Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) actions for resilient ecosystem and community [Samvardhan Project]

The Samvardhan project, funded by the European Union and the Austrian Development Cooperation through ADRA Austria, is implemented by ADRA Nepal, ANSAB, Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN), and Bheri Environment Excellence Group (BEE Group). The project aims to empower CSOs, primarily community forest users and farmers groups, to restore and conserve biodiversity and ecosystems for sustainable use and equitable sharing.

The project will work towards the following outcomes:

• Empowered CSOs (CFUG, BZ) with a gender-transformative plan actively engaged in biodiversity conservation and restoration.
• Enhanced livelihoods of local communities based on climate and wildlife-friendly farming and the wise use of ecosystem services and natural resources.
• Multisector collaboration and environmental awareness to enhance biodiversity.

ANSAB will undertake biodiversity conservation and restoration activities by:

• Strengthening the institutional, organizational, and technical capacities of CSOs, government agencies, project partners, and local communities.
• Engaging CSOs in sustainable forest and ecosystem management planning in alignment with National Forest Stewardship Standards (NFSS).
• Facilitating sustainable forest and ecosystem management through enhanced knowledge and capacities of CSOs, partners, and relevant stakeholders, and the adoption of best practices.

This project is being implemented in Kohalpur Municipality and Rapti-Sonari Rural Municipality of Banke district, and Thakurbaba Municipality and Madhuwan Municipality of Bardiya district.