Background:

Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal (BRCRN) is the first Green Climate Fund (GCF) aided project in Nepal. It was approved by the GCF Board Meeting in December 30,2021. The project targets 26 river system at the Chure region of 11 districts of Province-1, Madhesh Province and Bagmati Province.  The Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) with technical support from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing the project. In this context, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) in collaboration with FAO is undertaking awareness raising and capacity building activities for indigenous peoples of the BRCRN area. NEFIN organized a two-days training- workshop titled, “Institutional Capacity Strengthening of Indigenous Peoples Organizations within BRCRN Project Area” in Bardibas from June 4-5 2022. 

Objectives:

The main objective of the event was to aware indigenous peoples about climate change, indigenous peoples’ rights and their potential contribution to climate action. It thereby aims to enhance resilience of communities and ecosystems, secure indigenous peoples ‘rights in BRCRN. 

Process: 

A total of 25 participants including 13 male and 12 female representing Indigenous Peoples Organization (IPOs) from 17 municipalities of Saptari, Siraha, Mahottari, Dhanusha, Sarlahi and Sindhuli attended the event. Kajiman Thing Chairperson of NEFIN Bagmati Province Coordination Council (PCC) and Manoj Kumar Danuwar, Chairperson of NEFIN Madhesh Province Coordination Council (PCC),  Mr. Mohanchandra Bishwakarma representing BRCRN Provincial Project Management Unit (PPMU) Bardibas and Mr. Narayan Shrestha the Indigenous Peoples Expert of BRCRN-FAO attended the workshop. Indigenous peoples’ experts and resource persons made presentations on various tittles related to climate change, indigenous peoples’ world views, collective rights, their knowledge and science, among other issues, concerning to project interventions the BRCRN in particular. 

Main discussion and conclusion:

Recommendation on project implementation process: One of the key recommendations of the participant was to ensure collective and institutional representation of indigenous people through involvement of NEFIN in all activities and at all levels of decision making mechanisms of the project. Participants also urged indigenous peoples’ participation with gender balance including of youth and elders through culturally appropriate manner. 

Recommendation on project components: Furthermore, the workshop recommended that the project must respect distinct worldviews, lifeways, values and science of indigenous peoples in designing and implementing BRCRN project activities. Climate actions, natural resource management, income generation and any activities in indigenous peoples’ land and territory must be led and owned by indigenous peoples of the territory.