June 3, 2025, Doti – Saathi conducted a comprehensive monitoring and capacity-building visit to the Women’s Safe House in Doti under the Empowered Women Prosperous Nepal (EWPN) Program, supported by UNFPA. The purpose of the visit was to assess the quality and relevance of shelter services, interact with beneficiaries and stakeholders, and strengthen the operational and institutional capacity of the safe house. The visiting team comprised Mr. Santosh Pokharel (Portfolio Manager), Ms. Palita Thapa (GBV Program Manager), Mr. Devendra Basnet (Finance Officer), and Mr. Khadga Oli (Finance Associate).
A thorough assessment was conducted using the Quality Improvement Tool, which evaluated various aspects such as physical infrastructure, service delivery standards, safety measures, case management practices, and psychosocial support. While the safe house was found to be functioning adequately, critical areas for improvement were noted, particularly in the management of survivors with mental illness and the need for inclusive infrastructure for persons with disabilities. During a group interaction with the beneficiaries, most women expressed satisfaction with the services provided. However, two women raised concerns about lacking citizenship documents, which are vital for accessing additional government services.
On the same day, the team also observed an ongoing training on commercial vegetable farming being conducted for beneficiaries of survivors in safe house. Team also engaged with the beneficiaries to learn about their post-training plans and aspirations, and discussed how such livelihood skills could support their reintegration and economic empowerment.
As part of the visit, a coaching and mentoring session titled “Gender-Based Violence: Attitudes and Perceptions” was conducted for shelter staff. This interactive session enabled participants to reflect on unconscious biases, adopt survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches, and reinforce the importance of empathy and dignity in case management. The shelter staff committed to applying these insights to improve their daily practices and better support survivors.
A major highlight of the visit was the Coordination Committee meeting held on 4th June, 2025 which brought together a wide range of stakeholders including the Chief of the District Coordination Committee, Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chief Administrative Officer, Ward Chairpersons, UNFPA District Coordinator, Chief of the Women Development Section, and representatives from NGOs, police, OCMC, and other concerned institutions. The meeting served as an important platform for cross-sectoral dialogue, focusing on shelter operations, accountability, and the urgent need to address the situation of beneficiaries with mental health conditions. The committee also discussed the critical role of safe houses and OCMC in protecting and supporting survivors of violence.
As a key outcome, the meeting decided to request all municipalities in the district to deposit their allocated contributions, as per a prior consensus, into the designated District Bank account maintained by Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality for the operation and management of the District-Level Women’s Safe House. Additionally, it was agreed that a separate meeting of the Safe House Management Committee would be convened to discuss a uniform and systematic modality for collecting funds from all municipalities.
Through these initiatives, Saathi reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that all survivors of gender-based violence—especially those facing heightened vulnerabilities—have access to safe, inclusive, and empowering shelter services in Doti and beyond.
