Nepal

Nepal

Overview

International Alert has been working in support of peace in Nepal since 1999. Our work focuses on supporting national and international actors to build long-term conditions for sustainable peace in Nepal. In particular, we seek to:

Improve the provision and accessibility of security and justice to the poor and marginalised. Poor public security and weak rule of law mean that many people in Nepal are unable to go about their daily lives in freedom from fear. Insecurity also impacts upon economic development, as many business people are unwilling to invest  leading to fewer jobs for those who need them.

Promote more equitable economic opportunities. Public expectations of what peace will deliver in Nepal are high and often related to economic needs. However, if peace is to be sustainable, economic opportunities need to be broadly shared by all. Greater inequality risks more conflict.

Improve the ability of international institutions to deliver aid effectively. With nearly 20% of the national budget coming from foreign aid, the international community plays an important role in Nepal’s future development. We work to ensure that this role promotes peace and does not unintentionally fuel conflict.

Highlights

  • The civil society consortium for security and justice: We lead a consortium of national and international NGOs that advocate for improved justice and security;
  • Broadcasting peace: Together with our partner organisations, Equal Access Nepal and Antenna Foundation Nepal, we support the broadcasting of radio programmes that raise nationwide awareness of security and justice reform debates happening in Kathmandu;
  • Training in conflict sensitive approaches: We provide tailored training to international institutions, government agencies and our civil society partners that provide them with the skills and tools to be able to design and implement projects that are sensitive to the conflict context;
  • Income generation for peacebuilding: We provide income generation opportunities to marginalised women in the Terai region and work to ensure that economic empowerment results in political and social empowerment;
  • Business for Peace: We work with our partner organisation, the National Business Initiative, to promote greater private sector involvement in building peace.

Where

Our office is based in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. Our geographic focus is primarily on the Terai region of Nepal. Currently we work with partners in the following districts outside of Kathmandu: Banke, Bara, Bardiya, Bhaktapur, Dang, Jumla, Kailali, Lalitpur, Mahottari, Makwanpur, Morang, Rasuwa, Rukum, Parsa and Sunsari.

Conflict Context

The conflict between the Maoists and the Government of Nepal ended with the signing of a peace agreement in November 2006. After sixteen years of failed democracy and ten years of violent conflict, Nepal is now facing significant challenges in moving the peace process forward.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) declared a People’s War in February 1996. The Maoists were able to mobilise a mass support base due to high levels of public frustration at the perceived failure of mainstream political parties to deliver economic development and address inequalities.

Citing the failure of the government to bring the escalating conflict under control, the then King stepped in and called a state of emergency which brought the army into the conflict in 2002. The resulting escalation of violence culminated in a ‘royal takeover’ of the state in February 2005. This mobilised widespread public anger against the autocratic monarchy which lead to a large-scale protest movement in April 2006. The movement succeeded in reinstating democracy and was swiftly followed by the signing of a peace agreement and the establishment of an interim Government. Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held successfully in April 2008, resulting in Nepal’s most inclusive parliament ever.

Three years on, the peace process is holding; however progress on key decisions is being hampered by political party in-fighting. Insecurity, particularly in the Terai region, has escalated since 2006 with the emergence of numerous armed groups taking advantage of the security vacuum. The economy has been the hardest hit, with many businesses scaling down and development projects affected.

Creating the conditions for equitable economic growth, including establishing basic rule of law and security, along with keeping the political level peace process on track are the major priorities for actors working in support of peace in Nepal.

How

We use a variety of methods and tools in supporting both local and international actors to build peace in Nepal.

Dialogue:
A major part of our work involves building trust and understanding. We bring a diverse set of actors together at both the local and national levels to discuss the root causes of conflicts and agree upon solutions. This includes bringing local communities and police together to identify and address causes of insecurity. It involves bringing international actors together with local counterparts to prioritise and coordinate support for improved security and justice. It also includes bringing actors within the private sector together to exchange ideas on ways in which the private sector can support sustainable peace in Nepal.

Research and advocacy:
Over the years, we have sought to understand the root causes of conflict in Nepal as well as the blockages to and opportunities for addressing them. This includes understanding the diversity of needs and experiences regarding the provision of accessible and accountable security and justice and exploring opportunities for ensuring that economic growth supports sustainable peace. We work with local and international partners to advocate at the national and international levels for the policy changes required to support sustainable peace.

Training and accompaniment:
We work with civil society, the government, the private sector and the international community at both the local and national levels to strengthen their ability to build peace. This involves providing training and ongoing accompaniment on conflict sensitivity and a range of peacebuilding issues, such as security sector reform, gender and peacebuilding and the economic dimensions of peacebuilding. We work with local partner organisations in all that we do, ensuring that the Nepali peace process remains locally owned.

Why

We believe that key prerequisites for sustainable peace in Nepal are: a population that feels safe and is able to access fair and accountable security and justice services; and broadly shared economic opportunities that deliver tangible benefits to those who most need them. We also believe that sustainable peace needs to be locally owned and supported and we therefore work to ensure that local capacities for peace exist among a diverse group of stakeholders. Finally, we believe it is important that safe space exists for these stakeholders to come together to understand the root causes of conflict and to identify and implement solutions. We therefore work to create this safe dialogue space.

Contact Person : 
Dominic de Ville
Titre: 
Country Manager – Nepal

Projects

Strengthening the Economic Dimensions of Ex-Combatant Rehabilitation

The discharge and rehabilitation process of former Maoist Army combatants began in early 2010 with the discharge of 4,008 verified minors and late recruits (VMLRs). A UN Interagency Rehabilitation Programme was established to provide support to these individuals in the form of counselling, training and supporting job placements. To date, notable progress has been made by this programme, in particular in the numbers of VMLRs making contact with the programme through the toll-free phone line and those referred on to training providers. However, a major shortcoming of the programme to date has been its ability to provide socio-economic support to clients in the post-training period.

One key actor that was overlooked in the design of the programme was the business community. Contact between the rehabilitation programme and business community at both the national and local levels has been limited and ad-hoc in nature, a major obstacle to the success of the programme in ensuring job placements, micro-finance and mentoring support to its clients.
 

International Alert is working to strengthen the socio-economic support dimensions of the rehabilitation programme through:

  • Generating knowledge around local opportunities for rehabilitation, including attitudes of local business people towards supporting rehabilitation processes;
  • Strengthening understanding and coordination between key stakeholders to the programme, in particular the government, private sector and UNIRP at both the local and national levels.
     
Income Generation for Peacebuilding: Understanding Good Practice

The government of Nepal has identified poverty and social exclusion as root causes of escalating political conflict in the country and has prioritised poverty reduction for its tenth plan. Donors, the UN and NGOs alike share a similarly broad recognition of economic inequity and social exclusion as drivers/contributors to conflict and violence, although the particular explanations for this link vary.

In response to this recognition, both the international community and the government of Nepal have invested heavily under the assumption that an emphasis on inclusive income generation or employment will contribute to peace and stability. Numerous initiatives have emerged over the years during and following conflict that seek to enhance group and individual income-generation capacity through micro-finance, self-employment and jobs-for-peace type schemes.

Beginning in May 2009, International Alert and Samjhauta Nepal began exploring the links between income generation and peacebuilding in Nepal, in particular looking at ways in which links identified could be strengthened. The project worked through new and existing income generation groups in the Morang and Kailali districts, with Alert and Samjhauta working together to provide start-up capital for new enterprises, specialised conflict sensitivity training to local facilitators, and to explore opportunities for connecting groups to district-level networks and to strengthen both economic empowerment and access to peacebuilding networks.
 

Supporting the Effectiveness of International Institutions in Nepal

Recent years have seen a growing number of commitments to strengthening aid effectiveness and tackling state fragility, with increasing recognition of the importance of taking the local context in conflict-affected countries into account. Despite these hard-won positive developments, there continue to be substantial internal and external challenges confronting international institutions as they seek to translate these commitments into national strategies and programming.

In Nepal, foreign aid accounted for approximately 19% of the total national budget in 2009-10. This proportion is expected to increase to approximately 25% in 2010-11. Over half of foreign aid is channelled through multinationals such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and United Nations. These institutions play an important role in Nepal’s development. It is therefore essential that they play this role in a way that also supports sustainable peace and does not exacerbate tensions.

Through its International Institutions Programme, International Alert in Nepal seeks to support international institutions to:

  1. Explore in depth the challenges to aid effectiveness in the transitional context;
  2. Identify practices that facilitate the production of greater peace dividends across programming;
  3. Promote the sharing of learning within and between international institutions and the wider community of stakeholders operating in Nepal and other conflict-affected contexts.
     
State and Non-State Partnerships for Inclusive Justice

Following ten years of conflict and continued political instability, state-led provision of justice remains extremely weak. Many lack access to state justice mechanisms, due to economic, geographic or social barriers. This is particularly so for women and those belonging to marginalised and vulnerable groups who lack the resources, literacy and networks to even approach formal mechanisms. Instead, many turn to a growing number of non-state justice providers, such as indigenous systems, paralegal or mediation committees and political parties that dispense cheaper and more immediate justice.

The non-state justice sector is vibrant and growing. It plays an essential role in providing access to justice for the poor and marginalised and relieving the over-burdened state justice sector. However, in the absence of a strong state justice sector to counterbalance and oversee the non-state sector, non-state mechanisms are beginning to mediate criminal cases, superseding the criminal justice system of the state. Some traditional non-state mechanisms also deliver verdicts and punishments that do not take into account human rights and gender equality norms.

Access to justice is a fundamental human right and basic state service. In the current transition from conflict to peace, democracy and rule-of-law in Nepal, it is essential that the state is seen to deliver effective, accountable and equitable access to this basic right. Failure to do so may compound the frustrations of those marginalised from accessing this right and provide unregulated space to a number of non-state actors to take the place of the state in providing criminal justice.

We work to strengthen the effectiveness, inclusivity and accountability of the formal justice sector in responding to the needs of the Nepali people, including vulnerable and marginalised groups, by:

  1. Strengthening and creating relationships between the state and non-state justice sectors based on clarity and understanding of the roles of each sector;
  2.  Strengthening the capacity of the non-state justice sector to advocate for, support and monitor a more effective, accessible and accountable state justice sector.
     
Media, Information Flows and Insecurity

Just as important as the realities of crime and violence at any given moment are the information flows surrounding those realities which play a part in determining perceptions of conflict and criminal violence. Media and mechanisms for information flow in all their forms – official, informal and street rumour mills – have major impacts on levels of insecurity and prospects for peace. They can, on the one hand, drive a cycle of fear and prejudice, and in the most extreme forms, may propel people to violence. On the other hand, they can also shape public understanding of the dynamics of violence and harness or encourage peaceful ways of addressing them.

This initiative seeks to explore systems of information exchange and to examine the means through which local information and assessment of trends in violence can be transmitted to the wider public (through electronic networks of journalists, civilian leaders, government reformers and diplomats) and how these can be better supported and acted upon by international institutions.

Promoting an Informed and Coordinated International Community Response to Security and Justice Issues

This initiative builds upon a first phase from September 2008-September 2009, which developed recommendations to improve the effectiveness of EU and international community programming and in particular the extent to which it is responsive to the needs of local populations. The second phase aims to carry forward some of these recommendations, in particular by:

  • Providing a space for coordination and discussion on key security issues for the international community in a Security and Justice Coordination Group convened every two months;
  • Bringing local experiences and needs to the attention of the donor community (in Nepal and Europe), both through the Security and Justice Coordination Group and the production of regular security and justice ‘snapshot’ briefing papers.
     
Gender and Security Sector Reform

With increasing space at the national level for discussion on security and justice sector issues, the coming years will present significant opportunities for meaningful reform of Nepal’s security and justice system. However, the focus for now is on immediate priorities such as the future of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Nepal Army. While critical, this is serving to limit any wider debate on longer-term reform processes that are inclusive and locally informed. There is a growing risk that such debates will not reflect the needs and perspectives of ordinary people and will instead reinforce institutional interests and political agendas as the primary frame of reference.

Gender is one particular consideration which risks being overlooked in any Kathmandu-centric reform process. Although a growing number of civil society organisations are now supporting wider debate on security sector reform, none of these organisations have, as yet, been able to bring a gender perspective to these debates. Furthermore, a plethora of organisations in Kathmandu are working on gender and peacebuilding. However, very few of these organisations are working on issues related to security sector reform.

Through our Gender and Security Sector Reform programme, we aim to build the capacity of civil society organisations to inform and monitor public security reform processes from a gender perspective. Specifically, the programme will:

  1. Generate knowledge on gender specific needs in relation to the provision of security and understand how these needs are (or aren’t) currently addressed in government policy;
  2. Support civil society to advocate for specific government policy changes that will improve the way gender needs are addressed in security policy.
     
Maximising the Potential of the Private Sector in Public Security.

A lack of law and order is regarded as one of the biggest challenges to economic growth and recovery in Nepal. Increasing shutdowns, extortion from armed groups and labour unrest all have a negative impact upon business. An estimated 700 different bandhs (general shutdowns) were called for during 2009, the vast majority of them occurring in the Terai. The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) estimates that a day’s bandh costs the industrial sector 680 million Nepalese rupees (around $9 million USD).

The private sector has a clear incentive to generate demand for a return to peace and security. Business groups also have considerable influence at the political level, through personal connections and professional networks. From a capacity perspective, however, the private sector faces limitations in advocating for improved security. We work with the Nepalese private sector to support them to:

  1. Recognise key causes of insecurity and their role in contributing to, but also potentially mitigating, these causes;
  2. Develop clear advocacy messages for improved law and order;
  3. Create and maintain broader networks and connections (e.g. with the international community, civil society etc.) in support of successful advocacy.
Public Security and Justice in Nepal: Building a Constructive Role for Youth

With increasing space at the national level for discussion on security and justice sector issues, the coming years will present significant opportunities for the meaningful reform of Nepal’s security and justice system.

One key actor that is being excluded from national, state-centric debates is youth. Despite the overwhelming and highly-visible role of young people as perpetrators and victims of insecurity, the degree to which security and justice needs and provision are understood from a youth perspective remains limited.

This project seeks to build and foster a more constructive role for youth in ensuring accessible and accountable access to security and justice. It does this by:

  1. Generating knowledge and awareness amongst youth themselves of how young people experience and contribute to current security challenges and responses;
  2. Increasing the capacity of youth to advocate for the inclusion of their needs and experiences in policy-making and practice;
  3. Creating and fostering constructive avenues for youth engagement in the provision of public security and justice;
  4. Ensuring that national security and justice policy reflects the needs and experiences of youth.

 

Enabling Civil Society to Contribute to the Democratic Reform of the Justice and Security Sector in Nepal

The accessible and accountable provision of security and justice services is essential for long-term development and sustainable peace. People need to feel safe to go about their daily lives, trusting that security and justice providers are able and willing to do their jobs effectively and accountably. To date, the mandate and capacity of key service providers have often been constricted by political interference and a lack of oversight, and discussions regarding the reform of the security and justice sectors have taken place mostly in Kathmandu and behind closed doors.

In the absence of a strong and clear public voice demanding improvements to security and justice provision, and an understanding of how the provision of these vital services needs to change in order to respond to the diverse needs of the Nepali population, it is unlikely that any future reforms will result in a significant improvement in the lives of the majority.

This project aims to address this risk by supporting civil society to inform and monitor the development of inclusive justice and security sector reform policy and practice at the local, regional and national levels. It will do this by:

1.    Building civil society knowledge, awareness and capacity to generate and participate in JSSR policy discussions at the local, regional and national levels;
2.    Supporting the development of civil society advocacy networks to promote inclusion of public concerns in local and national JSSR policy development and practice;
3.    Linking civil society to JSSR service providers and decision-makers in order to ensure that national-level policy debates on JSSR are informed by and reflect local-level realities and concerns.

Working districts:
Banke, Jumla, Kailali, Kathmandu, Nawalparasi, Siraha and Sunsari

Project partners:
Antenna Foundation, Equal Access, Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), IHRICON, NGO Federation, Saferworld.

Donor: Government of Denmark

Contact Person
Sadhana Ghimire Bhetuwal, Senior Programme Officer – Security & Justice, sgbhetuwal@international-alert.org
 

Publications

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Discussion paper: Nepal

This study is one of a series of regional studies which aim to present evidence of the interactions between environmental, social, political and economic risks at the local level in South Asia.

Juin, 2013
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District assessment findings

This report investigates the security- and justice-related experiences and perceptions of people living in nine districts in Nepal which are affected by insecurity and weak governance.

Mars, 2013
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Exploring the linkages between public security and media security

This report looks at the role of the media in contributing to and/or in mitigating insecurity, and identifies opportunities for creating and strengthening its role in contributing to peace.

Mars, 2013
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Challenges and opportunities for media professionalism

This paper reviews existing relevant media-related policies and laws in Nepal, including international conventions and declarations to which Nepal is a signatory party.

Février, 2013
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A how-to-guide

This guide is a reference tool on conflict-sensitive journalism in Nepal for young media professionals and practitioners.

Janvier, 2013
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Case study series summary

This report summarises the findings of a series of case studies which explore the socio-economic aspects of reintegration programmes for ex-combatants in Nepal, Liberia and Uganda.

Octobre, 2012
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This case study discusses the challenges of socio-economic rehabilitation of ex-combatants in Nepal, focusing on the role of the private sector.

Octobre, 2012
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A review of existing relevant laws and policies from a civil society perspective

This review looks at existing justice policies and processes governing the justice sector in Nepal, including operational processes of key informal mechanisms.

Juin, 2012
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How state and non-state justice systems work for justice in Nepal

This report examines the relationship between state and non-state justice mechanisms in Nepal, to identify opportunities for strengthening coordination between state and non-state justice providers, with the aim of improving access to justice.

Mai, 2012
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How state and non-state justice systems work for justice in Nepal

This report examines the relationship between state and non-state justice mechanisms in Nepal, to identify opportunities for strengthening coordination between state and non-state justice providers, with the aim of improving access to justice.

Mai, 2012
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Peacebuilding with Impact

This report discusses how theories of change can improve the effectiveness of peacebuilding interventions, reviewing 19 projects in three conflict-affected countries.

Janvier, 2012
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Practice Note

This note explains the importance of using a conflict-sensitive response to climate change in South Asia, and offers guidelines and emerging principles for policymakers and practitioners.

Octobre, 2011
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Debates and Practice in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal: Summary

Why is development progress difficult in fragile and conflict-affected countries? This report presents institutional challenges and opportunities experienced by two multilaterals, the World Bank and the United Nations, drawing on case studies of their peace and development work in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal.

Août, 2011
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This series of three country “Insights” identifies peacebuilding priorities in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal, and discusses the response of the international institutions operating there.

Juin, 2011
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Lessons from Nepal

This paper explores the various dimensions of the resilience of climate-affected communitieto in three districts in Nepal (Sunsari, Dhankuta and Morang).

Décembre, 2010
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Security and Justice Provision in Post-Conflict Nepal

This paper provides insight into how to strengthen security and justice responses to sexual and gender-based violence in Nepal, and provides three broad recommendations to international donors.

Décembre, 2010
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Snapshot series 1

This snapshot briefing paper looks at the situation of security and justice provision in Rasuwa district in the central region of Nepal, and outlines implications for policymakers.

Novembre, 2010
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Snapshot series 1

This snapshot briefing paper looks at the situation of security and justice provision in Mahottari district in the central Terai region of Nepal, outlines implications for national and international policymakers.

Novembre, 2010
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Country Case Study: Nepal

This briefing paper outlines priorities for international community support for the effective and accountable provision of security and justice in Nepal, and highlights the need for participatory approaches in the promotion of people-centered reform in this area.

Novembre, 2010
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These ‘snapshot’ briefings are part of a longer-term initiative by International Alert to help address the current gaps in knowledge and understanding between those actors at the district level and those in Kathmandu. Each briefing aims to outline current security and justice needs and challenges in a particular district, and advance constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges. The briefings are based on research undertaken as part of Alert’s work for the Initiative for Peacebuilding project.

This snapshot focuses on Rukum, a district in the western hill region at the heart of the Maoist conflict. This briefing examines the security situation in the district four years after the signing of the peace agreement.

Octobre, 2010
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This snapshot focuses on security and justice needs in Dang, a district in the western Terai in Nepal, where political party youth wings are increasingly blamed for exacerbating insecurity.

Octobre, 2010
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This snapshot focuses on security and justice needs in Bara, a district in the central Terai in Nepal where the activities of armed groups are contributing to feelings of insecurity.

Octobre, 2010
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Perceptions and responses

This short briefing paper highlights key security concerns for the Nepali private sector and explores the role business can play in contributing to and mitigating insecurity. It identifies entry points from which various stakeholders, including the private sector, government, civil society and the international community, may seek to encourage improved public security in the country.

Août, 2010
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Perceptions and responses

This short briefing paper highlights key security concerns for the Nepali private sector and explores the role business can play in contributing to and mitigating insecurity.

Août, 2010
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This paper discusses why the lessons of past reintegration programmes in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal are not being learned and what implications this has for future EU disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programming.

Mars, 2010
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Understanding And Addressing Key Challenges

This paper discusses why the lessons of past reintegration programmes in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal are not being learned and what implications this has for future EU disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programming.

Décembre, 2009
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Kailali

This snapshot briefing outlines current security and justice needs in Kailali, a rural Terai district, giving constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges.

Mai, 2009
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Morang

This snapshot briefing outlines current security and justice needs in Morang - an industrial hub in eastern Terai region - giving constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges.

Mai, 2009
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This snapshot briefing outlines current security and justice needs in Jumla - a remote hill district - giving constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges.

Mai, 2009
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This report - part of a series of four country case studies - explores the ways in which the economic causes, drivers and impacts of conflict can be tackled in Nepal.

Avril, 2009
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