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Inspired by the successful implementation of and community support in projects across the high altitude Himalayan region in India, in 2006, Pragya ventured into the challenging terrain of the Nepal Himalayas.
Pragya initiatives in Nepal began with participation in regional research and policy advocacy work. As the India partner in a 2006 Plantlife study on Important Plant Areas (IPAs), Pragya worked with country partners of Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan to determine IPAs in the Himalayan region with a concentration of medicinal & aromatic plants, that were a regional priority for conservation. A policy brief based on this work was circulated to policy makers in all countries and internationally.
Prior to initiation of direct grassroots activities, Pragya carried out a thorough need assessment and trust building exercise with NGOs, state officials and grassroots communities in Nepal, including an in-depth survey in priority districts of the mid and far west mountain regions. A series of stakeholder meetings were conducted with local communities, development workers and members of local administration, in three select districts of Humla, Dolpa and Mustang
Pragya has helped constitute the ‘High Himalaya Forum’ (HHF), a multi-stakeholder network for collaboration and advocacy actions on Himalayan concerns, with grassroots nodes in Himalayan districts in India and a national body in Delhi. Civil society representatives from Nepal participated in the launch and policy deliberations of the HHF in Delhi (October, 2008), and an HHF-Nepal is being facilitated.
Grassroots Pragya work, in association with KIRDARC and MWA, seeks to  improve the human development status of the population inhabiting the High Hills and Mountain Regions of Nepal. The project will enhance local development capacity in the target area through multiple interventions that address the economic and welfare needs of local communities, and empowers development workers and VDC and DDC staff. Development workers will be provided a range of training that will improve their programming skills and enable them for advocacy, at local and national levels. Communities will be educated on various life skills and grassroots structures and forums will be created for local participation in and management of welfare services. A network of Resource Centres will work as a platform for knowledge sharing within the community and a catalyst for sustainable development. The project also seeks to work on improving the economic capacities of target groups through technology inputs and skill upgradation, as well as vocational training for new livelihoods.
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