--By Gaurav Aryal and Sanjeev Sharma

 

Plan Nepal has been active in Nepal as a child centered development organisation for three and a half decades as a partner for enhancing lives of Nepali children. Beginning from Kathmandu in 1978, Plan Nepal now has its programmes being implemented in 455 VDCs of 13 districts.

 

According to Mattias Bryneson, the country director of Plan Nepal, the organisation is currently implementing five country specific programmes in Nepal. These programmes are on education (basic education), health (including maternal, neonatal and children’s health), hygiene and sanitation and economic security, child protection and child centred disaster risk reduction. Though specialised on working with children, Plan’s programme on economic security is focused on increasing women's access to financial services through saving groups and co-operatives as well as creating opportunitiesfor them inlivelihood and economic development activities. Moreover, it has been actively contributing in safe guarding child rights through its programmes against child trafficking and violence against children.

 

Recently the Plan has introduced a new programme on disaster risk reduction, specifically focusing on children and young people. The organisation’s programmes are designed to support families, communities and governments to promote the rights of children. Bryneson explains, “We develop our country strategy and programmes after analysing the situation of children. We will continue with our five country programmes. We will also conduct a review of strategic planning by next year to look for possible changes that can be included into future programmes,” Bryneson said adding, “As of now, we are not going to make any change in our programmes.

 

In 2013 the Plan has invested USD 6.8 million in Nepal. 20.05 per cent of it is invested in household economic security, 15.55 per cent in child protection, 13.4 per cent in education, 6.73 per cent in water, sanitation and hygiene, 5.08 per cent in health and 3.01 per cent in disaster risk management. Plan says that it has received USD 7.2 million, as sponsorship for the fiscal year 2014. Last year the amount was USD 7.1 million. Similar spike has been in the amount of grants it received this year. Last year it had receivedUSD 4 million as grants and for 2014 the amount climbed up to USD 4.9 million. There are 35 active grants, three framework agreements and seven corporate grants. 

 

Making Impacts

Bryneson says that Plan’s programmes have made considerable impacts in supporting children, families and communities. “These programmes have created a sense of realisation among the communities to ensure the rights of children. Plan Nepal's programmes such as increasing children’s access to sanitation and education (specifically girls), protecting children from violence and exploitation, rescuing them from bonded labour and trafficking have made positive impacts,” he explains.The organisation’s impact is also visible on economic empowerment of women and marginalised groups.

 

Similarly, the organization has also been implementingcommunity-led total sanitation programme (CLTS) in its working districts. “We along with local partners were able to declare Makwanpur district as 'open defecation free' (ODF) district in Nepal. We have substantial evidences that prove CLTS programme is cost effective,” he shares.

 

According to Plan’s report, more than 30,000 children are benefiting from the programme on children’s education. Likewise, 39,000 children are sponsored from six districts under the Child Sponsorship programme.

 

 

Nepal Strategy

Nepal Strategic Plan that began on July 2010 is undertaking six country programmes on health, water, sanitation and hygiene, basic education, household economic security, child protection and participation and child centred disaster risk management. This plan will conclude in June 2015. To implement these programmes, the organisation will be working closely with community based organisation, non-government organisation, government and alliances as well as coalition members.  These programmes are in tune to the children’s access and right to health, education, economic empowerment, community participation, protection from abuse and exploitation and disaster risk management.