Livelihood futures in resource-scarce areas
	Migration and development revisited
	Migration and livelihoods
	Migration, multi-local livelihoods and societal change in Far West Nepal
	Landlessness, livelihood insecurity and social conflict
	Related publications

The deep tension between Nepalese citizens and the institutions exist on the inability of state and its policies and institutions to support rural livelihoods and to address social exclusion, marginalization and governance failure. Further, the state's policies strategies and functioning of institutions were very much influenced by international organisations and donor agencies over a period of nearly 50 years.

These controversial debates are the entry points for our research.  Thus, its core interest is to understand the causes of failure of the state to respond the livelihood needs of people and to analyse different rural livelihood strategies in marginalized areas of Nepal with their urban links, and to identify related institutions that support or hinder efforts of the poor to secure the means for improving their lives.

Livelihood futures in resource-scarce areas (3rd phase)

Dr S. Sharma, Dr Babar Shahbaz and Prof U. Mueller-Boeker

This research project explores livelihood options in resource-scarce areas in Nepal, Pakistan and Tanzania. In resource-poor areas different social groups strive to access and command over these remaining resources, but also on the (often few) enabling (alternative – e.g. non natural resource - based) opportunities to secure their livelihoods. In this struggle some social groups take benefit while some cannot, and consequently conflicts, social tensions and new exclusions might emerge. This research project develops a deeper understanding of the tension between existing livelihoods, access to alternative livelihood options, and related conflicts and processes of exclusion / inclusion.

Migration and development revisited: Potential of migrants as agents of development in the production and circulation of knowledge (3rd phase)

Dr. S. Thieme and Anita Ghimire

To contribute to a deeper analysis of the migration-development nexus the overall objective of this research project is to provide a better and more differentiated understanding of the potential of migrants in the production and circulation of knowledge and their potential roles as agents of development. We look at differences in the dynamics and outcomes of contributions of social remittances conveyed as individual migrants and in associations of formal groups.

This research in South and Central Asia as well as in Switzerland aims to help in raising discourses on forms of migrants’ contributions to development and its effectiveness for better tapping the potentials of the migrants. Methodologically, this research aims to follow migrants as actors in development in both discursive and institutional dimensions.

Migration and livelihoods (continuation from 1st and 2nd phase)

Ganesh Gurung, Dr. M. Kollmair, Prof U. Mueller-Boeker, Dr. S. Thieme, H. Kaspar, S. Wyss

Migration is one of the major research focuses in Nepal since the inception of NCCR North-South. Labor migration to India, the Gulf, Tiger States and many other countries is an increasing phenomenon in Nepal. However its social, political and economic dynamics is not yet understood in detail. Although migration offers potential through remittances and entrepreneurial activities, it also raises a series of crucial questions; from the reduction of available village labor and the extra responsibilities especially imposed on women, to the ways of sending money earned abroad back to families, from the living conditions in alien environments, and last but not least, the oscillation between two worlds.

Shedding light on today’s non-existent or inaccurate statistics, in-depth analysis of migration and related processes, and interpreting relevant data for policy makers, are the focus of the migration research group. A good number of publications, concrete projects in Nepal and India (Delhi) as well as capacity building of master and PhD students are the outputs of this research.

Migration, multi-local livelihoods and societal change in Far West Nepal (3rd phase)

M. Junginger (PhD), Prof U. Mueller-Boeker

The project aims at examining the multiple changes that rural livelihoods are undergoing in South Asia’s periphery and the role that multi-local networks of migrants and development agents play in shaping rural development, in particular in localities that have experienced limited state penetration, political violence and unequal development. The research is broadly positioned within a ‘livelihoods perspective’, but focuses on thus far less researched aspects of rural livelihoods: the impact of migration on rural livelihoods and the interfaces of livelihoods and policy in rural development at the margins of the state.

The case study focuses on patterns of migration, multi-local livelihoods and social change in Far West Nepal. It attempts to answer the question of What are the dynamics of ongoing migration processes in Far West Nepal, which role plays the development of multi-local networks and how do different involved actors respond to and cope with the social and economic impact multi-local migration brings about? The project revives the (during conflict) suspended project on multi-local livelihoods in Far West Nepal.

Landlessness, livelihood insecurity, and social conflict in Far Western Region of Nepal with special focus on Dalits (PhD research of Purna Bahadur Nepali)

P. Nepali (PhD), Prof. K.N. Pyakuryal, Prof. U. Müller-Böker, Dr. S. Sharma, Dr. B. Upreti

This study examines access to land resources of Dalit and other socially excluded people, with focus on the livelihood insecurities and social conflict caused by the prevalent feudal land system. This project is complemented by the research of B. Upreti specifically focusing on land conflict and its relation with politics and the armed conflict. Land research is ongoing with several spinning off effects as emergence of COLARP.