CQUniversity will further strengthen its work in Nepal with a research project targeted at improving working and living conditions in mandarin-producing areas in the western and mid-western regions of Nepal.

Dr Phul Subedi, Dr Wendy Hillman, Professor Kerry Walsh and Garry Fullelove were successful in gaining a $417,875 AusAID grant for ‘Structures to improve entrepreneurial activity: a case study around citrus producers of Nepal'.

Prof Kerry Walsh, Dr Wendy Hillman, Dr Phul Subedi and Gary Fullelove will undertake a research project in Nepal. The 18-month project will aim to reduce poverty and empower opportunities in the agricultural industry, particularly for women and excluded groups in Nepal. Researchers will travel to Nepal several times throughout the length of the project, having already visited in November 2012. Their next visit is scheduled for March 2013.

Nepal is one of the world's least developed countries, with the majority of the population involved in subsistence agriculture. Nepal receives around $1 billion in aid annually, with Australia's contributing around 6.8 per cent.

Working with Micro Enterprise Development Program (MEDEP) - which is part of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) - Dr Hillman said the team will investigate how to improve agricultural practices and labour skills while strengthening the infrastructure and industry capacity among those living in impoverished areas.

"This will be achieved by improving food security through the establishment of viable and sustainable mandarin crops and improving local and regional incomes," Dr Hillman said.

"We also hope to further the employment and enterprise opportunities through agricultural and economic marketing and training for the marginalised, excluded and disadvantaged groups."

More specifically, the work will include monitoring and evaluating current practices in those areas, gender equality and participation in the program as it is developed, sustainability, capacity building and linkages.

Dr Hillman said the project is designed to set practices in place that will continue to be of economic benefit to the region for future years. The project will continue until June 30, 2015, and Dr Hillman is looking to take a sabbatical in 2014, based at Pokhara University in Nepal.

CQUniversity has already forged a strong partnership with the Nepal government and MEDEP/UNDP. The Nepalese Planning Commission is proposing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CQUniversity, in recognition of its current interactions including postgraduate training and the CQUniversity nursing and education student group visits.

The MEDEP group has also set up a new trek in the Annapurna region that takes groups for a seven-day walk, starting from the mandarin producing areas and progressing between stays in mountain villages.  If you are interested in such a trek, please contact Phul Subedi p.subedi@cqu.edu.au.