AnnuAl RepoRt 2012 - · PDF fileAnnuAl RepoRt 2012. ... based financing has revolutionized the way the projects are implemented and the way the training ... • Agricultural projects

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AnnuAl RepoRt 2012

Cover

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal is one of the decentralized country programmes of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation which has been operating in Nepal under an agreement with the Government of Nepal since 1956. It implements its programmes and projects in all the 75 districts across the country and cooperates with many technical and social organizations. Through its work at both local and national levels, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal supports actions leading to self-propelling development and eradication of poverty. It aims at creating environments where people have new choices and become equipped with new skills and abilities to improve their livelihoods.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal partners with local and national non-governmental organisations, private sector entities, and local and national bodies of the government. It promotes the principles of decentralization and subsidiarity in decision making, implementation and accountability for development.

Detailed information on the HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal programme is available on the internet and can be accessed at www.helvetasnepal.org.np

Published by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation NepalDhobighat, Lalitpur, GPO Box 688, Kathmandu NepalTelephone: +977 1 5524925, +977 1 5524926 Fax: +977 1 5531109E-mail: [email protected]: HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation NepalGraphics Design: Dev Prakash Gupta Language Editor: Kesang RenchenMap and Icons: Ayushman ShresthaLayout: Prakash GhimirePrinted by: Wordscape

This report is printed on paper made by local entrepreneurs from cotton waste (cover) and banana stems (other pages).

Message from the Country Director 2

Country Context 4

Country Strategy 6

Outcome Monitoring Summary 7

Education and Skills Development 8

Environment and Climate 10

Governance and Peace 12

Rural Economy 16

Water and Infrastructure 18

Human Resources 20

Budget and Investment 22

Audit Report 24

Way Forward 26

Portfolio 27

Thanks 28

Contents

2 HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal Annual Report 2012

On behalf of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal I am very pleased to introduce this fifty-sixth Annual Report for 2012. In this report we would like to particularly highlight the contributions of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and its partners in developing skills, creating jobs and providing employment. We are proud to mention that our joint efforts this year resulted in creating approximately 41,000 jobs and providing employment for about 15,000 women and men. Over the years HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation has further strengthened its projects on improved vocational skills with special focus on life skills and job placement for young women and men. Given the migration scenario in Nepal, the needs of migrants are taken into account not only in terms of improving their skills, but also in terms of their information requirements to enhance chances for beneficial migration. Outcome based financing has revolutionized the way the projects are implemented and the way the training providers are being paid. At the same time we increasingly focus on employment creation with business development support to micro and small enterprises from the private sector.

In this regard, in 2012 we would like to draw your attention to the following major highlights:

• Wecontinuetoproducemorethan15,000graduatesandentrepreneursannually.Throughamobileand outcome-based training approach implemented by private sector training and employment providers, employment rates of about 70 per cent are achieved.

• WehavesuccessfullyimplementedapilotprojectonsafermigrationinKhotangandSarlahidistricts.Based on the learning of these initial two years we are now working with the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation on the project’s expansion to other districts with high overseas migration rates.

• HandicraftsproducedinNepalareexportedtoSwitzerlandanddisplayedforsaleintheHELVETASSwiss Intercooperation Fair Shop in Zurich.

• Alongwiththecountry’sattemptstocommercializeagriculture,wehaveinitiatedsupportforfarmersto be more commercially orientated. This includes the support provided in business planning and client orientation to coffee producers’ cooperatives, banana nurseries and turmeric farmers amongst others. It also includes the training of vegetable producers in basic business skills through a farmer’s business school approach.

• Recognizing the importance of credits for successful business development, HELVETAS SwissIntercooperation Nepal has signed agreements with various financial institutions, with the aim to facilitate credits for small businesses and farmer groups

In addition we contributed towards improved livelihoods of rural men and women in general through support for local governance, improved access to services and sustainable management of natural resources. Overall HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal has reached about one million people in 2012 out of which about half a million were socially discriminated and economically poor people.

Message from the Country Director

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This year we implemented sixteen different projects under HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation’s five working areas - education and skills development, environment and climate, governance and peace, rural economy and water and infrastructure.

• Incooperationwithotherkeyactorsinthewatersupply,sanitationandhygienesector,wemadeconsiderable progress in institutionalizing a cheaper and more streamlined village level water use master plan in modular format. International actors have also shown interest in this approach and its adaptations, such as the incorporation of recharge, retention and reuse of water – the 3R approach.

• Agriculturalprojectsareeffectivelypracticingthevillagebasedextensionapproachbystrengtheningagriculture, forestry and environment committee of the village development committees in several of our working districts. We hope that this approach will be adopted by the governmental and non-governmental agencies working in agriculture development throughout the country.

• The approaches of riverbed farming implemented during the last seven years by HELVETASSwiss Intercooperation Nepal and other Riverbed Farming Alliance member organizations have confirmed that this technology could be one of the most cost effective and quick measures to deal with poverty of landless and land-poor people in the Tarai. On the basis of these experiences the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development have prepared a draft policy on riverbed farming in collaboration with the Alliance.

• The practical approach to village development periodical planning implemented by HELVETASSwiss Intercooperation Nepal has gained momentum with an additional 75 village development committees of Achham, Dailekh, Jajarkot and Kalikot initiating the process. This plan has proven to be a valid coordinating mechanism for all government and non- government agencies including the private sector to stream line development efforts at local level. The positive experiences have attracted the interest of other agencies including UNICEF and the German Agency for International Cooperation.

• The long term involvement of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and the Swiss Agency forDevelopment and Cooperation in the trail bridge sector culminated with the Government of Nepal celebrating the completion of the 5,000th trail bridge in 2012.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation continues to play a major role as an innovator. While the various programmes and projects are continuously updating their approaches and implementation strategies, new initiatives related to the use of bio char in coffee agroforestry systems, promotion of banana stem paper and different essential oils and building effective water governance in the Asian highlands were launched in 2012.

We would like to thank our supporters – the Swiss public, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and all the donors, the partners - for their continued trust and support in our endeavour to improve the livelihoods of Nepal’s women and men.

Shiva Prasad AryalCountry Director


Job and employment creation in Nepal remained low in 2012 and, according to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries, it is at an all-time low due to a lack of newly registered industries and investment. Young people are desperate to get jobs as shown by the 100,000 Nepali citizens who applied for 1,500 posts in the civil service or the large numbers of applicants for a few jobs with the police and armed forces as well as government corporations. The yearly exodus of Nepali youth searching their luck in overseas employment is exemplifying the dire situation on the labour market. During 2011/12, as per the data of the Department of Labour, 384,665 Nepali migrated abroad through formal channels compared to 354,716 in 2010/11, i.e. an increase of 8.4 per cent.

Nepal’s economy has shown a growth rate of 4.56 per cent in 2011/12, which is overall encouraging, but still much lower than the neighbouring countries. This growth is mainly due to increased agricultural production accompanied by growth in the service sector. Remittances make a significant contribution to the Gross Domestic Product with almost 23 per cent. As a comparison, official development assistance in Nepal contributes five times less than the inflowing remittances. High imports compared to low exports resulted in continued increased trade deficit in 2011/12. The year-on-year consumer price inflation rate for food and beverage items was 9.6 per cent, a slight increase in comparison to the previous year.

Political instability is one of the main factors for the country’s low economic growth and job-creation with infrastructure development being halted and delayed budget declaration. Despite big hopes of the citizens and all development partners in Nepal to end the political instability in the country in 2012 with the promulgation of a new constitution, the Constituent Assembly could not agree on some key points of the new constitution and was dissolved on 27 May 2012. The main issue of contention was the federal restructuring, but other issues also remained. This led to numerous discussions and opinions about the way forward, where once more the political parties could not find any consensus. Throughout

Country Context

most of the year, a Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) led coalition government provided leadership and guidance. A fresh election for the Constituent Assembly scheduled for November 2012 had to be postponed and is now scheduled for later in 2013. This situation resulted in a number of strikes mainly organized by opposition parties. Particularly a long strike in the Far Western Development Region affected the population heavily. Increasing extortions, weak state regulation as well as load shedding and continuously increasing fuel prices seriously affected the life of the population in general and businesses in particular. The opportunities and challenges for development agencies in terms of the development space required to operate in the country continued as in the years before.

Despite the instability, Millennium Development Goal indicators continued to improve with good progress in indicators related to poverty, primary education, mortality, water supply and gender. The nutritional status of women and children, in particular, continues to leapfrog as do the indicators related to sanitation and full employment. In line with this, the government supports open defection free declaration initiatives throughout the country, particularly aggressively in the Mid and Far Western Development Regions. The good summer crop harvests in 2012 and the increased availability of other income sources including the sales of high value crops have improved the food security situation significantly throughout the country and the situation is reportedly stable overall. The Nepal Food Security Monitoring System reported good sales of citrus, ginger, honey, large cardamom and dairy products in the hills, sugarcane, fish, nuts, and banana in the Tarai, and apple and non-timber forest products in the mountains.

The Ministries were re-organized in the course of the year. The most relevant change for the work of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal is the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty Reduction recognizing cooperatives as a third pillar of development. Other Ministries changed their scope of work, e.g. the Ministry of Agriculture Development and the Ministry

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of Federal Affairs and Local Development. The government recognized the low investments in the agricultural sector, one of the lowest in South Asia and announced for the mandatory allocation of 15 per cent of the village development committees’ block grants for agriculture. The Agricultural Development Strategy process has made considerable progress despite strong opposition of some farmers’ groups and is now expected to be completed mid-2013. This strategy seeks to encourage agricultural commercialisation and increased agricultural productivity with a growth target of 5 per cent by 2035. A new Technical and Vocational Education and Training policy was approved by the Cabinet. The policy focuses mainly on expansion, access, inclusion, integration and sustained funding by improved coordination, institutional restructuring, development of a National Technical and Vocational Qualifications Framework and Authority as well as establishment of a National Technical and Vocational Education and Training Fund.

International non-governmental organisations continue to be in the media regarding more

coordinated action and transparency. Despite criticism, all hold the view that civil society organizations are important partners for Nepal’s development. New large projects have started operating in forestry and climate change, agriculture and food security and training and vocational education sectors funded by various bi- and multilateral donors. The Agencies of the United Nations have finalized their development assistance framework for the period of 2013 to 2017 with ten broad outcomes related to improved access to basic essential services, economic opportunities, strengthened legal and policy frameworks, more accountability, improved risk management, observation of human rights, consolidating peace and focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. The Swiss Cooperation Strategy for 2013 to 2017 will focus on supporting the development of an effective and inclusive federal state based on human security and the rule of law principles and on contributing to people’s increased well-being and resilience, especially of disadvantaged groups, living in rural and small urban centres.

Women at work after successfully completing beautician training.


The second year of the HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal Country Strategy for 2011 to 2015 was marked by an overall encouraging progress in terms of achieving the set indicators. The strategy aims at improving the living conditions of disadvantaged and economically poor men and women in the rural and peri-urban areas of Nepal with two outcomes: diversified and sustainable livelihoods of the primary stakeholders and improved service delivery of local governments and private/civil society organisations in response to the rights of the primary stakeholders. The indicators that refer to established and on-going projects continue to achieve the targets as planned in general. Particularly the indicators related to the collaboration with village development committees in terms of overall development, integrated water resources management and agricultural extension have made very good progress. While the indicators related to farmers adopting semi- to commercial agriculture or coffee production seem to overachieve, these numbers are not expected to change much over the entire strategy period given the farmers’ involvement over a period of years.

Country Strategy

The migration indicator as of national migration trends is over-achieved and is expected to continue accordingly with the expansion of the Safer Migration project from July 2013. The indicator on reaching households vulnerable to impact of climate change, with a planned expansion of activities related to climate change education is currently under achieved and funding is also not yet secured. As a follow up of this report, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal will identify an action plan to assess the qualitative indicators particularly related to the participation of women and disadvantaged groups. Furthermore, a clear strategy to conduct public auditing practices in all projects and the organization itself will have to be developed within the coming few months. The main challenges for HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal in achieving progress are the current political impasse, the absence of village development committee secretaries from their duty station and frequent staff changes and transfers at different levels in government agencies. For certain projects and working areas the lack of adequate funding is hindering the desired progress.

Disadvantaged youths learn the skills of making an aluminium frame.

7Outcome Monitoring SummaryOutcome Verifiable Indicators Target (2011-2015) Achievement (2011 - 2012)

Male Female Disadvantaged Male Female Disadvantaged

20,000 farmers of whom at least 60 per cent are disadvantaged and in total 50 per cent are women, operate new farmer managed irrigation schemes fed by different water sources covering 2,800 hectares of irrigated land.

10,000 10,000 12,000 6,046 6,045 7,859

40,000 people of whom at least 60 per cent are disadvantaged and in total 50 per cent are women in 8,000 households, maintain direct access to water sources from 200 new water projects.

20,000 20,000 24,000 7,771 7,546 8,271

40,000 people of whom at least 60 per cent are disadvantaged and in total 50 per cent are women in 8,000 households, maintain access to sanitary facilities.

20,000 20,000 24,000 8,914 8,686 9,504

30,000 households market non-timber forest products and cash crops including vegetables according to a group business plan benefitting 150,000 people of whom at least 60 per cent are disadvantaged and in total 50 per cent are women.

30,000 18,000 35,453 22,944

10,000 landless/land poor households affiliated in 500 community groups produce vegetables on riverbeds, with women from these households being the majority participants in all training sessions.

10,000 6,000 3,656 1,901

4,500 people of whom at least 60 per cent are disadvantaged and in total 50 per cent are women in 1,100 households, reduce their vulnerability from negative impacts of climate change through planned climate change adaptation following a newly developed approach.

2,250 2,250 2,700 About 1,000 Not assessed

10,000 farmers of whom at least 60 per cent are disadvantaged and in total 50 per cent are women, maintain organically certified production systems.

10,000 6,000 13,419 6,575

80 per cent skill training graduates of whom at least 80 per cent are disadvantaged, in total 50 per cent are women, are in gainful wage or self- employment.

80 per cent employment

64 per cent women

69 per cent employment

86 per cent women

3,000 potential migrants and returnees, of whom at least 60 per cent are disadvantaged and in total 50% are women, have access to in-depth information about protection from deception and fraud.

1,500 1,500 1,800 8,441 922 5,142

Target (2011-2015) Achievement (2011 - 2012)

40 per cent of the village development committees in the HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation led cluster implement annual plans based on their periodic plans and allocate money according to at least the national provisions.

40 per cent 39 per cent

300 villagedevelopment committees allocate resources through agriculture, forestry and environment committees to undertake agricultural extension for the promotion of sustainable agriculture, particularly targeted to women and disadvantaged people.

300 298

20 village development committees implement water use master plans developed partly with their own resources.

20 10

All partnering civil society organizations (including HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation itself) implement a gender and social inclusion policy with the target to reach proportionate representation of social groups and in terms of gender.

100 per cent Assessment to be done by end of 2013

33 per cent of all leadership positions (e.g. team leader, senior project/programme officers) in HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation projects are taken up by women.

33 per cent 21%

33 per cent women representation is maintained in all user groups supported by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation.


Each group supported by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation includes at least one member from discriminated groups in a key group position.


All projects and partner organisations (including village development committees and district development committees) conduct annual public hearing/audit or other relevant measures to foster transparency and accountability and specifically encourage the opinions of women and disadvantaged people.

100 per cent All the Water and Infrastructure projects are conducting it. Other projects need to implement measures.

Trail bridge related technical, social as well as managerial norms as defined in the National Policy Trail Bridge Strategy auxiliary to the Local Infrastructure Development Policy are adhered to by all district development committees. Gender equity, social inclusion and poverty elements are adequately reflected in the social norms.

100 per cent 100 per cent (All district development committees adhere)

The Government of Nepal ensures secured tenure rights of forest and public land dependent communities through the implementation of appropriate policies and legal framework, and upholds the equal rights of women and disadvantaged as members of such communities.

Forest and public land (especially riverbed farming) policies are formulated

Riverbed farming policy is in draft format developed by Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development. Forestry policy is being developed.

Economically

poor and

socially

discriminated

people adopt

sustainable

and diversified

livelihoods

Local

government

and private /

civil society

organisations

deliver services

(effectively)

in response

to the rights

of people,

especially

those who are

economically

poor and

socially

discriminated.


Full, productive employment and decent work for all, continues to be a Millennium Development Goal where the Government of Nepal and its development partners continue to struggle. HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal has been involved in this sector since more than 50 years and is currently working with a number of private sector training, employment and enterprise service providers throughout the country. The main focus of the programme is to increase the skills of un- and underemployed youth and to increase employment opportunities.

In 2012, a total of 15,890 trainees were trained, 56 per cent of whom were women. This increase of women trainees is based on affirmative action newly introduced to ensure that women are aware of the opportunities and to attract women in non-traditional trades – as shown on the cover photo of this report with the example of Tulsi Dagaura from Kanchanpur District, who earns her living as a mason. Altogether 88 per cent of the youth who appeared for the skill test of the National Skill Testing Board passed the test and 69 per cent were gainfully employed earning a minimum monthly salary of NPR 4,500, six months after the training. As a tracer study among the Employment Fund graduates of 2008/09 showed 68 per cent of them are still in employment three years after the training with an average income of nearly NPR 9,000 per month. 251 potential migrant workers and women returnees were trained on various skills. 217 of these graduates are gainfully employed.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal further contributed to improving skill testing for various trades with the development of general and occupational quality indicators for ten occupations, eight occupational profiles and 14 new curricula as well as 13 updated and/or translated curricula. Collaboration and coordination with different government agencies related to the sector not only supported better understanding of the progress and achievements, but also helped in institutionalization of tested approaches. As a result the Employment Fund model has been largely adopted by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank as a blueprint for the design of

Education and Skills Development

their skills training projects. It further created the basis for an intensive institutional collaboration for the joint monitoring and capacity building with the Ministry of Education.

The Education and Skills Programme observed 2012 also as a year of innovations.

New approaches to enterprising for job creation at scale and inclusion of very poor and youth with special needs were piloted and tested in different initiatives. The group based banana farming approach was changed into a private sector led approach involving new banana nurseries. As a result seven tissue culture based banana nurseries were established using private initiative and investment with a capacity of 106,000 banana suckers, i.e. banana saplings. This improved sucker availability helped expand the banana farming area in the working districts by 37 hectares in 159 disadvantaged households within just 6 months. In order to make better use of waste from the banana fruit production, banana stem paper making skills training was provided resulting in six banana paper making enterprises. Each of these enterprises created about five additional job opportunities.

A similar approach is currently being applied for herbal processing based enterprises in collaboration with four distillation units in the Far Western Tarai. Linking enterprise development with the productive use of electricity was initiated towards the end of the year. The involvement of returnee migrants in enterprising activities on a pilot basis has proven very successful. The first 60 returnee migrants established their own businesses ranging from horticultural nurseries, dairy processing and poultry farms to different off-farm enterprises after receiving business development services and technical skills training.

Recognizing the importance of credits for enterprise development, Memoranda of Understanding were signed with commercial banks. NMB Bank and the MEGA Bank have initiated support by providing credits for clients who submit viable business plans.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation

Nepal’s vocational and entrepreneurial skills development supports employment and job creation for thousands of Nepali youth.

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101,993individuals received vocational training for gainful employment since 1992

FrOM A SubSISTENCE FArMEr TO A bANANA ENTrEprENEur

Tika Ram Chaudhary, 29, is a smallholder farmer in Gadariya Village of Kailali District belonging to Tharu ethnic group. He recalls that he often had to go to bed without food because his family was very poor. He went to Punjab (India) as a migrant worker for a year, but had to return to Nepal because of insufficient earning.

Motivated by the initial success as a member of a HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal supported banana farming group in 2010 and trained by a local resource person, Tika Ram prepared a business plan for banana farming. In 2011 Tika Ram took loan from local money lenders and leased slightly over a hectare of public land. His parents were not happy with this decision, left him and joined his brother’s family thinking that he would be soon in bad debt and would also put them in financial problems.

However, after nine months, Tika Ram harvested the first bananas, which fetched a good income. Step by step, he expanded his banana faming enterprise, repaid all the loans and started saving some money, which he continued to invest in his new business. In 2012, after technical training, he added a tissue culture based banana nursery with the capacity of 25,000 banana suckers. Today Tika Ram employs ten to twelve formerly unemployed local youth and banana traders come to his farm to purchase his produce.

Tika Ram Chaudhary has expansion plans. He would like to purchase a small tractor by taking loan from a financial institution and increase his banana farm to twelve hectares in the coming year. He hopes that his brother, who is currently working in Malaysia, will join him soon in his enterprises. His dream is to be a leading entrepreneur at national level. Tika Ram Chaudhary’s story can be viewed on the YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX38WThvQMQ)


Nepali farmers, men, women and children have adapted to climate variability through a variety of means. However the risk of climate change is pushing them beyond their capacity to cope and adapt to the changes they have traditionally dealt with. HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal through its programmes aims to contribute to increasing climate resilience and livelihoods of these vulnerable people. To achieve this, the organisation follows a three pillared approach: (i) climate change sensitisation and climate friendly behaviour within organisation; (ii) climate change adaptation practice at local level and, based on this (iii) engage in policy dialogue through evidence based research and advocacy to provide feedback to formulate local community centric climate policies, programmes, planning and finance.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal recognises that human security, poverty reduction and prosperity in near future will depend on the integration of climate change adaptation in all sectors, programmes and their implementation at all levels. Through its two projects in this working area it has begun some work in the area of climate education for school children and farmers, analysis of local vulnerability and livelihoods with local communities and collaboration with village development committees for water use master planning. More importantly through its various programmes and projects, the organisation is contributing towards enabling men, women and children to increase their climate adaptive capacity through various interventions including: promotion of farm yard manure, crop diversification and mixing, techniques to increase organic content of soil and greater soil retention, coffee agro-forestry practice, biological pest control mechanism, drought-tolerant crop varieties, resilient local and improved varieties of crops, small ponds for water storage, water source protection, forage

620.87tonnes CO2 equivalent emitted in 2012

Environment and Climateproduction and the utilization of marginal land such as riverbed farming. In addition, the organization promotes water supply and sanitation schemes, educates schools to use reliable weather reading device, advocates for tenure rights of women, men and children at greater risks and facilitates in the process to help them raise their voice for their rights regarding forest and water resources for livelihoods.

In 2012 two project teams worked in Ramechhap and Sindhupalchok districts and reached out to about 1,000 farmers through 30 trained teachers, 420 students and 100 trainee farmers, who attended various training classes and climate cultural programmes. Trained teachers have started incorporating climate change adaptation in their teaching lesson plans. They are using local natural resources and farming system as learning ground for climate science and environment. Trained students have started applying their knowledge on farms and homestead and are engaging with their parents and elders in learning about the visible change in local environment and trying out some adaptive measures in their farming system. Students who were previously shy to voice their opinions during community meetings have become more vocal. Students have been recording rainfall and temperature data on a daily basis for wider dissemination, laying the foundation for an early warning system. Climate change related activities are being practiced as part of cultural programmes and institutionalized through existing child eco clubs.

In addition, an action research project on water governance in Melamchi catchment area was started in September 2012. The aim of the research is to help local government and communities to better plan water supply and educate children about climate adaptation measures, mainly focusing on use of water.

Government school teachers,

their students and surrounding local communities have learned about climate change and its impact on their environment through HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal’s interventions.

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CLIMATE CHANGE – AN ISSuE wE NEED TO STArT THINkING AbOuT NOw IN Our VILLAGE

Pashupati Tamang is a grade 10 student at Jhatteswor Higher Secondary School in Nagdaha, Ramechhap and belongs to ethnic minority group. His family of five owns around twelve ropanis of rainfed agricultural land, where they grow maize, buckwheat, mustard and millet. His father works as a contractor.

Pashupati participated in the climate change activities in his school when he was in Grade 9 and was introduced to the issue of climate change, a new topic for him. He says, “Our teachers used to teach in a conventional way whereas, after incorporating climate change in the curriculum, we now have the opportunity to learn new things in different ways.”

Pashupati says that he now realized climate change is a global issue and developing countries are more vulnerable. He feels he needs to start thinking seriously about how to adapt to the negative impacts. “I had a chance to talk with older people of our village as a part of our research work. According to one resident, previously they used to plant millet in June while now they need to plant in August because monsoons are starting late.”

In the future he plans to have discussions on climate change, its negative impacts and adaptation measures in his village through his mother’s group meeting.


In order to address pertinent issues related to local governance, service delivery and migration in Nepal, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal works with various stakeholders both at local and national levels through local level planning, public auditing practices in all its initiatives, decentralization of agricultural extension service delivery, support to development partners in third party monitoring and implementation of the right to information to potential migrants. All HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal projects support the establishment of inclusive users’ committees and ensure the disadvantaged groups’ participation in meaningful partnership with local bodies and development actors.

As a part of the ongoing effort to promote good governance, the process of village development periodic plan was continued in Achham, Dailekh, Jajarkot and Kalikot. In 2012, a total of 25 village development committees completed the formulation of their periodic plans and an additional 28 village development committees have been in different stages of the plan formulation process. Out of the 47 village development committees which have periodic plans, 43 have succeeded in meeting minimum conditions and are able to get additional budget in 2013. As a result of having periodic plans, the committees have at least a framework as well as an investment menu for planning, implementing and monitoring local development works, their annual planning exercise have become more streamlined and more socially inclusive. An internal assessment of the periodic plans of 22 village development committees revealed that about 70 per cent of the planned activities specified in the annual plans based on the periodic plan have been implemented. The support demand for such planning exercise is gradually increasing both from local governments as well as different development partners. As closer integration of smallholders with markets is indispensable for reducing poverty, their access to well-functioning markets can be an effective strategy. However, without good governance practices along the value chains, smallholders cannot benefit and improve their situation. For this purpose, HELVETAS

Governance and peaceSwiss Intercooperation Nepal has been focusing its interventions in good governance of value chains thereby increasing competitiveness, performance and providing effective technologies to smallholders.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal has been successful in improving access to information for potential migrant workers and their families through information centres and outreach work both in the working districts and in Kathmandu. The information centres have provided information and counselling services to 9,363 (10 per cent women) persons. Several events of orientation programmmes and school awareness programmes were organized in various existing groups and schools. In addition, the free legal aid clinic provided legal and paralegal services to 515 (16 per cent women) victimized migrants. Likewise, 343 women migrants from 45 districts were supported with shelter, general counselling and health check-up. The information centres are found effective in reducing the problem of lack of access to information on safer migration process for potential migrant workers. Strong service delivery capacity of the government agencies is essential for overall improvement in the foreign employment sector.

In collaboration with the Partnership for Transparency Fund, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal has initiated an innovative programme ‘Citizen Actions for Results, Transparency and Accountability’ since 2012. The aim is to support engagement of independent civil society in third party monitoring of the World Bank financed projects. Under this initiative, four civil society organizations have been implementing third party monitoring of four projects in the sector of rural roads, poverty alleviation, youth training/employment and peace promotion out of nine identified projects. Experiences gained so far are positive and it is learned that a proactive approach is needed to build government buy-in for the third party monitoring as a means to improve performance rather than criticize it. Furthermore, capacity of civil society organizations has also come up as a crucial issue.

1,050public audits were conducted since 2004

Improved transparency, full

accountability and meaningful participation of primary stakeholders in all HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal supported projects help to build a more just society.

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FINALLy I HAVE SOME HOpE FOr THE FuTurE

Amrita Khadka, 24, is from Sindhupalchok District currently residing in Gwarko, Lalitpur District. She went to Kuwait as an undocumented worker via India with the help of a broker, to work as a housemaid. Soon she found out that she would not receive the promised salary and work conditions. After a long ordeal lasting several months during which she changed several houses, she escaped and went to the Nepali Embassy in Kuwait for help. They provided her with shelter and helped her return to Nepal.

Amrita reached Nepal without any money and as she sat in the airport not knowing what to do next she was approached by a staff of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal’s partner organization which works with victimized migrant women. Amrita was then brought to the shelter house. A few days later, Amrita moved in with a friend and tried her hand at working as a domestic helper, construction labourer and in a paper factory. When she learned about the skills training opportunity for returnee migrants, she joined the two months training for tempo driving. She passed the trial on her first test and practiced driving for two months on the road for confidence building. Now she drives a rented tempo and does an average of 10 trips a day.

“In the beginning when I started to work, I had an accident and had to pay penalty,” Amrita says. “At that time I thought I was not fit for the job, but, I refused to lose hope again. I often meet my fellow villagers and they are proud that I am working and independent. I am happy that finally I can dream of being financially independent”.


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Agriculture remains the mainstay of the rural economy in Nepal, providing livelihood for three-fourth of the population and accounting for 33 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Growth in the agriculture sector is crucial for reducing poverty in Nepal. HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal supported rural economy projects continue to increase soil fertility, improve farm productivity, promote sustainability of organic coffee production, improve techniques and approaches of riverbed farming, facilitate marketing of farm produce of small producers and institutionalize decentralized agricultural extension in 22 mid hill and Tarai districts.

In 2012, 45,638 households were directly involved in the rural economy programme. 2,498 farmers earned at least NPR 20,000 per household in the last six months from the sales of cash crops and vegetables. 6,345 households are found involved in value chain oriented marketing of agricultural and non-timber forest product commodities and they are reported to have earned NPR 160 million with NPR 25,306 average household income. 15 collection centres were able to transact various commodities equivalent to NPR 85.5 million in the year 2012.

In addition to improved food availability for more than four to six months, 3,165 households earned on average NPR 20,815 per household from a single crop cycle on about 0.11 hectares of riverbed land. The total income from the sale of coffee at farm level by coffee producers in nine districts has increased from NPR 44.6 million in 2011 to NPR 48 million in 2012, i.e. NPR 4,092 per household on average.

The decentralized Farmer-to-Farmer approach continues to prove itself as an effective means of reaching farmers and working with agriculture, forestry and environment committees has now been extended to all village development committees in seven working districts. In addition this approach has also been initiated in selected

103,206households were advised and trained in agriculture, forestry or animal husbandry since 1997

rural EconomyTarai districts. Based on the encouraging experiences up to date, the Department of Agriculture circulated a directive to all 75 District Agriculture Development Offices for their active engagement in establishing agriculture, forestry and environment committees, their support in allocation of and utilization of 15 per cent funds of the block grants and incorporation of the Farmer-to-Farmer approach as a mandatory activity in their annual plans. Notable progress has also been made in the formation and strengthening of primary producers’ cooperatives and in all nine districts cooperative unions have been formed for coffee promotion and marketing. This development is crucial for maintaining coffee quality, organic certification and timely payments to the producers.

A few cooperative unions have now established long-term business relationships with international fair trade buyers for exporting organic coffee and receiving handsome premiums. However, white stem borer, a pest of the coffee plant, continues to be a serious problem. The efforts to implement control and management campaigns in collaboration with different district and national stakeholders including the National Tea and Coffee Development Board were stepped up and need further attention in near future. In order to avoid the potential impacts of serious pest infestation, different crop insurance models were reviewed. For this the learning from riverbed farming, where three groups practiced the crop security scheme promoted by the Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal, was also interesting

The ‘Local Riverbed Farming Promotion Policy-2069’ was drafted by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development with the support of the Riverbed Farming Alliance, an alliance of likeminded organizations including HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal. In addition to the districts in the Mid and Far Western Tarai, activities on riverbed farming have now also been initiated in two districts of the Central Tarai, Rautahat and Sarlahi.


supports improved food security and cash income, while not compromising on the sustainable management of natural resources.

17

IN JuST ONE yEAr My LIFE HAS TrANSFOrMED

Kokila Biswokarma of Sigaudi in Dailekh District is solely responsible for the upbringing of her two daughters after her husband passed away six years ago following a traffic accident in Mumbai where he had gone for work. Kokila had only two ropanis of land, one small cow and a small dilapidated house. She had to rely on her land for the family’s livelihood – sometimes she took on seasonal work in her village as she received no help from her extended family. Life has been very hard for her.

She joined the Simalbari farmer group in 2011 and was provided training in sustainable soil management technologies and the cultivation of new crops. She adopted all of the new practices that she learnt – such as improved farmyard manure and compost management, collection of cattle urine for making plant tonics and bio-pesticides and the importance of including legumes in the crop cycle.

Today Kopila grows a variety of vegetables and tomatoes in a polytunnel on her two ropanis of land. She received support to upgrade her cattle shed enabling her to collect the cattle urine and properly manage her farmyard manure. In her first year, she sold off-season tomatoes and a variety of vegetables. With the income she bought a milking buffalo. In one year, she says, her life has transformed – she now has no money worries at home. She can afford sufficient clothes for her daughters and herself and is able to pay for her daughter’s higher secondary school.

In 2012, she began training to become an experienced leader farmer. Once she has qualified, she will be able to train other farmer groups in the surrounding area and earn a little extra cash. She is confident that this new source of income is sustainable and hopes she is able to save more money so that she can buy some more land, build a new house and properly educate her two daughters.


Improved access to basic services

including water supply, sanitation, irrigation water and mobility are crucial elements of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation’s work in Nepal.

Rural livelihoods significantly depend on infrastructure among other factors. HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal is engaged in improving rural people’s access to basic services through infrastructure such as rural roads, trail bridges, small irrigation and drinking water and sanitation schemes.

Approximately 1.7 million people directly benefitted in the year 2012 from water and infrastructure related interventions. 9,349 people enjoyed new access to safe drinking water facilities from 22 new spring fed and three rainwater harvesting drinking water schemes whereas access to improved sanitation was provided to 1,500 households thereby improving their health and reducing drudgery for women. Three village development committees were supported to reach open defecation free declaration while six were supported for development of water use master plan. Access to round the year irrigation was availed for an additional 987 hectares of land through 126 farmer managed irrigation systems. This contributed to increased income and food security of about 6,300 households in the mid hills. Additional 1.58 million people have improved access to basic services and economic opportunities from 276 new trail bridges. Some 14,516 households benefitted from road building activities of 128 km of rural roads. Implementation of infrastructure contributed to the local economies through generation of employment opportunities. Approximately 3.15 million person days of local employment were mobilised due to water and infrastructure interventions in 2012.

Technical assistance to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of the Trail Bridge Sector Wide Approach was continued. This achievement led to the completion of the 5,000th trail bridge in Nepal in the year 2012. Following the perceived need of an increased focus on maintenance in

water and Infrastructureinfrastructure projects, technical assistance was also provided to carry out a bridge condition investigation of about 1,200 bridges and maintenance survey of 127 bridges. Technical support was further provided to Indonesia, Laos, Ethiopia and Switzerland for survey, design and implementation of trail bridges.

The water and infrastructure interventions of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal have been very effective in addressing gender equity, social inclusion and poverty issues. On average the outreach to disadvantaged groups is more than 60 per cent. Public hearing and public audits are integral parts of these interventions, thereby ensuring transparency, accountability and good governance. An external review of the Local Infrastructure for Livelihood Improvement project, focusing on farmer managed irrigation schemes, has found the project highly relevant and effective. In this project HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal is supporting the government to develop small irrigation as a sub sector and alongside providing assistance for developing technical manuals and implementation guidelines as foundation for this sub sector.

Capacity building is an integral component of all water and infrastructure initiatives within HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal and believed to be one of the main success factors for sustainability of the projects. The institutional capacity of users’ groups on one hand is crucial for managing operation and maintenance funds as well as mobilization of users for maintenance activities. The technical capacity of individuals – such as bridge wardens, tap stand care takers, water masons, irrigation system care takers - not only supports the functionality of these schemes, but also provides these individuals with an additional opportunity for income generation as in the case of Chakra Bahadur Shahi.

13,081,740people have access to pedestrian bridges, rural roads, drinking water, sanitation and small scale irrigation since 1960.

19

A TECHNICIAN TrAINED by HELVETAS SwISS INTErCOOpErATION HAS NO DEArTH OF JObS

Chakra Bahadur Shahi, 52, from Shreekot in Dailekh District, suffered loss of vision in one of his eyes due to severe illness in his early childhood. He has a large family of eleven members, but owned just four ropani of land and a small thatched house. The produce of the land was not sufficient to feed the large family round the year, so Chakra occasionally worked as unskilled daily labourer. As was the case with other youth in his village, Chakra migrated to India a couple of times in search of employment, but the wage from a full day of back-breaking labour was just enough for his survival, leaving no savings for his family.

Meanwhile, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal supported the implementation of a drinking water and sanitation scheme nearby Chakra’s village. Chakra participated in a 15 day village maintenance worker training and later in another 15 day rainwater harvesting masonry training. This was the turning point in his life. Since then he has worked in many drinking water and sanitation schemes in Dailekh, Kalikot and Achham districts and is presently working in a new drinking water and sanitation scheme under construction in Sigaudi Village in Dailekh District.

With his earning Chakra has been able to support his family and recently renovated his old thatched house. The family has bought a small piece of land in Kohalpur of Banke District. “The training has drastically changed my life!” his wife, Jaisara, says, “Life is easier now because of the good earning of my husband. We can now afford to buy good food and new clothes when required, which used to be a dream earlier. Most important of all, now my husband comes home more frequently and we have more time to together”.



is committed to develop a diverse and technically competent workforce to optimally serve its primary stakeholders.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal is committed to the development and well-being of its employees. The goal is to recruit, build and retain competent and committed human resources that can strongly contribute towards the organisation’s strategy. We believe in and respect workforce diversity and are committed towards inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds in our staff composition. In 2012, out of a total nationwide workforce of 253 (12 more than in the previous year), 61 (or 24 per cent) were women and 47 per cent (5 per cent more than in 2011) of total 60 new recruits were Dalits, Janajati and Madhesi. Five internationally recruited staff supported the organization in various key functions. This is an encouraging trend reflecting HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal’s commitment towards its workforce diversity.

Human resources

Strategically the ongoing emphasis to recruit female staff resulted in 37 per cent of the new recruits in 2012 being female. Further efforts need to be made to reach the target of employing 33 per cent female staff in senior positions. The major changes in 2012 were observed in the representation of Madhesi and Janajati. While the number of Madhesi staff increased to the national average, the Janajati representation decreased. For this reason, more emphasis has to be given to enhance Janajati representation in 2013. Although the Dalit representation in new recruits is in increasing trend, efforts still need to be made to reach Dalit staff representation in total as per the national average.

Comparison of work force with national average

Percent of national staff

National average

76%

48%

24%

52%

40%

30%

13%

6% 6%

11%

25%

32%

16%15%

Mal

e

bra

hmin

/C

hhet

tri/

Thak

uri

Dal

it

Fem

ale

New

ar

Jana

jati

Mad

hesi

New recruitments in 201263%

76%

24%

37%

43%40%

10%13%

10%

6%

13%

25%23%

16%

Percent of new recruits

Percent of national staff

Mal

e

bra

hmin

/C

hhet

tri/

Thak

uri

Dal

it

Fem

ale

New

ar

Jana

jati

Mad

hesi

21

I am privileged to have the pleasure of working with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal for more than three decades. I have enjoyed my time here working with colleagues of different nationalities, culture and age groups.

Most of the things on my way from home to the office have changed. I can now see many tall buildings, a six lane road and a lot of traffic, but the culture and values of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal are unchanged.

As I am retiring from mid-October 2013, my sole advice is: “Work hard when you need to; then, you will be prepared to enjoy the time they call ‘retirement’. Give your best to the organization you work with, without calculating your returns; they will come in due time.”

Over the years HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal has been kind to recognize my efforts. I paid attention to what is required for the organization’s betterment and where I could, I offered my services. There is no need for any office politics. When we remind ourselves of our purpose here, we will always stand beside each other for a good working environment and sustainable development of Nepal.

I would like to thank all my friends, fellow colleagues and friends in HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation. I am grateful for your trust, cooperation, warm hospitality and forbearance, which are virtues contributing to harmony at the workplace. I wish the organization growth and success in all development initiatives.

Over the past 33 years I have been responsible for procurement and logistics. Carrying out my tasks by strictly following the organisation’s policy and the national laws and regulations side by side was not easy, but I was able to do it efficiently because I loved doing it.

I will be retiring from my position in October 2013. I would like to thank all the individuals directly or indirectly associated with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to work, learn, and grow with this organisation. Working here has contributed greatly to both my personal and professional development. I will leave with many memories to cherish. I intend to enjoy my retirement years with these sweet memories. I will never forget all those who helped me nurture my career. I will ever remain grateful for their support and creating an environment of mutual trust and friendship. I would like to thank to my colleagues for their moral and professional support and guidance.

THIrTy yEArS OF SErVICE: yOGENDrA bHupAL MALLA (HEAD OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTrATION)

33 yEArS OF SErVICE: MOHAN krISHNA MANANDHAr (LOGISTICS AND prOCurEMENT OFFICEr)


budget and Investment

Overall expenditure in the year 2012 was CHF 13.66 million (92 per cent) against the budget of CHF 14.78 million.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation with 49 per cent and the Department for International Development, UKAid, with 28 per cent, remained the major donors of the HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal programme. 14 per

cent of the funds were from the organisation’s own resources from fund raising and matching funds. The World Bank and the European Union contributed 5 and 3 per cent, respectively. Other donors contributing in total about 1 per cent included Fastenopfer, ICCO & Kerk in Actie, the International Development Research Center, the Partnership for Transparency Fund, the RAIN Foundation and the Rights and Resources Initiative.

Sources of funds

HELVETAS Swiss Intercoopeartion, 2.0 Million CHF

14%

Swiss Agency for Development

and Cooperation,

6.7 CHF Million

49%

European Union, 0.5

Million CHF

3%The World Bank, 0.7

Million CHF

5%

Department for International Development UK Aid, 3.8 Million CHF

28%

Others, 0.1 Million CHF

1%

Of the total expenditure in 2012 of CHF 13.66 million about 39 per cent was invested in the Water and Infrastructure working area, 38 per cent in Education and Skills Development, 15 per cent in Rural Economy, 1 per cent in Environment and Climate and about 7 per cent in Governance and Peace.

23

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal is proud to take reference of the independent audit report indicating very good overall financial management.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal programme focus is to reach disadvantaged communities, economically poor and rural population. Our continued effort resulted in investing over 69 per cent of our total investment in 2012 for

the benefit of rural people and over 64 per cent for disadvantaged communities. Similarly approximately 86 per cent of the resources were invested to directly benefit the economically poor population. As in the case of preceding years, more than half of the total beneficiaries were women. The graphics depict the investment made in 2012 for benefit of our target group and location.

Investment by beneficiary group and location, 2012

Investment by working area (budget vs. actual expenditure)

working area

per

cent

of t

otal

exp

endi

ture

wat

er a

nd In

fras

truc

ture

budget

Expenditure

Edu

catio

n an

d S

kills

Dev

elop

men

t

rur

al E

cono

my

Env

ironm

ent a

nd C

limat

e

Gov

erna

nce

and

peac

e

27%

39%

49%

38%

13% 15

%

10%

7%

1% 1%

86%

64%

47%

69%

Poor Disadvantaged Woman Rural areaper

cent

of t

otal

inve

stm

ent


Audit report

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of “HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal” which comprise the Fund Accountability Statement and Notes to Accounts for the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012.

Management's responsibility for the Financial StatementsManagement is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This responsibility includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor's responsibilityOur responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Nepal Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

OpinionIn our opinion the financial statements gives a true and fair view of the financial position of “HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal” as of 31 December 2012 and operation results for the period then ended in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and has been prepared on the basis of the books of account of the Projects and Programme offices.

25


In the overall programme of HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal the strategic orientation to create jobs and employment with opportunities for wage and self-employment for the socially discriminated and economically poor will also continue in 2013. Skills development for un- and underemployed for the domestic and overseas market will provide the basis for this. Farmers in the working districts will be supported in the transition from subsistence to semi- or commercial farming where feasible. For this, more attention will be given to business development and entrepreneurial skills amongst the producers. At the same time it will be attempted to upscale the learning from the innovations related to job creation in local resource based value chains. This includes the further promotion of selected value chains such as coffee, banana, turmeric, various herbal plants and produce from riverbed farming using a market systems approach. In order to create more jobs, the focus will not only remain on production, but increasingly on processing of the main products and waste in the production process through product diversification, using investments from returnee migrants and credits from financial institutions. New initiatives related to the production and application of biochar will be initiated in 2013 with the aim to create community based climate change mitigation opportunities to support agricultural and enterprise development.

In order to improve service delivery, the planning approaches for inclusive village development and integrated water resources management will be upscaled to additional village development committees within the working districts and beyond, depending on the additional financial resources that can be mobilized. In addition to existing village level, district based approaches will be initiated. The efforts to increase workforce diversity within HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal and its partners and meaningful participation of women and discriminated groups in all programme activities will need continued

way Forward

attention in 2013. A new initiative on water integrity will strengthen the organization’s efforts to increase transparency, accountability and participation in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene sector in addition to on-going initiatives in other sectors.

Additional resources from multi- and bilateral donors will be sought for current HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal funded projects and innovations, with the aim to upscale the learning. The continuation of existing donor funded projects will be given emphasis based on their strategic importance for the country and the respective sectors. The projects on farmer managed irrigation, trail bridges and coffee will continue with their sub sector support. The initiative on safer migration is expected to expand to an additional 16 districts, while new activities to address issues related to migration to India will be identified. Otherwise, the current working districts will be continued with further consolidation of the programme and the attempt to develop synergies amongst the various projects in these districts including a cluster approach in the working districts of the Tarai.

Gender equity, social inclusion and poverty, knowledge management and learning and climate change adaptation will remain cross cutting themes in the HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal programme of 2013. For all three themes, strategies have been developed in the course of 2012, which will now be implemented. As part of the knowledge management strategy, key practices of the organization will be more streamlined towards better capture, exchange and application of lessons learnt from the practical experience of working at the grassroots. Given the inconclusive and unstable political situation, the absence of a constitution and no clear picture of the upcoming federal structure, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal will have to remain flexible and responsive to possible changes.

The production of banana stem paper creates enterprises and jobs in rural areas of the Tarai

27

portfolio

Education and Skills Development

ELAM - Informal Sector Enterprise Development and Employment Generation ProgrammeEmployment FundSkill Development and Employment for the Informal Sector

Achham, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Khotang, Okhaldunga and RamechhapAchham, Bhojpur, Dailekh, Doti, Khotang, Sankhuwasabha and TehrathumCountry wide Achham, Dailekh, Jajarkot and Kalikot International

Banke, Bardiya, Bara, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Parsa, Rautahat and Sarlahi

Country wideBanke, Bardiya, Bara, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Parsa, Rautahat and Sarlahi

Coverage (Districts)

Ramechhap and SindhupalchokSindhupalchokNo particular districts



Gulmi, Kaski, Kavre, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Palpa, Parbat, Sindhupalchok and SyangjaBanke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Rautahat and SarlahiAchham, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Khotang, Okhaldunga and Ramechhap


No particular districtsAchham, Dailekh, Jajarkot and KalikotKhotang and Sarlahi


Environment and ClimateCommunity Practice in Schools for Learning Climate Change AdaptationEffective Water Governance in Asian HighlandsRights and Resources Initiative

Governance and peaceCitizen Action for Results, Transparency and Accountability ProgrammeLinking Smallholders with Local Institutions and MarketsSafer Migration Project

rural EconomyCoffee Promotion ProgrammeRiverbed Farming for Landless and Land-poorSustainable Soil Management Programme

water and InfrastructureLocal Infrastructure for Livelihood ImprovementRural Access ProgrammeTrail Bridge Sub-sector Project Water Resources Management ProgrammeSouth-South Cooperation Unit

Details about these projects are presented on www.helvetasnepal.org.np.


Government agencies and projectsAssociation of District Development Committees of NepalCoffee & Tea Development Section, KathmanduDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural RoadsDepartment of Water Supply and Sewerage and its regional unitsMinistry of Agriculture Development and its district units Ministry of EducationMinistry of Labour and EmploymentMinistry of Federal Affairs and Local Development and its district unitsMinistry of Urban DevelopmentNational Tea and Coffee Development BoardNepal Agriculture Research CouncilPoverty Alleviation FundProject for Agriculture Commercialization and Trade

Donor and international implementation partners:Department for International Development (UKAid)Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale ZusammenarbeitFastenopferICCO & Kerk in ActieInternational Development Research CenterRAIN FoundationRights and Resources InitiativePartnership for Transparency FundSNV Netherlands Development Organisation Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationThe European UnionThe World Bank

Non-governmental national and local implementation partnersAadarsha Youth Club, BaraAction for Development, KathmanduAgriculture Research Station, DailekhAlliance Nepal, LalitpurAndha Andhi Community Development Centre, SyangjaAnirudra Rural Reformative Centre, BaitadiAnnapurna Handicraft Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduAnnapurna Organic Agriculture Industry, ArghakhanchiAsian Human Rights and Cultural Development Forum, KathmanduAssociates’ Nepal Synergy, KathmanduBal Sewa Samaj, KhotangBara Laghu Byasaya Bikash Tatha Paramarsh Kendra, BaraBhakti Ram Pandey, BankeBheri Training Centre, BardiyaBhim Pokhara Youth Club, BaglungBiotech Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduBuddha Organic Coffee Industries Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduBusiness Nepal Consultancy Pvt. Ltd., Parsa Business, Entrepreneurship, Service & Training Centre Pvt. Ltd., Kailali Byabasay Talim Bikash Tatha Paramarsh Kendra, BaraByabasayik Krishi Paramarsh Kendra Belauri, Kanchanpur Byabasayik Krishi Uddyam Tatha Paramarsh Kendra, KailaliCAT Nepal, GorkhaCDECF, SindhupalchokCEMECA Human Resources Academy Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduCentre for Community Development, LamjungCentre for Community Development, ManangCentre for Disaster Management, RupandehiChetana Bikash Kendra, MahottariCIVIC Forum, DolakhaCoffee Cooperative Union Ltd., LalitpurCollaboration for Development, Jajarkot

College of Employment, ChitwanCommunity Centre for Development (Lamjung), KaskiCommunity Development Forum, DhankutaCommunity Development Programme, DailekhCommunity Human Resource Development Programme, RamechhapCreative Business Consultancy Centre, ParsaCreative Services and Sales Pvt. Ltd., ParsaCreative Skill Development Centre Pvt. Ltd., RautahatDalit Awareness Society, TehrathumDanfe Yuba Club, JajarkotDevelopment Concern Society, RolpaDevelopment Project Service Centre Nepal, NuwakotDevelopment Project Service Centre, RukumDistrict Coffee Cooperative Union Ltd., KabhrepalanchokDistrict Coffee Federation, GulmiDistrict Coffee Producers Association GulmiDistrict Coffee Producers Association KabhrepalanchokDistrict Coffee Producers Association KaskiDistrict Coffee Producers Association LalitpurDistrict Coffee Producers Association Palpa District Coffee Producers Association ParbatDistrict Coffee Producers Association SyangjaDolpo Educational Social and Environmental Reservation Team, DolpaDonBosco Institute of Skill Development, KathmanduENPRED Nepal, ParbatEnrich Society of Development Centre, SurkhetEnvironment Conservation and Service Centre, OkhaldungaEthnic Welfare Society, OkhaldungaEverest Club, DailekhEverest Coffee Mill, KathmanduFar-west Community Development Forum, KailaliForever Craft Training Centre, KathmanduForum for Dhading Development, DhadingForum for Rural Development Nepal, OkhaldungaForum for Rural Welfare and Agriculture Reform for Development, ChitwanFranchising SKILL Pvt. Ltd., LalitpurG-Force Security Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduGlobal Engineering Consultancy, AchhamGlobal Institute of Hotel Management Tourism Technical Centre, KathmanduGramin Bikash Jana Sewa Kendra, DailekhGramin Bikasko Lagi Miteri Nepal, BhojpurGramin Samudaik Bikash Sewa Parishad, MahottariGurukul Institute of Technical Education, KanchanpurHelp Line Nepal, RautahatHighland Coffee Promotion Company Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduHill Resource Development Centre, MyagdiHilly Region Development Centre, JajarkotHimalaya Community Development Forum, NawalparasiHimalaya Jadibuti Prasodhan Kendra, Kanchanpur Himalaya Youba Club, JajarkotHimalayan Bio Trade Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduHimalayan Community Resource Development Centre, KalikotHimalayan Conservation and Development Association, HumlaHimali Club, KhotangHuman Resource Development Centre, DailekhHuman Rights and Environment Development Centre, KalikotIndreni Samaj Kendra, PalpaInnovative Community Development Center, GulmiIntegrated Development Resource Centre, Kathmandu, (Dailekh/Achham)Integrated Rural Development and Reconstruction Campaign Nepal, SaptariJagat Samaj Sudhar Manch, AchhamJana Sewa Samaj Nepal, KhotangJanabhawana Yuwa Club, RamechhapJanachetanasil Samaj, Mahottari

THANkSHELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation would like to sincerely thank all its partners who continue to support in achieving the desired outcomes:

29

Janahit Training and Trading, KaskiJaya Durga Bhawani Jadibuti Prasodhan Udyog Jayan Technical College of Technology, RupandehiJhapa Technical Institute, JhapaJimnadi Niyantran Samrakshan Sanstha, SarlahiK.S. Laghu Udhyog Tatha Byabasaya Bikash Paramarsha Kendra, BaraKamalesh Mishra, BankeKedar Rural Development Society, DotiKhurkot Youth Club, ParbatKohalpur Institute of Technical Education, BankeKotgari Shikhar Samaj, OkhaldungaKrishi Byabasaya Sewa Kendra, Kailali Krishi Byabasayee Tatha Prabidhik Paramarsh Kendra, KanchanpurKrishi Sewa Tatha Bastu Prasar Kendra, Kailali Krishna Gopal Yadav, BankeKushal Byabasaya Paramarsh Kendra Pvt. Ltd., BaraLaxmi Mentha Utadan Samuha, Bardiya Likhu Demba Community Development Forum, OkhaldungaLocal Development Fund, JajarkotLoknath Kewat, BankeLumbini Integrated Development Organization Nepal, KapilvastuManakamana Training and Skill Development Institute, KailaliMEGA Bank Ltd., KathmanduMicro Enterprise Development for Trade Empowerment Service Training Pvt. Ltd., Kailali Mid West Engineering Consultant, SurkhetMilan, MyagdiMountain Social Welfare Centre, RamechhapMulti Dimensional Engineering Consult, Banke (Jajarkot)Mustang Coffee, KathmanduMustang Welfare Association, MustangNational Association of Community Electricity Users Nepal, LalitpurNational Employment Training Centre, KathmanduNatural Resource Industries Pvt. Ltd., BaraNatural Resource Management and Sustainable Development Program, LalitpurNawa Kiran Samaj Sewa, KhotangNepal Coffee Producers Association, KathmanduNepal Employment Promotion and Enterprise Consultancy Centre Pvt. Ltd., Kanchanpur Nepal Organic Coffee Products, KathmanduNepal Permaculture Group, KathmanduNepal Red Cross Society, SindhuliNepal Training Centre Pvt. Ltd., BankeNGO Network, TanahunNMB Bank, KathmanduNo NGO, DadeldhuraOm Herbs Production, BaraOriental Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre, KathmanduPahadi Bikas Samaj, RamechhapPanchakanya Training Institute Pvt. Ltd., KaskiPanchtare Yuva Samrachhak Munch, JajarkotPariwartan Nepal, SunsariParticipatory Rural Sustainable Development Centre Nepal, AchhamPathibhara Himalayan Polytechnic Institute, SunsariPeace Technical Training Centre, LalitpurPEACEWIN, BajuraPeople Forum for Human Rights, KathmanduPlantec Coffee Estate Pvt. Ltd., KathmanduPourakhi Nepal, KathmanduPoverty Alleviation & Rural Development Program, DhankutaPR Consultancy, SunsariPrasodhan Kendra Bayawasthapan Samiti, Kanchanpur Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee, KathmanduPrawidhik & Samajik Bikash Sewa Samuha, BajhangRam Naresh Yadav, BankeRastriya Rojgar Prabardhan Kendra, SarlahiRegional Agriculture Training Centre, KailaliResource Management and Rural Empowerment Center, Kabhrepalanchok

Rural Awareness and Development Organization Nepal, MakwanpurRural Community Development Centre, DailekhRural Community Development Centre, MuguRural Development and Environment Conservation Centre, AchhamRural Development and Environment Conservation Group, NuwakotRural Development Centre, AchhamRural Development Service Centre, DailekhRural Development Service Centre, JajarkotRural Integrated Development Centre (RIDC), JajarkotRural Self-reliance Development Centre, KalikotRural Women Upliftment Association, SarlahiSahabhagi, ChitwanSahara School of Hospitality Management and Tourism Nepal, KathmanduSahayogi Hartharuko Samuha, OkhaldungaSahayogi Samaj, SarlahiSajha Byawasay Ship Bikash Pvt. Ltd., RautahatSakela Club, KhotangSamaj Kalayan Samaj, DarchulaSamaj Sarokar Kendra Nepal, KhotangSamaj Sewa Youth Club, RamechhapSamudayik Biskas Pariyojana, Mahottari Sana Byabasaya Paramarsh Kendra, Murli, ParsaSarada, SalyanSathi Enterprise, KailaliSayapatri Sanstha, OkhaldungaSayaptri Sanstha, Okhaldunga School of Energy & Environmental Development, ParbatSewa Pratisthan, DangShree Tapsi Peace Society Service Union, AchhamSiddheswoar Jadibuti Prasodhan Udyog, Banke Siri Junga Gramin Bikash Kendra, PanchatharSkill and Enterprise Promotion Service Centre Pvt. Ltd., Kanchanpur Skill Development and Business Consultancy Centre Pvt. Ltd., Kailali Skill Providers and Creation of Employment Nepal Pvt. Ltd., Bardiya SKILL-Nepal, LalitpurSocial Awareness and Development Academy, KalikotSocial Awareness Centre, Surkhet (Dailekh)Social Empowerment & Building Accessibility Center Nepal, AchhamSocial Service Centre, DailekhSocial Welfare Organization, AchhamSociety Development Centre, SankhuwasabhaSocio Economic Development and Research Centre, SarlahiSomati Chaudhary, BankeSouth Asian College of Modern Technology, LalitpurSrijansheel Yuwa Samaj, RamechhapSrijansil Bywasaya Talim Kendra Pvt. Ltd., BaraSukh Sagar Tharu, BankeSungava Bikash Sanstha, IlamSunita Chaudhary, Baijapur, BankeSurya Samajik Sewa Sang, JumlaSustainable Agriculture Environment and Water Resource Conservation Centre, DailekhSustainable Agriculture Health Environment Centre, SindhupalchokTamakoshi Sewa Samaj, RamechhapTechnical Group for Social Development, TaplejungTraining & Consultancy Centre for Employment & Enterprising, KailaliTriveni Health Environment Group, BaitadiUddham Bikas Tatha Paramarsh Kendra, BaraUddham Byabasaya Bikash Company Pvt. Ltd., LamjungUdham Bikash Thata Rojgar Srijana Kendra Pvt. Ltd., SarlahiVijaya Development Resource Centre, NawalparasiVillage Development and Social Environment Forum, KalikotWorking for Access and Creation Nepal, AchhamYoung Star Club, SolukhumbuYouth Engagement in Sustainability Nepal, Achham

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude and thanks to all individual local resource persons, cooperatives, committees, experienced leader farmers and consultants for their valuable support and services extended by them.

I

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation NepalProgramme Coordination Office

Dhobighat, Lalitpur-3,G.P.O. Box 688, Kathmandu, Nepal

Phone: +977 1 5524925, +977 1 5524926 Fax: + 977 1 5531109

E-Mail: [email protected]

Documents

AnnuAl RepoRt 2012 - · PDF fileAnnuAl RepoRt 2012. ... based financing has revolutionized the way the projects are implemented and the way the training ... • Agricultural projects