees were women and according to Mr. Dahal, "this is the highest percentage of women recommended for any of the MEI training programs in Nepal." Although women face unique challenges with travelling away from home and family, the advantages of participating in the MEI program far outweigh these considerations.
Ms. Sirjana Sharma, from Chibung VDC, "I am at the training for personal experience for college and to learn new things." She continued, "I hope that the program will help the victims and that the victims can be happy and satisfied with the program."
The President of the NRCS in Rukum, Mr. Narbahadar Nepali, is pleased that the MEI project is being initiated in the district. "This is an opportunity for the Red Cross to provide MEI services to the victims of the conflict….but the program has opportunities and challenges. We must ensure that victims of the conflict receive the assistance based on need, not because of pressure from different groups to give assistance."
He continued, "The Rukum Red Cross Society has a commitment to make the MEI program successful in the district. If the volunteers can follow the fundamental principles of the Red Cross Movement while implementing the program, the image of this chapter will improve and trust with the ICRC and the Rukum NRCS chapter will also improve.
From 1996 to 2006, the ICRC in Nepal has located more than 1330 missing persons and sent written information to 81 families concerning the death of their relative. More than 2770 tracing requests have been collected from families since 1999 and the first list of missing persons in Nepal was published by the ICRC last year. Especially as the ICRC plans to sharply reduce its operations in Nepal, it is planning to transfer its conflict victim file to the national society while increasing NRCS' capacity in providing assistance to the families of the missing.
The MEI program with the operational partnership of the Nepal Red Cross Society is the first of its kind for the ICRC. The program aims to "strengthen a household or a community's income generating capacities in a sustainable and significant manner within a limited timeframe," said Mr. Dahal. "By re-establishing a degree of lost dignity and deepening the awareness of the community towards the needs of conflict affected families."
Potential enterprises for the MEI program include: pig raising, sewing, grocery retail, milking buffalo, rickshaw, mobile four-wheeler and bicycle repair. Said Mr. Dahal, the MEI program would fund "activities to improve the income level of poor households in a way that produces a quick return."
But, he made is quite clear that the MEI program is not a relief program but a program targeted towards vulnerable conflict affected households. The MEI program "concerns the victims of the war, those affected economically."
MEI is one time assistance of 10,000 Rs targeted towards victims of the conflict who are poor or very poor. It is an assistance approach, not a cost recovery program that focuses on short term goals with a simple and short administrative procedure to restore productivity and help families regain self-sufficiency.
The final decision to choose families is done jointly with the ICRC and the NRCS. But, the list of potential recipients is just a starting point. The ICRC expects that many more potential recipients of MEI assistance will be made known to the volunteers when they arrive in the field.
If the ICRC doubts an assessment, the ICRC joins the NRCS in visiting the family at their residence to ensure that they meet the criteria. They also look to see if the family is capable of making use of the assistance and if they are motivated.
After the assessments, the second phase of the project begins. The NRCS volunteer works with the family to learn what activity they would like to pursue. When the arrangements are complete, the assistance is delivered at a community gathering that includes the NRCS volunteer, the beneficiary and the seller. This is an important step to ensure transparency of the project and impartiality of the MEI program.
Monitoring is the third phase to ensure that the 10,000 is used properly and helps the family. In addition, the ICRC and the NRCS also want to develop a network for the families so that they can help each other.
Said Mr. Dahal, "the ambition is to finish in eight months, but if we cannot we will extend the program in order to serve all the needy victims. This is a big commitment for the ICRC and the NRCS and we will work together to assist as many families as qualify according to the criteria. It could be 10 or 200 per district."
The President of the NRCS Rukum believes that the MEI program will help, "The families who lost livelihoods, the wounded, the loved ones of the missing, they will get the help they need to restore their lives."
When the new MEI trainees were asked "will the program help the villages where you will be working?" The answer was a resounding "yes."
BOX OF CRITERIA FOR QUALIFYING FOR MEI ASSISTANCE
The criteria for selecting eligible beneficiaries are following:
1. Being a vulnerable Conflict Victim household (IDPs in their current location, returnees in the area of origin, households with a member killed by conflicting parties, households of persons who have disappeared (missing), households of war-wounded/disabled, and children associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFAG).
2. Not have received assistance about or equal to 10,000 NRP from other sources.
3. Considered as vulnerable member of the community, by community leaders and neighbors (consultation required).
4. Being very poor or poor household; not able to cover their most basic needs (unable to sustain previous income sources)
a. Basic needs include:
i. adequate food
ii. access to local medical facilities
iii. clothing and essential HH items
iv. school for children
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
4000x3000
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
