2015 Country/GI Specific Annual Report under the WWF Finland Partnership Programme (MFA Funding)

Transcription

1 2015 Country/GI Specific Annual Report under the WWF Finland Partnership Programme (MFA Funding) 1 Basic Information of programme Name of Programme: Integrated River Basin Management at Koshi River Safeguarding the lives of millions (Phase II) Location of Programme: Indrawati Sub Basin of Koshi River Basin (districts of Sindhupalchowk, Kavre and Kathmandu), Nepal Reporting Period: January-December 2015 Programme Period: 1 January December 2015 (Phase II) Report Completed by: Bhawani S. Dongol Date Report Completed (MM/YR): 03/2016 MFA programme number: 581-NP WWF CPM number: 2 List of Acronyms CBO DADO DDC DFO DSCO HHs IPM IRMC IWRM LHI LRP MFA MFI NGO NRM PCC PHPA PVSE SWC TCCC USD VDC WECS WWF Community Based Organization District Agriculture Development Office District Development Committee District Forest Office District Soil Conservation Office Households Integrated Pest Management Integrated Resource Management Committee Integrated Water Resource Management Living Himalayas Initiative Local Resource Person Ministry for Foreign Affairs Micro Finance Institution Non-Government Organization Natural Resource Management Project Coordination Committee Public Hearing and Public Auditing Poor Vulnerable and Socially Excluded Social Welfare Council The Coca Cola Company US Dollar Village Development Committee Water and Energy Commission Secretariat World Wide Fund for Nature

2 3 Summary: Key Outcomes achieved under each Direct Objective. By the end of 2015, the project completed its six years; 2 phases of 3 years each. The project was expected to end on December 2015 but due to the earthquake in Nepal the project got non cost extension for The project has been successful in terms of implementation and demonstration of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach in its 9 selected catchments in Indrawati sub basin together with the 9 Integrated Resource Management Committees (IRMCs), catchment level IWRM institutions established by the project. IRMCs were involved in planning and implementation of the field level activities with the technical and financial support of the project. IRMCs are one of the institutional mechanism for the implementation of river basin approach at the local level as guided by the National Water Plan (2005) of the government of Nepal. Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) a government policy body is a project partner and has been looking after overall implementation of the project with the support from WWF Nepal. Project had coordination and collaboration with the relevant district line agencies such as District Soil Conservation Office (DSCO), District Forest Office (DFO), District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), and District Development Office (DDC) in particular from the respective districts. In addition, the project also had collaboration with relevant NGOs and CBOs at the catchment level. The project is being implemented with the active participation and contribution of the local user communities from the project catchments. This is how the implementation of IWRM approach is realized by the project and become functional and moving towards becoming sustainable. With this promising take up WWF Nepal was able to leverage short term additional financial support (50,000 USD) from the WWF-The Coca Cola Company (TCCC) partnership to extend the support to the local communities in Cha Khola and Dhand khola catchments in Indrawati sub basin. WWF Bhutan had also initiated the river basin approach from the learning from our project in Nepal. Through the Living Himalayas Initiative (LHI), with the financial support from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation WWF Bhutan initiated its IWRM project whereas WWF Nepal was able to extend its project in Dudhkoshi sub basin in Koshi basin. Regional learning sharing between Nepal and Bhutan took place at the end of 2015 where the project team and government partners had opportunities to learn and share from each other. IRMCs are the executive committees having representation of different user based groups covering geographical areas and social groups including women. They have been continuously strengthened with different capacity building trainings and institutional support that they are able to function effectively and efficiently for the sustainable management of water and related natural resources. IRMCs follow the mandatory processes such as reformation, renewal, audit, general assembly and Public Hearing and Public Auditing (PHPA), as part of their strengthening governance, without which they will not be able to receive support from the project. IRMCs are also coordinating with the local agencies to leverage funding to their IWRM activities. In this regard, some of the IRMCs such as from Cha Khola and Sahare Baghmara had significant leverage. Cha Khola IRMC is already building their office space with their own initiation where as other IRMCs are also willing similarly. The project will support IRMCs to establish sustainability plans before closure of the project. IRMCs (9) are also linked with eco clubs (45) for the wider awareness generation and also linked with cooperatives (14) that the local users can engage in agriculture and resource based income opportunities. Besides the IRMCs, capacity building trainings were also provided to the local users from different catchments. These have helped enhance knowledge, capacity and awareness of the local communities in

3 IWRM. Communities are also providing in-kind and labour contribution to the project interventions which is about 40% of the total cost. This is encouraged to have their ownership and sustainability. With enhanced capacity of IRMCs and local communities in water and related natural resources management, over 2,600 HHs have been benefitted from the project interventions during this reporting period of 2015 (Table 2). Project interventions has shown positive impacts to the lives of the local communities. Preliminary results have showed that the beneficiaries have now improved availability and access to drinking and irrigation water which has significantly reduced the drudgery of the women and children in particular. Irrigated areas have been increased to produce more crops and vegetables compared to past. Timing of the irrigation facilities over the year has also increased that they have started new vegetable and cash crops rather than traditional cereal farming. With the irrigation the agriculture productivity has also increased. This has helped the communities for improved income opportunities as well as their water and food security. They have also become more aware of the negative impacts of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides and benefits of organic farming. Data management is in progress and detail analysis will follow to come up with final quantitative numbers had been a difficult year for Nepal due to a big earthquake (April/May) in the country and its ongoing aftershocks and extreme fuel crisis due to blockade in the Indian border for several months during the latter part of the year. Sindhupalchok and Kavre districts were one of the highly impacted districts by the earthquake within the project area Indrawati sub basin and implementation of the project activities were also impacted. Because of this reasons the project has been extended (no-cost) till the end of 2016 to complete the remaining activities. In addition, the local communities in the project areas are found resilient against the disasters such as big earthquake we had in Nepal during April and May 2015 and its ongoing and prolonged aftershocks. Their houses have been destroyed and they lost their property including livestock and food grains. But now most of them are back to their feet and living their normal lives. This is because the project supported interventions on IWRM have helped them to manage their water for drinking and irrigation, and by which they could generate income by growing different vegetables (e.g., potato, cabbages, cauliflower, beans, tomato). This has helped them to secure food and income and also supported to rebuild their houses on their own. It was observed that support for the reconstruction from the government is very minimal and time taking. Moreover they have access to drinking water in most of the places during the disaster. Communities are helping each other for the reconstruction on their own rather than waiting for other sources and their confidence has also increased. 4 Key facts and figures (2015) Table 1: Project data (updated) S.N. IRMCs Executive members (Male) Executive members (Female) Eco clubs Cooperatives Cooperatives supported through revolving fund of IRMCs 1 Cha Khola Dhand Khola NA 4 3 Jarge Khola NA 2 4 Sindhu Khola NA 5 Mushure Khola NA 2 6 Sahare-Bagmara Khola NA 1 7 Tipeni Khola NA 8 Handi Khola NA 1

4 9 Ghatte Khola NA NA Total Table 2: Project interventions (Jan-Dec 2015) S.N. Project interventions (Jan-Dec 2015) No Benefitted HHs 1 Water tanks/water supply schemes Irrigation canal Rainwater harvesting Conservation pond Improved water mill Spring source conservation Bio gas Poly house IPM Farmers school Total Table 3: Repair and maintenance of Earthquake damage (till Dec 2015) S.N. Repair and maintenance of Earthquake damage till Dec Benefitted No 2015 HHs 1 Water tanks/water supply schemes Irrigation canal Conservation pond Improved water mill Spring source conservation Bio-engineering 2 5 Total Table 4: Capacity building, awareness and meetings (Jan-Dec 2016) S.N. Description No/events Benefitted individuals/participants M F 1 PHPA refresher training Capacity building of the local communities on monitoring, evaluation, good governance, equitable use and benefit sharing 3 Refresher training on MFI guideline Orientation on NRM and livelihood change monitoring Capacity building training on implementation of financial manual Planning and Coordination Meeting with the IRMCs

5 7 World water day 1 46 NA NA 8 World wetlands day NA NA 9 World environment day 1 30 NA NA 5 Progress towards the direct objectives of the programme Result 1.1: By 2016, 9 IRBM Institutions at local level (IRMCs) are in place and functional, and are strengthened in target areas (revised target) The project has been pioneer in terms of river basin approach in Nepal with its interventions in Indrawati sub basin of Koshi basin. 9 Integrated Resource Management Committees (IRMCs), local institutions at the catchment level established by the project have been engaged in the overall planning and implementation of the IWRM activities in their respective catchments in Indrawati sub basin with the technical and financial support from the project. IRMCs are the executive committees formed with democratic process having the representation of different user based groups and covering geographical area of the project catchments. As an institution IRMCs conduct their regular meetings, audit process, public hearing and public auditing, general assembly and renewal processes. Except IRMC of Sindhu catchment (in process for renewal) all the 8 IRMCs are up to date and implementing activities regularly. As every year, the project provided IRMCs the sub grants to implement the activities together with the local user communities based on their planning and priorities. The project also supported IRMCs to coordinate with the local line agencies to leverage funding to the activities as applicable. Local contributions from the user groups in almost all the schemes which accounts for about 40% in total has been obligatory. This indicates functionality of IWRM through the project and sustainability. At the center level, Project Coordination Committee (PCC) oversee and support for the overall operation of the project. PCC is chaired by the Joint Secretary of WECS with its members from WECS and WWF Nepal and meeting is called as necessary. In addition there is a Project Steering Committee (PSC) chaired by Secretary of WECS, with members from WECS and WWF Nepal and invitees from Embassy of Finland, Social Welfare Council (SWC) and relevant government departments to provide strategic level guidance to the project and endorsement of work plan and budgets. PSC meeting is conducted twice in year at half yearly basis. This institutional mechanism is helping the implementation of river basin management approach. Strengthening of the IRMCs along with the local user communities have been an integral part of the project. During this reporting period different capacity building training and institutional support were provided (Table 3). IRMCs were provided number of trainings such as; Public Hearing and Public Auditing (PHPA); monitoring, evaluation, good governance, equitable use and benefit sharing; implementing guideline of Micro Finance; implementation of the financial manual and monitoring NRM and livelihood change. These have helped improved the capacity of the IRMCs, their members and office assistants for the effective implementation of the IWRM. In addition, the project also conducted planning and coordination meeting with the IRMCs as a regular process to review and planning of their activities. The project has also a plan to prepare the sustainability plans for all the IRMCs and will be taken forward together with WECS in

6 2016. These plans will help identify their capacity need and process for establishing them as a sustainable institutions once the project is over and for the longer run. Result 1.2: By 2016, at least 5% of marginalized communities (primarily PVSE, IPs, women) and 30% of women are empowered through increased participation in planning, decision making and implementation of IWRM approach (revised target) Majority of the population of the Indrawati sub basin belongs to very poor (43%) and poor (17%) and remaining to non-poor (40%). Moreover, majority of the population belonged to marginalized groups Janajati followed by the Brahmin/Chetris and then Dalit (disadvantaged). The 9 project catchments in the Indrawati sub basin covers about 25% of the total area and population distribution and major settlement zones. Project activities are distributed over the different parts of the catchments covering different groups of people and communities including marginalized and poor and of course women. Hence the targeted communities have been engaged in the implementation of IWRM though the project interventions of water and related resource management, e.g through conservation pond, drinking water tanks, spring source conservation, irrigation canals and agriculture good practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) farmers school. They were also involved the planning of the activities through the IRMCs and the project in terms of their participation, implementation and decision making. This is because the project identifies the priority activities through the bottom up planning process involving local user groups and IRMCs and also conducting feasibility of the sites. This process has increased the participation of the local communities from different groups of people in planning and decision making for the IWRM approach. In addition, the capacity building activities has involved IRMCs, local farmers, user groups, Local Resource Persons (LRPs) from 9 different project catchments providing opportunities of their empowerment towards IWRM. IRMCs have a key role in planning, decision making and implementation of IWRM. The participation and representation of the marginalized communities including women was highly encouraged as one of the key selection criteria. As of recent update, there is about 25 % of women representation in the executive committees of IRMCs (9 IRMCs-Total 157 members: 75% M; 25% F). The project is in the process of collating all the data and information systematically and come up with the final figures by conducting analysis. Result 2.1: By 2016, income level of at least 10 targeted communities increased by 50 % through the optimum use of water and other related natural resources (revised target) The project has a major focus on integrated management of water and related natural resources and to benefit the local communities. Major interventions towards this have been efficient management of water for drinking and irrigation and also linking to sustainable agriculture practices. These included activities such as water harvesting through conservation ponds, farmers schools on IPM and organic farming, promotion of plastic tunnels for vegetable farming, promotion of high value crops: cardamom and capacity building trainings. Project has also established some revolving fund to mobilize for livelihood improvement activities of the local communities. Moreover, project has prepared MFI guideline to mobilize the revolving fund. This integrated approach has helped local communities manage their resources more efficiently and contributed to enhance their income through agriculture and vegetable farming. Local people are engaged in water management and vegetable farming and generating income. These activities are spread over the project areas. The project conducts a quick impact assessment of the project interventions once they are completed in terms of changes they made to the local communities. With the project supported water management

7 systems such as irrigation canals, conservation ponds and spring source conservation measures have significantly benefitted the local communities with improved access and availability of water. As the majority of the local communities have agriculture as a main occupation, our interventions have helped them a lot and they have been engaged in vegetable farming and gaining their income with seasonal and off seasonal vegetables. Based on the field monitoring visits and preliminary data, we have found out that farmer households were able to earn about 500 to 5000 Euro depending upon their land size. Detail survey and data analysis will follow to monitor the changes of the income level of the targeted communities in Their enhanced capacity on managing water resources has helped them to improve their income by vegetable farming and generating income. This also has helped their food security in terms of increased food production and nutritional values from vegetables and they could afford the things from increased income through selling surplus vegetables. Even though local communities have yet to get the government support for reconstruction of their houses, they have started building them. Result 2.2: By 2016, at least 150 spring sources are conserved (revised target) Water scarcity with drying out of the spring sources is one of the biggest issues these days in the areas like in Indrawati sub basin and throughout the country. Natural spring sources are one of the prime source of water for drinking in particular and also for irrigation in the middle mountain areas. In this regard, spring source conservation and management has been one of the important activities of the project which is based on the previous project study which identified critical and vulnerable spring sources and the local communities prioritization. IRMCs together with the local user committees have been conserving critical spring sources in their respective catchment areas with the project support and this has helped local communities a lot for their water need. This has also helped improve the ecosystem of the spring source areas as different measures of conservation are taken depending upon the site, such as fencing to control grazing, plantations, water source protection and storage systems so that the quantity of the water is increased and the quality of water is also improved. During this reporting period alone, total of 26 spring sources were conserved that will benefit 443 HHs in Indrawati sub basin. In addition, based on the damage assessment of the project interventions total of 11 existing spring sources were repaired having total of 281 HHs as beneficiaries. The project will collate and analyze all the field data in 2016 to come up with exact final number of spring sources conserved and its HHs beneficiaries. Result 2.3: By 2016, capacity to cope with and adapt to the risk and stresses due to climate change of at least 15% of the target communities enhanced (water, food and energy security) (revised target) IWRM is also a tool for adaptation and project activities have been quite relevant to address the negative impacts of the climate change. Climate change has direct impacts on water resources, ecosystem and livelihood of the local communities. Major impacts of climate change has been realized as water scarcity due to changes in rainfall pattern in the area, drying out of spring sources, increased pest and crop diseases, landslides and erosion and decrease in productivity. These have implications on water-food and energy security. The project has been addressing many of these issues with its IWRM interventions together with the IRMCs and local communities. Local people and communities are engaged in integrated approach of adaptation: management of available water more efficiently through conservation of spring sources and degraded areas and water harvesting for

8 improved water availability and security. They have linked water management to their agriculture and sustainable agriculture practices are being promoted through IPM farmers school, bio pesticides and organic farming. This has helped improved their income and livelihood as well as food security. With the conservation of watershed and degraded forest areas, promotion of bio gas, water mills, plantation of tree and fodder species will help local communities improve their energy security. Local communities in the project areas have been involved in such activities and they are also provided capacity building trainings. Hence the capacity of the local communities to adapt with the negative impacts has been enhanced. The project will be analyzing all the field data in 2016 to come up with final targets. 6 Beneficiaries if changes or additions in 2015 Majority of the beneficiaries of the project remained same: the 9 IRMCs; 45 school eco clubs; target communities of the 9 project catchments including women and marginalized groups. Project interventions on IWRM during 2015 benefitted 2600 HHs with improved management of water resources and improving their access and water availability in Indrawati sub basin (Table 2). It has also help them to enhance their income and livelihood through vegetable farming. IRMCs were involved in planning and implementation of the activities at catchment level together with the local user groups. The project has been instrumental to aware and enhance their capacity in IWRM and people has already realized the promising results such as improved access and availability of water for drinking and irrigation, improved agriculture productivity and more irrigable areas, introduction of new and cash crops, organic farming and improved income. Repair and maintenance work of damaged interventions of the project due to earthquake will maintain its beneficiaries totaling over 3400 HHs. 143 participants (127 M and 16 F) from IRMC members and office assistants, and local users were benefitted from different capacity building trainings (Table 4) by enhancing their knowledge and capacity. Over 1300 individuals from school eco clubs, teachers and IRMC members were engaged in awareness raising activities during the major events (Table 4). They have enhanced their knowledge on environment and conservation and they will help spread the message to their friends and families. 7 Partnerships if new ones in 2015 This remained same as earlier. 8 Cross-cutting objectives (from the Finnish Development Policy) 8.1 Gender equality: How the programme has supported gender equality? The project has considered gender equality as an important part and tried its best to ensure it in all the project interventions and activities meaning that both men and women are treated equally. Participation of women and the marginalized communities were always highly emphasized and encouraged that they are treated equally without any discrimination in all the project activities. Project has realized that the target communities have different level of awareness and exposure depending on their areas; e.g. the communities are more aware and active in the lower catchments whereas it is less in the communities of the upper catchments. This depends on their education, exposure and the livelihood status. The project has

9 involved the participation of women in all the interventions such as water smart communities, IRMC (executive committee) and capacity building programs that they both can benefit the same way and nothing as such to get negatively impacted. Representation of women in the executive committee of IRMCs is 25% as of the new update (118 M and 39 F). This is lower than expected (30 %). The project has tried to promote women to participate but still women are kind of staying behind and not coming forward in many cases, but it will slowly progress as they will be doing their revisions of IRMC executive committees soon. Based on the field level monitoring and interviews with the local communities they do not feel any difference between men and women in terms of project interventions, which also indicates the equality and benefit in the same way. We do not have any women only or men only directed interventions as such and we involve them both as possible and applicable. So far till date there have not been any kind of incidence where men or women impacted negatively. 8.2 Reduction of inequalities: How the programme has reduced inequalities? Based on the socio-economic baseline study conducted by the project during its first phase, 43.2 % of the HHs in the Indrawati sub basin belonged to very poor category while 17.2 % belonged to poor category and the remaining nearly 40 % of the HHs belonged to non-poor category. In terms of social group majority of the population belonged to marginalized groups Janajati followed by Brhamin/Chetris and Dalit (disadvantaged). The project interventions are targeted to the neediest and marginalized communities which is one of the selection criteria set for prioritizing the activities together with the IRMCs. As IRMCs members represent geographically as well as from different groups from the project areas, they have better idea on these issues. Project team also verifies the prioritization of the activities in terms of inclusion. The project has emphasis on the participation and the representation of women and marginalized groups of people as possible and applicable in all the project activities including the institutional building, meetings, workshops and capacity building trainings programs. The major part of the project is ground level IWRM interventions in the project catchments and which is directly together with the local user communities covering wider groups of people from Indrawati sub basin. Initial assessments showed that larger number of people from 9 project catchments have been benefitted with the improved access and availability of drinking and irrigation water, agriculture good practices, alternative energy like bio gas and local and community water management. Their knowledge, awareness and capacity has been enhanced. Similarly, through different training, capacity building and awareness raising activities in the project areas, different groups of people from school children, youths and women and ethnic and indigenous groups are also being benefitted. We are doing the data collation and detail analysis to come up with numeric data. 8.3 Climate sustainability: How does the programme support climate change adaptation and/or mitigation? The project has supported towards climate change adaptation and to some extent to mitigation. Climate change has direct impact on water resources and hydrological regime. The project is all about integrated management of water and related natural resource management. Growing water scarcity during the dry season, drying out of the spring sources, increased pests and crop diseases, increased incidence of

10 landslides and erosion are some of the key issues and impacts in the project area which were identified through the previous studies e.g., vulnerability assessments, baseline survey, water poverty, climate impacts, and series of stakeholders consultations conducted by the project. The project has been actively engaged to address these issues by intervening on spring sources conservation activities, water harvesting, efficient water management for drinking and irrigation, sustainable agriculture, farmers school, low cost soil and water conservation measures by deploying bio engineering techniques and plantation activities together with the IRMCs and the local user committees, which are directly contributing to integrated approach of adaptation to the climate change. Nursery management and plantation will help restoration of degraded areas where as bio gas will help conservation of forests. The overall result has been in terms of water and related natural resources management and community empowerment. Moreover, several capacity building and training as well as awareness raising activities are also an important aspect of the project in terms of empowering local communities. Hence the project is also dealing in terms of climate sustainability. Local communities have enhanced their adaptive capacity in terms of adverse impacts of climate change. Additionally the project interventions are also helping build community and ecosystem resilience. 9 Challenges and Strengths Affecting Performance The project has a strength in mobilizing IRMCs and the local user communities that the project interventions on IWRM have delivered positive results in the ground. Having said this, the project implementation modality in terms of bottom up planning with the IRMCs and the local communities is very time consuming process in practical and lots of efforts are needed for regular and close monitoring, which causes the delays in implementation. During rainy monsoon season many project sites are difficult to access through road due to road damage and landslides. During 2015, the project faced several challenges in terms of earthquake and its damage, landslides, and the fuel crisis due to blockade in the Indian borders which have caused delays in many of the project activities. Due to earthquake and its damages the local communities had their priorities in managing their shelters and day to day life, and could not engaged in the project activities. The project office at Melamchi was damaged and had to shift at safe place. With the blockade for several months there was a severe fuel crisis limiting the mobility for the project activities as well as monitoring for the project team, IRMCs as well as the local communities. In addition, construction materials were difficult to get and the cost went high which also created lot of challenges. These challenges were beyond our control and have highly affected the project s performance. 10 Adaptive Management Project log frame was revised and adjusted till 2016 based on the discussion during the partnership meeting at Finland (March 2015) and finalized together with the WWF Finland team which was already approved by the MFA Finland. Adaptive management measures were taken in terms of different major issues and challenges as explained above in the section 9. WWF Finland was timely communicated about the major earthquake and its impacts, field situation and constraints of carrying out the field activities. The project office at Melamchi was damaged and shifted to Dhulikhel safely after searching many nearby places, which also took much of

11 time. WWF Nepal was also involved in a quick relief work such as providing food stuffs and tents to the needy people in the project area right after the earthquake. The project team carried out the damage assessment of the project interventions and based on the result a big chunk of the budget was allocated for the repair and maintenance activities. The permission from MFA was requested to channel some of the projects funds on reconstruction of one school at the project communities, but WWF Nepal succeeded to use their other funding sources to support reconstruction of that school. The annual work plan and the budget was also revised with timely discussion with the WWF Finland team and carry forward budget were discussed. During the blockade and fuel crisis, the project had to limit its mobility in the field and also construction activities were delayed due to unpredicted price hike of the required construction materials, as well as difficulty in getting labor and construction people in the area. With discussion with the WWF Finland team, planned evaluation of the project was postponed to 2016 due to unfavorable situation in the field due to earthquake impacts and fuel crisis with extended blockades. 11 Sustainability of the programme IRMCs have been involved in the planning and implementation of the IWRM activities in their respective catchments. They were continuously supported for their capacity and institutional strengthening which is one of the important part of the project. They are also coordinating with the Village and District Development Committees including relevant District offices and NGOs for possible collaboration and funding opportunities. To some extent they have been able to leverage funds for different activities such as bio gas and nurseries. Some IRMCS such as Sahare Baghmare and Cha Khola were able to leverage significant resources from different sources at the local level including District Development Committees. They also have opportunities to access District line agencies such as forest, soil conservation, agriculture and livestock for technical support and possibly funding as applicable. In the longer run, IRMCs need to develop IWRM Implementation plans and seek funds from different I/NGOs too. Community contribution (in-kind in particular) which is around 40% in average is another important aspect helping towards the sustainability of the project interventions. In some communities monthly fee for maintenance is collected, project will try to expand this practice to other communities as well. IRMC of Cha Khola catchment has already started building its own office space in Kunta besi by availing funds from different sources from Village Development Committee (VDC), and local CBO, where as other IRMCs are also willing to do similar and are trying to avail lands. IRMCs also look for the project s support to build their office. This is one of the good indication of their interest to sustain their institutions and continue impactful activities. IRMCs are also linked with the cooperatives and revolving fund that the farmers and local users have opportunities to engage in agro based income generation. Local user communities benefitted by the project supported interventions have become more active and engaged towards smart practices of water and related resource management. Most of them have been generating income through agriculture and vegetable farming and have improved their livelihood compared to past which is before the project. In addition, the Micro Finance have been also promoted along with local capacity development. Exit strategy and phase out plan has to be initiated together with the government partner and the IRMCs for their sustainability. The phase out planning will provide the detail analysis and further steps for IRMCs strengthening and longer term sustainability.

12 12 Monitoring and evaluation Project activities and progress were monitored by different teams, including officials from WECS, team from WWF Finland and WWF Nepal staffs in different time of the year. Monitoring also included field observation visits and interaction with the local communities and IRMCs. Team from WWF Finland and Living Himalayas Initiative (LHI) also visited the project sites and had interaction with the project team and local communities during March Secretary and Joint-Secretary of Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), government of Nepal, along with the senior officials from WWF Nepal visited project sites and had interaction with the IRMC members, local communities and project staffs in April The overall impression of the project outcomes have been good. But the project has vast amount of data and information from the field which is yet to be collated systematically for the in depth analysis to come up with the shareable results. Project staffs in the field conducted regular monitoring visits to the intervention sites and discussed the progress with the local communities and data has been compiled for the project interventions. Similarly regular financial monitoring and audit was also conducted. The planned evaluation of the project was postponed for the following year due to unfavorable situation caused by the earthquake and blockade mentioned as above. 13 Communications, advocacy and environmental education Project calendars were published and disseminated to the relevant stakeholders at the local level to inform and aware about the project and ongoing activities. Different event days were celebrated; World Wetlands day, World Water day and World Environment day with the active participation of the Eco clubs, students, teachers and IRMCs with different awareness raising activities such as interaction, cleanup program and rallies to create a wider awareness on the subject and issues. Over 1300 participants were engaged in these events and had enhanced their awareness on the subject. The project initiatives were captured along with interviews of local communities, IRMCs and WWF and telecasted through the National Television NTV which helped to publicize the project and its outcomes to the wider mass of people. In addition, an animated version of Journey of Pani Prasad (awareness book series) was also prepared and posted in you tube of WWF Nepal web site. Learning from the Koshi River Basin Managment (KRBM) was shared to the team from government of Bhutan and WWF Bhutan during the regional IWRM learning sharing workshop in Bhutan organized by the Living Himalays Initiative (LHI) in December This workshop provided opportunities to the government participants and WWF staffs from both Nepal and Bhutan to learn and share their experiences on IWRM.

13 14 Sharing of Lessons Learned - Earthquake impact: After the major earthquake in Nepal, the priority of the local communities shifted temporally to re-construction and rehabilitation. The risk of earthquake and its potential impact should also be duly considered while designing the project. - Small interventions can make change: With the small interventions of the project in water management, communities were able to enhance their income and livelihood significantly through farming and built their resilience and confidence. Thousands of local people have been benefitted with improved access and water availability for both drinking and irrigation. - Regular joint monitoring at the local community level together with partners and IRMCs are very important to develop the local stewardship. This will help find out that the project interventions are really helping the local communities as well as to make them more effective.

14 Selected pictures Maintenance of irrigation canal IPM based farming through farmers school Training guideline on MFI IRMCs planning and review meeting Construction of water tank Spring source conservation