ActionAid began operating in Nepal in 1982, where we now work with 357,000 people. Key focus areas for ActionAid Nepal are education, food security and women's rights.

Despite its mountainous landscape and thriving tourist industry, Nepal is among the poorest nations in the world, with around one-third of its population living below the poverty line. We currently work in 41 districts to develop long-term solutions to the problems that keep people trapped in poverty.

Child sponsorship in Nepal

Rabin Tharu (8 years old, pictured right) studies in class 4 of Shreemukt Kamaiya Primary. Rabin is the first in his family's history to ever receive an education - Rabin and his family are Kamaiyas. Until 2000 the Kamaiyas worked as bonded labor and were not free to earn a living of their own or pursue an education. Sponsoring a child like Rabin will help us to continue to support education for marginalised communities.

The caste system is still practiced in Nepal, and much of our work is with the most vulnerable castes, mainly Dalit communities. We work to improve the amount of food Dalit families can grow, as well as setting up credit groups so people can start businesses.

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Hunger and security in Nepal

The agriculture-driven economy has experienced some growth in recent years, but the country’s remote, landlocked location and vulnerability to natural disasters have restricted progress. The UN says most people can only grow enough food for three to five months of the year, and then depend on food aid. Floods and landslides in recent years have destroyed homes and livelihoods, and rapid political changes have increased the sense of instability.

Women bear the brunt of hunger, so we support adult learning via the Reflect programme. We also work with women and small-scale farmers to lobby for land rights and food security via the HungerFREE campaign. We are helping women become entrepreneurs and landowners, and play a bigger role in local decision-making.

How you can help

When you sponsor a child in Nepal, you'll be providing the resources for real, long-term change. You'll get two letters a year from the child you sponsor, and updates from the country programme to tell you how the money you are spending is changing the community your child lives in.

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