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VSO - Sharing Skills, Changing Lives

Where we do it > Nepal

Facts & Figures Population: 26.5 million Capital city: Kathmandu GDP per capita: $1,490 HDI ranking: 138 out of 173 countries * Life expectancy: 61

* The UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) measures a country's achievements in terms of life expectancy, educational attainment and adjusted real income.

Country background

VSO Nepal volunteers are working in the areas of education, participation and governance and HIV & AIDS. VSO’s work supports many of the most disadvantaged groups in Nepal including women, Dalits, ethnic groups, and disabled people. These groups are not often included in government development policies, decision-making processes, and may be denied access to basic public services. These groups often face discrimination and social exclusion from birth.

The overall aim of VSO Nepal’s education work is to increase access to education for these marginalised groups. Volunteers who are experienced teachers and education managers are supporting the Nepali government’s plan to provide ‘Education for All’ through work with schools, training centres and at the Ministry of Education. These volunteers are helping to address the quality of teacher training by working with teachers and teacher training centres to improve teaching methods. They support district education offices to improve the management of schools and support for teachers, and they work with the government to develop the national curriculum and national policies in support of teachers.

Nepal, as in many South Asia countries, is considered to have a high vulnerability to HIV & AIDS despite having low prevalence at the moment. The Nepal government has a National Operational Plan for HIV & AIDS Control but poor management skills within local organisations means that it is hard to implement. VSO management volunteers are strengthening the capabilities of these organisations at both central and district levels so that they are in a better position to deliver effective awareness raising, prevention, and care and treatment programmes. VSO is also supporting the development of networks and alliances of people living with HIV & AIDS so they are able to assert their rights to care, support and treatment.

Corruption and lack of accountability and transparency in the government are major obstacles to development in Nepal. This is often exacerbated by weak management structures in the civil society organisations that represent the interests of poor and marginalised groups such as Dalits, women and people with disabilities, leading to poor representation of the rights of these groups within government policy making. VSO volunteers are working with a range of organisations to improve planning, management, training and human resource skills in local organisations and helping to develop alliances and networks of like-minded organisations that are in a better position to advocate for the rights of these communities.