This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
Roughly 300,000 men and women work in brick factories in Nepal. The poor working and living conditions of workers and animals (working equines) is a major concern. The Clean Brick Initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is conducting research with a strong social component to explore, among other things, how improved working and living conditions in brick kilns can also result in productivity gains for brick entrepreneurs.
1 min Read
Leading up to the research, ICIMOD conducted a rapid gender needs assessment (RGNA) and political economy analysis in five districts across five provinces in consultation with the Federation of Nepal Brick Industries (FNBI). The assessment focused on social, gender, and equity issues in the sector and the findings reflect key areas prioritized by male and female workers, as well as entrepreneurs: health conditions of workers, education for workers’ children, and lighting in working or living areas. In response, ICIMOD’s action research aims to introduce three interventions in selected brick industries at different locations in Nepal. A workshop was organized to help finalize the action research interventions with strategic guidance from the social unit within the FNBI and enable networking between FNBI and potential action research implementation partners. ICIMOD brought together 40 brick entrepreneurs at its headquarters in Kathmandu on 25 July 2018 to deliberate on potential interventions, discuss action research approaches and scope, and identify key implementation issues. Eklabya Sharma, Deputy Director General at ICIMOD, outlined the interventions that the Clean Brick Initiative will implement during the first year to generate evidence on the impact of improved working and living conditions on productivity gains for brick entrepreneurs. He anticipated that evidence from the action research would enable ICIMOD and FNBI to address gender and social issues in the sector and potentially upscale across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
President of FNBI, Mr Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar, urged businesses to respond to changing work environments.
Participants included representatives from FNBI and presidents of district brick entrepreneurs associations in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavre, Dhading, Rautahat, Koshi, Rupandehi, and Mahakali. FNBI representatives who will soon serve as social unit focal persons also attended. Possible action research implementation partners presented and discussed their respective products: Shikhar Insurance Co Ltd—health insurance package, Open Learning Exchange Nepal (OLE-Nepal)—education module, and ECOPRISE—solar lights and water pumps. Mahendra Bahdadur Chitrakar, President of FNBI, said that entrepreneurs must respond to changing work environments and that businesses can benefit from keeping employees safe and in good health. He also noted that further discussions on the ability of entrepreneurs to implement the interventions suggested by ICIMOD are necessary. Arabinda Mishra, Theme Leader of Livelihoods at ICIMOD, noted that further deliberations were necessary, particularly with regard to interventions relating to education and solar lighting. Workshop participants agreed that current conditions need to be improved.
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
related content
With each passing year new realities are creeping into remote parts of Nepal leading to change in lifestyles, food habits, ...
The two-hour event included experts’ briefings on the current scientific understanding of air pollution, on the possible solutions that municipalities ...
During the visit, Molden introduced ICIMOD as a regional intergovernmental learning and knowledge sharing centre serving the eight regional member ...
Nepal’s Clean Brick Initiative has been consolidated by the signing of an accountable grant arrangement between the
While celebrating International Mountain Day on 11 December 2017, ICIMOD announced the four winners of this year’s ICT for Mountain ...
In its commitment to reduce its institutional carbon foot print and promote renewable energy, ICIMOD signed a contract with Sipradi ...
Countries in the Himalayan and downstream areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayas need to strengthen their collaboration to address food, ...
Twenty-five participants took part in ‘Entrepreneurship and Business Planning Training’ training in Surkhet 17-21 September 2016 as a capacity development ...