Ethnographic study of barriers and facilitators to the continuation of psychosocial support centers established by Nepal’s Department of Women and Children

Background:

The month of Baisakh of 2072 BS is commemorated as a frightening incident in the history of  Nepal. Two massive earthquakes of magnitude 7.6 Richter scale and 6.8 Richter scale occurred on 12th Baisakh and 29th Baisakh respectively. Hundreds of aftershocks were experienced throughout that year. The earthquake especially affected Gorkha, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Dhading, Lalitpur, Makawanpur, Okhaldhunga and Dolakha. 

The earthquake of 2072 killed nearly 9,000 people and injured 22,000. Many earthquake survivors suffered from psychosocial issues because of the earthquake and the consequent damage. Realizing the importance of psychosocial support, especially for women and children, the then Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare established psychosocial support centers in all 14 affected districts of Nepal. But it is unknown if the psychosocial support centers are institutionalized and are functioning well. Thus, TPO Nepal will conduct a study entitled ‘Ethnographic study of barriers and facilitators to the continuation of psychosocial support centers established by Nepal’s Department of Women and Children with financial support from Durham University. The project aims to study the institutionalization and functional status of those centers along with identification of the barriers and facilitators to the continuation of those centers. 

Objectives:

To identify barriers and facilitators to the continuation of psychosocial support centers established by Nepal’s Department of Women and Children.

Target Population: Psychosocial counsellors, community members, local leaders

Implementation area: Selected sites in 14 earthquake-affected areas

Time frame: 1st July,  2022- 31st May, 2023

Supported by: Durham University, UK