Country background

While this mountainous country has, in recent decades, developed a thriving tourism industry and during a limited "window of opportunity", a successful textile and garments industry, it has not at any time in its history been able to progress towards a broader economic base. In addition to the difficulties arising from its topography, Nepal has also suffered a decade of political instability and civil conflict. During the course of civil conflict, over 10,000 people lost their lives and many more were displaced from their homes, moving either from rural to the urban areas, or leaving the country entirely. The conclusion of the Peace Treaty in November 2006, followed by the election of a Constituent Assembly and the recent installation of a representative government, have increased the prospects of a more durable and stable political environment.

However, such a long period of conflict has inevitably takes a toll on human, social and economic development. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC, 2006), up to 200,000 people have been internally displaced from the rural areas to urban centres during the conflict period, leading them to live in situations of exasperated economic and social insecurity, while also placing a heavy burden on the limited pre-existing urban social infrastructures. Among the segments of the population most severely affected by such a situation of crisis are inevitably children and women. Furthermore, as many younger, more able members of families, who previously economically supported rural families, have moved to the urban centres, rural families have become disjointed, lacking their previous economc cushioning and frequently leaving the weak and the elderly to fend for themselves. In its report on issuing a common appeal for support, the United Nations (UN, 2007 pp.1) has emphasized the crucial need to put into place crucial effective measures which tackle the issues of food security, health, displacement, disaster preparedness and protection (specifically child protection).

Social security schemes and programs by branch