South Asia

Significant political changes took place. An alliance of seven political parties assumed power and Parliament was reinstated following a political movement. These developments facilitated peace negotiations with the Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist, resulting in a historic peace accord in November 2006 and an end to the decade-long conflict.

The peace accord has increased Nepal’s development prospects. The improved security situation and environment for development have helped revive rural livelihoods and economic and development activities. The peace process also promises a conducive political and security environment for postconflict reconstruction and rehabilitation and for the tackling of longer-term issues of poverty, social exclusion, and weak governance—some of the root causes of the conflict.

ADB prepared a country operations business plan—which updates the 2005 country strategy and program—to guide its operations from 2007 to 2009 in the changed political and development context. The business plan retains the strategic priorities of the country strategy and program: reducing poverty and addressing the root causes of the conflict through broad-based economic growth, promoting inclusive social development, and improving governance. The business plan seeks to strengthen the results orientation of ADB’s assistance to help make development effective.

ADB approved a total of $169.9 million in ADF assistance for four projects. For the first time in Nepal, about 50% of this assistance was in the form of ADF grants. The significantly high assistance resulted mainly because of the rollover from the 2005 country program, the processing of which was hampered by the prevailing political and security situation. ADB also approved 13 technical assistance grants totaling $6.4 million. A project funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to improve the livelihoods of poor farmers and disadvantaged groups was also approved for $1.0 million. In the medium term, ADB will support the Government in its postconflict reconstruction and rehabilitation activities.

ADB approved a total of $169.9 million in ADF assistance. For the first time in Nepal, about 50% was in the form of ADF grants

Women’s Empowerment Supports Good Governance in South Asia

A region al technical assistance project has demonstrated that encouraging participation of citizens, particularly of women and poor people, is good for local government. By the time ADB funding ended in 2004, the project had clearly improved governance and empowered women in the project areas in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. As a result, development partners came forward in each country to continue the project.

Under the ADB-supported Gender and Governance Issues in Local Government Project, elected women officials brought together government line officers and the poorest constituents at regular village and district forums to discuss local needs and identify ways to mobilize government resources.

As a result of this participatory process, in 2 years, women local council members in Bangladesh have helped train more than 9,500 poor women and young people through agriculture, livestock, and fishery extension programs. Another 6,000 poor women gained access to income-generating activities through various poverty reduction programs from 2002 to 2004. Female representatives mediated in nearly 4,000 cases to settle issues important to villagers, including disputes over land, dowry, early marriage, and polygamy.

In Nepal, women’s forums mobilized funds from village development councils to fund 199 projects ranging from infrastructure development and income generation to forest and environmental management. They also mediated disputes relating to domestic violence and polygamy.

Women representatives from union councils in Pakistan mobilized resources for 190 development schemes, including water supply, road pavement, sewerage and sanitation, school renovation, street lighting, and vocational training center for girls. These representatives also helped resolve cases of domestic violence and divorce.

The project has demonstrated the advantages of citizen participation at the grassroots level and is enthusiastically supported by its major stakeholders—local government, local communities, and civil society. It is now being implemented by a nongovernment organization (NGO) in Bangladesh. In Nepal, the Ministry for Local Government provided seed money to continue the work of the elected women’s forums. In Pakistan, an NGO has integrated the forums into its community organizing activities.

Encouraging participation of citizens, particularly of women and poor people, is good for local government