Getting ready to go again...fingers crossed.

Oh yeah! I'm starting the re-education process before leaving for Nepal early October: reading up on current affairs (always interesting), examining the language (with some trepidation), getting updates on my task while there (it's expanding...gulp).

So today I'll try to sort out my work plan. I've been given this mandate:

IDS Nepal is a non-profit, non-government, developmental organization established by professionals who have experiences in engineering, energy, environment, health, sanitation, skill development and social development field.

The main objective of IDS Nepal is to uplift the life of poor and underprivileged people by conceptualizing, formalizing and facilitating implementation of community managed development projects through their active participation in every step of the project cycle. IDS Nepal focuses on their capacity build up and their ownership of development process. Its’ major working area is on infrastructure engineering, alternative energy, environment, drinking water, health, sanitation and skill upgrading training in related field.

Uniterra and IDS Nepal have been working together for the past two years to promote Bio-Briquettes as alternative source of energy and livelihoods for the forest users. Through intervention of two Uniterra volunteers in the past, a BGRCNN (Bio Briquette Resource Centre Network) has been established that counts as members major Bio Briquette promoters of Nepal. Currently, there is a long term Uniterra volunteer who is working on marketing of Bio-Briquettes. At the same time, a Bio Briquette marketing company has been established in order to provide marketing support to the producers. IDS still plays a strong role in technical support and knowledge dissemination.

The purpose of this assignment is to revise the IDS, Bio Briquette Marketing Company and BGRCNN websites, propose appropriate change and interlink them so all of them can be used for the promotion of bio-briquettes nationally and internationally.

Since the skill for web design and update is in demand from most Uniterra partners, the volunteer will also be responsible for conducting training on web layout, design and update to the interested partner organizations including IDS.

And I've been told that October 17th-20th is the Festival of Tihar in Nepal so I will have to work around these public holidays.

BTW, here's a great Nepal travel guide online