General

Support to ABUNZI II through RCN Justice et democratie aims at continuing some activities of ILPRC project and some other interventions to strengthen the capacities of local mediators (ABUNZI) to handle land issues but specifically ensure women land rights In Rwanda

Objectives

The Embassy supported RCN to implement a Project to Support Proximity Justice in Rwanda (SPJR). The project implementation lasted from 1st August 2015 – 31st March 2019. The program was originally planned to end in 2018 but extended to 2019 to cover delays encountered due to understandable reasons. SPJR project was implemented in seven districts of Rwanda (Nyanza in the south, Burera and Gicumbi in the north, Nyarugenge in the city of Kigali, Nyabihu, Ngororero and Rutsiro in the west). The project reached a total of 145,318 men and women. Of the total, around 65% were women. The Embassy also notes that the approach focused on behaviour change using outcome mapping so numbers were collected but not prioritised. The programme was intended to support citizen participation in proximity justice. It would facilitate constructive dialogue and raise awareness about the rights and duties of the population, the law and the functioning of proximity justice. It would seek to safeguard the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups in particular women’s access to justice and participation in decision making. The programme would promote the role of civil society and reinforce the capacity of CSOs to fulfil their mandate. The programme would provide institutional support to Justice Reconciliation Law and Order (JRLO) sector institutions and local authorities to enable them to discharge their duties, including capacity building, knowledge transfer, coaching and materials. It would conduct and disseminate original research and engage decision makers with evidence-based advocacy. It would support exchanges at local and national level between proximity justice and civil society actors. Due to the fact that the program used outcome mapping approach, there were two outcome challenges: 1) Proximity Justice Actors have the necessary knowledge and materials that allows them to deliver high quality justice services in conformity with their mandate and human rights principles. PJA collaborate to allow each other to fulfil their mandates. PJA inform and support the population of their rights and about the functioning of the justice system so citizens, especially women, vulnerable and marginalized groups, are able to exercise these rights"; 2) Audiences are active citizens who share and debate their own experiences, expectations, recommendations and knowledge with Proximity Justice users and service providers. They have knowledge of their basic rights and the administration of proximity justice allowing them to exercise these rights. They are confident that they can defend their rights and do so before appropriate judicial authorities. Audiences take steps in support of more equitable conditions for women and vulnerable or marginalized groups to access justice services to exercise their rights.

General

Chepang and Tamang communities living in the hills of central Nepal are among the most marginalized and resource poor groups in Nepal.Their tiny land holdings provide no more than 3 to 6 months of food security and deforestation has contributed to environmental degradation. Due to lack of knowledge of efficient and sustainable agricultural practices and land-tenure rights, the communities are practicing unsustainable agriculture and animal husbandry which aggravate soil erosion that causes regular landslides that destroy agricultural fields and threaten the lives of people and animals. To improve access to remote villages, local government has started infrastructure development projects without proper social and environmental impact assessments. The objective of this project is to uplift the livelihoods and food security of the Chepang and Tamang communities through agro-forestry development and developed market access, strenghten community-based natural resource management, sustainable land use and climate change adaptation and empower women and persons with disabilities.This is achieved by, e.g. developing sound biodiversity management and sustainable livelihood activities in cooperation with community-based organizations and local government. Capacity building of forest user groups will be done to strenghten their operational capacity and local government will be supported in preparation and implementation of the local climate change adaptation plan of action. The continuation project implemented by NAFAN and supported by Swallows supports Finland's development objectives by increasing food security and promoting sustainable use of natural resources, local democracy and participation of women in decision making. The project will strengthen local partner organization's capacity and role in community capacity building and establishing linkages between communities and local government. The project is expected to benefit directly around 3000 right-holders and 150 duty-bearers. In addition, approx. 3500 people are expected to benefit indirectly.