Community Development & Advocacy Forum Nepal (CDAFN) is a non-political, non-governmental, non-profitable and humanitarian organization, which was established in June 11, 2006 and registered in District Administration Office, Mahottari Nepal. It is a provincial organization that works in Madhesh province, and currently, it operates in 6 districts 0f Madhesh & Bagmati Province :Sarlahi,Mahottari,Dhanusha,Sirha,Saptari & Sindhuli .These districts experience many severe natural disasters like flood, landslide, cold wave, and drought. In order to prevent, address and minimize damage from such disasters, the establishment of a comprehensive system of cooperation and support drawing on the provincial and local authorities, local communities’ private sector, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders is urgently required. 

CDAFN has its well presence and experience in Madhesh province particularly in Mahottari, Dhanusha and Siraha in diverse areas of climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, natural resource management, river system management, agriculture and livelihood. In spite of the deadly pandemic of COVID, CDAFN has been able to carry out several different projects including COVID-19 emergency assistance and economic recovery project benefitting around 5000 needy families. To undertake the projects successfully, we established collaboration with local government to create an enabling environment for joint action and accountability assurance.

In Madhesh Province about 35% people have no or very less volume of land holdings. They are depending on foreign labor, daily wages, informal jobs and other such low-income providing jobs. Such insecure daily work only can support for their family’s daily or weekly foods. In the emergency situation of disasters, the conditions of already excluded groups such as elderly, PWDs, Dalits, ethnic minorities/Muslims, disadvantaged women and children seemed further worsen which may result highly food insecure. Therefore, we have included the livelihood component as a major support in all the projects and emergency assistance work we have done so far. As a result, efforts have been made to ensure that the targeted communities and households have nutritious food. Further, depletion and degradation of natural resources are notably seen in availability of water for drinking and irrigation and the huge patches of riverbeds are in the process of desertification due to sedimentation and inundation. Problems are further compounded due to widely overlooking of harmful social norms in the communities.

To cope with this, there is a need of strengthened collaboration with municipality for joint work. Hence, CDAFN with its ample experiences on Natural Resource Management, River System Management, Disaster Risk Management, Degraded Land Rehabilitation Fruits Plantation & Riverbed Farming, Climate Change Adaptation/mitigation and Livelihood; works primarily to flood vulnerable communities along Lakhandehi, Maraha,Soni,Jangha,Ratu,Aurahi,Charnath,Kamala,Balan,Khado river basin of Sarlahi,Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha,Saptari & Sindhuli district . The interventions are targeted towards the most vulnerable groups, such as Dalit, women, minorities’ households, daily wage earners, informal sector workers, children and elderly. Through these initiatives, specifically the poor and vulnerable communities have enhanced their resilience and restore their lives and livelihoods through the provision of local employment and by generating income from entrepreneurship development accompany with DRM and climate change issues.

History

CDAFN has been registered in DAO Mahottari in 2006 and has also affiliated with SWC in the same year. The legal provision of renewal has been done every year and the process of tax clearances and statutory audit has been conducted regularly. CDAFN has been doing projects and programs especially in Mahottari and Dhanusha chiefly in the sector Natural Resource Management, Chure Conservation, Integrated Watershed Management, River System Management, Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation Mitigation , Livelihood and Humanitarian assistance. The organization which was established by some locals having the common understanding on Natural Resource Management, Chure conservation, Watershed management and river system management, currently has an 11-member executive committee.

During the 18 years of program operation, CDAFN has been working continuously to achieve the set goals and objectives by getting the opportunities to conduct projects with various national and international partner organizations. Especially in the issues like Natural Resource Management, River System management, Watershed management, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate change adaptation, the conservation efforts made by adopting the locally led approach have replicated by expanding the work areas in accordance with the strategy of wide expansion as good learning. In the meantime, with the national and international awards and honors CDAFN has been acknowledged and the organization’s work has also increased its visibility and network at the international level.

Vision

Building a Civilized and Prosperous Society with Equality and Social Justice

Mission

The Rights and Development of the Targeted community will be promoted through Natural Resource Management, Conservation and Promotion of Chure Watershed, Disaster Management, Capacity building for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Community Mobilization and Advocacy.

Goal

Women and Children, Senior Citizens ensure their rights, the target community help maintain peace, development and good governance in their community and through economically self-sufficient, promote the conservation of the Chure watershed management area and to be sensitive to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.

Objectives

❖ This organization will be a non-profit making public organization
❖ To conduct Natural Resource Management
❖ Disaster Risk Reduction programs
❖ To carry out programs related to the conservation and promotion of the Chure watershed area
❖ Carry out programs related to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
❖ Conducting program related to Biodiversity Conservation
❖ To carry out multi-layer plantation in degraded riverbank areas and to promote agroforestry in private and public lands through plantation and Riverbed vegetable farming by making collaboration with government and non-government organizations, thereby support to livelihood for small holders and landless
❖ Conducting programs related to livelihood and income generation
❖ Carry out plans and programs to provide safe/clean drinking water to the community
❖ Conducting development and construction programs that provide direct and indirect support in forest, soil conservation and environmental protection
❖ To conduct programs for the protection of Children’s rights
❖ Conducting programs related to women’s rights, leadership development and capacity building
❖ Support for good governance by advocating for transparent and equitable distribution of resources flowing from government and non-government organizations that operate various community-based development programs
❖ To awaken the community to the problems of community health and to work to ensure access to health services especially for women, children and the elderly in rural areas in problems such as reproductive health, family planning, and epidemics