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Refreshment Training on Climate Change, REDD+ and Indigenous Peoples’ Concern

Sunday, January 3rd, 2021

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities organized a two-day refreshment training program on “Climate Change REDD+ and Indigenous Peoples Concernat Resort Mirabel of Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchowk district on November 8 and 9, 2012. There were altogether 25 participants from 20 districts in the refreshment training program. The participants were chairman of DCC, members of NEFIN, members of NIWF and students. The resource persons of the refreshment training were Pasang Dolma Dolma Sherpa (NEFIN climate change, REDD National Coordinator), Khim Ghale (NEFIN), Dr. Krishna Bhattachan, Yugan Manandhar (WWF), Dilraj Khanal (FECOFUN) and Keshav Khanal (WWF, Tunga Rai (NEFIN Climate Change, REDD Project Officer) and Kamala Thapa Magar (NEFIN CCMIN Officer).

Objectives
The main objectives of the refreshment training were 1) to strengthen the capacity of trainers/resource person/ facilitator who have been disseminating awareness about climate change and REDD Plus at grassroot level and 2) to enhance and energize previous trainings on climate change, REDD Plus and Indigenous Peoples concern. Other specific objectives were to update the national and international conferences of climate change and REDD Plus, to inform the progress of Social and Environmental Standards, to improve the training skills, and to inform about the Hariyo Ban Programme.

Methodology
The programme was chaired by vice chairman of NEFIN, Mr. Nagendra Pd. Rajbansi who highlighted the need of such training programmes in district and VDC level as well. Pasang Dolma Sherpa, NEFIN climate change, REDD National Coordinator highlighted the objectives of the two days refreshment training programme. Expectations of participants were collected at the introductory session. Majority of the participants wanted updates on national and international happenings on climate change and REDD Plus. Some participants wanted to develop their training skills and some were interested to have information on Hariyo Ban Programme. To keep the refreshment training programme active and lively, timekeepers, managers and entertainers from participants were elected for two days. Then the resource persons presented their presentation on their respective subjects. Resource persons Tunga Rai presented his presentation on “Overview of Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and Engagement with Indigenous People”, Khim Ghale presented on Social and Environmental Standards of REDD+, Kamala Thapa Magar shared the presentation on “An update on REDD+ Readiness in Nepal”, and Pasang Dolma Sherpa shared her experiences gained in the international platform. The resource persons Shambhu Rai gave special skills for conducting training programme, Dr. Krishna Bhattachan informed about the workshop on FPIC going to be held in Chitawan and advised the participants to be prepared to make the FPIC alliance, and Yugan Manandhar briefly shared the agreements, progress and hurdles of implementing agreements of international conventions/ conferences of climate change and presented “Preparation of Nepal to REDD markets”. Keshav Khanal briefly described about the Hariyo Ban Programme that was recently launched and Dilraj Khanal gave his presentation on “Role and Effect of civil society while drafting National REDD Strategy and Social and Environmental Standards”. Entertainer of the training programme entertained and refreshed the participants and resource persons with songs and jokes during the sessions. On the second day of the refreshment training, feedback were collected from participants and reporter of the first day reported their reports.

Outcomes
One of the main features of the refreshment training conducted at Dhulikhel was to present maximum information regarding REDD, CC and …within the limited time. In the training programme, participants were introduced to new topics like Hariyo Ban Programme launched by WWF, agreements of national and international conferences on climate change and REDD, progress of SES on national level, and financial contributors of Nepal for REDD preparedness. Participants interacted with each other and with the resource persons during the presentations. Resource persons and put their efforts to address questions raised by the participants. Participants also shared their experiences of conducting awareness programme at local level.

Conclusion
The two days refreshment training programme was closed with an appreciation for the programe by Mr, Nagendra Pd. Chaudhary and an encouraging speech by Pasang Dolma Sherpa. The training programme refreshed the idea and vision of participants and encouraged the participants to disseminate their learning to their communities and into their localities. Participants admired the continuation of training programme and wished for its continuance in the future as well.

Recommendations
Participants’ suggestion included an increase to the number of female participants, making the presentation slides in Nepali and to use Nepali language, disseminating information on climate change and REDD Plus in DDC and VDC level with FECOFUN, and providing training on financial management. They also recommended the organizer to provide the opportunity to the participants to present their perspectives in the refreshment training, to increase the duration of refreshment training if new subject matters are included, to send more number of representatives in REDD Cell from NEFIN and to pay attention on the content along with issues of processes and participation.