Project Title: Promoting Innovative Mechanisms for Implementing Farmers’ Rights through Fair Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing Regime in Nepal (ABS)

Goal : Contribute to institutionalize mechanisms for effective implementation of fair access to and benefit sharing from the sustainable use of genetic resources and associated knowledge in Nepal. 

Objectives : 

Overall objective: To develop innovative mechanisms for implementing farmers’ rights to fair access to and benefit sharing (ABS) from the use of genetic resources and associated knowledge.

Specific objectives:

• Assess appropriateness of policy and legal instruments to implement farmers’ rights relevant to the access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, and to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources.
• Strengthen multi-stakeholder arrangements for effective implementation of farmers’ rights and an ABS regime.
• Identify and strengthen institutional arrangements appropriate for farming communities to manage functions related to securing farmers’ rights and enforcing ABS regime, and sustainable management of their genetic resources.
• Support innovative practices serving as basis for implementing farmers’ rights and ABS mechanisms, and for promoting conservation of biodiversity for livelihood security.

Major Activities :

• Advocacy for change in policies and laws (review national and international policies, prepare guidelines, policy interaction, capacity building, networking and publications).
• Advocacy for change in practices (formation of network and forum, research and studies, targeted awareness program and publications).
• Identify and strengthen community based institutional arrangements (assessment, capacity building and awareness raising).
• Promoting innovative practices (Community biodiversity register, seed bank, in situ conservation, PPB, PVS, value addition). 

Geographical Coverage : Sankhuwasabha, Bara, Chitwan, Dhading and Kaski. 

Collaborators : SAWTEE, Bioversity International, MoAC, MoFSC, NARC, District Development Committees of  project sites, farming communities and community institutions  .

Duration :  October 2007 to October 2010

Funding Support : IDRC.

Project Team : Bikash Poudyal, Bir Bahadur Tamang, Pitambar Shrestha.