Nepal

Swiss peacebuilding activities

Together with the Nepalese state and non-state partners, Switzerland has been implementing a comprehensive development cooperation program for more than 50 years. Rural infrastructure, agriculture and forestry, occupational skills and governance topics such as decentralization and fight against corruption have been the main focus areas. As response to the internal armed conflict from 1996 to 2006 Switzerland has adapted its program and made it politically and operationally conflict-sensitive. Besides development cooperation, the defense of human rights as well as peacebuilding have been integrated as core issues into the Swiss engagement in Nepal.
In the current times of transition from war to peace and authoritarian political regime to democracy, the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency, the Political Division IV of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and all Nepali and Swiss partners aim to accompany, advise and support Nepali endeavors to sustainable peace, inclusive democracy and the promotion of human rights, which are preconditions for sustainable development.

KOFF activities

A KOFF Nepal Roundtable has been running since December 2008. These roundtable sessions bring together experienced Swiss development, human rights and peacebuilding practitioners, colleagues from the Swiss-Nepalese Society as well as members of the Nepali diaspora in Switzerland.
In 2010 KOFF will closely monitor the political, economical and social developments in Nepal and will cover through roundtables and other events the most recent challenges. Thematically KOFF will focus on the relationship between peacebuilding, development and human rights, in particular with regard to violations and abuses committed during the war and under the authoritarian regime including economical, social and cultural rights.

Moreover, KOFF has the expertise to conduct consultancies related to Nepal.