This annual progress report of NGO-FONIN intends to cover the past one year program activities of the year 2006/7 (2063/64). During the period, different program activates were undertaken through collaboration with its member organisations. This report has been prepared based on regular program monitoring, and consultations with NGO-FONIN team, member organizations, district networks. To make the report much in line with NGO-FONIN's program activities, outputs and findings of interactions have been placed as appropriately as possible and special attention given to reflections from members, district networks and communities, as well. The report has been presented in five parts that include executive summary of the whole program achievements.The Second Popular peoples' movement brought remarkable changes in the country in 2063. The movement has re-instated democracy by displacing the active monarch and Nepalese peoples have become sovereign. It has also succeeded in mainstreaming the rebellions (Maoist) group into national political mainstream.The daily unexpected Mass Meetings, Banda programs organized by political parties and interest groups are making the daily lives of general mass more complicated. Due to the political situation, economic condition of the country was also hampered. Similarly, global economy also affected the nation.Indigenous peoples are becoming conscious of their socio-political rights and coming into organizations to raise collective voice of rights. The landless people, Kamaiya, raised their voices for land rights. As Hindu religions observed different religious, cultures, festivals and functions and practices, the Nepalese Indigenous peoples also started to observe their festivals and cultural practices.As monsoon was started on time, agriculture production is found satisfactory this year. Prices of fuel oil, electricity, chemical fertilizers increased more as compared to farmers' products price, which caused negative effects on their agriculture products even the monsoon was timely.Programs and achievements:The year of 2063/64 was a very progressive year of NGO-FONIN. It succeeded to get access to resource first time. Agreement between DanidaHUGOU and NGO-FONIN has made possible for conducting Janajati Empowerment and Inclusion Project (JEIP), a 21 month project. The objective of the program is to mainstreaming of IPs in national development process. The program include 1) support in organisational development process of NGO-FONIN, its member organisations, 2) launch advocacy activities and 3) support in strengthening good governance.Organisational Development:NGO-FONIN conducted various activities under organisational development and capacity building aspects. The achievements made under organisational development can be classified as 1) Increase in size of the organisation, 2) human resource 3) physical facility 4) organisational system development and 5) capacity enhancement programs.Number of FONIN affiliated member organizations increased from 13 to 53. IPs are seen keen to be organised have established organisation and affiliated to NGO-FONIN. Office has been equipped with necessary furniture and equipments including communication facilities. From the year 2006 it has managed five regular staff for implementing its program activities. There are also part time staff and volunteers.Various activities were carried out under organisational system development as a) regular meeting, monitoring activities and b) Renewal of organisation c) Policy/guide line like good governance, financial policy; human resource policy, etc were developed. Similarly various workshops related to organisation development were organised. Publications like Adibasi Gunjan (bulletin), NGO-FONIN broachers were also published.Fiscal year 2063/64 can be taken as training year of NGO-FONIN. A lot of trainings on various fields were organised which has supported to enhance knowledge, and skills of NGO-FONIN members, staffs and member organisations. Financial management, rights based approach and advocacy, IPs' rights and human rights, leadership development, social inclusion, monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, cooperative etc were major trainings conducted during the year. These events have supported the professional growth of the NGO-FONIN and its member organizations to be effective in program application and carry out the regular work. Likewise with aiming to learn from other organisations/programs, two exposure visits were organised for its members and staff, as well. Orientation on HIV/AIDS, Gender, Dalit issues and various sharing, were also organised.Programs:NGO-FONIN implemented various program activities during the fiscal year 2063/64. The program was focussed on indigenous peoples’ rights movement as indigenous people empowerment and policy influencing activities. Organisation development, establishing networks and enhancing their capacity were some of the major program activities under the empowerment and various interaction, workshops, demonstrations/ Advocacy campaigns were under policy influencing. Various awareness activities with IPs were organised at district level. By these awareness activities, the IPs are becoming aware about the cause of marginalization and their rights. Because of these awareness campaigns, district and village level IPs committees were formed and involved in their development activities.Before organising advocacy campaigns, NGO-FONIN had carried out issue identification activities and on the basis of issues, it had organised its advocacy campaigns. During the period, NGO-FONIN organised three different workshops on Issue Identification, which identified as 1) constituent assembly and establishment of federal democratic republic state, 2) enlistment of IPs those who were not enlisted under NFDIN act 2058, 3) issue of access to and control over resources, 4) ILO convention 169 as major issues.Various orientation and interaction on the issues were held with NGO-FONIN board members, staff, and member organisations before to held advocacy campaigns. Similarly, on the issues identified, various lobbies, interactions, demonstration activities were carried out with aiming to influencing respective authorities. Various interaction programs were organized on biodiversity and IPs right issues. Various IPs organizations, people, respective authorities, NGOs took part in the program. NGO-FONIN conducting "Aadivasi Gunjan" (i.e. voice of indigenous peoples) from Times F.M. from which various information about IPs right issues were aired. It is broadcasting news, information on indigenous peoples culture, religion, history and their situation and discussions on various issues of indigenous peoples. On the occasion of International Indigenous Peoples day, 9 August 2006, NGO-FONIN also organized a one day interaction program to observe the Day.NGO-FONIN has been implementing its program through partnership, network, alliances with its member organizations. It has given attention towards people organisation and their organisational development. Organisations were established at local and district level and efforts were made on establishing and enhancing of networks and alliance. As Janajati Empowerment and Inclusion Project (JEIP) has been implementing in 10 districts through 10 member organisations under the project major focus has been made on establishing and strengthening of district based IPs organisations network and organise advocacy campaigns for increasing of IPs access to resources. A total of 10 district networks have been established and various interaction and knowledge, skill sharing activities have been organised to enhance their capacity. Similarly, various lobby and advocacy campaigns are being organised by the networks.NGO-FONIN carried out a research on Indigenous Peoples' Human Rights Report in Nepal With the support of Asia Indigenous Peoples' Pact (AIPP) Foundation. This report shows that the IPs human rights have become a neglected area of concern for the government in Nepal.Various meetings, workshops were organised to review and develop new plans and strategy of the programs. In the process, past implemented programs were reviewed and on the basis of learning, new strategies were developed. Similarly learning sharing programs were also organise with the aim to impart knowledge, experiences. Internal and external visitors and observers from different organizations and places visited NGO-FONIN and its member organisations' program, which provided an opportunity of sharing ideas, learning experiences between visitors and NGO-FONIN.With the aim to share experience and information Adibasi Gunjan a bulletin was published, which included the program activities conducted by NGO-FONIN, various information related to IPs and their issues.For maintaining relation and making collective efforts towards achieving common goals, NGO-FONIN has made effort towards coordination, linkage, networking with individuals, organizations, institutions at local and national levels. During the period, NGO-FONIN participated various forums and interaction program activities organised by different national and international organisations like UN High Commission on Human Rights, UNDP, ActionAid, VSO, NEFIN, and other organisations. These has supported in relation building with the respective organisations/agencies.NGO-FONIN has affiliated to “Asia People Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS (APACHA)” and involved various activities conducted by the alliance. It has also making effort to receive membership from AIPP. An application has been submitted for membership.NGO-FONIN felt various problems and threats as 1) resource constraint (financial and professional human resources) is one of the major obstacles in reaching the program to large area, 2) the program activities implemented could not have proper follow up; 3) unstable political situation was also another obstacle during the program implementation. As various unions and interest groups are fighting for their rights, they blockade of roads, transportation and services as the tool for their advocacy, 4) not able to cash the opportunities, 5) lacked support to new member organisations 6) lacking to connect IPs in western part of Nepal, 7) establishment of organisations as institution, 8) making equal understanding of issues 9) delay on implementing JEIP program.NGO-FONIN will make efforts towards people organisation and institution development, for which efforts will be made for arranging and managing resources. It will also make effort to explore partners or support organisations and building networks for achieving its objectives. NGO-FONIN’s program will focus towards capacity building of its member organisations as well as of district based organisations. To influence policy makers and responsible authorities, right advocacy campaigns will be conducted. Specifically attention will be given towards improving the lacking as a) Effort to be made on access to resources, b) Member organisation expansion to western part c) Extension of district network and strengthening them, d) Equip NGO-FONIN with human resource, physical facilities e) Support member organisations to strengthen them f) Follow up of existing program g) IPs women participation, h) Make equal understanding of issues among IPs i) Strengthening of document/information sharing.
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