Resource Management and Geography - Theses

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Type: Masters Research thesis × Subject: Women ×

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    Sustaining grassroots women's groups in Nepal
    Gaire, Kamal Raj ( 2007)
    In the Himalayan country of Nepal, the inclusion of women in government extension projects has been a key development strategy since 1990 (Keeling, (2001). Extension projects encourage and provide support for the establishment of grassroots women's groups. Most of these groups disintegrate after the tellnination of government support; however, and before achieving all their objectives, indicating that extension agencies are generally unsuccessful in establishing sustainable groups. The aim of this thesis is to explore the issues related to the sustainability of these women's groups, and to identify the reasons for their premature disintegration. A case study approach is employed, using qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with group members and extension officers in the Kavre district of Nepal. Meeting group members' needs is a precondition for sustainability; however, results suggest that the perception of these needs differs between the women-who desire self empowerment- and extension agencies-who want increased productivity. Results further suggest that while cultural diversity may increase sustainability, economic and gender diversity may have the opposite effect. Nepalese extension agencies employ a policy of converting grassrots groups into formal cooperatives to facilitate group sustainability. Findings of this research suggest that the current government policy of converting existing grassroots groups into formal cooperatives, without proper capacity development, may be detrimental to group sustainability. In addition, the current extension agency practice of initiating group formation may not provide a strong group foundation. Furthermore, an overemphasis on savings and credit schemes may undermine the positive effects of other group activities. Overall, women's needs and expectations need to be met in order for groups to be sustainable. Extension agencies should be encouraged to identify and support these needs so that better informed extension policies can be developed, the decisions and practices of which will more likely sustain grassroots women's groups.
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