In December 2016, Dr Canford Chiroro, CIDT’s green growth expert, and Shankar Paudel (Rupantaran), delivered four training modules to government workers in Nepal with the aim of embedding green growth awareness throughout the country’s ministries, departments and municiplaities.
Green growth is economic growth that is balanced with environmental sustainability and social inclusivity.
Targeted training content
Following a training needs assessment, CIDT developed four training modules that responded to the identified capacity needs of key government staff. The modules were
- Understanding green growth
- Strategies for Green Growth
- Mainstreaming Green Growth
- Lessons Learned in Green Growth Implementation
These modules were aimed at equipping participants with the conceptual understanding of green growth, as well as develop their practical skills on how to integrate the green growth approach into ongoing projects and sector plans.
Targeted participants
The 31 participants (22 male, 9 female) were selected by their colleagues during the training needs assessment. They were identified for their planning and project implementation experience, willingness to share information, enthusiastism in training others and being trusted by colleagues as the ‘go-to’ person. These qualities were important for the training to be scaled up across the targeted ministries, departments, and municipalities.
Participants selection was inclusive, involving multiple government ministries (Federal Affairs and Local Development, Forests and Soil Conservation, and Agriculture Development), departments (Energy Development, Environment, Forests, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management, Urban Development and Building Construction) and local municipalities (Madhyapur and Budanilakantha).
Participatory learning
The workshop featured active discussions and tasks around designing for a green economy. At the end participants reflected on the training and developed personal action plans, with commitments ranging from incorporating green growth into ongoing projects, to making small adjustments to lifestyle, like cycling, using LED lights, recycling more, and sharing information.
An online group has been created to support the commitements made, which will also facilitate continued dialogue and collaboration between participants.
Dr Kamal Banskota from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Nepal commented that the “delivery of the training shows that the facilitators were well-prepared, with great use of participatory approaches.”
The workshop was officially opened by Mr Ram Prasad Lamsal, Joint Secretary for the Ministry of Population and Environment. He spoke about Nepal’s experience of the Paris Agreement as an indication of the country’s commitment and capability to act towards supporting a sustainable future for Nepal. The Ministry of Finance is spearheading green growth in the country and setting up a Steering Committee to support this. He commented:
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to CIDT facilitators for efforts in making this training effective, and to GGGI for supporting the training. I believe that this training was effective, all the participants are still here at the closing ceremony.”
The event was hosted at the Himalaya Hotel in Kathmandu on the 20th-21st of December 2016.
For further information about this project please contact Dr Canford Chiroro.
