Australian Ambassador Susan Grace is often travelling in the districts to gain first-hand information about gender, education and sanitation projects. Brittany Searle of Nepali Times spoke to her after a recent visit to Baglung and Myagdi to ask about her impressions.

GRASSROOTS MEDIA: Australian ambassador Susan Grace (standing, centre) poses with journalists at a training program organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) and the Australian Embassy last month in Beni.

Nepali Times: You seem to enjoy field trips to the hinterland more than the Kathmandu diplomatic circuit?
Susan Grace: The Australian Embassy is a small but very active embassy. I feel it's important to be proactive in reaching out to communities in Nepal and understanding local conditions. I've travelled to nearly 40 districts so far and hope to cover at least 50 of the 75. I've learned a lot during my visits about living standards, health and education services, how people were affected by the conflict, and what their expectations are now. These visits help me evaluate whether Australia's aid program is meeting the mark or not.

What are some projects that the embassy is currently involved in?
The Australian aid program has doubled in the last three years, it is now nearly $30 million and set to further increase. AusAID's program is focused on working with the government to improve education and health services. We also have a water and sanitation program in partnership with Water Aid, and a program which helps people start small businesses. We also have a scholarship program for Nepalis to undertake post-graduate study in Australia, and an active alumni association here.

What attracted you to Nepal and what has been your biggest challenge so far?
I had previously been posted in India and I wanted to come back to South Asia. I am fortunate to be in Nepal during a time when the country is going through a major transition to peace and democracy, although the delays in the constitution writing and finalisation of the peace process are of concern. Since I arrived after the landmark 2008 elections, my biggest challenge has been to comprehend the effects of the 10 year conflict in all its complexity. I hope to be here during the next elections, I will be very interested to see the outcome.

What do you love most about Nepal, and what do you find the most disheartening?
I find the scenery here some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. However, so often it is the case that people living in these beautiful places have extremely hard lives. One of the images I will never forget is of women trudging along the roads carrying enormous loads of fodder and firewood on their backs. Local people wherever you travel are exceedingly friendly and hospitable, something which Australian tourists always comment on. I admire the toughness of the Nepali people.

I find rising corruption levels disheartening. Corruption concerns me because the Nepali people deserve better and it impedes our development efforts. I raise concerns about corruption regularly with government and political leaders but I sometimes feel that people here have become resigned to corruption. If it isn't brought under control, our aid program here could be jeopardised.

You are a strong proponent of women's education and empowerment. Why you are so passionate about this issue?
As the Chinese say, "women hold up half the sky". There is no doubt that Nepal cannot develop properly without more resources to improve the situation of women. The main challenge is working to change people's attitudes - a good example is domestic violence which must be tackled at all levels of society.

What role do you see ordinary Australians playing in Nepal's development?
Australian tax-payers fund the AusAID program. Many Australians also contribute to NGOs such as the Fred Hollows Foundation, which has a longstanding partnership with the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology. Australians who come trekking in Nepal are often inspired to help. Another NGO is the Australian Himalayan Foundation, which was set up by Australian mountaineers and supports education and health programs. By contributing to worthwhile NGOs, or just by visiting Nepal, Australian tourists contribute to the economy here as well.

Can you tell us more about the media projects in Myagdi and Baglung?
This year, one of the organisations supported by the Embassy's Direct Aid Program was the National Media Development Centre. I inaugurated a training session on 16 January in Beni for 20 journalists from Myagdi and surrounding districts. The media here has an important role to play in Nepal's democracy and we want to show our support. We are sponsoring five media training sessions altogether over the next few weeks, all in remote districts.

You supported local women to make two documentaries. How did this change their lives?
The Embassy funded the Human Rights Film Centre to train five young Dalit women to produce two documentary films on women's struggles to gain access to education, and on inter-caste marriages. We screened the films in Baglung a couple of weeks ago and hope to publicise them in Kathmandu and elsewhere. The projects gave a voice to women from a marginalised community to tell their stories to a wider audience.

What attempts are being made to raise the status of the Dalit community?
There has been progress, particularly with laws that address caste-based discrimination, although implementation is lagging. Dalits are represented in the Constituent Assembly, are better organised and raising their voices. A challenge remaining is inter-caste marriages, which can result in violence or even death for young people who have dared to choose each other as partners.

Why do you think that this is an issue Australians find important and are eager to be involved in?
Australian society is egalitarian by nature and we therefore find it hard to comprehend this sort of discrimination.