SNV Asia (SNV Netherlands Development Organisation – Asia)

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation is an international development organisation that is dedicated to a society where all people can enjoy the freedom to pursue their own sustainable development. SNV contributes to this by strengthening the capacity of local organisations. SNV delivers advisory services to almost 3,000 clients in more than 30 different countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Balkans. In Asia, SNV provides capacity development services to government, non-government and private sector organisations in Nepal, Vietnam, Bhutan, Laos PDR, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as to a number of regional organisation and networks. SNV seeks to achieve its overall strategic goal of poverty reduction and good governance by focussing on:

• Improving the access, coverage and quality of basic services
• Increasing production, income and employment opportunities for the poor
.

Programme priorities in Nepal
SNV began working in Nepal in 1980 and since then our role has evolved from an implementing agency to a capacity strengthening service provider. After years of experience on the field, SNV has acquired extensive technical know-how and an in-depth understanding of the social and cultural undertones of Nepal. However, SNV Nepal does not implement development projects itself; rather it works to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of key local organisations and government bodies. This way, implementation is placed in the hands of local actors. This SNV characteristic contributes to sustainable and nationally owned impact on development leading to lasting poverty reduction, as well as fulfilling the MDGs.
SNV Nepal currently works in five sectors which have been prioritised and aligned with the Government of Nepal’s Development Plan. They include:

Improving basic services:
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
• Renewable Energy (biogas, improved water mills, others)

Increasing production, income and employment opportunities:
• Smallholder Cash Crops (orthodox tea, cardamom, apple, others)
• Forest Products (timber and non-timber forest products, pro-poor carbon funding)
• Pro-poor Sustainable Tourism

Total staff of SNV Nepal is around 65, of which 45 are professional advisers (international and national). In addition, SNV works increasingly through local providers of capacity development services and in partnership with other international organisations like World Tourism Organisation, UNDP, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and Fair Trade Labelling Organisations.

Geographical Focus

SNV focuses its work at national and sub-national level. At sub-national level, activities are concentrated in the East (office in Dharan), Central Terai (office in Hetauda) and the West (office in Nepalgunj). Among district levels, SNV is active in: Jumla, Humla, Dolpa, Mugu, Kalikot, Dailekh, Surkhet, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchapur in the West; Taplujung, Ilam, Panchthar, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta Terhathum, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha in the East; and Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha in the Central Terai region.