Inclusive Resource Management Initiative (IRMI)

IRMI 

Introduction

Inclusive Resource Management Initiative (IRMI) is being implemented by BASE in the technical support of Mercy Corps and in the financial support of USAID Nepal targeting 15 Village Development Committees (VDCs) in three districts of the Western Terai, including Dang, Bardiya and Kailali for the period of June 3, 2015 to April 30, 2016. The project has thus so far reached 4120 households and 24782 family members (12,621 male and 12,161 female).

The project aims to enhance stability through natural resource conflict resolution and inclusive natural resource management. This will be achieved through a holistic; people-to-people approach that: 1) facilitates the resolution of resource-based conflicts; 2) Promotes inclusive decision-making related to natural resource use and management; and 3) Reduces natural resource competition through joint environmental and economic initiatives.

Goal:

To support Nepal’s transition to a more peaceful, equitable society, IRMI aims to “Enhance stability through natural resource conflict resolution and inclusive natural resource management.”

Objectives:

• Strengthen the ability of key stakeholders to resolve community-level natural resource conflicts in an inclusive, sustainable manner.
• Increase inclusive and participatory resource-related decision-making among community and government bodies.
• Enhance the sustainability of negotiated agreements by engaging communities in joint environmental and economic development initiatives.

Impact/Target Groups

• Community forest user groups
• Landless individuals often times marginalized
• Freed labors

Project Coverage/Working Area

1	Dang	Panchakule VDC	Saatpokhari Hurum CFUG
		Purandhara VDC	Devidanda CFUG
		Shantinagar VDC	Sirjana CFUG
		Pawannagar VDC	Vieudahar Sunpur CFUG
		Tulshipur Municipality (Halawar VDC)	Jarayo Takuri CFUG
2	Bardiya	Bansgadhi Minicapility (Motipur VDC)	Ekata Samaj CFUG
		Mainapokhar VDC	Bhadohi Mahila ( Women)  CFUG
		Dhodhari VDC	Kotahi  Mahila (Women) CFUG
		Babai Municipality (Baganaha VDC)	Jharsaluwa CFUG
		Babai Municipality (Neulapur)	Kopila CFUG
3	Kailali	Ratanpur VDC	Shivashakti CFUG
		Hasuliya VDC	Kamalpokhari CFUG
		Attariya Municipality (Beladevipur VDC)	Sitaram CFUG
		Attariya Municipality (Shreepur VDC)	Suryodaya CFUG
		Attariya Municipality (Geta VDC)	Sahid Sanghari Bhimdatta Panta CFUG

 

Major Activities

• Mapping natural resource conflicts
• Conduct joint training for key stakeholders in conflict analysis and resolution (Interest based community mediation training, Dialogue skill training).
• Facilitate the development of conflict resolution agreements by key stakeholders.
• Strengthen internal governance of community user groups (Group Capacity Assessment, Good Governance and Advocacy training)
• Raise awareness of rights and responsibilities related to natural resources (Natural resource based education session, Radio program).
• Support community participation in government decision-making processes
• Community peace building forums.
• Joint natural resource management initiatives
• Support environmentally sustainable economic initiatives

Major Outcomes

• 37 natural resources based conflicts have been identified through land and natural resource mapping.
• 312 key stakeholders (peace facilitators) have strengthened their conflict resolution skills through interest based community mediation skills, Negotiation and Dialogue Facilitation skills.
• 24 natural resource based conflicts have been resolved through trained peace facilitators.
• Collaborative relationships between key stakeholders has been enhanced
• 15 Community Forest User Groups have exhibited more inclusive internal governance practices
• Increased community awareness rights and responsibilities related natural resource use and management
• Communities have improved inclusive natural resource management and rebuilt degraded resources
• 15 communities have started to strengthen an environmentally sustainable economic activity which has supported to reduce the dependency on forest and tensions over the use and management of natural resources.
• Cooperative relationships between conflicting communities have been built and maintained social harmony.