In Nepal, conflict has affected different social groups at different scales and levels. The research aims to assess the economic activities and safety nets of conflict affected female-headed households in Bardiya district. In the study area, there was rampant effect of the decade-long state-Maoists conflict resulting into the formation of many female-headed households. As of date, there has not been study done and documentation made on conflict affected women-headed households especially in relation to their livelihood activities and livelihood outcomes. This empirical study provides an important insight to the situation of conflict affected female-headed households’ economic activities.
It is apparent that conflict affects peace, solidarity, brotherhood, sisterhood, and consequently the development process in the conflict affected area. Interviews were carried out with 30 conflict affected female-headed households; it is evident that rural Nepal was extremely affected by the conflict. Female-headed households have started selling traditionally male operated agricultural tools such as ploughs and bullock drawn carts resulting in a loss of economic opportunities. However, due to proliferation of development initiatives targeting conflict affected families, their social capital has increased to a great extent and economic capital to lesser extent. Consequently, economic security of conflict affected families has increased in some cases, while it has decreased in others since the end of conflict. In terms of human capital, after the conflict development organizations have intervened with post conflict rehabilitation programs targeting income generation and social reconstruction, which have raised the hopes of female-headed households. On the contrary, the patriarchal social system undermines a woman’s role as breadwinner when her husband is absent. Moreover, single women (largely widows) are stereotyped exclusively as either victims or beneficiaries, and their roles as key resources and contributors to social capital in development and peace building are ignored. Hence, the study confirms that in conflict and post-conflict situations to female-headed household’, livelihood options and opportunities are limited in Nepal. This study is therefore expected to provide an important insight into a state like Nepal, in a post-conflict situation.
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