Introduction

Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development (FORWARD Nepal) is a non-profit, service-oriented national non-governmental organization established in 1997 to help disadvantaged groups and the rural poor. It is registered at the District Administration Office, Chitwan, and affiliated to the Social Welfare Council, Nepal. The organization aims at reducing poverty of marginalized communities through integrated and sustainable development interventions. FORWARD Nepal’s program activities are focused towards improving food and nutrition security, household incomes and resource conservation to contribute to sustainable livelihoods. It integrates social mobilization, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, farm forestry, biodiversity conservation, and value chain and market development in a multi-stakeholder approach in partnership with government, non-government organizations and private sectors both at national and local levels. The organization has its head office in Chitwan district of Nepal and project offices in various working districts. FORWARD implements projects focusing on target groups such as poor households, women, Dalits, Janajatis, and children. Over the past 28 years, it has implemented 114 projects in 64 districts involving a total of 0.6 million direct beneficiaries.