Mid-Western Development Region, Nepal
For many in Nepal’s isolated Middle Hill and Mountain regions, food security is a daily struggle despite recent gains in overall poverty alleviation across the country. Mercy Corp’s Promoting Agriculture, Health, and Alternative Livelihood (PAHAL) project worked in these areas to improve food security by strengthening livelihoods and increasing the capacity of vulnerable households to prevent, mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in communities with deep poverty and high rates of malnutrition.
In 2018, approximately four years into the program’s lifecycle, PAHAL began a “full integration” approach to implementation that layered previously siloed program activities together to bolster their impact. The following photos document the assessments conducted within PAHAL communities to inform eventual implementation of the integration approach as well as individuals who would play a role in championing integrated activities.
Deusara KC poses inside her collection center in Pipal Ward. The center was supported by PAHAL, as were many of the farmers whose produce was sold there.
Lal Bahadur of Pokhara Ward poses in his office. At the time of production (May 2018) Lal was serving as the secretary of the Melgairi Agri Coop in Pipal Ward, which serviced community members who made their living in agriculture.
A resident of Pokhara Ward washes his hands from a cistern provided as part of the program’s WASH activities.
Champa KC, a Pokhara Ward community member, poses in her home. Champa ran a kitchen garden plot that modeled program-supported techniques for other community members to emulate.
A member of a community group in Pokhara Ward takes notes as the group works through a program planning exercise led by PAHAL staff. These planning sessions were an opportunity for community members to give feedback on what development activities they found most helpful and effective.
Tajendra Khatri stands in a corn field near his home. He was a member of a community farmer group run by PAHAL.
Pokhara Ward Chairperson Pashupati Khalka sits in his office in the center of the village. Community and local government planning sessions took place in the same municipal building.
Deusara KC updates daily buying rates for various produce posted outside her collection center.
Bafikot Rural Municipality Chairperson Harku Malla guides ward-level government officials through feedback provided by community members in assessment sessions. Ward-level officials used that feedback to create a plan for the layering and integration of program initiatives for the remainder of the program’s lifespan.
Rita Paudel received cooking and nutrition training from PAHAL. She is seen here in her home kitchen in Pipal Ward.
Terraced fields dot the Middle Hill landscape. Taken en route to Pokhara Ward in Eastern Rukum district.
PAHAL staff member Shambhu Jung Rana facilitates an assessment session with community members in Pokhara Ward. These sessions were intended to gather feedback and insight from program participants on how layering and combining existing program initiatives might better serve them.