Introduction

Starting as a humble initiative in 1989 by graduates from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) in Chitwan, Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) has now significantly expanded to become one of the biggest, fastest growing and respected Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Nepal. Working among underprivileged communities of rural Nepal, RRN implements integrated community development programmes at the grassroots’ level and advocates, lobbies, and networks at the local, national, and international levels to promote human rights, social justice, and sustainable peace among poor and disadvantaged rural communities.

Since 1997, RRN has enjoyed the Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and is also accredited to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Currently, it is hosting the Secretariat of the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) – a South Asia regional alliance of mass based civil society organisations and individuals and the International Secretariat of LDC Watch. They represent two of several of RRN’s civil society alliances with which RRN is associated to fight against poverty and hunger and for the realisation of human rights, social justice, democracy and peace.

Vision

A world with JUSTICE, EQUALITY, PEACE and PROSPERITY for all citizens.

Mission

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 socio-economic empowerment.

Objectives

RRN adopts the following broad objectives to fulfill its strategies:

• Implement development programmes with a rights-based perspective to improve the socio-economic status of the poor, oppressed, and vulnerable groups in rural areas and arrest accelerating natural resource degradation.
• Conduct action-oriented research on relevant socio-economic and environmental issues and utilise the learning within its development programmes and campaigns.
• Publish people-oriented educational, advocacy, and development publications for the rural poor, field workers, and others involved in rural development.
• Campaign at the local, national, and international levels on the root causes of poverty, human rights violations, and key development issues.

RRN Credo

RRN subscribes to the philosophy and principles of the International Rural Reconstruction Movement, which are encapsulated in its credo. The rural poor have the potential power for self-development and should be given opportunities to release and develop this power. The rural poor also have personal dignity and should be regarded with respect not pity.

• 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

Our Strategy and Approaches

RRN embraces a two-pronged approach for its development intervention: (i) Working with peasant people by implementing integrated community development projects and action-oriented research focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable people/groups in rural areas and (ii) Policy research, advocacy, campaign and lobbying at the local, national, and international levels on the root causes of poverty; the problems of the resource poor; and social, economic, and cultural rights; and the right to development and environmental degradation.

It also works on impacting development activities like emergency relief, rehabilitation, rural infrastructure, life skill development, group savings and credit programmes among others. In recent times, RRN has also focused on conflict affected areas pursuing a ‘conflict sensitive development’ approach to create an environment for peace building and for the overall development of affected people.