Nepal

HOME TO THE MAJESTIC Mount Everest, landlocked Nepal is also one of the poorest countries in the world. Most Nepalese live in villages and are dependent on agriculture, but severe floods, landslides and earthquakes threaten homes, fields and livestock.

A lack of employment and poverty has forced one in 10 of the rural population to migrate to the capital Kathmandu and other municipalities. A decade-long rebel insurgency has also driven people from villages to the cities in search of safety. Migration and urban growth have resulted in shortage of adequate housing in towns and cities, crowded living spaces and the growth of sub-standard housing. According to government data, nearly 430,000 families live in sub-standard housing.

Sub-standard housing frequently means structures with thatched roofs and straw walls, sometimes supported by pillars made of bamboo or old timber. Water is often unsanitary and few dwellings have toilets or electricity. These dilapidated houses are also a fire risk; nearly 10,000 families lose their homes to fire every year.

Habitat for Humanity began its work in 1997, but since mid-2005, activities have been organized as a branch of the Habitat for Humanity International.

Habitat works mainly in eastern Nepal though it has recently turned its attention to areas in the west of the country. It has partnerships with various international organizations and non-government organizations such as Samjhauta Nepal, which has a network of microfinance institutional partners, and Samuhik Hatemalo Sewa Samuha, a former Habitat affiliate that is now an independent NGO. (Two other former Habitat affiliates, in Pokhra and Surkhet, have also transformed into independent community-based organizations.)

Habitat also partners with microfinance institutions to build homes using the Save & Build and incremental housing models. MFI partners include co-operative bank Sahara Nepal, Jeevan Bikash and village banks through Samjhauta Nepal’s link. Juntara Social Development Center and Nari Bikash Sangh, an NGO involved in empowering rural families, the poor and disadvantaged women.

Habitat’s other partners include Adventist Development and Relief Agency, SOS Children’s Village and Lumanti’s Support Group for Shelter.

Each core house, 26 sq. m. in size, is constructed using cost-effective bamboo and “green” bricks.

In Nepal, indigenous bamboo is suitable for use in house construction as it grows fast, is easy to use, environmentally friendly and durable. Bamboo can be used as poles, doors, windows, mats for wall and ceiling, and fence-posts. “Green” bricks are made of clay and unlike bricks burnt with firewood; they do not contribute to air pollution. The rural community can turn to growing and harvesting bamboo, and making “green” bricks as income-generating activities.

Each home partner family contributes sweat equity, or their own labor, in building their own house as well as those of others. Families also provide raw materials to reduce the loan they have to repay. The mortgage loan repayment period is less than three years and repayment averages US$7 per month.

Nepal has traditionally been a favorite destination for Global Village volunteer teams. It has hosted volunteers from Korea, Australia, Dubai and China.

HABITAT HIGHLIGHTS

• The first batches of bamboo roofing sheets are slated for production in February 2009. The facility in southeastern Jhapa district will provide income for communities as well as high-quality, low-cost roofing products for Habitat programs.

• Through HFH Korea, the South Korean government’s official development assistance agency funded 50 homes and 500 toilets.

• HFH Nepal is providing technical support to International Organization for Migrants and the International Federation for Red Cross for transitional and permanent shelter response programs for about 50,000 people displaced by floods in August 2008.

• In the southeastern district of Dhanusha, Habitat trained 800 families in the use of bamboo technology. The technology was also brought to the western districts of Kailai and Bardiya.

• HFH Nepal won the 2007 Clarence Jordan Award from Habitat for Humanity International’s Board of Directors for promoting cost-effective bamboo in its housing programs.

• Habitat extended its presence to the mid-western and far west by rebuilding homes of more than 300 families who were former bonded laborers and also victims of a flood.

• Habitat started a partnership with Lumanti’s Support Group for Shelter to improve the homes of urban slum dwellers in the capital Kathmandu. More than 80 families have been served so far.

• HFH Nepal and Lutheran World Federation signed a memorandum of understanding to serve 1,284 Bhutanese refugee families who were victims of a fire. Habitat is providing technical assistance to rebuild houses after a fire gutted more than 80 percent of the huts.

COUNTRY FACTS
Population: 29.5 million (est. July 2008)

Capital: Kathmandu

Area: 147,181 sq. km.

Ethnic groups: Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, others 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)

Languages: Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)

Religions: Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

Updated January 2009