Project

Running Project
Project Title: Enhancing Dialogue for Inclusive Constitution (EDIC)Implementing Partner(s):
            1. Alliance Members of NCARD
            2. Networks of Marginalized Groups (Dalit, Janajati and Muslim)
Duration: 24 Months
Project Start Date: October 1, 2009
Project End Date: – September 30, 2011 

Executive Summary of Project

The project has a dream of consolidating sustainable and constantly improving democracy through peoples' participation in Nepal. Though, for the first time in history, people have got chance of framing the statute of the state through their delegates, the marginalized groups have found ongoing Constituent Assembly (CA) process not oriented towards exploring the issues of marginalized groups. No effective mechanism has been established to ensure marginalized peoples' "free, prior and informed consent" in constitution making process. 'They may only formally participate in it if they were chosen by political parties and act in strict conformity with the party lines'. Thus, the CA has not adequately fostered processes for deep listening to the historically marginalized people.

In this context, coalition building of marginalized groups is an option for enhancing their engagement in state restructuring and constitution building process. The project will help to generate dialogue in various coalitions/networks, meeting points and circuits of solidarity of the marginalized groups preparing for the collective actions, thereby, prompting the political parties to be smarter and progressively democratic to broaden their popularity which is the foundation and power of their actions. These coalitions can transform subjectivities toward a greater capability for producing more adequate knowledge to help to frame a new constitution through dialogue, negotiation, practical acts of solidarity and political collaboration.

The project is funded by UNDEF and its implementing CSO is NCARD; a network of organizations with a national and regional outreach with a mandate and commitment to combat discrimination and exclusion of communities and peoples in Nepal. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the alliance members in order to exploit the high level of experience and expertise gathered in the network and to implement the project at wider community level. The organization is also envisioning helping the genuine implementation of the new constitution and in its constant improvement through participation of people, particularly hitherto marginalized groups and seeking partnership with relevant national and international agencies.           

The project aims at consolidating sustainable democracy through helping people, particularly the historically marginalized groups to participate in framing a new constitution and ensuring its continuous improvement through progressively adequate peoples' participation. In order to accomplish this goal, it helps to generate dialogue in various coalitions preparing for the collective actions, prompting the political parties to broaden their base and power of actions.

The Completed EDIC Project Activities at the Field Area are as following:

Activities                               Venue                    Date                 Partner
                                                                                                   Organization
Regional Level Workshop        Kirtipur Kathmandu        13^th April, 2010                    NDD
on Dalit Constitutional Issues
District Level Workshop on        Pokhara, Kaski              12^th April, 2010                TNCHOT
Marginalized Groups Issues
Regional Level Workshop on     Kirtipur, Kathmandu     11^th  April, 2010                 NDD
Marginalized Groups Issues
District Level Workshop on        Dharan, Sunsari             5^th April, 2010                   CEADS
Marginalized Groups Issues

District Level Workshop on    Hotel Anjuli, Dhankuta     3^rd April 2010                    CEADS

Marginalized Groups Issues

District Level Workshop on        Libang, Rolpa                31^st March 2010                 AMMP

Marginalized Groups Issues

District Level Workshop on       Damauli, Tanahu             30 March 2010                 TNCHOT Marginalized Groups Issues

District Level Workshop on      Nepalgunj, Bake              29^th March 2010                FATIMA

Marginalized Groups Issues

District Level Workshop on  Sandhikharka, Argakhachi  29^th March 2010                AMMP

Marginalized Groups Issues