Advocacy Challenge Fund (ACF Project/Contract No.NEP/15/01M/DAN), (Advocacy for Rights and Good Corporate Governance: UNNATI, Inclusive Growth Programme Nepal) project funded by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The project is being implemented by World Vision Advocacy Forum (WVAF, http://www.wvafnepal.org, a national level non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on human rights including economic, social and cultural rights; human rights-based advocacy and capacity development. The project activities will be organized in three broader frameworks: (1) Sensitization on business and human rights issues and review of labour law; (2) Advocacy on Contract Farming legislation; and (3) Advocacy for establishing Large Cardamom Development Board (LCDB). The project is being implemented in the seven hilly project districts of UNNATI-Inclusive Growth Programme Nepal, namely Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Ilam, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, and Terhathum.
Project goal:
1. To contribute to developing Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) sector to achieve the sustained and inclusive economic growth in Nepal.
Objectives:
1. To enhance awareness and capacity of Cardamom and Orthodox Tea based MSMEs on issues relevant to responsible business practices and labour rights;
2. To carry-out lobby and advocacy efforts to effectively influence policy to draft legislation on Contract Farming to raise food grain output; and
3. To sensitize among the state and non-state Agencies to set up Large Cardamom Development Board (LCDB) to enhance the export promotion and inclusive growth.
Key achievements of the project:
• Established 25 members’ Public-Private Partnership Networking Forum (PPPNF) comprising of one Convenor and one Member Secretary in all seven project districts.
• Created a common platform for all relevant stakeholders by PPPNF to meet regularly in one place; share and discuss problems and concerns of four value chains of UNNATI programme. The PPPNF has been performing an active role in addressing and solving the local issues by collaborating local key governmental and private sector stakeholders.
• Identified the potential roles of public and private sector stakeholders in creating better business environment and responsible business practices from the PPPNF meetings.
• Sensitized public and private sectors on the need to promote the inclusive growth of MSMEs, decent work, elimination of the worst forms of child labour and to promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.
• Familiarized about Nepal’s new Labour Act 2074 and international labour standards and comparative practices amongst local and national key stakeholders. The project sensitized authorities on the importance of responsible business practices and labour rights issues.
• The sensitized wide spectrum of local, regional and national stakeholders on the need of establishing Contract Farming Legislation in Nepal.
• Ministry of Agricultural and Land Management and Cooperatives made the commitment to incorporate the issues of Contract Farming in the draft of the Agri-Business Promotional Act.
• Ministry of Agricultural, Land Management and Cooperatives committed to establishing an autonomous entity of Large Cardamom to enhance the export promotion of Large Cardamom.
• Ministry of Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs (MOLJCAPA) committed to implement the new Labour Act 2074 and will amend in contradictory parts of the new Labour Act 2074.
