This two-page case study describes the work of the USAID-supported South Asia Regional Initiative/Equity Support Project (SARI/Equity). Between 2002 and 2006, the project worked to build and strengthen local capacity to address trafficking and violence against women in South Asian countries. SARI/Equity launched regional action forums, awarded small grants and fellowships for action-oriented research, provided technical support, set up a website for sharing best practices, and built partnerships with almost 600 organizations in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

This assessment analyzes gender issues in USAID/Nepal’s strategic framework, program, and activities for Strategic Objective #2 (SO2) — reduced fertility and protected health of Nepalese families; SO4 — increased private sector participation in environmentally and socially sustainable hydropower development; and SO5 — strengthened governance of natural resources and selected institutions. It identifies entry points for the integration of gender into ongoing activities. The assessment was based on document review, interviews, and field observations with forest user groups, women’s empowerment groups, and Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), as well as working sessions with USAID/Nepal staff.

Conducted under subcontract 5909-586 FWL01 | Project title: POLICY II

Girls' and women's education [GWE] policy research activity | Related document: PN-ACR-860 | Contract listed on document as HNE-C-00-96-900047-00

Project title: Women in development technical assistance (WIDTECH)

In June 2002, the EGAT/WID NGO Small Grants Program held the "Conference on Women's Property and Inheritance Rights" in Nairobi, Kenya. Representatives of NGOs that had received funding to support their efforts to strengthen women's property and inheritance rights gathered at the conference to discuss the goals, structures, and outcomes of their work. This paper synthesizes and summarizes those proceedings.