SAMANATA Institute for Social & Gender Equality

Background
In the Nepali language the word ‘Samanata’ means equality. SAMANATA, Institute for Social and Gender Equality was established in 1997 by a group of Nepali professionals with the aim of advocating for, and realizing, gender equity within social, environmental and other development processes of Nepal. The SAMANATA founder members strongly believe that the development process in the coming future will remain hindered unless the full participation of women as well as other socially excluded and disadvantaged communities in the country is ensured. Managed by a group of Nepali women professionals involved in the development sector, SAMANATA's primary mission is to institutionalize social and gender concerns into the mainstream development process of Nepal.

Objectives

I

• Advocate at policy and programme level for sensitization and incorporation of social and gender equality in all development initiatives.
• Undertake studies, research assessments and evaluations to ensure gender equity and equality through factual data and information.
• Develop suitable sectoral modules and training tools, and social and gender trainers at policy and grass roots level.
• Bring together professionals for experience sharing and professional development.

In order to achieve these goals and objectives, SAMANATA has been working at both macro and micro level with diverse partners and under different forums. SAMANATA's strategy is to target a wide variety of population from the grass roots, programmatic to policy level to ensure that gender becomes a crosscutting theme for overall national development. However, some of the areas prioritized for reaching its goals are as follows: 

1. Undertake consultancy and action research assignments
2. Undertake human resource development and advocacy programmes to:
   
   
   • develop sectoral and issue-based specific training packages and conduct training programmes to meet the requirements of public and private sector organizations for institutionalizing gender at policy, programme and project level
   • sensitize and empower the bureaucracy at all levels on social and gender equality through training and other informal mediums
   • conduct professional development training such as training of trainers and refresher training for capacity building in the field social and gender equity
   • develop a cadre of trainers in the area of social development and gender based issues from policy to grass roots level.
   
   
3. Hold informal and formal meetings, workshops and conferences on issues pertaining to social and gender equality with national and international professionals working in all sectors, i.e. government, donors, NGOs/INGOs and private sector.
4. Prepare and update a roster of professionals working on social and gender issues.
5. Establish a resource centre to collect documentation related to social, gender and environmental issues.