This month has seen remarkable productivity with key accomplishments and events. Notable achievements include successful meetings with the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Health to secure funds for individuals with disabilities in Gandaki Province and engaging discussions with the Provincial Disability Directive Committee on the implementation of the Disability Right Act.

1) Meeting with Secretary of Ministry of Social Development and Health

2) Meeting with Provincial Disability Directive Committee

3) Municipal Project Advisory Meeting

4) Advocacy Meeting with OPDs and stakeholders & welcome and orientation Program for newly recruited members

5) Project Approval Process and SWC Affiliation Certificate Renewal

6) Second Meeting with Secretary of Ministry of Social Development and Health

7) Disability Right Advocacy Meeting

Program Description

The advocacy meeting between CIL-Pokhara team and Ministry of Social Development and Health was held in 6th January. The meeting starts at 11:00 AM respectively. The main emphasis of the meeting was about, formation of Disability Steering Committee, planning for providing the personal assistant, sign language interpreter and restoration of disability help desk. The meeting remains effective.

Objective of the meeting:

• To discuss on providing personal assistant for person with disabilities.
• To discuss on providing sign language interpreter for person with hearing disability.
• To discuss about the disability

The contents covered in the event were:

• Availability of personal assistant
• Regarding of availability of sign language interpreter
• Restoration of help desk for person with disability
• Formation of disability steering committee

The target population of the meeting was:

• Secretary of Ministry of Social Development and Health
• Representative of Organization of Persons with Disabilities

Remarkable Achievements

• The Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Health positively responded to the provision of Personal Assistant (PA), Sign Language Interpreter (SLI), and the restoration of the disability help desk.

Program Description

The meeting with the Provincial Disability Directive Committee for the formulation of the Disability Rights Act in Gandaki Province was convened in the presence of representatives from OPDs, the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development and Health, the Minister of the Ministry of Social Development and Health, a member of the planning commission, and other stakeholders.

Contents covered in the meeting:

• Reformation and restructuring the Disability Steering Committee.
• Involvement of various government stakeholders in Disability Steering Committee.

Target Population of the meeting was:

• Chairperson of Provincial Disability Directive Committee, Ministry of Social Development and Health
• Representatives from organization of Persons with disabilities.

Remarkable Achievements

• Positive Response from the president of Provincial Disability Directive Committee.

Program Description

The Municipal Level Project Advisory Committee (MPAC) meeting took place on January 11th between the CIL-Pokhara team and members of the Pokhara Metropolitan City Project Director Committee, commencing at 2:00 pm. The primary focus of the meeting was to orient the members of the Pokhara Metropolitan City Project Director Committee about the new project, "Disability-led Advocacy for Disability Rights Act Formulation." Program Manager Mr. Dinesh Adhikari delivered a presentation, making the meeting highly productive.

Objective of the meeting:

• To orient the participants about the new project
• To discuss on project related activities

Contents covered in the meetings were:

• Disability Introduction and Types
• Detail Description of the activities of the new project

Target Population

• Members of Pokhara Metropolitan City project Director Committee.
• Board Members of Independent Living Center- Pokhara.

Remarkable Achievements

• The Municipal Level Project Advisory Committee (MPAC) was successfully conducted, and they expressed a positive stance towards the implementation of the project in Gandaki Province.

Program Description

Orientation sessions have been successfully conducted in 14th January 2024 for project staff and board members, marking a pivotal step in preparing for the imminent project implementation. The comprehensive orientation aimed to equip personnel with the necessary knowledge and understanding of project goals and strategies.

Objective of the event:

• Welcome and introduce the recently appointed staff.
• Orient them about the new project and provide general information about CIL- Pokhara.

Contents covered in the events were:

• Brief overview of CIL-Pokhara
• Basic general information on disability, its types, and severity classifications
• Enumeration and categorization of activities associated with the project
• Project duration details

Remarkable Achievements

• New staff members were oriented about CIL Pokhara, encompassing its working modality, organogram, and major activities.
• They also gained fundamental knowledge on disability, including its meaning, concept, types, and severity classifications, along with a perceived understanding of the Disability Led Advocacy for Disability Rights Act Formulation Project, including its working areas, modality, and the planned activities.

Program Description

The Project Focal Person, Executive Director, and Personal Assistant from CIL-Pokhara visited the Social Welfare Council (SWC) in Kathmandu on January 16, 2024, seeking approval for the new project and renewing the SWC Affiliation Certificate.

Objective:

• To submit documents regarding project approval process at Social Welfare Council, Kathmandu.
• Renewal of the Social Welfare Council Affiliation certificate of CIL-Pokhara.

The contents covered in the events were:

• Document Submission regarding Project Approval
• Renewal of the Social Welfare Council Affiliation certificate of CIL-Pokhara.

Target Population

• Project Focal Person
• Executive Director
• Personal Assistant and Members from Social Welfare Council, Kathmandu

However, the process faced delays due to SWC feedback, which included suggestions to clarify the Log Frame, remove the dollar column, and break down the budget by activity types. Despite a return visit on January 18, 2024, progress was limited, prompting a commitment from the CIL-Pokhara team to revise documents as per SWC feedback and return promptly for further discussions. The team returned to Pokhara on January 19, 2024, with a resolve to address the feedback and ensure compliance with SWC requirements.

Program Description

Independent Living Centre-Pokhara, led by President Hem Bahadur Gurung, Project Focal Person Anjana K.C, and Treasurer Rina Palikhe, organized a significant event titled "Meeting with Secretary of Ministry of Social Development and Health" on January 21, 2024.

Objective of the meeting

• Coordination with Ministry of Social Development and Health for Disability Right Advocacy Training

The contents covered in the event were:

• Planning for Disability Right Advocacy Training
• Role of facilitator from Ministry of Social Development and Health for the training
• Sign language interpreter, personal assistant, help desk for people with disabilities

Target Population:

• Ministry of Social Development and Health

Remarkable Achievements

• Facilitator agreed to give time for this training.

Program Description

The disability Rights Advocacy training was conducted from 25th to 28th January. The training remained fruitful in terms of the participation form all the sectors as per the planning and the feedback collected forms the participants.

Objective:

• To strengthen the capacity of disability rights leaders to advocate for enforcement of disability rights laws and policies at local levels.
• To form disability action act

The contents covered in the events were:

• Basic Understanding of disability
• Process of Law making, participation of people with disabilities in law making
• Data Advocacy and Disaggregated data
• Learning and sharing the government working modality in best practices in involvement of OPDs, Advocacy Strategies
• Human Right Based Approach (HRBA) of Disability
• Challenges in Implementing laws and role of stakeholders
• Issues of PWDs in upcoming 5 year plan and addressing Disability inclusive DRR and Disability inclusive climate change
• Addressing Profound, Severe and Under Represented Groups, Advocacy at Provincial and Local levels
• Advocacy Committee Formation and Orientation

The target population on this residential training program was:

• Members from Disability Coordination Committee from 10 districts of Gandaki Province
• OPD leaders

The Disability Rights Advocacy training, held from January 25th to 28th, garnered positive feedback and active participation from various sectors. The program aimed to strengthen the capacity of disability rights leaders to advocate for the enforcement of disability rights laws at the local level and establish a disability action act. Covering topics such as the basics of disability, the law-making process, data advocacy, and human rights-based approaches, the training engaged major stakeholders like members from the Disability Coordination Committee and OPD leaders. The comprehensive content empowered participants with the knowledge and skills for effective advocacy at provincial and local levels, ensuring a positive impact on disability rights enforcement in Gandaki Province.

Among the major challenges in implementing the activities this period are as mentioned bellow:

This month has seen remarkable productivity with key accomplishments and events.

1) Advocacy meeting with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and stakeholders.

2) Second advocacy meeting with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and stakeholders.

3) Capacity Building of Severe and profound disability leaders

4) Project Approval Process and SWC Affiliation Certificate Renewal

5) Local Capacity Building and Mobilization of OPDs

6) Capacity Building of Sevre and Profound Disability Leaders