Himawanti Nepal Sarlahi is a district-level chapter of the national NGO Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resource Management Association (HIMAWANTI Nepal). As an active non-governmental and non-profit organization, it is committed to empowering grassroots women, strengthening natural resource governance, and promoting sustainable livelihoods across Sarlahi District.
The organization primarily works with marginalized rural women, supporting them to develop leadership capacity, participate in community-level decision-making, and gain equitable access to natural resources. Over the years, Himawanti Nepal Sarlahi has built strong partnerships with local governments, community groups, forest user groups, and civil society networks to address issues related to gender equality, environmental protection, and socio-economic development.
Major Areas of Intervention
1. Women’s Involvement in Forest, Land, and Water Resource Management
Himawanti Nepal Sarlahi organizes, mobilizes, and trains rural women to enhance their role in managing community forests, agricultural land, and water resources. The organization promotes gender-inclusive resource governance by ensuring women’s meaningful participation in decision-making, benefit-sharing, and leadership positions within community institutions.
2. Advocacy, Networking, and Policy Influence
The organization actively advocates for women’s rights and representation in natural resource management. It raises awareness on policy provisions, facilitates dialogue with stakeholders, and supports women to participate in local planning processes. Himawanti also works to create an enabling environment for inclusive and transparent governance structures.
3. Livelihood Promotion through Forest-Based and Nature-Based Enterprises
Himawanti Nepal Sarlahi supports local women to adopt income-generating activities based on forest and natural resources. These include agroforestry, beekeeping, herbal and non-timber forest product (NTFP) cultivation, processing, and micro-enterprise development. The organization focuses on creating sustainable livelihood options that benefit both the community and the environment.
4. Environmental Conservation, Biodiversity Protection, and Climate Resilience
The organization implements various activities to restore degraded land, increase vegetation cover, and enhance climate resilience. These include plantation campaigns, biodiversity conservation initiatives, training on climate-adaptive farming, and promotion of eco-friendly practices that contribute to environmental sustainability and community well-being.
Current Project Under DGM Nepal Grant Support
With financial support from DGM Nepal, Himawanti Nepal Sarlahi has recently initiated a community-based natural resource management project focused on plantation and beekeeping. Under this project:
Two community groups have been formed, consisting primarily of women.
These groups have conducted tree plantation activities, selecting species that support biodiversity and ecological restoration.
The project also promotes beekeeping (Mauri Palan) as a sustainable livelihood option for rural households.
Beekeeping has been identified as a highly suitable enterprise due to its low investment requirements, positive environmental impact, and strong potential for income generation. In this regard, the organization has taken a significant step forward by initiating a program to support 100 households in adopting beekeeping. This initiative is expected to enhance household income, improve pollination for local crops, and contribute to biodiversity conservation.