Scott Faiia is the Country Director of Oxfam International for Nepal. Oxfam, an international confederation of 17 organisations working in 90 countries worldwide to find solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world, is working in Nepal on poverty reduction and improving the well-being of vulnerable people by strengthening their participation in development and governance processes, and pushing for economic, social, institutional, and policy change. In an interview with Sanjiv Paudyal and Sujan Dhungana of New Business Age, Faiia talked about Oxfam activities in Nepal. Excerpts:

 

The global financial crisis and the economic downturn have adversely affected the funding sources of INGOs elsewhere in the world. How has the bleak global macroeconomic situation affected the support being provided to developing countries? 

We all know that the United States and European nations are hit by sluggish economic growth after global financial crisis. Roughly, forty percent of our resources are coming from small donors from United Kingdom and Hong Kong. The support ranges from three pounds to 10 pounds per month or lifelong. Different European nations including Netherlands, Denmark and UK had settled a benchmark to increase their aid to other countries by 0.7 per cent. However, UK was committed to meet the target. Despite the economic crisis, United Kingdom’s aid commitment to Nepal is increasing. The annual aid to Nepal from UK amounts to around 68 million dollar and it is increasing. Within few years, the aid might reach to 115 million dollar a year. We should point out the fact that Nepal is receiving aid from British government despite the economic downturn. Now, the best thing is to utilise the given resources. Oxfam has not been severely affected by the crisis. We are going on with our projects here in Nepal. I personally have not seen any indications that our donors will cut back their aid to Nepal even in the near future. 

 

Oxfam is involved in a number of sectors such as health, woman empowerment, poverty reduction, emergencies and climate change. What about the territorial coverage of Oxfam in the country? 

The basic territorial areas we work are Mid-West and Far-West of Nepal that includes districts like Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur as well as Karnali. Our basic focus in these areas is reduction of poverty and disaster risk mitigation. Similarly, in Kathmandu Valley we do different works related to earthquake awareness along with policy influencing and advocacy. We try to involve with the government in different development planning process. We conduct disaster risk reduction projects and programmes in Saptari, Dhanusha, Udyapur and Sarlahai of the eastern part of the country. We don’t have legal framework to deal with disaster that could provide guidelines for planning the policy. 

 

How do you evaluate the gender justice and rights of minorities in the current political and social scenario of Nepal? 

Well, there is still a lot of inequalities and injustice that needs to be addressed in Nepal. But one of the positive point is there is more awareness and discussion about that. When you look at the constitution draft, it is sensitive to gender and minority. There have been some improvements. But, there are still a lot of things need to be done. 

 

Oxfam works with the community, particularly with a woman’s group. We are raising awareness, helping them interface with local level structures to improve the gender situation. We believe 10 per cent of the budget should be allocated for women’s programmes. The principle is basically the same to all backward groups. So, the marginalised groups themselves should start up developmental works. The state should acknowledge that everyone has some basic right and there should be equal justice to all. In fact, we all have the responsibility to help marginalised sections to improve their status in the society. 

 

What is your take on Nepal’s achievement on Millennium Development Goal (MDG)? What are the roles developments partners like Oxfam playing to MDGs? 

MDGs are internationally agreed frameworks. All of the INGOs including Oxfam work under this mutually agreed framework. It helps us to identify our problems, planning the work and measuring the outcome. Since, MDGs are about to expire, we all should think up what the next step could be. Firstly, we need to be sure that do we continue with this framework or change it somehow. We should try to be as careful as possible in measuring our progress and using what we learnt from that to allocate resources in future. Some goals are properly met and some are not. 

 

Talking basically about Nepal, we are basically having progress in sectors like education and clean drinking water supply. Now the next thing we need to do is to identify and measure the success we met and the sectors we were unsuccessful at. Afterwards we need to carry out the future works accordingly. 

 

How do you define the working environment in a politically unstable country like Nepal? 

In this regard, there are some plus as well as minus areas. Government as well as the people of Nepal should have a better knowledge of what NGOs are and what are their working areas. There are some structures established by the government and we should acknowledge that. Meanwhile, there are also some structures to be refined. There is no question that the entire development of the country is hampered by the country’s political deadlock. Political class in the country has the responsibility towards the people to overcome difficulties and to be focused on improving people’s lives. The instability is not only causing difficulties to the INGOs sector alone. It is a matter of concern to all the people and the private business as well. Moreover, we cannot expect any projects where there is no water and power. Thus, instability is largely affecting the developmental process of the country. 

 

We could see the capacity of the government in the road widening process that is going on in Kathmandu. This shows the courage of the government to work out something great. Now, the question is why that courage is not seen in bringing Melamchi water to Kathmandu. Similarly, why don’t we have that capacity to develop the available resources, basically the hydropower so we don’t have to face 16 hours load shedding a day? 

 

Around 25.5 percent of Nepalis are considered to be below poverty line. What are the programmes that Oxfam is operating for poverty alleviation? 

Acknowledging the fact, Oxfam has some of its primary projects launched in Mid Western and Far Western region of the country. We basically work there with the farmers and cooperatives. Engaging with them we try to improve their productivity and market access. We work with seed banks and help to maintain the seed quality. We give knowledge to the farmers regarding the improvement on agricultural production. These are some of the major works we do for poverty reduction. Besides these, we also deal with different community as well as women groups and share them with information and knowledge in addressing their problems and issues. It is not that we need to provide the people with food and money in order to sustain poverty because in a long run it shall have no effect. The thing we need to do is change the thinking of people and their base of knowledge. We need to make people able to do things themselves. 

 

Nepal’s poverty reduction is said to be largely contributed by remittance. How sustainable do you think this is? 

Well, it is an alarm bell. Revenues coming into the country will only be sustainable if the global economy is fine. But, looking into the global scenario the revenue from remittances is quite uncertain. Despite the fact that Nepal’s economy is largely contributed by remittance, this certainly is not the best solution; instead we need to look at the underlying problems and analyse why that problem happens. It’s the poverty that forced people to fly abroad. So, this should be stopped soon because loosing the dynamic and skilled population is a negative sign to a country. Instead of depending on remittance and aid, we should search out the potentiality within the country for development. 

 

It is said that there are contradictions between the activities of INGOs with Ministry of Finance and National Planning Commission. What is your opinion on this? 

We carry our major works with Ministry of Local Development and Home Ministry. I believe this not to be true because we have rare deal with Finance Ministry. However, sometime we have some discussions with the Planning Commission. All we try to do is develop a good understanding and good dialogue. In a bureaucratic sense, Oxfam doesn’t have any work with these Ministries. In general, the government should have a clear vision and guideline regarding the working INGOs in the country. In fact, they should streamline what exists so that it becomes more efficient. 

 

It is alleged that INGOs as working in various districts as parallel government. INGOs have set up district offices which are against the rule and regulation of the government. How do you respond to these comments? 

Talking in general, I don’t think the INGOs carry such intentions. Instead the government has certain guidelines and policies regarding INGOs and we, basically Oxfam is working under it. We do have various local partners and NGOs through which we regulate our works and projects. The sole matter is the work we carry out. We should first have a close study of the problem that leads to a better result. And the same applies to the government ministries as well. 

 

As Oxfam is also a member of Association of International INGOs in Nepal (AIN). What are your expectations with AIN? 

Well, AIN is a useful entity for working INGOs in Nepal. It is in fact a guardian of all the INGOs that enables us to have better dialogue with the government. Moreover, AIN provides a kind of framework to us which contributes in the efficiencies of any INGO. We expect the same from AIN in the near future as well. 

 

Is the organisation directly working at its project locations, or does it works through a local partner or a contractor? 

We carry most of our activities through our local partners and the community group or co-operatives that we have link with. We are not directly involved in the projects like building a school or water supply. However, we do regularly inspect the project and the quality of the work that has been done. We involve ourselves basically in the research based work instead. We work with 29 NGOs in Nepal and a number of other local cooperatives and communities. 

 

Finally, are there any projects being initiated by Oxfam in the near future? 

Oxfam basically is trying to focus on the food security and agricultural sector in the western part of the country. Food insecurity has been a chief problem in the west, and we aim to dig out the problem behind this. We also aim to carry out research works on the agricultural problems there and search out for their remedies. Similarly, Oxfam also works for emergency risk reduction. Since, Kathmandu is a risky zone for earthquake; we are heading to search potential safer areas for the people of Kathmandu during earthquake to be relocated.