plan

The Nepal Leadership Team: Key partners include Rotarian Dhruba Acharya-leader of Nepal’s Appreciative Inquiry Network, Achyut Aryal-expert in women’s empowerment and savings-led village banking, plus Ang Rita Sherpa and Bhala Kaji Sherpa-mountain and eco-tourism experts. Rotarian Lisa Choegyal—principal of a Nepal-based mountain tourism organization provides supporting advice. They, in turn will engage other APA women's banking specialists, and the Nepal Rotary Clubs, grass-roots NGOs, local and national governments of Nepal and other local Nepal based organizations to protect and imporove wildlife habitats along the trail and promote eco-tourism to generate new incomes.

The US Support Team: With over 30 total years experience in Nepal, will serve as pro-bono mentors and advisors, via Zoom: Project principal, community mobilization and APA specialist, Malcolm Odell, and Nepal conservation expert and Snow Leopard Conservancy (SLC) consultant Brian Peniston will ensure sponsoring and supporting organizations that project management fully discharges its stewardship and financial reporting responsibilities.

Project Prep Work: With the support of Odell and Peniston, the Nepal Leadership Team will use their skills in APA, eco-tourism, and conservation to engage village institutions and local Nepal Governments in promoting step by step GHT implementation. This will ultimately enable local communities to assert control over their ecology, natural resources, economy, address future problems and generate new incomes.

Project Timing: The entire project, beginning with a 2-3 month pilot, will enlist additional APA and micro-enterprise leaders, identify areas without tourism facilities, mobilize villages, engage local government support and seek support of Nepal local municipalities, and international NGO and corporate sponsors, to develop coordinated, integrated working and supporting relationships.

Project Cost: While full scale implementation is estimated to cost up to $150,000, the first phase has been conducted for only about $10,000. Using a 'Micro-Project and 'Gap-Filling' approach, the Nepal GHT team is field testing the methodology and providing guidance for subsequent 'Micro-Projects'--testing a potential 'Adopt-a-Village' strategy--to be conducted on a rotating basis, as suitable areas are identified where little or no tourist facilities exist.