Contact Address:

Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN)
P.O.Box: 8130
288 Gairidhara Marg, Gairidhara, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel.: +977 1 4004976, 4004985,
Fax: +977-1-4004508, 4443494
Email: rrn@rrn.org.np,
Website: www.rrn.org.np

Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN)

Introduction

In the year 1989, a group of graduates from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) in Chitwan, Nepal decided to form a development organization towards contributing for the overall development of the country. Accordingly, ‘Grass Roots Institute for Training and Services-Nepal (GRITS-Nepal) was established in the same year. Later as a consequence of the impression received from the visit of RRN’s one of the Executive Board members to the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in the Philippines, this was renamed as Rural Reconstruction Nepal - RRN. Since then, this organisation started working in rural empowerment and socio-economic reconstruction from the perspective of human rights, which became focus of many national and international agencies in recent times.

With the passage of time, RRN has expanded to one of the fast growing NGOs in Nepal in terms of the programme diversity as well as the geographical area coverage by programme activities and the size of the organisation. RRN is engaged in implementing integrated community development programmes at grassroots and policy advocacy, lobbying and networking at local, national and international levels for the cause of protecting and promoting human rights and social justice of the so far excluded people and establishing sustainable peace. RRN enjoys the Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. RRN is also accredited to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Currently, it is hosting the Regional Secretariat of the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) – a regional network of mass based civil society organisations and individuals, and International Secretariat of LDC Watch: two of several of RRN’s civil society alliances that are helping in fight for poverty eradication and the realisation of human rights, democracy and peace.

Remaining within the centre of Credo of the Rural Reconstruction Movement, RRN has been working with the poor and disadvantaged rural communities for the past one and half decade. During this period, based on the four-fold approach of rural reconstruction - education, health, livelihood and self-government, it has implemented numerous development programmes and projects to address the crucial problems of the country and people. These include education, healthcare, natural resource management, empowerment of women, children and the Dalit, and ethnic minority groups. Besides, it has also implemented activities that produced quick impacts on the community within a short period. Such activities included the emergency relief and rehabilitation, rural infrastructure development, life skill development, and group savings and credit programmes, among others.
Of late, in considering the escalating plights of conflict affected Nepalese people resulting from the continued perpetual poverty, inequity and absence of a stable and competent government, RRN has been focusing on the conflict affected areas as well by pursuing an approach of ‘conflict sensitive development’ with the intention of creating an enabling environment for peace building. The approach RRN has adapted is conflict transformation, institutionalising grassroots democracy and peace building through reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation (RRR) process of social, economic and cultural empowerment of the conflict affected, marginalised and vulnerable people and their communities. Such as participatory, integrated, pro-poor and rights-based, and the aspects like social inclusion, transparency, equity, short and long-term tangible impacts, collective action, demand driven, coordination, collaboration, community-led and sustainability are some of the key underlying elements of RRN’s successes in the programme intervention.

RRN, with the continuous engagement of more than 600 staff and volunteers, has successfully implemented various integrated community development programmes and projects in more than 30 districts of the country [See RRN Working Districts] ; covering Mountainous, Middle Hills and Lowlands (Tarai) ecological zones. These programmes accrued benefits to some 350,000 households.

One of the key factors that led RRN to significant achievements in its efforts to organisational strengthening as well as programme implementation has been attributed to the unique culture it has developed through its own experiences and the lessons learned over time. This demonstrates that a development organisation like RRN needs a culture that is congenial for its operation and undertaking development activities.

Vision

RRN envisions a world where there is JUSTICE, EQUALITY, PEACE and PROSPERITY for all citizens.

Mission

RRN’s mission is to improve the lives of the poorest rural people, particularly rural women, peasants, landless people and other disadvantaged and socially oppressed strata of Nepalese society, by providing them opportunities for their own socio-economic empowerment.

Objectives

RRN’s strategic objective is to empower people through;

RRN Believes

The rural poor in countries such as Nepal are confronted by four basic, interlocking problems: poverty, ignorance, disease, and civic inertia

Because the rural poor comprise two thirds of the world’s population, social peace will always remain an unattainable dream unless the rural poor are able to solve their basic problems, and achieve a standard of living equal to that of the rest of society

The rural poor have the potential powers for self-development, what they lack is the opportunity to release and develop these powers

The rural poor also have personal dignity and, should, therefore, be regarded with respect, not pity.

The Credo

RRN subscribes to the philosophy and principles of the International Rural Reconstruction Movement. The Rural Reconstruction ethics and philosophy are encapsulated in the following credo:

• Go to the peasant people
  
• Live among the peasant people
  
• Learn from the peasant people
  
• Plan with the peasant people
  
• Work with the peasant people
  
• Start with what the peasant people know
  
• Build on what the peasant people have
  
• Teach by showing, learn by doing
  
• Not a showcase but a pattern
  
• Not odds and ends but a system
  
• Not piecemeal but an integrated approach
  
• Not to conform but to transform
  
• NOT RELIEF BUT RELEASE

RRN Strategy and Approach

RRN actively integrates a rights based approach of pro-poor development into all areas of its work. This approach is founded on the conviction that each and every human being is a holder of rights and that promoting human rights is an integral part of improving development in Nepal. A right entails an obligation on the part of the government to respect, promote, protect, and fulfil it. The legal and normative character of human rights and the associated government obligations are based on the international human rights treaties and the national laws.
Thus, a rights-based approach involves not charity or simple economic growth, but a process of changing systems, actions and priorities to enable and empower people to claim and realise their economic, social, cultural and political rights as well as the right to development. RRN has adapted the following two-pronged strategy.
Implement integrated community development projects and conduct action-oriented research focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable groups in rural areas;

Raise awareness and promote policy changes through policy research, advocacy and lobbying at local, national and international levels on the root causes of poverty, the problems of the poor, social, economic and cultural rights and the right to development.