November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal.…
November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal.…
November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9468', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'Govt, European partners inaugurate Chilime-Trishuli transmission system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p>November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. Once complete, the new Chilime-Trishuli Transmission link allows thousands of people living in communities in the Trishuli River Basin and beyond to benefit from clean hydropower energy and a more reliable power supply, said Energy Minister Barshaman Pun.</p> <p>Speaking at the formal inauguration ceremony, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pun said, “This crucial energy project is key for sustainable development in Nepal and demonstrates the close partnership between Nepal and European partners.”</p> <p>According to a joint statement issued by the government and its European partners, the new 27km transmission line will be built through difficult mountainous terrain 50km west of Kathmandu by the Nepal Electricity Authority and financed by the European Investment Bank, the European Union through the Asian Investment Facility, German Development Bank KfW and the Government of Nepal.</p> <p>The new transmission link will enable 600 MW of clean energy generated from hydropower plants, including independent power producers, on the Trishuli River corridor to be connected to Nepal’s national electricity grid and upgrade the existing electricity distribution to enable a more reliable supply of energy, the statement further said.</p> <p>“Over the coming years investment in clean energy will support sustainable development across Nepal and significantly increase use of renewable energy sources. The Chilime-Trishuli transmission line highlights how technical and financial cooperation between the Nepal Electricity Authority and European partners benefits our country and helps to harness low-carbon power sources,” said Kul Man Ghishing, managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</p> <p>The distribution scheme under the transmission system will also enable households in remote rural communities to benefit from first time access to electricity and reduce the need for expensive generators and cooking fuels.</p> <p> The European Union and German government financed comprehensive technical assistance totalling 16.25 million euros, essential for preparation and implementation of the project, and the European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 30 million long-term loan to finance construction of the new transmission link.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-21', 'modified' => '2018-11-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9244', 'image' => '20181121011231_eu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-21 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9450', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'European Investment Bank visit to highlight engagement in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.', 'content' => '<p>November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.</p> <p>Issuing a joint the bank and the European Union said that Andrew McDowell, vice president of the European Investment Bank responsible for South Asia and global energy activity, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will make a four-day visit to Nepal at the start of a South Asia regional visit this week.</p> <p>“Nepal has shown how investment in renewable energy can both transform access to electricity and harness clean power sources to benefit rural communities. The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting transformational climate related investment across Asia and my team and I look forward to discussing how the European Union’s Bank can strengthen engagement in Nepal in the years ahead,” the statement quoted McDowell as saying.</p> <p>During his visit, McDowell will meet Prime Minister KP Oli and other ministers, diplomats and business representatives to discuss future European Investment Bank engagement in Nepal.</p> <p>He will also attend a ground-breaking ceremony to formally mark the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission line by the Nepal Electricity Authority. The project is partly financed by the European Investment Bank under its largest single project in Nepal.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank, which is owned directly by the 28 European Union member states, supports investment in 160 countries worldwide and activity in Asia focuses on support for climate related investment.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank has provided more than 190 million euros for energy investment across Nepal over the last five years.</p> <p>“The European Union and Nepal recognise the challenges of a changing climate and the importance of new climate related investment. This week’s visit by the delegation from the European Investment Bank, the EU Bank, will allow future investment to be considered and recent support for rural electrification in Trishuli to be seen at first hand,” said Veronica Cody, ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation to Nepal.</p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-19', 'modified' => '2018-11-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9228', 'image' => '20181119014925_eu_flag.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-19 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1924', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Proper Use Of Technology Supports Livelihood Of Communities”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Achyut Luitel" src="/userfiles/images/al.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 250px; height: 270px;" />Achyut Luitel</strong> is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation. In an interview with <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> and <strong>Modnath Dhakal</strong> of The Corporate, Luitel talked about Practical Action’s activities in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you shed light on the major working areas of Practical Action Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Currently, we are working on four thematic areas - agricultural livelihood, disaster risk reduction, decentralized energy systems and urbanisation. As most Nepali citizens are dependent on agriculture, we have integrated market access of agro products, food security and livelihood of farmers. This approach is basically designed to help people of rural areas to raise their living standard through the combination of effective agricultural mechanisms and market access of the agro products they produce. Similarly, disaster risk reduction is focused on reducing the vulnerabilities of climate change which is posing a big threat in Nepal. Likewise, decentralized energy systems are our other major objective which is targeted to assist scattered communities to fulfill their minimum energy requirements as well as to help them in total energy access. We are associated with the United Nation’s ‘Sustainable Energy for All by 2030’ global campaign and are working closely with the Planning Commission to achieve the energy objectives. Finally, the thematic area of urbanisation is designed to reduce urban poverty. The decade-long insurgency and opportunities in the cities contributed to the rise of migration of rural people to the urban areas. This has led to increase in the number of poor in cities which is becoming a major problem. Our program Urban WASH (water and sanitation, hygiene education) programme is focused on improving the lives of the urban poor population. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How successful has it been to use technology to raise the living standard of targeted groups?</strong></span></div> <div> We have tried to address poverty related issues through the use of technology. We have introduced a new concept called ‘Technology Justice.’ The term has been defined as an alternative access to provide services to targeted groups that are underprivileged from taking advantage of new technology. One example is the use of the gravity ropeway system. Similarly, we are also providing technical assistance to farmers to adopt new farming techniques. </div> <div> </div> <div> Lack of power surplus in Nepal has created a huge gap between people of urban and rural areas. Even people living in slum areas deserve to use a solar lantern. The alternative technology access programme can address the issue to some extent. We provide information as audio/visual contents to communities through our local partners. PA Nepal believes that the proper use of technology can support livelihood of communities. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you please elaborate the financial model that Practical Action has adopted? </strong></span></div> <div> We have two types of fund. First is the unrestricted fund known as the core allocation. The chunk of money from the fund is used for staff salary, office expenses, among others. The fund is also used in the piloting of new projects. As a member-based organization, our donors and supporters throughout Europe and United Kingdom provide us with donations. Next is the restricted fund that is brought in by winning international biddings. The money received in the restricted fund is allocated to the implementation of projects. Various trusts also help us in fund-raising activities. We submit an annual audit report to the government. We are spending about 2.5 million Sterling Pounds (Rs 400 million) each year.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The PA has been publishing the ‘Poor Peoples Energy Outlook’ (PPEO) report every year. How has the report helped the Nepal Government to outline and implement policies to reduce poverty regarding energy use?</strong></span></div> <div> We have been publishing The PPEO on an annual basis. The basic theme of the project is the way to use energy in community services and enterprise development. It is a livelihood-centered approach. The project can create awareness among stakeholders to take energy in a broad level. There is huge feasibility in enterprise development and community services (street lamp, school lamp). We need to take energy through the concept of minimum energy requirement and total energy access. However, the level of change is based on available resources and the political will of the nation. </div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-10-07', 'modified' => '2013-10-08', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Achyut Luitel is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation.', 'sortorder' => '1782', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1809', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Radio Easily Delivers Information About Development, Diversity And Democracy’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><img alt="Upendra Aryal " src="/userfiles/images/idp.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 200px; height: 221px;" />Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004. Equal Access Nepal’s Acting Executive Director Upendra Aryal spoke to Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate about the organisation’s initiatives. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are currently working in media development and behaviour change communication. We have been trying to reach out to the audience of different classes, ages, and communities through radio. I feel that radio is the most effective medium because of its easy accessibility and the broadcast could reach the remotest parts of the country. We have been working in various sectors such as family health care, maternal health, child care, family planning, Early Grade Reading (EGR), Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary education, community empowerment, youth and teenage problems etc. We are also focused on the political issues through our radio programmes.</div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal is witnessing a remarkable growth in the radio broadcast sector. The liberal media policies endorsed by the government (after the democratic change) have helped the broadcast sector to flourish in this country. However, there are some issues concerning the quality of the radio programmes. A successful radio presentation is combined with the good quality of mixing, scripting, innovative formatting and various other aspects of post-production.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What are the core working areas of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are working in health, education, political, constitutional segment and youth-oriented programmes. The programmes are focused on media education, gender issues, constitution drafting process, good governance etc. One can listen to such content in the widely listened radio programme known as “Naya Nepal”.</div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, Mamata (maternal health), Deshpardesh (cross border content, which include health issues), ‘Saathi Sanga Maan Ka Kura’ (sharing thoughts with friends) are our popular radio programmes focused on various health and peer pressure issues. Likewise, ‘Samajdari’, a series on spouse communication and ‘Kaam ka Kura’ (based youth employment issues) are also widely listened. Equal access’s contents are taken as meaningful and useful. Through these programmes, we are reaching nearly to 12.5 million listeners across the country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How can we utilize radio as means of development?</strong></span></div> <div> Radio has evolved as one of the most effective means of development. We are using radio as a tool to facilitate the dialogue and conversation about sustainable development. On an average, the Nepali radio stations are broadcasting for 18 hours a day reaching across all the corners of country. This shows that the radio penetration can be of great help to deliver the messages quickly. Radio broadcast is also interlinked with issues in various cultural or linguistic diversities and democracy. We can take radio as a ‘3D’ medium because it helps to deliver messages and information about issues related to development, diversity and democracy. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of radio in promoting micro-entrepreneurship?</strong></span></div> <div> Micro-entrepreneurship is so far concerned with the income generation, village banking, micro-credit and ultimately the economic empowerment of underprivileged people. Radio stations across the country are broadcasting various programmes on micro-financing and livelihood solutions. However, radio can’t be taken as an effective medium for income generation training purposes. For example, a website can better explain farmers about the farming techniques with illustrations and pictures which radio is unable to explain. But we can integrate the radio programmes and suggest the farmers about the links to such websites. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Equal Access Nepal has been emphasizing the use of technology to deliver information to the general public? </strong></span></div> <div> Information technology has helped us a lot. For instance, different communities can share their messages through our websites. It can encourage citizen journalism as well. We operate some blog sites such as www.meroreport.net and www.mediamanch.net to facilitate citizen journalism across the country. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, we also offer free SMS service which is integrated to the above mentioned websites. The websites include interactive voice recording system that enables to convert recorded voice into text format. This is providing interactive platform to share messages where others can also give opinions on various issues. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Nepali media in terms of economic and social development of the country?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepali media sector is vibrant. Though they mostly cover political issues but economic, social and environmental affairs are also given ample space in the newspapers, television, radios and websites. Nepal media are disseminating information of nearly all the sectors. We can take examples of some successful publications. In my opinion the ‘Shikshyak’ magazine is a very good example which is providing valuable information on education and development. Though we still lack thoughtful journalism, Nepali media sector has been its role positively in socio-economic development of the country. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-09-16', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004.', 'sortorder' => '1670', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1691', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“ICRC Focuses On The Needs Of Families Of The Disappeared”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Sylvie Thoral , Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/st.jpg" style=" float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 236px;" />Sylvie Thoral</strong> is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency. August 30 is marked as the International Day of the Disappeared. In an interview with <strong>Gaurav Aryal</strong> of The Corporate, Thoral talked about ICRC’s activities concerned with the disappeared in the post-conflict period. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the recent activities of ICRC in Nepal?</strong></div> <div> For a couple of years now, our activities have had the same focus. Our mandate goes towards protection of victims of conflicts and other situations of violence. The reason why we still operate in Nepal is very much related to the persistence of a certain number of humanitarian concerns related to the past conflict. There are humanitarian consequences particularly in relation to families of the disappeared whose whereabouts are still unknown. Other activities are related to emergency response in fields where the Red Cross is involved in activities such as first aid trainings, disaster management and management of trauma cases in medical structures.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is ICRC working on the status of the disappeared in partnership with government bodies?</strong></div> <div> We collected a certain number of complaints on disappearance at the time of conflict. We managed to clarify the fate of some while there are families who still do not have a single clue. We try to be more systematic in consolidating and collecting as much information as possible. Throughout these years, we also engaged with Nepali authorities and both parties of the conflict - Nepal Army, Police and Maoist combatants because people were held captive by either side. We tried finding whereabouts of those people held captive by both sides. We also try to focus on the needs of families of the disappeared, not for protection but for supporting them. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you see the possibility of knowing the whereabouts of the missing people now, after almost eight years since the end of armed conflict?</strong></div> <div> The hope of finding someone still alive is very slim. But, as long as you don’t have confirmation by anyone, there are legal complications. If a person is not here and the person is not confirmed dead, there is no legal provision in Nepal for recognition of the missing person, including those missing in a natural calamity. According to the law, it is only after 12 years of a person being missing that you can consider the person as dead and begin legal procedures such as inheritance and transfer of properties.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you think that such provisions must be amended?</strong></div> <div> This is something we are now looking into because we want to go deeper in understanding the legal needs of these families. So, we have commissioned a study and based on that report, we might make some recommendations to the government of Nepal via the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction about this legal framework either by decreasing the 12 years term or by making a provision for declaration of absence. This provision that exists in other countries to acknowledge somebody’s absence for years gives the relatives a kind of recognition to carry on with the legal proceedings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Some political leaders have been insisting not to revive conflict-era cases. What is your take on it?</strong></div> <div> Nepal at some point will have to come to terms with what has been done in the past. A fact finding commission has to be put in place at some point, also to avoid similar incidents in the future. We are more concerned at the time being for the families of the disappeared rather than right to justice. Justice need to come at some point but for us, what matters is to foster a secure environment where people who have information regarding the fate of disappeared individuals can reveal it without fearing prosecution. Criminal proceedings must come but we must also think about how to create an environment for people to provide information that is much needed. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-26', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Sylvie Thoral is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency.', 'sortorder' => '1552', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1548', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Try To Create An Atmosphere For The Media To Focus On Issues That Demand Coverage’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Damakant Jayshi,Nepal’s Country Representative,PANOS South Asia" src="/userfiles/images/Damakant%20Jayshi.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 175px; height: 197px;" />PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997. This week, Nepal’s Country Representative <strong>Damakant Jayshi </strong>spoke to <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> of The Corporate about the institute’s journey thus far. <strong>Excerpts:</strong> </span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is Panos South Asia doing in the South Asian region? </strong></div> <div> Our main focus is media development and supporting the media in various ways. We work on four broad subjects - the environment, public health, conflict and globalisation – and engage the media with issues in these topics. We also design relevant training and project designing programmes with thematic and journalism experts. The trainings include short term or long term fellowships. We take feedback from trainees in our various programmes for capacity enhancement of the media and journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you work directly with governments, development partners or do you work independently? </strong></div> <div> We do not have any long term partnerships so far. Panos, founded in 1997 is in its 16th year and we have had many partnerships during this period. Our partnership is based according to our projects and but some donors use to give institutional funding to boost our capacity. Currently, we are engaged in rolling partnerships which are based under our themes. For now, we are working with Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) of the United Kingdom for two years. But we usually try to partner with local NGOs. We are now thinking of trying to re-orient ourselves towards new media and multimedia. We hopefully will have enough foundation to enhance the capacity of Nepali journalists (in both Nepali and English languages) to help them become multimedia journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are your major achievements so far? </strong></div> <div> Panos has a long history. We had a Panos Radio South Asia Project which ran for five years that came out with quality programmes that were broadcast by local radio stations. We worked as a partner with Caravan Magazine where we promoted long-form journalism. We count various trainings, workshops and fellowships as our key achievements. In the climate change blog section of our website, ex-trainees keep updating their comments and feedback which is also a part of our success. We have trained 89 people in various themes from Nepal and South Asia in both long and short term fellowship programmes thus far. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you have any specific strategies to support development? </strong></div> <div> We try to create an atmosphere for the media to focus on issues that demand coverage. We focus on particular issues that engage national or local media with the motive of bringing positive change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Nowadays the news media in South Asia seems to use to a lot of negativity. What is your take on this? </strong></div> <div> Negative news coverage is an old practice and a long standing debate in the media sector. Earlier, the media could not differentiate between what was worth publishing and what was not, and thus the practice of negative news was frequent. However, we can see change these days where the media is inclined to analysing both sides of an issue. The practice of negativity and making sensational news can be improved by persons from the media themselves. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Has Panos South Asia helped to make media strategies for the government and other development partners? </strong></div> <div> We have not made any media strategies for the government or any political party. We do not want to engage in the politics of this field. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What problems have you seen in investigative journalism in the context of Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Investigative journalism is very important for Nepal. None of the Nepali media houses have formed a unit dedicated to investigative reporting. Limited resources for investigation is seen as a major hurdle. It is costly and takes time to conduct investigations on various issues. In the context of Nepal, lack of skills needed to dig out data for investigative reporting is also seen as another hindrance. If we do not have enough data and proof then insufficient information for an investigative story will lead to nothing. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Would you like to share what Panos’ future plans are? </strong></div> <div> We would like to revive our radio project and to run it in the long term. We want to organise radio discussion programmes with people’s participation at the grass roots level. We are also looking to organise multimedia workshops to enhance the capacity and skills of Nepali journalists.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-05', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997.', 'sortorder' => '1409', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1504', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Are Facing High Dependency Of Communities Over Our Organisation’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation. <strong>Devi Ram Bhat</strong>, the Operation Manager of Good Neighbours International Nepal spoke to <strong>Sweta Sharma</strong> of The Corporate weekly, sharing the organisation’s plans, projects and success thus far. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/Devi%20Ram%20Bhat%2C.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 239px;" />What is the biggest achievement of your organisation so far in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Good Neighbours has been working in Nepal for 11 years and has been successful in providing education to 23,000 children in this period. This is what we measure as our best achievement till date. Also, several families have been successful in generating income on their own with the help of the training we provide. Fourteen hundred children have been included in piloting for health insurance. We have also spent more than 50 percent of our funds in providing education. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the main community development projects supported by Good Neighbours International in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> In 2009, we started Community Development Projects (CDP) with the motive to support child education, public health and income generation for a number of communities. We now have 18 projects in 11 districts. The projects include support for education, child protection programs, health care services and vocational training classes to help residents increase their income. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Apart from projects that are being operated, what new projects are in line for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have already completed our feasibility study in Gorkha and Kaski districts to start our projects. Apart from this, we have no new projects in line. If we are to start any, it will only be after 2015 because we cannot start new projects without the permission of the Social Welfare Association of Nepal (SWAN). </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What operational challenges are you facing to run projects in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> There have been challenges but we considered them as opportunities. The main one was to overcome geographical hurdles as it was the main hindrance for the implementation of our projects. We are also facing high dependency of communities over our organisation. They might mistake our support as being lifelong, which can increase their dependency. But we are providing communities with vocational training to reduce their dependency. Similarly, schools that we support for children’s education are holding high expectations from us. Political instability too cannot be missed in the list of challenges. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the main source of your funding? What is your annual total investment in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Our main donor is South Korea where we have our headquarter. Japan and USA are also supporting our organisation to some extent. We get support through sponsorship programs and not directly from any company. We have negotiated with the Nepali government for an annual investment of Rs 29.62 million. In 2012, our total annual investment was Rs 23.41 million. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How beneficial have cookstoves projects been for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have not initiated cookstoves projects in Nepal as yet. Some volunteers from our organisation have done some research about cookstoves. This project is carried out in Cambodia. We don’t have any plans to start such projects in Nepal right now. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the service you provide to a community is actually useful to them? </strong></div> <div> As I already mentioned, we have 18 projects which have their own offices in different districts. Every project has 10-35 staff persons and we provide services through those offices. So we are quite sure of our service being served to the community. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the response from the government so far? Is the government helpful in Good Neighbours’ initiatives? </strong></div> <div> Every governmental and non-governmental organisation is supposed to work under the government’s territory. So in this regard, we are thankful to the government for letting our organisation provide service to communities in Nepal. We have a very good negotiation with the government regarding our projects and services to communities here. Overall, we are positive towards the government and vice versa. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that benefits from the projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> We are planning to establish one CDP and one Cooperative in every district we cover. This has already been implemented for some projects. We developed this plan with the motive to provide support to communities through cooperatives even after the project ends.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-29', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation.', 'sortorder' => '1365', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1458', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Make Sure That Projects Are Not Owned By Heifer But By People’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Dr Shubh N Mahato,Country Director of Heifer International Nepal." src="/userfiles/images/Dr%20Shubh%20N%20Mahato.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 182px;" /><span style="font-size:14px;"><em>Dr Shubh N Mahato</em> is the <em>Country Director</em> of <em>Heifer International Nepal</em>. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span><strong> </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is Heifer International’s new 10 years strategic plan different than that of the past? </strong></div> <div> Earlier we used to make strategic plans for five years. Earlier, Heifer’s staff were mobilised along with the participation of stakeholders. We used to have certain targets and strategies were formulated to achieve them. Then we used to design projects targeting up to 500 households. And, NGOs would take up sub projects to be implemented in their working areas. </div> <div> </div> <div> Now, we involve more on situation analysis of the country and identify the gaps in the sector where Heifer works and how Heifer can fill it. We also look at government priorities in the sector where Heifer works while doing situation analysis and find out areas where our strength lies and where we can contribute best to derive optimum benefits for people. Similarly, instead of projects, we will formulate programmes under which projects will cater to at least 1000 families. Rather than five years, now we are making 10 years strategic plan on the basis of nation’s priorities, actual situation analysis and value chain studies. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you plan to reduce the duplication of the projects under the new plan? </strong></div> <div> It is not an easy task but we are also concerned about it. There are heavy investments made by different organisations in the projects of similar nature that generate few returns. Our sub-projects are implemented in the VDC level. In coordination with the concerned VDC, we try to find what other projects are being implemented there. We also ensure that the projects are not owned by Heifer or an NGO but by that VDC. But, for that, out of the total size of the project, 25 per cent must be contributed by the VDC. As VDC is handed over the responsibilities for project implementation, they will merge similar projects with similar targets by other organisations. As the projects are made in VDC’s coordination and implemented and monitored by them, it would largely help to reduce duplication. We started this model from April, 2012 and will be continued also in the future projects. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the benefits of projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> When we design projects we make sure that projects are not owned by Heifer but they are people’s project. Local people must take the ownership through the self help groups. If the members of the groups are not willing to help themselves, we do not work there. They must have commitments like compulsory monthly savings and utilising that in productive works. None of the projects of Heifer is longer than two to three years. In many cases I have found that the real impacts of the projects begin after that. Activities like compulsory savings are there to stay once it becomes people’s culture. We encourage people to affiliate their groups to cooperatives and tie up with the banks so that it would help them to further expand their business. Such activities make a project sustainable. When the local bodies, VDC and stakeholders are the part of the project, usually the projects become sustainable. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How does Heifer International ensure the transparency of mobilised funds? </strong></div> <div> For this purpose, a project management and implementation committee is formed with representatives from beneficiaries and stakeholders, self help groups, VDC, donors, NGOs and Heifer. This committee has the records of the details of the funds coming for the particular project from a particular source. Monitoring and evaluation of the projects is done at the local level by this committee. This has helped to maintain transparency. Similarly, NGOs responsible for project implementation, must regularly report to us and the Heifer regularly carries out financial monitoring and auditing. If we find any irregularities, we have a zero tolerance policy towards such activities. Such measures have helped maintain high transparency and accountability of resource mobilisation.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-22', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dr Shubh N Mahato is the Country Director of Heifer International Nepal. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability.', 'sortorder' => '1319', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1411', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Local Currency Funds Are Important For Private Sector Development’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <img alt="Karin Finkelston,International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific." src="/userfiles/images/4a.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 225px; height: 265px;" /></div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific. Her responsibilities include overseeing IFC’s investment and advisory programmes as well as maintaining relationships with key government and private sector partners in the region. Recently, she visited Nepal and spoke to Siromani Dhungana of The Corporate. <strong>Excerpt: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is IFC’s overall strategy in South Asia? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> South Asia is where the world’s poorest live in large numbers. Our mission is to create opportunity where needs are greatest and most relevant in this region. With many countries in the region facing development challenges and severe climate change impact amid political transition, this is a defining moment to make meaningful intervention. </div> <div> </div> <div> To meet these challenges, IFC’s strategy for South Asia is three-pronged: </div> <ul> <li> Achieving inclusive growth, including support for frontier regions through increased access to infrastructure; </li> <li> Addressing climate change impact through adaptation and mitigation measures; and </li> <li> Promoting regional and global integration including South- South investments and trade finance. </li> </ul> <div> </div> <div> <strong>As Asia Vice President for IFC, how do you think IFC can help countries like Nepal in their development agenda?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> In my role as VP for Asia, I see the similarities and differences in context and also the potentials – picking up lessons and learning from other countries is invaluable. Nepal, for example, needs to meet the most important aspects of providing electricity to its people and industry and jobs to its youth. Nepal’s immense hydropower potential positions it well to respond to these needs. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>The needs in infrastructure, especially in energy can be met by harnessing the country’s hydro potential. What are IFC’s plans in this regard? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal’s hydropower potential of about 84,000 MW is enough to meet about 3 percent of the global demand for power if the potential is fully realized. So far only about 686 MW is developed whereas the total installed capacity is 740 MW. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are planning to collaborate on developing Nepal’s hydropower potential. IFC has supported hydropower projects in Nepal in the past as well. Two years back, we invested in a run-of-river hydropower project with Butwal Power Company. IFC’s financing is helping to renovate and upgrade the power plant, including the replacement of 100- year old turbines with modern and efficient technology. The plant’s output is expected to increase by 50 percent. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How have you supported the private sector in other areas and businesses? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC’s strategic agenda in Nepal includes priority sectors of infrastructure, finance, including access to finance for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, tourism and agribusiness. With the corporation’s growing investments and advisory assistance, IFC is set to play a key role in Nepal. IFC is also working on a payment reform project and an advisory team is making important progress by building partnerships between the government and private sector through the Nepal Business Forum. We are now working with the private sector to promote improved agricultural and water management practices and introducing new technologies among small farmers producing rice, maize and sugarcane to adapt to climate change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>IFC has been planning to issue local currency bond in Nepal. Could you please highlight the logic behind this?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> A strong capital market helps the private sector to efficiently finance their operations, depending on the risk of the capital, instead of worrying about foreign exchange facilities. IFC supports local capital markets by issuing local currency bonds, often paving the way for other issuers. We also provide local currency finance to meet the needs of the private sector in many countries. Our projects require local currency financing as well. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What do you have to say to the Nepali private sector that is focusing more on the problems of getting foreign capital than on local currency funds? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Developing local currency funds is an important element of private sector development. They help create access to long-term financing for large infrastructure projects and for small and medium enterprises- -the key drivers of jobs and growth. However, availability of strong local currency funds requires a conducive regulatory framework, a market and infrastructure. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>There is a big chunk of work IFC is leading on the advisory side--around reform. How do you think this work can help the private sector in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC, through the South Asia Enterprise Development Facility, has been supporting the Nepal government’s efforts to focus on growing the country’s economy through improving the business environment, supporting sustainable business growth, and creating jobs. Our reform programmes in Nepal are aimed at making it easier to do business by reducing barriers to new business registration and streamlining the administration of taxes. We also help facilitate public-private dialogue to ensure that business reforms made by the government match private sector needs besides promoting private investments in Nepal.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-15', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific.', 'sortorder' => '1273', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1333', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Women Are Sincere In Business’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<p> <span style="font-size: 12px;">Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></p> <p> <strong>Your organisation claims it is focusing on self-reliant development. Would you please elaborate? </strong></p> <div> <img alt="Astha Thapa Pande,Executive Director of TEWA." height="223" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NzNX38m46j0/UdqmjtKBAcI/AAAAAAAAA-U/aBRL4mpnMWo/s489/astha.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="215" /></div> <p> Tewa was founded in 1995 in a context where development was entirely driven by foreign aid. New organizations were sprouting but many were allowing their organizational missions to be dictated by what funds were available. At such a time, Tewa was set up, not just as an organization, but as an idea that self-reliance is possible, that we can and must partake in our own development, and that resources can be mobilized locally. Tewa has shown that this can be done, and Nepalis have donated both their money and their time to the cause of women these past nearly two decades since Tewa was established. </p> <p> In today’s context Tewa feels that there is much more thinking and doing to be done with regards to self-reliant development and Tewa is striving yet again to set an example through its physical endowment (land and building) project. The Tewa Centre, which is now nearing completion is a revenue generating centre that will ultimately make Tewa, the women’s fund, far more self-reliant with its focus on raising funds primarily to give grants for women’s rights and empowerment. </p> <p> <strong>So, your organization has decided to not be donor dependent. How difficult is it to execute such decision? </strong></p> <p> I would approach donor dependence as a concept with caution, so there are no misunderstandings. Tewa is not opposed to donors, but wants to encourage organisations to set their own mission and vision, principles and values and not be swayed or change simply for the sake of funding.</p> <p> <strong>What difficulties are women facing regarding entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Most of the females in Nepal are uneducated as a result of which their decisions are not given priority in the family. Similarly, the main reason of Nepali women lagging behind in entrepreneurship is poor access to finance. The landed assets are not owned by them because of which they don’t get opportunity to invest in the sector they want to. Though their level has increased in terms of economy and business, there is still much to improve.</p> <p> <strong>How do you evaluate the present status of women entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Women are seen increasing their independency level and seeking for self employment. As far as we see, women are capable of being successful entrepreneurs as they are sincere in their business. They are being educated which makes them able to use that available finance in business. Women are also introducing themselves as social entrepreneurs as they come up with their ideas and form a group in a society to provide employment opportunities to other females.</p> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-08', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal.', 'sortorder' => '1195', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/indexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9468', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'Govt, European partners inaugurate Chilime-Trishuli transmission system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p>November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. Once complete, the new Chilime-Trishuli Transmission link allows thousands of people living in communities in the Trishuli River Basin and beyond to benefit from clean hydropower energy and a more reliable power supply, said Energy Minister Barshaman Pun.</p> <p>Speaking at the formal inauguration ceremony, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pun said, “This crucial energy project is key for sustainable development in Nepal and demonstrates the close partnership between Nepal and European partners.”</p> <p>According to a joint statement issued by the government and its European partners, the new 27km transmission line will be built through difficult mountainous terrain 50km west of Kathmandu by the Nepal Electricity Authority and financed by the European Investment Bank, the European Union through the Asian Investment Facility, German Development Bank KfW and the Government of Nepal.</p> <p>The new transmission link will enable 600 MW of clean energy generated from hydropower plants, including independent power producers, on the Trishuli River corridor to be connected to Nepal’s national electricity grid and upgrade the existing electricity distribution to enable a more reliable supply of energy, the statement further said.</p> <p>“Over the coming years investment in clean energy will support sustainable development across Nepal and significantly increase use of renewable energy sources. The Chilime-Trishuli transmission line highlights how technical and financial cooperation between the Nepal Electricity Authority and European partners benefits our country and helps to harness low-carbon power sources,” said Kul Man Ghishing, managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</p> <p>The distribution scheme under the transmission system will also enable households in remote rural communities to benefit from first time access to electricity and reduce the need for expensive generators and cooking fuels.</p> <p> The European Union and German government financed comprehensive technical assistance totalling 16.25 million euros, essential for preparation and implementation of the project, and the European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 30 million long-term loan to finance construction of the new transmission link.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-21', 'modified' => '2018-11-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9244', 'image' => '20181121011231_eu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-21 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9450', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'European Investment Bank visit to highlight engagement in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.', 'content' => '<p>November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.</p> <p>Issuing a joint the bank and the European Union said that Andrew McDowell, vice president of the European Investment Bank responsible for South Asia and global energy activity, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will make a four-day visit to Nepal at the start of a South Asia regional visit this week.</p> <p>“Nepal has shown how investment in renewable energy can both transform access to electricity and harness clean power sources to benefit rural communities. The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting transformational climate related investment across Asia and my team and I look forward to discussing how the European Union’s Bank can strengthen engagement in Nepal in the years ahead,” the statement quoted McDowell as saying.</p> <p>During his visit, McDowell will meet Prime Minister KP Oli and other ministers, diplomats and business representatives to discuss future European Investment Bank engagement in Nepal.</p> <p>He will also attend a ground-breaking ceremony to formally mark the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission line by the Nepal Electricity Authority. The project is partly financed by the European Investment Bank under its largest single project in Nepal.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank, which is owned directly by the 28 European Union member states, supports investment in 160 countries worldwide and activity in Asia focuses on support for climate related investment.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank has provided more than 190 million euros for energy investment across Nepal over the last five years.</p> <p>“The European Union and Nepal recognise the challenges of a changing climate and the importance of new climate related investment. This week’s visit by the delegation from the European Investment Bank, the EU Bank, will allow future investment to be considered and recent support for rural electrification in Trishuli to be seen at first hand,” said Veronica Cody, ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation to Nepal.</p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-19', 'modified' => '2018-11-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9228', 'image' => '20181119014925_eu_flag.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-19 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1924', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Proper Use Of Technology Supports Livelihood Of Communities”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Achyut Luitel" src="/userfiles/images/al.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 250px; height: 270px;" />Achyut Luitel</strong> is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation. In an interview with <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> and <strong>Modnath Dhakal</strong> of The Corporate, Luitel talked about Practical Action’s activities in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you shed light on the major working areas of Practical Action Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Currently, we are working on four thematic areas - agricultural livelihood, disaster risk reduction, decentralized energy systems and urbanisation. As most Nepali citizens are dependent on agriculture, we have integrated market access of agro products, food security and livelihood of farmers. This approach is basically designed to help people of rural areas to raise their living standard through the combination of effective agricultural mechanisms and market access of the agro products they produce. Similarly, disaster risk reduction is focused on reducing the vulnerabilities of climate change which is posing a big threat in Nepal. Likewise, decentralized energy systems are our other major objective which is targeted to assist scattered communities to fulfill their minimum energy requirements as well as to help them in total energy access. We are associated with the United Nation’s ‘Sustainable Energy for All by 2030’ global campaign and are working closely with the Planning Commission to achieve the energy objectives. Finally, the thematic area of urbanisation is designed to reduce urban poverty. The decade-long insurgency and opportunities in the cities contributed to the rise of migration of rural people to the urban areas. This has led to increase in the number of poor in cities which is becoming a major problem. Our program Urban WASH (water and sanitation, hygiene education) programme is focused on improving the lives of the urban poor population. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How successful has it been to use technology to raise the living standard of targeted groups?</strong></span></div> <div> We have tried to address poverty related issues through the use of technology. We have introduced a new concept called ‘Technology Justice.’ The term has been defined as an alternative access to provide services to targeted groups that are underprivileged from taking advantage of new technology. One example is the use of the gravity ropeway system. Similarly, we are also providing technical assistance to farmers to adopt new farming techniques. </div> <div> </div> <div> Lack of power surplus in Nepal has created a huge gap between people of urban and rural areas. Even people living in slum areas deserve to use a solar lantern. The alternative technology access programme can address the issue to some extent. We provide information as audio/visual contents to communities through our local partners. PA Nepal believes that the proper use of technology can support livelihood of communities. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you please elaborate the financial model that Practical Action has adopted? </strong></span></div> <div> We have two types of fund. First is the unrestricted fund known as the core allocation. The chunk of money from the fund is used for staff salary, office expenses, among others. The fund is also used in the piloting of new projects. As a member-based organization, our donors and supporters throughout Europe and United Kingdom provide us with donations. Next is the restricted fund that is brought in by winning international biddings. The money received in the restricted fund is allocated to the implementation of projects. Various trusts also help us in fund-raising activities. We submit an annual audit report to the government. We are spending about 2.5 million Sterling Pounds (Rs 400 million) each year.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The PA has been publishing the ‘Poor Peoples Energy Outlook’ (PPEO) report every year. How has the report helped the Nepal Government to outline and implement policies to reduce poverty regarding energy use?</strong></span></div> <div> We have been publishing The PPEO on an annual basis. The basic theme of the project is the way to use energy in community services and enterprise development. It is a livelihood-centered approach. The project can create awareness among stakeholders to take energy in a broad level. There is huge feasibility in enterprise development and community services (street lamp, school lamp). We need to take energy through the concept of minimum energy requirement and total energy access. However, the level of change is based on available resources and the political will of the nation. </div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-10-07', 'modified' => '2013-10-08', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Achyut Luitel is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation.', 'sortorder' => '1782', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1809', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Radio Easily Delivers Information About Development, Diversity And Democracy’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><img alt="Upendra Aryal " src="/userfiles/images/idp.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 200px; height: 221px;" />Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004. Equal Access Nepal’s Acting Executive Director Upendra Aryal spoke to Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate about the organisation’s initiatives. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are currently working in media development and behaviour change communication. We have been trying to reach out to the audience of different classes, ages, and communities through radio. I feel that radio is the most effective medium because of its easy accessibility and the broadcast could reach the remotest parts of the country. We have been working in various sectors such as family health care, maternal health, child care, family planning, Early Grade Reading (EGR), Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary education, community empowerment, youth and teenage problems etc. We are also focused on the political issues through our radio programmes.</div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal is witnessing a remarkable growth in the radio broadcast sector. The liberal media policies endorsed by the government (after the democratic change) have helped the broadcast sector to flourish in this country. However, there are some issues concerning the quality of the radio programmes. A successful radio presentation is combined with the good quality of mixing, scripting, innovative formatting and various other aspects of post-production.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What are the core working areas of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are working in health, education, political, constitutional segment and youth-oriented programmes. The programmes are focused on media education, gender issues, constitution drafting process, good governance etc. One can listen to such content in the widely listened radio programme known as “Naya Nepal”.</div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, Mamata (maternal health), Deshpardesh (cross border content, which include health issues), ‘Saathi Sanga Maan Ka Kura’ (sharing thoughts with friends) are our popular radio programmes focused on various health and peer pressure issues. Likewise, ‘Samajdari’, a series on spouse communication and ‘Kaam ka Kura’ (based youth employment issues) are also widely listened. Equal access’s contents are taken as meaningful and useful. Through these programmes, we are reaching nearly to 12.5 million listeners across the country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How can we utilize radio as means of development?</strong></span></div> <div> Radio has evolved as one of the most effective means of development. We are using radio as a tool to facilitate the dialogue and conversation about sustainable development. On an average, the Nepali radio stations are broadcasting for 18 hours a day reaching across all the corners of country. This shows that the radio penetration can be of great help to deliver the messages quickly. Radio broadcast is also interlinked with issues in various cultural or linguistic diversities and democracy. We can take radio as a ‘3D’ medium because it helps to deliver messages and information about issues related to development, diversity and democracy. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of radio in promoting micro-entrepreneurship?</strong></span></div> <div> Micro-entrepreneurship is so far concerned with the income generation, village banking, micro-credit and ultimately the economic empowerment of underprivileged people. Radio stations across the country are broadcasting various programmes on micro-financing and livelihood solutions. However, radio can’t be taken as an effective medium for income generation training purposes. For example, a website can better explain farmers about the farming techniques with illustrations and pictures which radio is unable to explain. But we can integrate the radio programmes and suggest the farmers about the links to such websites. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Equal Access Nepal has been emphasizing the use of technology to deliver information to the general public? </strong></span></div> <div> Information technology has helped us a lot. For instance, different communities can share their messages through our websites. It can encourage citizen journalism as well. We operate some blog sites such as www.meroreport.net and www.mediamanch.net to facilitate citizen journalism across the country. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, we also offer free SMS service which is integrated to the above mentioned websites. The websites include interactive voice recording system that enables to convert recorded voice into text format. This is providing interactive platform to share messages where others can also give opinions on various issues. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Nepali media in terms of economic and social development of the country?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepali media sector is vibrant. Though they mostly cover political issues but economic, social and environmental affairs are also given ample space in the newspapers, television, radios and websites. Nepal media are disseminating information of nearly all the sectors. We can take examples of some successful publications. In my opinion the ‘Shikshyak’ magazine is a very good example which is providing valuable information on education and development. Though we still lack thoughtful journalism, Nepali media sector has been its role positively in socio-economic development of the country. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-09-16', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004.', 'sortorder' => '1670', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1691', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“ICRC Focuses On The Needs Of Families Of The Disappeared”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Sylvie Thoral , Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/st.jpg" style=" float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 236px;" />Sylvie Thoral</strong> is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency. August 30 is marked as the International Day of the Disappeared. In an interview with <strong>Gaurav Aryal</strong> of The Corporate, Thoral talked about ICRC’s activities concerned with the disappeared in the post-conflict period. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the recent activities of ICRC in Nepal?</strong></div> <div> For a couple of years now, our activities have had the same focus. Our mandate goes towards protection of victims of conflicts and other situations of violence. The reason why we still operate in Nepal is very much related to the persistence of a certain number of humanitarian concerns related to the past conflict. There are humanitarian consequences particularly in relation to families of the disappeared whose whereabouts are still unknown. Other activities are related to emergency response in fields where the Red Cross is involved in activities such as first aid trainings, disaster management and management of trauma cases in medical structures.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is ICRC working on the status of the disappeared in partnership with government bodies?</strong></div> <div> We collected a certain number of complaints on disappearance at the time of conflict. We managed to clarify the fate of some while there are families who still do not have a single clue. We try to be more systematic in consolidating and collecting as much information as possible. Throughout these years, we also engaged with Nepali authorities and both parties of the conflict - Nepal Army, Police and Maoist combatants because people were held captive by either side. We tried finding whereabouts of those people held captive by both sides. We also try to focus on the needs of families of the disappeared, not for protection but for supporting them. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you see the possibility of knowing the whereabouts of the missing people now, after almost eight years since the end of armed conflict?</strong></div> <div> The hope of finding someone still alive is very slim. But, as long as you don’t have confirmation by anyone, there are legal complications. If a person is not here and the person is not confirmed dead, there is no legal provision in Nepal for recognition of the missing person, including those missing in a natural calamity. According to the law, it is only after 12 years of a person being missing that you can consider the person as dead and begin legal procedures such as inheritance and transfer of properties.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you think that such provisions must be amended?</strong></div> <div> This is something we are now looking into because we want to go deeper in understanding the legal needs of these families. So, we have commissioned a study and based on that report, we might make some recommendations to the government of Nepal via the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction about this legal framework either by decreasing the 12 years term or by making a provision for declaration of absence. This provision that exists in other countries to acknowledge somebody’s absence for years gives the relatives a kind of recognition to carry on with the legal proceedings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Some political leaders have been insisting not to revive conflict-era cases. What is your take on it?</strong></div> <div> Nepal at some point will have to come to terms with what has been done in the past. A fact finding commission has to be put in place at some point, also to avoid similar incidents in the future. We are more concerned at the time being for the families of the disappeared rather than right to justice. Justice need to come at some point but for us, what matters is to foster a secure environment where people who have information regarding the fate of disappeared individuals can reveal it without fearing prosecution. Criminal proceedings must come but we must also think about how to create an environment for people to provide information that is much needed. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-26', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Sylvie Thoral is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency.', 'sortorder' => '1552', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1548', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Try To Create An Atmosphere For The Media To Focus On Issues That Demand Coverage’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Damakant Jayshi,Nepal’s Country Representative,PANOS South Asia" src="/userfiles/images/Damakant%20Jayshi.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 175px; height: 197px;" />PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997. This week, Nepal’s Country Representative <strong>Damakant Jayshi </strong>spoke to <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> of The Corporate about the institute’s journey thus far. <strong>Excerpts:</strong> </span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is Panos South Asia doing in the South Asian region? </strong></div> <div> Our main focus is media development and supporting the media in various ways. We work on four broad subjects - the environment, public health, conflict and globalisation – and engage the media with issues in these topics. We also design relevant training and project designing programmes with thematic and journalism experts. The trainings include short term or long term fellowships. We take feedback from trainees in our various programmes for capacity enhancement of the media and journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you work directly with governments, development partners or do you work independently? </strong></div> <div> We do not have any long term partnerships so far. Panos, founded in 1997 is in its 16th year and we have had many partnerships during this period. Our partnership is based according to our projects and but some donors use to give institutional funding to boost our capacity. Currently, we are engaged in rolling partnerships which are based under our themes. For now, we are working with Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) of the United Kingdom for two years. But we usually try to partner with local NGOs. We are now thinking of trying to re-orient ourselves towards new media and multimedia. We hopefully will have enough foundation to enhance the capacity of Nepali journalists (in both Nepali and English languages) to help them become multimedia journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are your major achievements so far? </strong></div> <div> Panos has a long history. We had a Panos Radio South Asia Project which ran for five years that came out with quality programmes that were broadcast by local radio stations. We worked as a partner with Caravan Magazine where we promoted long-form journalism. We count various trainings, workshops and fellowships as our key achievements. In the climate change blog section of our website, ex-trainees keep updating their comments and feedback which is also a part of our success. We have trained 89 people in various themes from Nepal and South Asia in both long and short term fellowship programmes thus far. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you have any specific strategies to support development? </strong></div> <div> We try to create an atmosphere for the media to focus on issues that demand coverage. We focus on particular issues that engage national or local media with the motive of bringing positive change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Nowadays the news media in South Asia seems to use to a lot of negativity. What is your take on this? </strong></div> <div> Negative news coverage is an old practice and a long standing debate in the media sector. Earlier, the media could not differentiate between what was worth publishing and what was not, and thus the practice of negative news was frequent. However, we can see change these days where the media is inclined to analysing both sides of an issue. The practice of negativity and making sensational news can be improved by persons from the media themselves. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Has Panos South Asia helped to make media strategies for the government and other development partners? </strong></div> <div> We have not made any media strategies for the government or any political party. We do not want to engage in the politics of this field. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What problems have you seen in investigative journalism in the context of Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Investigative journalism is very important for Nepal. None of the Nepali media houses have formed a unit dedicated to investigative reporting. Limited resources for investigation is seen as a major hurdle. It is costly and takes time to conduct investigations on various issues. In the context of Nepal, lack of skills needed to dig out data for investigative reporting is also seen as another hindrance. If we do not have enough data and proof then insufficient information for an investigative story will lead to nothing. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Would you like to share what Panos’ future plans are? </strong></div> <div> We would like to revive our radio project and to run it in the long term. We want to organise radio discussion programmes with people’s participation at the grass roots level. We are also looking to organise multimedia workshops to enhance the capacity and skills of Nepali journalists.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-05', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997.', 'sortorder' => '1409', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1504', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Are Facing High Dependency Of Communities Over Our Organisation’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation. <strong>Devi Ram Bhat</strong>, the Operation Manager of Good Neighbours International Nepal spoke to <strong>Sweta Sharma</strong> of The Corporate weekly, sharing the organisation’s plans, projects and success thus far. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/Devi%20Ram%20Bhat%2C.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 239px;" />What is the biggest achievement of your organisation so far in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Good Neighbours has been working in Nepal for 11 years and has been successful in providing education to 23,000 children in this period. This is what we measure as our best achievement till date. Also, several families have been successful in generating income on their own with the help of the training we provide. Fourteen hundred children have been included in piloting for health insurance. We have also spent more than 50 percent of our funds in providing education. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the main community development projects supported by Good Neighbours International in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> In 2009, we started Community Development Projects (CDP) with the motive to support child education, public health and income generation for a number of communities. We now have 18 projects in 11 districts. The projects include support for education, child protection programs, health care services and vocational training classes to help residents increase their income. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Apart from projects that are being operated, what new projects are in line for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have already completed our feasibility study in Gorkha and Kaski districts to start our projects. Apart from this, we have no new projects in line. If we are to start any, it will only be after 2015 because we cannot start new projects without the permission of the Social Welfare Association of Nepal (SWAN). </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What operational challenges are you facing to run projects in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> There have been challenges but we considered them as opportunities. The main one was to overcome geographical hurdles as it was the main hindrance for the implementation of our projects. We are also facing high dependency of communities over our organisation. They might mistake our support as being lifelong, which can increase their dependency. But we are providing communities with vocational training to reduce their dependency. Similarly, schools that we support for children’s education are holding high expectations from us. Political instability too cannot be missed in the list of challenges. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the main source of your funding? What is your annual total investment in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Our main donor is South Korea where we have our headquarter. Japan and USA are also supporting our organisation to some extent. We get support through sponsorship programs and not directly from any company. We have negotiated with the Nepali government for an annual investment of Rs 29.62 million. In 2012, our total annual investment was Rs 23.41 million. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How beneficial have cookstoves projects been for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have not initiated cookstoves projects in Nepal as yet. Some volunteers from our organisation have done some research about cookstoves. This project is carried out in Cambodia. We don’t have any plans to start such projects in Nepal right now. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the service you provide to a community is actually useful to them? </strong></div> <div> As I already mentioned, we have 18 projects which have their own offices in different districts. Every project has 10-35 staff persons and we provide services through those offices. So we are quite sure of our service being served to the community. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the response from the government so far? Is the government helpful in Good Neighbours’ initiatives? </strong></div> <div> Every governmental and non-governmental organisation is supposed to work under the government’s territory. So in this regard, we are thankful to the government for letting our organisation provide service to communities in Nepal. We have a very good negotiation with the government regarding our projects and services to communities here. Overall, we are positive towards the government and vice versa. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that benefits from the projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> We are planning to establish one CDP and one Cooperative in every district we cover. This has already been implemented for some projects. We developed this plan with the motive to provide support to communities through cooperatives even after the project ends.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-29', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation.', 'sortorder' => '1365', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1458', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Make Sure That Projects Are Not Owned By Heifer But By People’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Dr Shubh N Mahato,Country Director of Heifer International Nepal." src="/userfiles/images/Dr%20Shubh%20N%20Mahato.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 182px;" /><span style="font-size:14px;"><em>Dr Shubh N Mahato</em> is the <em>Country Director</em> of <em>Heifer International Nepal</em>. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span><strong> </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is Heifer International’s new 10 years strategic plan different than that of the past? </strong></div> <div> Earlier we used to make strategic plans for five years. Earlier, Heifer’s staff were mobilised along with the participation of stakeholders. We used to have certain targets and strategies were formulated to achieve them. Then we used to design projects targeting up to 500 households. And, NGOs would take up sub projects to be implemented in their working areas. </div> <div> </div> <div> Now, we involve more on situation analysis of the country and identify the gaps in the sector where Heifer works and how Heifer can fill it. We also look at government priorities in the sector where Heifer works while doing situation analysis and find out areas where our strength lies and where we can contribute best to derive optimum benefits for people. Similarly, instead of projects, we will formulate programmes under which projects will cater to at least 1000 families. Rather than five years, now we are making 10 years strategic plan on the basis of nation’s priorities, actual situation analysis and value chain studies. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you plan to reduce the duplication of the projects under the new plan? </strong></div> <div> It is not an easy task but we are also concerned about it. There are heavy investments made by different organisations in the projects of similar nature that generate few returns. Our sub-projects are implemented in the VDC level. In coordination with the concerned VDC, we try to find what other projects are being implemented there. We also ensure that the projects are not owned by Heifer or an NGO but by that VDC. But, for that, out of the total size of the project, 25 per cent must be contributed by the VDC. As VDC is handed over the responsibilities for project implementation, they will merge similar projects with similar targets by other organisations. As the projects are made in VDC’s coordination and implemented and monitored by them, it would largely help to reduce duplication. We started this model from April, 2012 and will be continued also in the future projects. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the benefits of projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> When we design projects we make sure that projects are not owned by Heifer but they are people’s project. Local people must take the ownership through the self help groups. If the members of the groups are not willing to help themselves, we do not work there. They must have commitments like compulsory monthly savings and utilising that in productive works. None of the projects of Heifer is longer than two to three years. In many cases I have found that the real impacts of the projects begin after that. Activities like compulsory savings are there to stay once it becomes people’s culture. We encourage people to affiliate their groups to cooperatives and tie up with the banks so that it would help them to further expand their business. Such activities make a project sustainable. When the local bodies, VDC and stakeholders are the part of the project, usually the projects become sustainable. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How does Heifer International ensure the transparency of mobilised funds? </strong></div> <div> For this purpose, a project management and implementation committee is formed with representatives from beneficiaries and stakeholders, self help groups, VDC, donors, NGOs and Heifer. This committee has the records of the details of the funds coming for the particular project from a particular source. Monitoring and evaluation of the projects is done at the local level by this committee. This has helped to maintain transparency. Similarly, NGOs responsible for project implementation, must regularly report to us and the Heifer regularly carries out financial monitoring and auditing. If we find any irregularities, we have a zero tolerance policy towards such activities. Such measures have helped maintain high transparency and accountability of resource mobilisation.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-22', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dr Shubh N Mahato is the Country Director of Heifer International Nepal. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability.', 'sortorder' => '1319', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1411', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Local Currency Funds Are Important For Private Sector Development’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <img alt="Karin Finkelston,International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific." src="/userfiles/images/4a.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 225px; height: 265px;" /></div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific. Her responsibilities include overseeing IFC’s investment and advisory programmes as well as maintaining relationships with key government and private sector partners in the region. Recently, she visited Nepal and spoke to Siromani Dhungana of The Corporate. <strong>Excerpt: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is IFC’s overall strategy in South Asia? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> South Asia is where the world’s poorest live in large numbers. Our mission is to create opportunity where needs are greatest and most relevant in this region. With many countries in the region facing development challenges and severe climate change impact amid political transition, this is a defining moment to make meaningful intervention. </div> <div> </div> <div> To meet these challenges, IFC’s strategy for South Asia is three-pronged: </div> <ul> <li> Achieving inclusive growth, including support for frontier regions through increased access to infrastructure; </li> <li> Addressing climate change impact through adaptation and mitigation measures; and </li> <li> Promoting regional and global integration including South- South investments and trade finance. </li> </ul> <div> </div> <div> <strong>As Asia Vice President for IFC, how do you think IFC can help countries like Nepal in their development agenda?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> In my role as VP for Asia, I see the similarities and differences in context and also the potentials – picking up lessons and learning from other countries is invaluable. Nepal, for example, needs to meet the most important aspects of providing electricity to its people and industry and jobs to its youth. Nepal’s immense hydropower potential positions it well to respond to these needs. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>The needs in infrastructure, especially in energy can be met by harnessing the country’s hydro potential. What are IFC’s plans in this regard? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal’s hydropower potential of about 84,000 MW is enough to meet about 3 percent of the global demand for power if the potential is fully realized. So far only about 686 MW is developed whereas the total installed capacity is 740 MW. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are planning to collaborate on developing Nepal’s hydropower potential. IFC has supported hydropower projects in Nepal in the past as well. Two years back, we invested in a run-of-river hydropower project with Butwal Power Company. IFC’s financing is helping to renovate and upgrade the power plant, including the replacement of 100- year old turbines with modern and efficient technology. The plant’s output is expected to increase by 50 percent. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How have you supported the private sector in other areas and businesses? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC’s strategic agenda in Nepal includes priority sectors of infrastructure, finance, including access to finance for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, tourism and agribusiness. With the corporation’s growing investments and advisory assistance, IFC is set to play a key role in Nepal. IFC is also working on a payment reform project and an advisory team is making important progress by building partnerships between the government and private sector through the Nepal Business Forum. We are now working with the private sector to promote improved agricultural and water management practices and introducing new technologies among small farmers producing rice, maize and sugarcane to adapt to climate change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>IFC has been planning to issue local currency bond in Nepal. Could you please highlight the logic behind this?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> A strong capital market helps the private sector to efficiently finance their operations, depending on the risk of the capital, instead of worrying about foreign exchange facilities. IFC supports local capital markets by issuing local currency bonds, often paving the way for other issuers. We also provide local currency finance to meet the needs of the private sector in many countries. Our projects require local currency financing as well. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What do you have to say to the Nepali private sector that is focusing more on the problems of getting foreign capital than on local currency funds? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Developing local currency funds is an important element of private sector development. They help create access to long-term financing for large infrastructure projects and for small and medium enterprises- -the key drivers of jobs and growth. However, availability of strong local currency funds requires a conducive regulatory framework, a market and infrastructure. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>There is a big chunk of work IFC is leading on the advisory side--around reform. How do you think this work can help the private sector in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC, through the South Asia Enterprise Development Facility, has been supporting the Nepal government’s efforts to focus on growing the country’s economy through improving the business environment, supporting sustainable business growth, and creating jobs. Our reform programmes in Nepal are aimed at making it easier to do business by reducing barriers to new business registration and streamlining the administration of taxes. We also help facilitate public-private dialogue to ensure that business reforms made by the government match private sector needs besides promoting private investments in Nepal.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-15', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific.', 'sortorder' => '1273', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1333', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Women Are Sincere In Business’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<p> <span style="font-size: 12px;">Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></p> <p> <strong>Your organisation claims it is focusing on self-reliant development. Would you please elaborate? </strong></p> <div> <img alt="Astha Thapa Pande,Executive Director of TEWA." height="223" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NzNX38m46j0/UdqmjtKBAcI/AAAAAAAAA-U/aBRL4mpnMWo/s489/astha.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="215" /></div> <p> Tewa was founded in 1995 in a context where development was entirely driven by foreign aid. New organizations were sprouting but many were allowing their organizational missions to be dictated by what funds were available. At such a time, Tewa was set up, not just as an organization, but as an idea that self-reliance is possible, that we can and must partake in our own development, and that resources can be mobilized locally. Tewa has shown that this can be done, and Nepalis have donated both their money and their time to the cause of women these past nearly two decades since Tewa was established. </p> <p> In today’s context Tewa feels that there is much more thinking and doing to be done with regards to self-reliant development and Tewa is striving yet again to set an example through its physical endowment (land and building) project. The Tewa Centre, which is now nearing completion is a revenue generating centre that will ultimately make Tewa, the women’s fund, far more self-reliant with its focus on raising funds primarily to give grants for women’s rights and empowerment. </p> <p> <strong>So, your organization has decided to not be donor dependent. How difficult is it to execute such decision? </strong></p> <p> I would approach donor dependence as a concept with caution, so there are no misunderstandings. Tewa is not opposed to donors, but wants to encourage organisations to set their own mission and vision, principles and values and not be swayed or change simply for the sake of funding.</p> <p> <strong>What difficulties are women facing regarding entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Most of the females in Nepal are uneducated as a result of which their decisions are not given priority in the family. Similarly, the main reason of Nepali women lagging behind in entrepreneurship is poor access to finance. The landed assets are not owned by them because of which they don’t get opportunity to invest in the sector they want to. Though their level has increased in terms of economy and business, there is still much to improve.</p> <p> <strong>How do you evaluate the present status of women entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Women are seen increasing their independency level and seeking for self employment. As far as we see, women are capable of being successful entrepreneurs as they are sincere in their business. They are being educated which makes them able to use that available finance in business. Women are also introducing themselves as social entrepreneurs as they come up with their ideas and form a group in a society to provide employment opportunities to other females.</p> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-08', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal.', 'sortorder' => '1195', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9468', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'Govt, European partners inaugurate Chilime-Trishuli transmission system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p>November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. Once complete, the new Chilime-Trishuli Transmission link allows thousands of people living in communities in the Trishuli River Basin and beyond to benefit from clean hydropower energy and a more reliable power supply, said Energy Minister Barshaman Pun.</p> <p>Speaking at the formal inauguration ceremony, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pun said, “This crucial energy project is key for sustainable development in Nepal and demonstrates the close partnership between Nepal and European partners.”</p> <p>According to a joint statement issued by the government and its European partners, the new 27km transmission line will be built through difficult mountainous terrain 50km west of Kathmandu by the Nepal Electricity Authority and financed by the European Investment Bank, the European Union through the Asian Investment Facility, German Development Bank KfW and the Government of Nepal.</p> <p>The new transmission link will enable 600 MW of clean energy generated from hydropower plants, including independent power producers, on the Trishuli River corridor to be connected to Nepal’s national electricity grid and upgrade the existing electricity distribution to enable a more reliable supply of energy, the statement further said.</p> <p>“Over the coming years investment in clean energy will support sustainable development across Nepal and significantly increase use of renewable energy sources. The Chilime-Trishuli transmission line highlights how technical and financial cooperation between the Nepal Electricity Authority and European partners benefits our country and helps to harness low-carbon power sources,” said Kul Man Ghishing, managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</p> <p>The distribution scheme under the transmission system will also enable households in remote rural communities to benefit from first time access to electricity and reduce the need for expensive generators and cooking fuels.</p> <p> The European Union and German government financed comprehensive technical assistance totalling 16.25 million euros, essential for preparation and implementation of the project, and the European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 30 million long-term loan to finance construction of the new transmission link.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-21', 'modified' => '2018-11-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9244', 'image' => '20181121011231_eu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-21 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9450', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'European Investment Bank visit to highlight engagement in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.', 'content' => '<p>November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.</p> <p>Issuing a joint the bank and the European Union said that Andrew McDowell, vice president of the European Investment Bank responsible for South Asia and global energy activity, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will make a four-day visit to Nepal at the start of a South Asia regional visit this week.</p> <p>“Nepal has shown how investment in renewable energy can both transform access to electricity and harness clean power sources to benefit rural communities. The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting transformational climate related investment across Asia and my team and I look forward to discussing how the European Union’s Bank can strengthen engagement in Nepal in the years ahead,” the statement quoted McDowell as saying.</p> <p>During his visit, McDowell will meet Prime Minister KP Oli and other ministers, diplomats and business representatives to discuss future European Investment Bank engagement in Nepal.</p> <p>He will also attend a ground-breaking ceremony to formally mark the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission line by the Nepal Electricity Authority. The project is partly financed by the European Investment Bank under its largest single project in Nepal.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank, which is owned directly by the 28 European Union member states, supports investment in 160 countries worldwide and activity in Asia focuses on support for climate related investment.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank has provided more than 190 million euros for energy investment across Nepal over the last five years.</p> <p>“The European Union and Nepal recognise the challenges of a changing climate and the importance of new climate related investment. This week’s visit by the delegation from the European Investment Bank, the EU Bank, will allow future investment to be considered and recent support for rural electrification in Trishuli to be seen at first hand,” said Veronica Cody, ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation to Nepal.</p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-19', 'modified' => '2018-11-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9228', 'image' => '20181119014925_eu_flag.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-19 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1924', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Proper Use Of Technology Supports Livelihood Of Communities”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Achyut Luitel" src="/userfiles/images/al.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 250px; height: 270px;" />Achyut Luitel</strong> is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation. In an interview with <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> and <strong>Modnath Dhakal</strong> of The Corporate, Luitel talked about Practical Action’s activities in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you shed light on the major working areas of Practical Action Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Currently, we are working on four thematic areas - agricultural livelihood, disaster risk reduction, decentralized energy systems and urbanisation. As most Nepali citizens are dependent on agriculture, we have integrated market access of agro products, food security and livelihood of farmers. This approach is basically designed to help people of rural areas to raise their living standard through the combination of effective agricultural mechanisms and market access of the agro products they produce. Similarly, disaster risk reduction is focused on reducing the vulnerabilities of climate change which is posing a big threat in Nepal. Likewise, decentralized energy systems are our other major objective which is targeted to assist scattered communities to fulfill their minimum energy requirements as well as to help them in total energy access. We are associated with the United Nation’s ‘Sustainable Energy for All by 2030’ global campaign and are working closely with the Planning Commission to achieve the energy objectives. Finally, the thematic area of urbanisation is designed to reduce urban poverty. The decade-long insurgency and opportunities in the cities contributed to the rise of migration of rural people to the urban areas. This has led to increase in the number of poor in cities which is becoming a major problem. Our program Urban WASH (water and sanitation, hygiene education) programme is focused on improving the lives of the urban poor population. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How successful has it been to use technology to raise the living standard of targeted groups?</strong></span></div> <div> We have tried to address poverty related issues through the use of technology. We have introduced a new concept called ‘Technology Justice.’ The term has been defined as an alternative access to provide services to targeted groups that are underprivileged from taking advantage of new technology. One example is the use of the gravity ropeway system. Similarly, we are also providing technical assistance to farmers to adopt new farming techniques. </div> <div> </div> <div> Lack of power surplus in Nepal has created a huge gap between people of urban and rural areas. Even people living in slum areas deserve to use a solar lantern. The alternative technology access programme can address the issue to some extent. We provide information as audio/visual contents to communities through our local partners. PA Nepal believes that the proper use of technology can support livelihood of communities. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you please elaborate the financial model that Practical Action has adopted? </strong></span></div> <div> We have two types of fund. First is the unrestricted fund known as the core allocation. The chunk of money from the fund is used for staff salary, office expenses, among others. The fund is also used in the piloting of new projects. As a member-based organization, our donors and supporters throughout Europe and United Kingdom provide us with donations. Next is the restricted fund that is brought in by winning international biddings. The money received in the restricted fund is allocated to the implementation of projects. Various trusts also help us in fund-raising activities. We submit an annual audit report to the government. We are spending about 2.5 million Sterling Pounds (Rs 400 million) each year.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The PA has been publishing the ‘Poor Peoples Energy Outlook’ (PPEO) report every year. How has the report helped the Nepal Government to outline and implement policies to reduce poverty regarding energy use?</strong></span></div> <div> We have been publishing The PPEO on an annual basis. The basic theme of the project is the way to use energy in community services and enterprise development. It is a livelihood-centered approach. The project can create awareness among stakeholders to take energy in a broad level. There is huge feasibility in enterprise development and community services (street lamp, school lamp). We need to take energy through the concept of minimum energy requirement and total energy access. However, the level of change is based on available resources and the political will of the nation. </div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-10-07', 'modified' => '2013-10-08', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Achyut Luitel is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation.', 'sortorder' => '1782', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1809', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Radio Easily Delivers Information About Development, Diversity And Democracy’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><img alt="Upendra Aryal " src="/userfiles/images/idp.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 200px; height: 221px;" />Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004. Equal Access Nepal’s Acting Executive Director Upendra Aryal spoke to Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate about the organisation’s initiatives. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are currently working in media development and behaviour change communication. We have been trying to reach out to the audience of different classes, ages, and communities through radio. I feel that radio is the most effective medium because of its easy accessibility and the broadcast could reach the remotest parts of the country. We have been working in various sectors such as family health care, maternal health, child care, family planning, Early Grade Reading (EGR), Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary education, community empowerment, youth and teenage problems etc. We are also focused on the political issues through our radio programmes.</div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal is witnessing a remarkable growth in the radio broadcast sector. The liberal media policies endorsed by the government (after the democratic change) have helped the broadcast sector to flourish in this country. However, there are some issues concerning the quality of the radio programmes. A successful radio presentation is combined with the good quality of mixing, scripting, innovative formatting and various other aspects of post-production.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What are the core working areas of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are working in health, education, political, constitutional segment and youth-oriented programmes. The programmes are focused on media education, gender issues, constitution drafting process, good governance etc. One can listen to such content in the widely listened radio programme known as “Naya Nepal”.</div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, Mamata (maternal health), Deshpardesh (cross border content, which include health issues), ‘Saathi Sanga Maan Ka Kura’ (sharing thoughts with friends) are our popular radio programmes focused on various health and peer pressure issues. Likewise, ‘Samajdari’, a series on spouse communication and ‘Kaam ka Kura’ (based youth employment issues) are also widely listened. Equal access’s contents are taken as meaningful and useful. Through these programmes, we are reaching nearly to 12.5 million listeners across the country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How can we utilize radio as means of development?</strong></span></div> <div> Radio has evolved as one of the most effective means of development. We are using radio as a tool to facilitate the dialogue and conversation about sustainable development. On an average, the Nepali radio stations are broadcasting for 18 hours a day reaching across all the corners of country. This shows that the radio penetration can be of great help to deliver the messages quickly. Radio broadcast is also interlinked with issues in various cultural or linguistic diversities and democracy. We can take radio as a ‘3D’ medium because it helps to deliver messages and information about issues related to development, diversity and democracy. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of radio in promoting micro-entrepreneurship?</strong></span></div> <div> Micro-entrepreneurship is so far concerned with the income generation, village banking, micro-credit and ultimately the economic empowerment of underprivileged people. Radio stations across the country are broadcasting various programmes on micro-financing and livelihood solutions. However, radio can’t be taken as an effective medium for income generation training purposes. For example, a website can better explain farmers about the farming techniques with illustrations and pictures which radio is unable to explain. But we can integrate the radio programmes and suggest the farmers about the links to such websites. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Equal Access Nepal has been emphasizing the use of technology to deliver information to the general public? </strong></span></div> <div> Information technology has helped us a lot. For instance, different communities can share their messages through our websites. It can encourage citizen journalism as well. We operate some blog sites such as www.meroreport.net and www.mediamanch.net to facilitate citizen journalism across the country. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, we also offer free SMS service which is integrated to the above mentioned websites. The websites include interactive voice recording system that enables to convert recorded voice into text format. This is providing interactive platform to share messages where others can also give opinions on various issues. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Nepali media in terms of economic and social development of the country?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepali media sector is vibrant. Though they mostly cover political issues but economic, social and environmental affairs are also given ample space in the newspapers, television, radios and websites. Nepal media are disseminating information of nearly all the sectors. We can take examples of some successful publications. In my opinion the ‘Shikshyak’ magazine is a very good example which is providing valuable information on education and development. Though we still lack thoughtful journalism, Nepali media sector has been its role positively in socio-economic development of the country. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-09-16', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004.', 'sortorder' => '1670', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1691', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“ICRC Focuses On The Needs Of Families Of The Disappeared”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Sylvie Thoral , Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/st.jpg" style=" float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 236px;" />Sylvie Thoral</strong> is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency. August 30 is marked as the International Day of the Disappeared. In an interview with <strong>Gaurav Aryal</strong> of The Corporate, Thoral talked about ICRC’s activities concerned with the disappeared in the post-conflict period. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the recent activities of ICRC in Nepal?</strong></div> <div> For a couple of years now, our activities have had the same focus. Our mandate goes towards protection of victims of conflicts and other situations of violence. The reason why we still operate in Nepal is very much related to the persistence of a certain number of humanitarian concerns related to the past conflict. There are humanitarian consequences particularly in relation to families of the disappeared whose whereabouts are still unknown. Other activities are related to emergency response in fields where the Red Cross is involved in activities such as first aid trainings, disaster management and management of trauma cases in medical structures.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is ICRC working on the status of the disappeared in partnership with government bodies?</strong></div> <div> We collected a certain number of complaints on disappearance at the time of conflict. We managed to clarify the fate of some while there are families who still do not have a single clue. We try to be more systematic in consolidating and collecting as much information as possible. Throughout these years, we also engaged with Nepali authorities and both parties of the conflict - Nepal Army, Police and Maoist combatants because people were held captive by either side. We tried finding whereabouts of those people held captive by both sides. We also try to focus on the needs of families of the disappeared, not for protection but for supporting them. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you see the possibility of knowing the whereabouts of the missing people now, after almost eight years since the end of armed conflict?</strong></div> <div> The hope of finding someone still alive is very slim. But, as long as you don’t have confirmation by anyone, there are legal complications. If a person is not here and the person is not confirmed dead, there is no legal provision in Nepal for recognition of the missing person, including those missing in a natural calamity. According to the law, it is only after 12 years of a person being missing that you can consider the person as dead and begin legal procedures such as inheritance and transfer of properties.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you think that such provisions must be amended?</strong></div> <div> This is something we are now looking into because we want to go deeper in understanding the legal needs of these families. So, we have commissioned a study and based on that report, we might make some recommendations to the government of Nepal via the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction about this legal framework either by decreasing the 12 years term or by making a provision for declaration of absence. This provision that exists in other countries to acknowledge somebody’s absence for years gives the relatives a kind of recognition to carry on with the legal proceedings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Some political leaders have been insisting not to revive conflict-era cases. What is your take on it?</strong></div> <div> Nepal at some point will have to come to terms with what has been done in the past. A fact finding commission has to be put in place at some point, also to avoid similar incidents in the future. We are more concerned at the time being for the families of the disappeared rather than right to justice. Justice need to come at some point but for us, what matters is to foster a secure environment where people who have information regarding the fate of disappeared individuals can reveal it without fearing prosecution. Criminal proceedings must come but we must also think about how to create an environment for people to provide information that is much needed. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-26', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Sylvie Thoral is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency.', 'sortorder' => '1552', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1548', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Try To Create An Atmosphere For The Media To Focus On Issues That Demand Coverage’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Damakant Jayshi,Nepal’s Country Representative,PANOS South Asia" src="/userfiles/images/Damakant%20Jayshi.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 175px; height: 197px;" />PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997. This week, Nepal’s Country Representative <strong>Damakant Jayshi </strong>spoke to <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> of The Corporate about the institute’s journey thus far. <strong>Excerpts:</strong> </span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is Panos South Asia doing in the South Asian region? </strong></div> <div> Our main focus is media development and supporting the media in various ways. We work on four broad subjects - the environment, public health, conflict and globalisation – and engage the media with issues in these topics. We also design relevant training and project designing programmes with thematic and journalism experts. The trainings include short term or long term fellowships. We take feedback from trainees in our various programmes for capacity enhancement of the media and journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you work directly with governments, development partners or do you work independently? </strong></div> <div> We do not have any long term partnerships so far. Panos, founded in 1997 is in its 16th year and we have had many partnerships during this period. Our partnership is based according to our projects and but some donors use to give institutional funding to boost our capacity. Currently, we are engaged in rolling partnerships which are based under our themes. For now, we are working with Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) of the United Kingdom for two years. But we usually try to partner with local NGOs. We are now thinking of trying to re-orient ourselves towards new media and multimedia. We hopefully will have enough foundation to enhance the capacity of Nepali journalists (in both Nepali and English languages) to help them become multimedia journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are your major achievements so far? </strong></div> <div> Panos has a long history. We had a Panos Radio South Asia Project which ran for five years that came out with quality programmes that were broadcast by local radio stations. We worked as a partner with Caravan Magazine where we promoted long-form journalism. We count various trainings, workshops and fellowships as our key achievements. In the climate change blog section of our website, ex-trainees keep updating their comments and feedback which is also a part of our success. We have trained 89 people in various themes from Nepal and South Asia in both long and short term fellowship programmes thus far. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you have any specific strategies to support development? </strong></div> <div> We try to create an atmosphere for the media to focus on issues that demand coverage. We focus on particular issues that engage national or local media with the motive of bringing positive change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Nowadays the news media in South Asia seems to use to a lot of negativity. What is your take on this? </strong></div> <div> Negative news coverage is an old practice and a long standing debate in the media sector. Earlier, the media could not differentiate between what was worth publishing and what was not, and thus the practice of negative news was frequent. However, we can see change these days where the media is inclined to analysing both sides of an issue. The practice of negativity and making sensational news can be improved by persons from the media themselves. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Has Panos South Asia helped to make media strategies for the government and other development partners? </strong></div> <div> We have not made any media strategies for the government or any political party. We do not want to engage in the politics of this field. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What problems have you seen in investigative journalism in the context of Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Investigative journalism is very important for Nepal. None of the Nepali media houses have formed a unit dedicated to investigative reporting. Limited resources for investigation is seen as a major hurdle. It is costly and takes time to conduct investigations on various issues. In the context of Nepal, lack of skills needed to dig out data for investigative reporting is also seen as another hindrance. If we do not have enough data and proof then insufficient information for an investigative story will lead to nothing. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Would you like to share what Panos’ future plans are? </strong></div> <div> We would like to revive our radio project and to run it in the long term. We want to organise radio discussion programmes with people’s participation at the grass roots level. We are also looking to organise multimedia workshops to enhance the capacity and skills of Nepali journalists.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-05', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997.', 'sortorder' => '1409', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1504', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Are Facing High Dependency Of Communities Over Our Organisation’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation. <strong>Devi Ram Bhat</strong>, the Operation Manager of Good Neighbours International Nepal spoke to <strong>Sweta Sharma</strong> of The Corporate weekly, sharing the organisation’s plans, projects and success thus far. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/Devi%20Ram%20Bhat%2C.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 239px;" />What is the biggest achievement of your organisation so far in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Good Neighbours has been working in Nepal for 11 years and has been successful in providing education to 23,000 children in this period. This is what we measure as our best achievement till date. Also, several families have been successful in generating income on their own with the help of the training we provide. Fourteen hundred children have been included in piloting for health insurance. We have also spent more than 50 percent of our funds in providing education. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the main community development projects supported by Good Neighbours International in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> In 2009, we started Community Development Projects (CDP) with the motive to support child education, public health and income generation for a number of communities. We now have 18 projects in 11 districts. The projects include support for education, child protection programs, health care services and vocational training classes to help residents increase their income. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Apart from projects that are being operated, what new projects are in line for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have already completed our feasibility study in Gorkha and Kaski districts to start our projects. Apart from this, we have no new projects in line. If we are to start any, it will only be after 2015 because we cannot start new projects without the permission of the Social Welfare Association of Nepal (SWAN). </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What operational challenges are you facing to run projects in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> There have been challenges but we considered them as opportunities. The main one was to overcome geographical hurdles as it was the main hindrance for the implementation of our projects. We are also facing high dependency of communities over our organisation. They might mistake our support as being lifelong, which can increase their dependency. But we are providing communities with vocational training to reduce their dependency. Similarly, schools that we support for children’s education are holding high expectations from us. Political instability too cannot be missed in the list of challenges. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the main source of your funding? What is your annual total investment in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Our main donor is South Korea where we have our headquarter. Japan and USA are also supporting our organisation to some extent. We get support through sponsorship programs and not directly from any company. We have negotiated with the Nepali government for an annual investment of Rs 29.62 million. In 2012, our total annual investment was Rs 23.41 million. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How beneficial have cookstoves projects been for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have not initiated cookstoves projects in Nepal as yet. Some volunteers from our organisation have done some research about cookstoves. This project is carried out in Cambodia. We don’t have any plans to start such projects in Nepal right now. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the service you provide to a community is actually useful to them? </strong></div> <div> As I already mentioned, we have 18 projects which have their own offices in different districts. Every project has 10-35 staff persons and we provide services through those offices. So we are quite sure of our service being served to the community. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the response from the government so far? Is the government helpful in Good Neighbours’ initiatives? </strong></div> <div> Every governmental and non-governmental organisation is supposed to work under the government’s territory. So in this regard, we are thankful to the government for letting our organisation provide service to communities in Nepal. We have a very good negotiation with the government regarding our projects and services to communities here. Overall, we are positive towards the government and vice versa. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that benefits from the projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> We are planning to establish one CDP and one Cooperative in every district we cover. This has already been implemented for some projects. We developed this plan with the motive to provide support to communities through cooperatives even after the project ends.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-29', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation.', 'sortorder' => '1365', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1458', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Make Sure That Projects Are Not Owned By Heifer But By People’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Dr Shubh N Mahato,Country Director of Heifer International Nepal." src="/userfiles/images/Dr%20Shubh%20N%20Mahato.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 182px;" /><span style="font-size:14px;"><em>Dr Shubh N Mahato</em> is the <em>Country Director</em> of <em>Heifer International Nepal</em>. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span><strong> </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is Heifer International’s new 10 years strategic plan different than that of the past? </strong></div> <div> Earlier we used to make strategic plans for five years. Earlier, Heifer’s staff were mobilised along with the participation of stakeholders. We used to have certain targets and strategies were formulated to achieve them. Then we used to design projects targeting up to 500 households. And, NGOs would take up sub projects to be implemented in their working areas. </div> <div> </div> <div> Now, we involve more on situation analysis of the country and identify the gaps in the sector where Heifer works and how Heifer can fill it. We also look at government priorities in the sector where Heifer works while doing situation analysis and find out areas where our strength lies and where we can contribute best to derive optimum benefits for people. Similarly, instead of projects, we will formulate programmes under which projects will cater to at least 1000 families. Rather than five years, now we are making 10 years strategic plan on the basis of nation’s priorities, actual situation analysis and value chain studies. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you plan to reduce the duplication of the projects under the new plan? </strong></div> <div> It is not an easy task but we are also concerned about it. There are heavy investments made by different organisations in the projects of similar nature that generate few returns. Our sub-projects are implemented in the VDC level. In coordination with the concerned VDC, we try to find what other projects are being implemented there. We also ensure that the projects are not owned by Heifer or an NGO but by that VDC. But, for that, out of the total size of the project, 25 per cent must be contributed by the VDC. As VDC is handed over the responsibilities for project implementation, they will merge similar projects with similar targets by other organisations. As the projects are made in VDC’s coordination and implemented and monitored by them, it would largely help to reduce duplication. We started this model from April, 2012 and will be continued also in the future projects. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the benefits of projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> When we design projects we make sure that projects are not owned by Heifer but they are people’s project. Local people must take the ownership through the self help groups. If the members of the groups are not willing to help themselves, we do not work there. They must have commitments like compulsory monthly savings and utilising that in productive works. None of the projects of Heifer is longer than two to three years. In many cases I have found that the real impacts of the projects begin after that. Activities like compulsory savings are there to stay once it becomes people’s culture. We encourage people to affiliate their groups to cooperatives and tie up with the banks so that it would help them to further expand their business. Such activities make a project sustainable. When the local bodies, VDC and stakeholders are the part of the project, usually the projects become sustainable. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How does Heifer International ensure the transparency of mobilised funds? </strong></div> <div> For this purpose, a project management and implementation committee is formed with representatives from beneficiaries and stakeholders, self help groups, VDC, donors, NGOs and Heifer. This committee has the records of the details of the funds coming for the particular project from a particular source. Monitoring and evaluation of the projects is done at the local level by this committee. This has helped to maintain transparency. Similarly, NGOs responsible for project implementation, must regularly report to us and the Heifer regularly carries out financial monitoring and auditing. If we find any irregularities, we have a zero tolerance policy towards such activities. Such measures have helped maintain high transparency and accountability of resource mobilisation.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-22', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dr Shubh N Mahato is the Country Director of Heifer International Nepal. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability.', 'sortorder' => '1319', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1411', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Local Currency Funds Are Important For Private Sector Development’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <img alt="Karin Finkelston,International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific." src="/userfiles/images/4a.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 225px; height: 265px;" /></div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific. Her responsibilities include overseeing IFC’s investment and advisory programmes as well as maintaining relationships with key government and private sector partners in the region. Recently, she visited Nepal and spoke to Siromani Dhungana of The Corporate. <strong>Excerpt: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is IFC’s overall strategy in South Asia? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> South Asia is where the world’s poorest live in large numbers. Our mission is to create opportunity where needs are greatest and most relevant in this region. With many countries in the region facing development challenges and severe climate change impact amid political transition, this is a defining moment to make meaningful intervention. </div> <div> </div> <div> To meet these challenges, IFC’s strategy for South Asia is three-pronged: </div> <ul> <li> Achieving inclusive growth, including support for frontier regions through increased access to infrastructure; </li> <li> Addressing climate change impact through adaptation and mitigation measures; and </li> <li> Promoting regional and global integration including South- South investments and trade finance. </li> </ul> <div> </div> <div> <strong>As Asia Vice President for IFC, how do you think IFC can help countries like Nepal in their development agenda?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> In my role as VP for Asia, I see the similarities and differences in context and also the potentials – picking up lessons and learning from other countries is invaluable. Nepal, for example, needs to meet the most important aspects of providing electricity to its people and industry and jobs to its youth. Nepal’s immense hydropower potential positions it well to respond to these needs. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>The needs in infrastructure, especially in energy can be met by harnessing the country’s hydro potential. What are IFC’s plans in this regard? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal’s hydropower potential of about 84,000 MW is enough to meet about 3 percent of the global demand for power if the potential is fully realized. So far only about 686 MW is developed whereas the total installed capacity is 740 MW. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are planning to collaborate on developing Nepal’s hydropower potential. IFC has supported hydropower projects in Nepal in the past as well. Two years back, we invested in a run-of-river hydropower project with Butwal Power Company. IFC’s financing is helping to renovate and upgrade the power plant, including the replacement of 100- year old turbines with modern and efficient technology. The plant’s output is expected to increase by 50 percent. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How have you supported the private sector in other areas and businesses? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC’s strategic agenda in Nepal includes priority sectors of infrastructure, finance, including access to finance for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, tourism and agribusiness. With the corporation’s growing investments and advisory assistance, IFC is set to play a key role in Nepal. IFC is also working on a payment reform project and an advisory team is making important progress by building partnerships between the government and private sector through the Nepal Business Forum. We are now working with the private sector to promote improved agricultural and water management practices and introducing new technologies among small farmers producing rice, maize and sugarcane to adapt to climate change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>IFC has been planning to issue local currency bond in Nepal. Could you please highlight the logic behind this?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> A strong capital market helps the private sector to efficiently finance their operations, depending on the risk of the capital, instead of worrying about foreign exchange facilities. IFC supports local capital markets by issuing local currency bonds, often paving the way for other issuers. We also provide local currency finance to meet the needs of the private sector in many countries. Our projects require local currency financing as well. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What do you have to say to the Nepali private sector that is focusing more on the problems of getting foreign capital than on local currency funds? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Developing local currency funds is an important element of private sector development. They help create access to long-term financing for large infrastructure projects and for small and medium enterprises- -the key drivers of jobs and growth. However, availability of strong local currency funds requires a conducive regulatory framework, a market and infrastructure. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>There is a big chunk of work IFC is leading on the advisory side--around reform. How do you think this work can help the private sector in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC, through the South Asia Enterprise Development Facility, has been supporting the Nepal government’s efforts to focus on growing the country’s economy through improving the business environment, supporting sustainable business growth, and creating jobs. Our reform programmes in Nepal are aimed at making it easier to do business by reducing barriers to new business registration and streamlining the administration of taxes. We also help facilitate public-private dialogue to ensure that business reforms made by the government match private sector needs besides promoting private investments in Nepal.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-15', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific.', 'sortorder' => '1273', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1333', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Women Are Sincere In Business’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<p> <span style="font-size: 12px;">Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></p> <p> <strong>Your organisation claims it is focusing on self-reliant development. Would you please elaborate? </strong></p> <div> <img alt="Astha Thapa Pande,Executive Director of TEWA." height="223" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NzNX38m46j0/UdqmjtKBAcI/AAAAAAAAA-U/aBRL4mpnMWo/s489/astha.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="215" /></div> <p> Tewa was founded in 1995 in a context where development was entirely driven by foreign aid. New organizations were sprouting but many were allowing their organizational missions to be dictated by what funds were available. At such a time, Tewa was set up, not just as an organization, but as an idea that self-reliance is possible, that we can and must partake in our own development, and that resources can be mobilized locally. Tewa has shown that this can be done, and Nepalis have donated both their money and their time to the cause of women these past nearly two decades since Tewa was established. </p> <p> In today’s context Tewa feels that there is much more thinking and doing to be done with regards to self-reliant development and Tewa is striving yet again to set an example through its physical endowment (land and building) project. The Tewa Centre, which is now nearing completion is a revenue generating centre that will ultimately make Tewa, the women’s fund, far more self-reliant with its focus on raising funds primarily to give grants for women’s rights and empowerment. </p> <p> <strong>So, your organization has decided to not be donor dependent. How difficult is it to execute such decision? </strong></p> <p> I would approach donor dependence as a concept with caution, so there are no misunderstandings. Tewa is not opposed to donors, but wants to encourage organisations to set their own mission and vision, principles and values and not be swayed or change simply for the sake of funding.</p> <p> <strong>What difficulties are women facing regarding entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Most of the females in Nepal are uneducated as a result of which their decisions are not given priority in the family. Similarly, the main reason of Nepali women lagging behind in entrepreneurship is poor access to finance. The landed assets are not owned by them because of which they don’t get opportunity to invest in the sector they want to. Though their level has increased in terms of economy and business, there is still much to improve.</p> <p> <strong>How do you evaluate the present status of women entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Women are seen increasing their independency level and seeking for self employment. As far as we see, women are capable of being successful entrepreneurs as they are sincere in their business. They are being educated which makes them able to use that available finance in business. Women are also introducing themselves as social entrepreneurs as they come up with their ideas and form a group in a society to provide employment opportunities to other females.</p> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-08', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal.', 'sortorder' => '1195', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Warning (2): simplexml_load_file() [<a href='http://php.net/function.simplexml-load-file'>function.simplexml-load-file</a>]: I/O warning : failed to load external entity "" [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]file not found!Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9468', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'Govt, European partners inaugurate Chilime-Trishuli transmission system', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. ', 'content' => '<p>November 21: The government on Wednesday formally marked the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission system in central Nepal. Once complete, the new Chilime-Trishuli Transmission link allows thousands of people living in communities in the Trishuli River Basin and beyond to benefit from clean hydropower energy and a more reliable power supply, said Energy Minister Barshaman Pun.</p> <p>Speaking at the formal inauguration ceremony, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pun said, “This crucial energy project is key for sustainable development in Nepal and demonstrates the close partnership between Nepal and European partners.”</p> <p>According to a joint statement issued by the government and its European partners, the new 27km transmission line will be built through difficult mountainous terrain 50km west of Kathmandu by the Nepal Electricity Authority and financed by the European Investment Bank, the European Union through the Asian Investment Facility, German Development Bank KfW and the Government of Nepal.</p> <p>The new transmission link will enable 600 MW of clean energy generated from hydropower plants, including independent power producers, on the Trishuli River corridor to be connected to Nepal’s national electricity grid and upgrade the existing electricity distribution to enable a more reliable supply of energy, the statement further said.</p> <p>“Over the coming years investment in clean energy will support sustainable development across Nepal and significantly increase use of renewable energy sources. The Chilime-Trishuli transmission line highlights how technical and financial cooperation between the Nepal Electricity Authority and European partners benefits our country and helps to harness low-carbon power sources,” said Kul Man Ghishing, managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority.</p> <p>The distribution scheme under the transmission system will also enable households in remote rural communities to benefit from first time access to electricity and reduce the need for expensive generators and cooking fuels.</p> <p> The European Union and German government financed comprehensive technical assistance totalling 16.25 million euros, essential for preparation and implementation of the project, and the European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 30 million long-term loan to finance construction of the new transmission link.</p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-21', 'modified' => '2018-11-21', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9244', 'image' => '20181121011231_eu.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-21 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '9450', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => 'European Investment Bank visit to highlight engagement in Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.', 'content' => '<p>November 19: A high-level delegation of European Development Bank is preparing to visit Nepal this week to discuss about investing in renewable and clean energy.</p> <p>Issuing a joint the bank and the European Union said that Andrew McDowell, vice president of the European Investment Bank responsible for South Asia and global energy activity, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will make a four-day visit to Nepal at the start of a South Asia regional visit this week.</p> <p>“Nepal has shown how investment in renewable energy can both transform access to electricity and harness clean power sources to benefit rural communities. The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting transformational climate related investment across Asia and my team and I look forward to discussing how the European Union’s Bank can strengthen engagement in Nepal in the years ahead,” the statement quoted McDowell as saying.</p> <p>During his visit, McDowell will meet Prime Minister KP Oli and other ministers, diplomats and business representatives to discuss future European Investment Bank engagement in Nepal.</p> <p>He will also attend a ground-breaking ceremony to formally mark the start of construction of the Chilime-Trishuli transmission line by the Nepal Electricity Authority. The project is partly financed by the European Investment Bank under its largest single project in Nepal.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank, which is owned directly by the 28 European Union member states, supports investment in 160 countries worldwide and activity in Asia focuses on support for climate related investment.</p> <p>The European Investment Bank has provided more than 190 million euros for energy investment across Nepal over the last five years.</p> <p>“The European Union and Nepal recognise the challenges of a changing climate and the importance of new climate related investment. This week’s visit by the delegation from the European Investment Bank, the EU Bank, will allow future investment to be considered and recent support for rural electrification in Trishuli to be seen at first hand,” said Veronica Cody, ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation to Nepal.</p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2018-11-19', 'modified' => '2018-11-19', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '9228', 'image' => '20181119014925_eu_flag.jpg', 'article_date' => '2018-11-19 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '20' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '2187', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Nepal Needs Scientific Base For Wildlife Conservation Management”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, <strong>Cas de Stoppelaar</strong> gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by<strong> Prof Dr Jacques J.M.</strong> <strong>Van Alphen</strong> of the University of Amsterdam and<strong> Laura D. Bertola</strong>, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is Himalayan Tiger Foundation doing in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepal is in a position to get more support in a scientific way to do things in conservation biology. Nepal is very special and extremely rich not only in terms of having everything from low lands to high mountains, but also, because you are the cross roads of different bio-geographic regions. So, the species from different regions meet here. Our scope is broader than only tigers; we want to study in the Terai region, mainly in the Bardiya National Park, biodiversity and climate change. We had been there just two days back and we are writing our proposal which will be financed probably in the first phase by private donors in the Netherlands. We just had a talk with the Science department of Kathmandu University for setting up a master’sdegreecourse on conservation biology and wildlife genetics in cooperation with Universities in Amsterdam and Leiden. We aim to have young people from this country being knowledgeable and specialists in this area, so that they can do their own job in their own country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How is your organisation working to achieve these goals?</strong></span></div> <div> Well, the thing lacking in this country is the scientific base for wildlife conservation management. There are few pockets of qualities like CNDN and other things. But, what is missing in most of the NGOs is scientific dimension. They just get the funds and they do something as a sort of try. We want to strengthen the scientific foundation of Wildlife Management in Nepal through a couple of things. Firstly, we want to be associated with Kathmandu University, and look at masters in science course in the field. We have enthusiastic people there, capable of doing PhD, which is the second thing and we are looking for funding. Thirdly, we are planning to set up a resource centre next to Bardiya National Park with all sort of disciplines from butterflies to tigers, salamanders to bats etc. We will build up a good database and update it regularly in a way that you can follow it year after year. You will see the changes coming up and you can see the sort of measures to keep the habitat of tigers and other animals healthy.For many reasons, it is important, one of them being its scientific importance and secondly, it can be economically sound as it can attract tourists by showcasing the birds. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Which aspect of tiger conservation are you working on as there are serious threats to tiger conservation, such as loss of habitat and poaching?</strong></span></div> <div> One of the things we want to include is conservation genetics. Using genetic techniques we can get genetic data which will be quite helpful in conservation strategy. This is particularly interesting for large species that need a lot of space in a fragmented habitat because these speciesneed connectivity.If the population of these species becomes small in number, they also become vulnerable for extinction. There are also all kind of genetic factors that play a role to that. One of those is inbreeding, which can be a very serious risk for populations in nature. So, if you have an insight into the connectivity, structure and diversity within these populations, this can be really helpful to come up with a strategy about how to conserve this diversity in the best way possible.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal is said to havemade remarkable progress in tiger conservation with the number of the big wild cats increasing to 198. What are the major contributing factors to this?</strong></span></div> <div> There are two things to be said on this. Firstly, no body exactly knows what the present number is because the counting methods are not always 100% correct and nobody knows what it was 5 years ago. So, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. If you say there is an increase, there is definitely an increase. But, no one can exactly point out the exact number of increment. There are errors in the various techniques used in the counting and thus, we cannot exactly point out the number of tigers. So, we need to put a margin on that. In Bardiya, the counting of tigers is done by capturing them on the cameras. This way the number of tigers in Bardiya is said to be 50. But, every tiger may not face the camera. So, we don’t know if it is 50 or more than 50. So, we can use genetic techniques and methods to count tigers. This has been adopted in Chitwan. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Despite various initiatives being taken on tiger conservation the world has lost 97% of wild tigers this century. What can be done effectively to stop tigers from extinction by 2022 as feared by scientists?</strong></span></div> <div> First of all, it is necessary that we keep the environment healthy and bring an end to poaching. Similarly, it is important to have knowledge regarding inbreeding. You must translocate the tigers for getting new genes involved. The system must be placed in a healthy way. It means that not only the tigers but even their prey have to be kept healthy. While balancing the system, we must also bring an end to poaching to keep everything in order.A step that must be taken is that corridors must be built in Bardiya and Chitwan for the tigers to move freely and thus, it will be helpful in breeding. Similarly, we should also be able to come up with transborder mechanism so that tigers can move freely in the natural environment which will ultimately contribute in increasing the population of tigers. There should be a contract between India and Nepal for free movement of tigers between the two countries so that tiger’s population can be increased.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Nepal lacks effective wildlife conservation policies. In this, what must Nepal do to ensure new and effective wildlife policies?</strong></span></div> <div> The government should enforce new and strict laws regarding tiger conservation. People who live in buffer zones must be provided with premiums to stop them from cutting down the forest. It is important to instill a sense of responsibility in the people. People who trade tiger parts should be punished. </div> <div> </div> <div> <img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/dp1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 190px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-12-02', 'modified' => '2013-12-16', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Himalayan Tiger Foundation, a Dutch NGO works on conserving tiger population and biodiversity conservation in Nepal. In a talk with Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate, the President of the Himalayan Tiger Foundation, Cas de Stoppelaar gave insights into the organization’s plan for Nepal. He was accompanied by Prof Dr Jacques J.M. Van Alphen of the University of Amsterdam and Laura D. Bertola, PhD researcher at Universiteit Leiden.', 'sortorder' => '2115', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1924', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“Proper Use Of Technology Supports Livelihood Of Communities”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Achyut Luitel" src="/userfiles/images/al.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 250px; height: 270px;" />Achyut Luitel</strong> is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation. In an interview with <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> and <strong>Modnath Dhakal</strong> of The Corporate, Luitel talked about Practical Action’s activities in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you shed light on the major working areas of Practical Action Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> Currently, we are working on four thematic areas - agricultural livelihood, disaster risk reduction, decentralized energy systems and urbanisation. As most Nepali citizens are dependent on agriculture, we have integrated market access of agro products, food security and livelihood of farmers. This approach is basically designed to help people of rural areas to raise their living standard through the combination of effective agricultural mechanisms and market access of the agro products they produce. Similarly, disaster risk reduction is focused on reducing the vulnerabilities of climate change which is posing a big threat in Nepal. Likewise, decentralized energy systems are our other major objective which is targeted to assist scattered communities to fulfill their minimum energy requirements as well as to help them in total energy access. We are associated with the United Nation’s ‘Sustainable Energy for All by 2030’ global campaign and are working closely with the Planning Commission to achieve the energy objectives. Finally, the thematic area of urbanisation is designed to reduce urban poverty. The decade-long insurgency and opportunities in the cities contributed to the rise of migration of rural people to the urban areas. This has led to increase in the number of poor in cities which is becoming a major problem. Our program Urban WASH (water and sanitation, hygiene education) programme is focused on improving the lives of the urban poor population. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How successful has it been to use technology to raise the living standard of targeted groups?</strong></span></div> <div> We have tried to address poverty related issues through the use of technology. We have introduced a new concept called ‘Technology Justice.’ The term has been defined as an alternative access to provide services to targeted groups that are underprivileged from taking advantage of new technology. One example is the use of the gravity ropeway system. Similarly, we are also providing technical assistance to farmers to adopt new farming techniques. </div> <div> </div> <div> Lack of power surplus in Nepal has created a huge gap between people of urban and rural areas. Even people living in slum areas deserve to use a solar lantern. The alternative technology access programme can address the issue to some extent. We provide information as audio/visual contents to communities through our local partners. PA Nepal believes that the proper use of technology can support livelihood of communities. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Could you please elaborate the financial model that Practical Action has adopted? </strong></span></div> <div> We have two types of fund. First is the unrestricted fund known as the core allocation. The chunk of money from the fund is used for staff salary, office expenses, among others. The fund is also used in the piloting of new projects. As a member-based organization, our donors and supporters throughout Europe and United Kingdom provide us with donations. Next is the restricted fund that is brought in by winning international biddings. The money received in the restricted fund is allocated to the implementation of projects. Various trusts also help us in fund-raising activities. We submit an annual audit report to the government. We are spending about 2.5 million Sterling Pounds (Rs 400 million) each year.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The PA has been publishing the ‘Poor Peoples Energy Outlook’ (PPEO) report every year. How has the report helped the Nepal Government to outline and implement policies to reduce poverty regarding energy use?</strong></span></div> <div> We have been publishing The PPEO on an annual basis. The basic theme of the project is the way to use energy in community services and enterprise development. It is a livelihood-centered approach. The project can create awareness among stakeholders to take energy in a broad level. There is huge feasibility in enterprise development and community services (street lamp, school lamp). We need to take energy through the concept of minimum energy requirement and total energy access. However, the level of change is based on available resources and the political will of the nation. </div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-10-07', 'modified' => '2013-10-08', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Achyut Luitel is the South Asia Regional Director of Practical Action, a United Kingdom based INGO working to improve the livelihood of poor communities through use of appropriate technologies along with disaster risk reduction and sanitation.', 'sortorder' => '1782', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1809', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Radio Easily Delivers Information About Development, Diversity And Democracy’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><img alt="Upendra Aryal " src="/userfiles/images/idp.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 200px; height: 221px;" />Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004. Equal Access Nepal’s Acting Executive Director Upendra Aryal spoke to Sanjeev Sharma of The Corporate about the organisation’s initiatives. <strong>Excerpts :</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are currently working in media development and behaviour change communication. We have been trying to reach out to the audience of different classes, ages, and communities through radio. I feel that radio is the most effective medium because of its easy accessibility and the broadcast could reach the remotest parts of the country. We have been working in various sectors such as family health care, maternal health, child care, family planning, Early Grade Reading (EGR), Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary education, community empowerment, youth and teenage problems etc. We are also focused on the political issues through our radio programmes.</div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal is witnessing a remarkable growth in the radio broadcast sector. The liberal media policies endorsed by the government (after the democratic change) have helped the broadcast sector to flourish in this country. However, there are some issues concerning the quality of the radio programmes. A successful radio presentation is combined with the good quality of mixing, scripting, innovative formatting and various other aspects of post-production.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What are the core working areas of Equal Access in Nepal?</strong></span></div> <div> We are working in health, education, political, constitutional segment and youth-oriented programmes. The programmes are focused on media education, gender issues, constitution drafting process, good governance etc. One can listen to such content in the widely listened radio programme known as “Naya Nepal”.</div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, Mamata (maternal health), Deshpardesh (cross border content, which include health issues), ‘Saathi Sanga Maan Ka Kura’ (sharing thoughts with friends) are our popular radio programmes focused on various health and peer pressure issues. Likewise, ‘Samajdari’, a series on spouse communication and ‘Kaam ka Kura’ (based youth employment issues) are also widely listened. Equal access’s contents are taken as meaningful and useful. Through these programmes, we are reaching nearly to 12.5 million listeners across the country.</div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>How can we utilize radio as means of development?</strong></span></div> <div> Radio has evolved as one of the most effective means of development. We are using radio as a tool to facilitate the dialogue and conversation about sustainable development. On an average, the Nepali radio stations are broadcasting for 18 hours a day reaching across all the corners of country. This shows that the radio penetration can be of great help to deliver the messages quickly. Radio broadcast is also interlinked with issues in various cultural or linguistic diversities and democracy. We can take radio as a ‘3D’ medium because it helps to deliver messages and information about issues related to development, diversity and democracy. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of radio in promoting micro-entrepreneurship?</strong></span></div> <div> Micro-entrepreneurship is so far concerned with the income generation, village banking, micro-credit and ultimately the economic empowerment of underprivileged people. Radio stations across the country are broadcasting various programmes on micro-financing and livelihood solutions. However, radio can’t be taken as an effective medium for income generation training purposes. For example, a website can better explain farmers about the farming techniques with illustrations and pictures which radio is unable to explain. But we can integrate the radio programmes and suggest the farmers about the links to such websites. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Equal Access Nepal has been emphasizing the use of technology to deliver information to the general public? </strong></span></div> <div> Information technology has helped us a lot. For instance, different communities can share their messages through our websites. It can encourage citizen journalism as well. We operate some blog sites such as www.meroreport.net and www.mediamanch.net to facilitate citizen journalism across the country. </div> <div> </div> <div> Similarly, we also offer free SMS service which is integrated to the above mentioned websites. The websites include interactive voice recording system that enables to convert recorded voice into text format. This is providing interactive platform to share messages where others can also give opinions on various issues. </div> <div> </div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>What is the role of Nepali media in terms of economic and social development of the country?</strong></span></div> <div> Nepali media sector is vibrant. Though they mostly cover political issues but economic, social and environmental affairs are also given ample space in the newspapers, television, radios and websites. Nepal media are disseminating information of nearly all the sectors. We can take examples of some successful publications. In my opinion the ‘Shikshyak’ magazine is a very good example which is providing valuable information on education and development. Though we still lack thoughtful journalism, Nepali media sector has been its role positively in socio-economic development of the country. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-09-16', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Equal Access Nepal, the Nepal wing of the Equal Access International, has been working on a wide range of developmental issues and themed radio programmes — aiming for a social change since 2004.', 'sortorder' => '1670', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1691', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '“ICRC Focuses On The Needs Of Families Of The Disappeared”', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Sylvie Thoral , Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/st.jpg" style=" float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 236px;" />Sylvie Thoral</strong> is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency. August 30 is marked as the International Day of the Disappeared. In an interview with <strong>Gaurav Aryal</strong> of The Corporate, Thoral talked about ICRC’s activities concerned with the disappeared in the post-conflict period. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the recent activities of ICRC in Nepal?</strong></div> <div> For a couple of years now, our activities have had the same focus. Our mandate goes towards protection of victims of conflicts and other situations of violence. The reason why we still operate in Nepal is very much related to the persistence of a certain number of humanitarian concerns related to the past conflict. There are humanitarian consequences particularly in relation to families of the disappeared whose whereabouts are still unknown. Other activities are related to emergency response in fields where the Red Cross is involved in activities such as first aid trainings, disaster management and management of trauma cases in medical structures.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is ICRC working on the status of the disappeared in partnership with government bodies?</strong></div> <div> We collected a certain number of complaints on disappearance at the time of conflict. We managed to clarify the fate of some while there are families who still do not have a single clue. We try to be more systematic in consolidating and collecting as much information as possible. Throughout these years, we also engaged with Nepali authorities and both parties of the conflict - Nepal Army, Police and Maoist combatants because people were held captive by either side. We tried finding whereabouts of those people held captive by both sides. We also try to focus on the needs of families of the disappeared, not for protection but for supporting them. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you see the possibility of knowing the whereabouts of the missing people now, after almost eight years since the end of armed conflict?</strong></div> <div> The hope of finding someone still alive is very slim. But, as long as you don’t have confirmation by anyone, there are legal complications. If a person is not here and the person is not confirmed dead, there is no legal provision in Nepal for recognition of the missing person, including those missing in a natural calamity. According to the law, it is only after 12 years of a person being missing that you can consider the person as dead and begin legal procedures such as inheritance and transfer of properties.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you think that such provisions must be amended?</strong></div> <div> This is something we are now looking into because we want to go deeper in understanding the legal needs of these families. So, we have commissioned a study and based on that report, we might make some recommendations to the government of Nepal via the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction about this legal framework either by decreasing the 12 years term or by making a provision for declaration of absence. This provision that exists in other countries to acknowledge somebody’s absence for years gives the relatives a kind of recognition to carry on with the legal proceedings.</div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Some political leaders have been insisting not to revive conflict-era cases. What is your take on it?</strong></div> <div> Nepal at some point will have to come to terms with what has been done in the past. A fact finding commission has to be put in place at some point, also to avoid similar incidents in the future. We are more concerned at the time being for the families of the disappeared rather than right to justice. Justice need to come at some point but for us, what matters is to foster a secure environment where people who have information regarding the fate of disappeared individuals can reveal it without fearing prosecution. Criminal proceedings must come but we must also think about how to create an environment for people to provide information that is much needed. </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-26', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Sylvie Thoral is the Head of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Nepal. ICRC, after the end of the decade long armed conflict in 2006, has been addressing the humanitarian consequences of conflict and helping people and their families affected by the insurgency.', 'sortorder' => '1552', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1548', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Try To Create An Atmosphere For The Media To Focus On Issues That Demand Coverage’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Damakant Jayshi,Nepal’s Country Representative,PANOS South Asia" src="/userfiles/images/Damakant%20Jayshi.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 175px; height: 197px;" />PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997. This week, Nepal’s Country Representative <strong>Damakant Jayshi </strong>spoke to <strong>Sanjeev Sharma</strong> of The Corporate about the institute’s journey thus far. <strong>Excerpts:</strong> </span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is Panos South Asia doing in the South Asian region? </strong></div> <div> Our main focus is media development and supporting the media in various ways. We work on four broad subjects - the environment, public health, conflict and globalisation – and engage the media with issues in these topics. We also design relevant training and project designing programmes with thematic and journalism experts. The trainings include short term or long term fellowships. We take feedback from trainees in our various programmes for capacity enhancement of the media and journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you work directly with governments, development partners or do you work independently? </strong></div> <div> We do not have any long term partnerships so far. Panos, founded in 1997 is in its 16th year and we have had many partnerships during this period. Our partnership is based according to our projects and but some donors use to give institutional funding to boost our capacity. Currently, we are engaged in rolling partnerships which are based under our themes. For now, we are working with Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) of the United Kingdom for two years. But we usually try to partner with local NGOs. We are now thinking of trying to re-orient ourselves towards new media and multimedia. We hopefully will have enough foundation to enhance the capacity of Nepali journalists (in both Nepali and English languages) to help them become multimedia journalists. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are your major achievements so far? </strong></div> <div> Panos has a long history. We had a Panos Radio South Asia Project which ran for five years that came out with quality programmes that were broadcast by local radio stations. We worked as a partner with Caravan Magazine where we promoted long-form journalism. We count various trainings, workshops and fellowships as our key achievements. In the climate change blog section of our website, ex-trainees keep updating their comments and feedback which is also a part of our success. We have trained 89 people in various themes from Nepal and South Asia in both long and short term fellowship programmes thus far. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Do you have any specific strategies to support development? </strong></div> <div> We try to create an atmosphere for the media to focus on issues that demand coverage. We focus on particular issues that engage national or local media with the motive of bringing positive change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Nowadays the news media in South Asia seems to use to a lot of negativity. What is your take on this? </strong></div> <div> Negative news coverage is an old practice and a long standing debate in the media sector. Earlier, the media could not differentiate between what was worth publishing and what was not, and thus the practice of negative news was frequent. However, we can see change these days where the media is inclined to analysing both sides of an issue. The practice of negativity and making sensational news can be improved by persons from the media themselves. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Has Panos South Asia helped to make media strategies for the government and other development partners? </strong></div> <div> We have not made any media strategies for the government or any political party. We do not want to engage in the politics of this field. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What problems have you seen in investigative journalism in the context of Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Investigative journalism is very important for Nepal. None of the Nepali media houses have formed a unit dedicated to investigative reporting. Limited resources for investigation is seen as a major hurdle. It is costly and takes time to conduct investigations on various issues. In the context of Nepal, lack of skills needed to dig out data for investigative reporting is also seen as another hindrance. If we do not have enough data and proof then insufficient information for an investigative story will lead to nothing. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Would you like to share what Panos’ future plans are? </strong></div> <div> We would like to revive our radio project and to run it in the long term. We want to organise radio discussion programmes with people’s participation at the grass roots level. We are also looking to organise multimedia workshops to enhance the capacity and skills of Nepali journalists.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-08-05', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'PANOS South Asia, the regional media center of PANOS Institutes worldwide, has been working to encourage public discourse and to ensure the right to information in multiple ways since 1997.', 'sortorder' => '1409', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1504', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Are Facing High Dependency Of Communities Over Our Organisation’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> </div> <div> Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation. <strong>Devi Ram Bhat</strong>, the Operation Manager of Good Neighbours International Nepal spoke to <strong>Sweta Sharma</strong> of The Corporate weekly, sharing the organisation’s plans, projects and success thus far. <strong>Excerpts: </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/Devi%20Ram%20Bhat%2C.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 200px; height: 239px;" />What is the biggest achievement of your organisation so far in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Good Neighbours has been working in Nepal for 11 years and has been successful in providing education to 23,000 children in this period. This is what we measure as our best achievement till date. Also, several families have been successful in generating income on their own with the help of the training we provide. Fourteen hundred children have been included in piloting for health insurance. We have also spent more than 50 percent of our funds in providing education. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What are the main community development projects supported by Good Neighbours International in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> In 2009, we started Community Development Projects (CDP) with the motive to support child education, public health and income generation for a number of communities. We now have 18 projects in 11 districts. The projects include support for education, child protection programs, health care services and vocational training classes to help residents increase their income. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>Apart from projects that are being operated, what new projects are in line for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have already completed our feasibility study in Gorkha and Kaski districts to start our projects. Apart from this, we have no new projects in line. If we are to start any, it will only be after 2015 because we cannot start new projects without the permission of the Social Welfare Association of Nepal (SWAN). </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What operational challenges are you facing to run projects in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> There have been challenges but we considered them as opportunities. The main one was to overcome geographical hurdles as it was the main hindrance for the implementation of our projects. We are also facing high dependency of communities over our organisation. They might mistake our support as being lifelong, which can increase their dependency. But we are providing communities with vocational training to reduce their dependency. Similarly, schools that we support for children’s education are holding high expectations from us. Political instability too cannot be missed in the list of challenges. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the main source of your funding? What is your annual total investment in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> Our main donor is South Korea where we have our headquarter. Japan and USA are also supporting our organisation to some extent. We get support through sponsorship programs and not directly from any company. We have negotiated with the Nepali government for an annual investment of Rs 29.62 million. In 2012, our total annual investment was Rs 23.41 million. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How beneficial have cookstoves projects been for Nepal? </strong></div> <div> We have not initiated cookstoves projects in Nepal as yet. Some volunteers from our organisation have done some research about cookstoves. This project is carried out in Cambodia. We don’t have any plans to start such projects in Nepal right now. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the service you provide to a community is actually useful to them? </strong></div> <div> As I already mentioned, we have 18 projects which have their own offices in different districts. Every project has 10-35 staff persons and we provide services through those offices. So we are quite sure of our service being served to the community. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is the response from the government so far? Is the government helpful in Good Neighbours’ initiatives? </strong></div> <div> Every governmental and non-governmental organisation is supposed to work under the government’s territory. So in this regard, we are thankful to the government for letting our organisation provide service to communities in Nepal. We have a very good negotiation with the government regarding our projects and services to communities here. Overall, we are positive towards the government and vice versa. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that benefits from the projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> We are planning to establish one CDP and one Cooperative in every district we cover. This has already been implemented for some projects. We developed this plan with the motive to provide support to communities through cooperatives even after the project ends.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-29', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Good Neighbours International is a South Korea based international humanitarian and development organisation.', 'sortorder' => '1365', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1458', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘We Make Sure That Projects Are Not Owned By Heifer But By People’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="Dr Shubh N Mahato,Country Director of Heifer International Nepal." src="/userfiles/images/Dr%20Shubh%20N%20Mahato.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;width: 150px; height: 182px;" /><span style="font-size:14px;"><em>Dr Shubh N Mahato</em> is the <em>Country Director</em> of <em>Heifer International Nepal</em>. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span><strong> </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How is Heifer International’s new 10 years strategic plan different than that of the past? </strong></div> <div> Earlier we used to make strategic plans for five years. Earlier, Heifer’s staff were mobilised along with the participation of stakeholders. We used to have certain targets and strategies were formulated to achieve them. Then we used to design projects targeting up to 500 households. And, NGOs would take up sub projects to be implemented in their working areas. </div> <div> </div> <div> Now, we involve more on situation analysis of the country and identify the gaps in the sector where Heifer works and how Heifer can fill it. We also look at government priorities in the sector where Heifer works while doing situation analysis and find out areas where our strength lies and where we can contribute best to derive optimum benefits for people. Similarly, instead of projects, we will formulate programmes under which projects will cater to at least 1000 families. Rather than five years, now we are making 10 years strategic plan on the basis of nation’s priorities, actual situation analysis and value chain studies. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you plan to reduce the duplication of the projects under the new plan? </strong></div> <div> It is not an easy task but we are also concerned about it. There are heavy investments made by different organisations in the projects of similar nature that generate few returns. Our sub-projects are implemented in the VDC level. In coordination with the concerned VDC, we try to find what other projects are being implemented there. We also ensure that the projects are not owned by Heifer or an NGO but by that VDC. But, for that, out of the total size of the project, 25 per cent must be contributed by the VDC. As VDC is handed over the responsibilities for project implementation, they will merge similar projects with similar targets by other organisations. As the projects are made in VDC’s coordination and implemented and monitored by them, it would largely help to reduce duplication. We started this model from April, 2012 and will be continued also in the future projects. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How do you ensure that the benefits of projects you implement continue even after the project comes to an end? </strong></div> <div> When we design projects we make sure that projects are not owned by Heifer but they are people’s project. Local people must take the ownership through the self help groups. If the members of the groups are not willing to help themselves, we do not work there. They must have commitments like compulsory monthly savings and utilising that in productive works. None of the projects of Heifer is longer than two to three years. In many cases I have found that the real impacts of the projects begin after that. Activities like compulsory savings are there to stay once it becomes people’s culture. We encourage people to affiliate their groups to cooperatives and tie up with the banks so that it would help them to further expand their business. Such activities make a project sustainable. When the local bodies, VDC and stakeholders are the part of the project, usually the projects become sustainable. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How does Heifer International ensure the transparency of mobilised funds? </strong></div> <div> For this purpose, a project management and implementation committee is formed with representatives from beneficiaries and stakeholders, self help groups, VDC, donors, NGOs and Heifer. This committee has the records of the details of the funds coming for the particular project from a particular source. Monitoring and evaluation of the projects is done at the local level by this committee. This has helped to maintain transparency. Similarly, NGOs responsible for project implementation, must regularly report to us and the Heifer regularly carries out financial monitoring and auditing. If we find any irregularities, we have a zero tolerance policy towards such activities. Such measures have helped maintain high transparency and accountability of resource mobilisation.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-22', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Dr Shubh N Mahato is the Country Director of Heifer International Nepal. Heifer has recently announced its strategic plans for the next ten years. The plans are in line with the organisation’s area of work – agriculture, livestock, poverty reduction and livelihood enhancement of 500,000 households across 28 districts. In an interview with Gaurav Aryal of The Corporate, Mahato talked about long term programmes and their sustainability.', 'sortorder' => '1319', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1411', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Local Currency Funds Are Important For Private Sector Development’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<div> <img alt="Karin Finkelston,International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific." src="/userfiles/images/4a.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 225px; height: 265px;" /></div> <div> <span style="font-size:14px;">Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific. Her responsibilities include overseeing IFC’s investment and advisory programmes as well as maintaining relationships with key government and private sector partners in the region. Recently, she visited Nepal and spoke to Siromani Dhungana of The Corporate. <strong>Excerpt: </strong></span></div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What is IFC’s overall strategy in South Asia? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> South Asia is where the world’s poorest live in large numbers. Our mission is to create opportunity where needs are greatest and most relevant in this region. With many countries in the region facing development challenges and severe climate change impact amid political transition, this is a defining moment to make meaningful intervention. </div> <div> </div> <div> To meet these challenges, IFC’s strategy for South Asia is three-pronged: </div> <ul> <li> Achieving inclusive growth, including support for frontier regions through increased access to infrastructure; </li> <li> Addressing climate change impact through adaptation and mitigation measures; and </li> <li> Promoting regional and global integration including South- South investments and trade finance. </li> </ul> <div> </div> <div> <strong>As Asia Vice President for IFC, how do you think IFC can help countries like Nepal in their development agenda?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> In my role as VP for Asia, I see the similarities and differences in context and also the potentials – picking up lessons and learning from other countries is invaluable. Nepal, for example, needs to meet the most important aspects of providing electricity to its people and industry and jobs to its youth. Nepal’s immense hydropower potential positions it well to respond to these needs. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>The needs in infrastructure, especially in energy can be met by harnessing the country’s hydro potential. What are IFC’s plans in this regard? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Nepal’s hydropower potential of about 84,000 MW is enough to meet about 3 percent of the global demand for power if the potential is fully realized. So far only about 686 MW is developed whereas the total installed capacity is 740 MW. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), IFC and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) are planning to collaborate on developing Nepal’s hydropower potential. IFC has supported hydropower projects in Nepal in the past as well. Two years back, we invested in a run-of-river hydropower project with Butwal Power Company. IFC’s financing is helping to renovate and upgrade the power plant, including the replacement of 100- year old turbines with modern and efficient technology. The plant’s output is expected to increase by 50 percent. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>How have you supported the private sector in other areas and businesses? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC’s strategic agenda in Nepal includes priority sectors of infrastructure, finance, including access to finance for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, tourism and agribusiness. With the corporation’s growing investments and advisory assistance, IFC is set to play a key role in Nepal. IFC is also working on a payment reform project and an advisory team is making important progress by building partnerships between the government and private sector through the Nepal Business Forum. We are now working with the private sector to promote improved agricultural and water management practices and introducing new technologies among small farmers producing rice, maize and sugarcane to adapt to climate change. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>IFC has been planning to issue local currency bond in Nepal. Could you please highlight the logic behind this?</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> A strong capital market helps the private sector to efficiently finance their operations, depending on the risk of the capital, instead of worrying about foreign exchange facilities. IFC supports local capital markets by issuing local currency bonds, often paving the way for other issuers. We also provide local currency finance to meet the needs of the private sector in many countries. Our projects require local currency financing as well. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>What do you have to say to the Nepali private sector that is focusing more on the problems of getting foreign capital than on local currency funds? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> Developing local currency funds is an important element of private sector development. They help create access to long-term financing for large infrastructure projects and for small and medium enterprises- -the key drivers of jobs and growth. However, availability of strong local currency funds requires a conducive regulatory framework, a market and infrastructure. </div> <div> </div> <div> <strong>There is a big chunk of work IFC is leading on the advisory side--around reform. How do you think this work can help the private sector in Nepal? </strong></div> <div> </div> <div> IFC, through the South Asia Enterprise Development Facility, has been supporting the Nepal government’s efforts to focus on growing the country’s economy through improving the business environment, supporting sustainable business growth, and creating jobs. Our reform programmes in Nepal are aimed at making it easier to do business by reducing barriers to new business registration and streamlining the administration of taxes. We also help facilitate public-private dialogue to ensure that business reforms made by the government match private sector needs besides promoting private investments in Nepal.</div> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-15', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Karin Finkelston is International Finance Cooperation’s (IFC’s) first Vice President for Asia- Pacific.', 'sortorder' => '1273', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '1333', 'article_category_id' => '161', 'title' => '‘Women Are Sincere In Business’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => null, 'content' => '<p> <span style="font-size: 12px;">Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal. <strong>Excerpts:</strong></span></p> <p> <strong>Your organisation claims it is focusing on self-reliant development. Would you please elaborate? </strong></p> <div> <img alt="Astha Thapa Pande,Executive Director of TEWA." height="223" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NzNX38m46j0/UdqmjtKBAcI/AAAAAAAAA-U/aBRL4mpnMWo/s489/astha.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;" width="215" /></div> <p> Tewa was founded in 1995 in a context where development was entirely driven by foreign aid. New organizations were sprouting but many were allowing their organizational missions to be dictated by what funds were available. At such a time, Tewa was set up, not just as an organization, but as an idea that self-reliance is possible, that we can and must partake in our own development, and that resources can be mobilized locally. Tewa has shown that this can be done, and Nepalis have donated both their money and their time to the cause of women these past nearly two decades since Tewa was established. </p> <p> In today’s context Tewa feels that there is much more thinking and doing to be done with regards to self-reliant development and Tewa is striving yet again to set an example through its physical endowment (land and building) project. The Tewa Centre, which is now nearing completion is a revenue generating centre that will ultimately make Tewa, the women’s fund, far more self-reliant with its focus on raising funds primarily to give grants for women’s rights and empowerment. </p> <p> <strong>So, your organization has decided to not be donor dependent. How difficult is it to execute such decision? </strong></p> <p> I would approach donor dependence as a concept with caution, so there are no misunderstandings. Tewa is not opposed to donors, but wants to encourage organisations to set their own mission and vision, principles and values and not be swayed or change simply for the sake of funding.</p> <p> <strong>What difficulties are women facing regarding entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Most of the females in Nepal are uneducated as a result of which their decisions are not given priority in the family. Similarly, the main reason of Nepali women lagging behind in entrepreneurship is poor access to finance. The landed assets are not owned by them because of which they don’t get opportunity to invest in the sector they want to. Though their level has increased in terms of economy and business, there is still much to improve.</p> <p> <strong>How do you evaluate the present status of women entrepreneurship in Nepal? </strong></p> <p> Women are seen increasing their independency level and seeking for self employment. As far as we see, women are capable of being successful entrepreneurs as they are sincere in their business. They are being educated which makes them able to use that available finance in business. Women are also introducing themselves as social entrepreneurs as they come up with their ideas and form a group in a society to provide employment opportunities to other females.</p> <div> </div>', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2013-07-08', 'modified' => '0000-00-00', 'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal', 'description' => 'Astha Thapa Pande is the Executive Director of TEWA. Pande talked with Suraksha Adhikari of The Corporate regarding the philosophies her organization has adopted and current scenario of women entrepreneurship in Nepal.', 'sortorder' => '1195', 'image' => null, 'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '0' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
