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| Loan Name | Community-Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Nepal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loan Number | 2102 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project Number | 33209- 01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Source/Amount[Approved] |
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| Thematic Classification |
Economic growth
Governance Gender Equity |
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| Project Outcome | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description of Outcome | Enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability of existing FMIS, thereby enhancing the livelihood of poor men and women [Taken from the Project Framework] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Implementation Progress | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description of Project Outputs | 1. A. Irrigated Agriculture Development for FMIS
A-1 (a) Participatory Planning2. A-1 (b) Beneficiary Mobilization Developing viable WMAs to become effective community organization ready to receive investment support to enhance agriculture production, measured through: 3. A-2. Irrigation and Associated Infrastructure Good quality infrastructure designed and constructed, confiorming to district strategy and SIP, measured through: 4. A-3 (a) Agriculture Development and Livelihood Enhancement Agriculture extension and livelihood enhancement support services provided as specified in SIPs and targets set up therein are achieved, measured through: 5. A-3 (b) Microirrigation Demonstration Demonstration of innovative microirrigation provided focusing on the poor communities, measured through: 6. A-4. Monitoring and Support for Sustainable O&M Completed FMIS subprojects sustain benefits through effective and sustainable O&M (including subprojects completed in previous sector loans), measured through: 7. B. Institutional Strengthening and Project Management (ISPM) B-1. Support for National Level Institutional Strengthening 8. B-2. Operation of Improved FMIS Intervention Mechanisms Effective operation of project institutions to provide necessary services with improved procedures and arrangements including central line agencies, LGIs (DDCs and VDCs), WUAs, private firms and agents, and NGOs and COs, measured through: 9. B-3. Training Capacities of project institutions, stakeholders, and their representatives are strengthened through training, measured through: |
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| Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | ADB's Country Strategy and Program for Nepal 2004 prioritizes investments in rural areas that generate quick benefits and support the inclusive process of development. In view of large FMIS areas still suffering from low productivity and poverty, and of the scope for promoting minor irrigation that targets the poor in nonirrigated areas, the CSP recognized that community-based irrigation is one of the strategic pillars for supporting rural development. As to FMIS, a pressing need now is to define and operate improved delivery mechanisms for their renovation, incorporating the lessons and addressing the new challenges identified in the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, including decentralization, private sector and NGO engagement, and community participation. This objective should be pursued with necessary policy and institutional reforms that provide a sound basis for their operation. Addressing these tasks is consistent with ADB's water policy, and will contribute to attaining maximum benefits from FMIS renovation with further empowered WUAs, and improved governance of public sector institutions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geographical Location | Rural areas of Central and Eastern Development regions (Bagmati, Narayani, Janakpur, Sagarmatha, Koshi and Mechi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Safeguard Categories
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| Environment | B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary of Environmental and Social Issues |
An initial environmental examination (IEE) was carried out during the project preparatory stage. The Project will have overall beneficial impacts, enhancing agricultural production while reducing pressure on the environment through reduced use of wood products for temporary structures. Potential negative impacts identified include (i) reduced water availability to the downstream water users and ecosystems, and possible conflicts among water users; (ii) land acquisition and resettlement; (iii) induced erosion and landslides along the canals; and (iv) impacts associated with increased use of agrochemicals, and of irrigation water that may cause waterborne diseases. These impacts will be mitigated by (i) avoiding subprojects that affect downstream users or ecosystems through basin water assessment and user consultation; (ii) operation of agreed upon RF; (iii) slope protection with the bioengineering approach or avoiding schemes in landslide zones; and (iv) promoting environmentally sound agriculture practices and hygiene education. Under the Project, an IEE will be prepared for each subproject, and any short-term negative impacts will be mitigated following the environmental management plan defined in the IEE.
The Project will have direct positive poverty reduction impacts on income, employment opportunities including those for tenant farming (arising from labor constraints experienced by larger farmers), and food security. According to the socioeconomic survey, poverty incidence in the three subproject areas is 54¿62%, with the national ethnic minority population accounting for the majority of beneficiaries cutting across all farm size categories. Anticipated per hectare incremental incomes for small farmers are in the range of 60¿80% of without the Project levels. The Project will promote new approaches to more equitable resource distribution and modification of gender relations, with enhancement of the role of women in WUAs to maximize irrigation benefits, focusing on complementarity and reciprocity between men and women, identifying barriers that may negatively affect women's ability to interact as equal partners. The Project will (i) promote at least 33% women's participation in WUAs; (ii) assist DOI, DOA, and DDC to implement a gender action plan; (iii) require all training activities to have a session on gender issues; (iv) strengthen linkages with the Department of Women's Development and DADO for WUA training; (v) facilitate gender mainstreaming activities by establishing gender focal points; (vi) require all data to be gender-disaggregated; and (vii) request NGOs to have 50% women field staff. Subproject implementation will generally require the use of land for widening and expanding canals, although the scope is limited due to strip acquisition. To address the issue, in accordance with ADB procedures for sector lending, three sample subprojects were studied to assess land acquisition and resettlement needs of the Project in renovating FMIS. A resettlement framework (RF) and sample resettlement plans (RPs) were prepared. Under the Project, the RF will be followed, and all affected persons will be entitled to compensation for land taken for the purpose of the project interventions, for their lost assets; and incomes at replacement cost to improve or at least restore their pre-project living standards, income levels, and productive capacity. Existing social practices, however, show landowners voluntarily contributing the canal land in FMIS construction in recognition of benefits such as priority access to irrigation water and increased land price, against the insignificant impacts. Voluntary contribution may therefore be considered an acceptable option when agreed to by the concerned persons and confirmed by a third party. Indigenous peoples issues were found insignificant in the three sample subprojects, where the beneficiary group comprises an ethnic local majority but a national minority. Preparing indigenous peoples specific actions was not deemed necessary. The Project is designed to be inclusive as it targets areas with high percentages of ethnic groups. Where small disadvantaged ethnic or caste groups are identified, ADB's Policy on Indigenous Peoples will be applied and will build on the organizational model of each ethnic group's FMIS. |
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| Consultations Planned or Carried Out |
During the project preparatory TA, participatory process was followed in the selected sample subproject areas using participatory rural appraisal techniques, with focus group meetings with women, landless and vulnerable groups, with the engagement of local NGOs. An inventory of local needs were prepared, encompassing problems/constraints related to (i) water resources in relation to agriculture, fisheries, transport, and environment, (ii) possible solutions to resolve the constraints identified; (iii) implications of solutions on poverty reduction. Workshops at national and regional levels were also organized at inception and draft final stages during the TA.
The same approach will be followed for all subprojects to be implemented under the sector loan, with the empowerment of WUAs to progressively take on implementation roles while transforming the agency roles to facilitation and technical support. WUAs are entrusted to endorse key subproject decisions (such as SIPs, implementation agreements, infrastructure and support services to be delivered), monitor the delivered service quality, and implement the increasing number of subprojects. WUAs will be further trained to facilitate farmer communication with service providers, to reach better deals collectively, and to improve provider accountability. The Project was also prepared to address the challenges with necessary policy level consultations. Specifically, the project preparatory TA contributed to the drafting of the new irrigation policy, which effectively incorporated the emerging principles and lessons including river basin-based planning, WUA empowerment with pro-poor and gender focus, and DDC capacity development to support devolution, to be institutionalized under the Project. Second, with an overall vision to become a genuine service-oriented facilitator to support beneficiaries, DOI agreed to proceed with due institutional reforms, with specific agendas including (i) setting out an institutional development strategy, (ii) preparing and carrying out action plans for improving human and financial resources management, (iii) strengthening internal quality control, and (iv) defining and taking steps to devolve FMIS operations following the LSGA. Third, as a concrete step to improve quality control and governance, the Government decided to establish a technical audit division in the National Vigilance Center (NVC) under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, and to start operating technical auditing in the irrigation and rural infrastructure sectors, with ADB assistance. Fourth, the Government agreed to consult with ADB on continued reforms in the agriculture and water resources sector, including the preparation of the IWRM policy, its institutional framework, and the NWP. The Project has also strengthened mechanisms for more effective FMIS renovation by incorporating the preceding lessons for enhancing agriculture growth and poverty reduction impacts and WUA empowerment, through strategic site selection that prioritizes poverty pockets and confirms marketing outlets, sufficient resources for nonengineering activities with clear output targets,outsourcing to private providers, and improved internal and external quality control. |
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| Responsible ADB Officer |
Cynthia (Cindy) Malvicini |
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| Responsible ADB Department |
South Asia Department |
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| Responsible ADB Division |
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Social Services Div, SARD |
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| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Water Resources Mr. Naveen Joshi Project Director Department of Irrigation, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, Nepal cmiasp@wlink.com.np |
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| Timetable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concept Clearance | 01 Mar 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fact-finding | 09 Sep 2003 to 01 Oct 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appraisal | 02 Mar 2004 to 18 Mar 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Board Approval | 17 Nov 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Review Mission | 13 Apr 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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