Closing Workshop of UNNATI held

The Closing Workshop of UNNATI project funded by EU and implemented by CEAPRED in partnership with CARE Nepal in Sindhuli and Mahottari districts along the BP highway was held at the Hotel Yak and Yeti on 8th Dec, 2015. The workshop jointly organized by CEAPRED and CARE Nepal was an opportunity to share the project’s learning, challenges and the vision for way forward. The project staff, representatives from government and non-government organizations and the beneficiary cooperative members and the office bearers participated in the event.

The event was chaired by Mr. Yogendra K. Karki, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MOAD). Mr. Anil C. Neupane, Project Manager of UNNATI facilitated the event. On behalf of the organizers, Executive Director of CEAPRED, Mr. Bharat P. Upadhyay, welcomed all the participants. His welcome remarks highlighted the concept underlined while developing the proposal and briefed about the objectives of the project. Video presentation of the project was made to demonstrate the achievements of the project in terms of its contribution to women empowerment. The overall presentation highlighting the project achievements was made jointly by the project managers of both CEAPRED and CARE Nepal. On this occasion, Mr. Thakur Chauhan, Food Security and Livelihood Coordinator in CARE Nepal, also shared the future strategic plan of CARE. The project presentations focused on outputs/outcomes of the project based on the logframe and also highlighted the key challenges and recommendations for way forward. It was learnt that strong partnerships with public, private, NGOs and local bodies contributed significantly for the success of the project that may in turn enhance the chances of sustainability.

Using this platform, the cooperatives’ representatives from Sindhuli and Mahottari briefly delivered their respective reflections on the contribution of project towards their local institution building. Mr. Sagar Dhakal, Senior Social Development Officer from DDC, Sindhuli and Senior Agriculture Development Officer, DADO from Mahottari also shared the project achievements by implementing agriculture-based program directly benefiting the poor farmers located in the areas along BP highway where significant interventions similar to those of Unnati project were not made in the past. They concluded their remarks with the commitment of continued assistance during the coming years also. Ms. Yamuna Ghale, Senior. Program Officer from SDC and Mr. Mim Hamal, the representative from EU also appreciated the achievements made by the project despite its shorter project life. Likewise, Mr. Tek Bahadur Bam, Regional Agricultural Director of Central Development Region started his remarks with reference to the hallmark created about twenty-three years ago by CEAPRED at Sidhuwa of Dhankuta in fresh vegetable production and marketing. The impacts created are still sustainably growing till date. Mr. Popular Gentle, Acting Country Director of CARE Nepal, expressed vote of thanks on behalf of the organizers and expressed a sense of satisfaction over the success of the project and very fruitful partnership with CEAPRED.