Catalog

Vision Planning
ADB Review [ April-May 2006 ]

An NGO director discusses what it will take to turn around one of Asia’s most troubled rural economies

By Melissa Howell Alipalo, (malipalo@adb.org)
Consultant Writer (Cooperation Fund for the Water Sector)

Challenges loom heavily over the landlocked, mountainous kingdom of Nepal—nearly impassable terrain, armed insurgency, and national political uncertainties. Irrigation is the best weapon for overcoming Nepal’s rural poverty, says Narendra K.C. of SAPPROS Nepal, a nongovernment organization (NGO) concentrating on the poorest of the rural poor.

Narendra K.C.

SAPPROS estimates that only 20–30% of irrigation systems in rural Nepal are capable of providing year-round irrigation. Most farmers rely excessively on rainfed agriculture and limited rain catchment systems. The midwestern and farwestern regions of Nepal are prime development frontiers and where SAPPROS has initiated 231 community-based drinking water supply systems, the majority of which are hybrid systems to meet drinking and irrigation needs.

In 2005, ADB visited Narendra K.C. at his Kathmandu office to talk with him about the vision and work of SAPPROS, and the future of Nepal’s countryside.

What are the principal water and sanitation problems in Nepal, particularly where SAPPROS works?

We have discovered throughout our work that poverty lies deeper than the small farms that everybody thinks of as the poorest. In rural areas, a segment of the poorest migrates every 3 months, constantly in search of food. They will work as laborers on land or go to the district government office in search of jobs. If they work that day, they eat. Some of our people cannot even find food to put in their mouth. Irrigation is the best and most important input. That is what helps the poor.

The country is rich in water resources but planned and effective implementation of schemes have not been carried out. This is primarily due to the lack of awareness among water users to demand such things as proper sanitation. For example, the prevalence of certain traditional practices for sanitation needs to be addressed, especially for women because their health suffers the most, even where there are abundant water supplies.

How can you improve the situation?

SAPPROS goes where government has not yet been able to go. Some of these areas in the far-western development region require us to walk several days from where the road stops in order to reach communities.

Lack of improved sanitation seems to be the major constraint in these remote areas. But is this a wonder when even the people in the capital city of Kathmandu fail to adopt safe sanitation practices? But providing training for proper sanitation can improve this situation. So, too, will raising awareness among women, as they are the key actors in the betterment of society. Training local social mobilizers, especially women, seems to be the only effective means of raising awareness in targeted communities.

How is SAPPROS’ work affected by the current conflict and political challenges in Nepal?

We have a lot of experience implementing micro projects in the far-western rural areas, which are prone to conflict. We have been working in those conflict areas for 9 years.

Conflict will always be present. Water conflict. Resource conflict. Now, government conflict. We must learn from the outside world how to address these conflicts.

In 1972, I was in the Philippines with a USAID training program when then President Marcos declared martial law. I had 10 days to leave the country, but I didn’t escape without experiencing the problem there firsthand. I was in a market buying shoes when a bomb exploded. At that time I saw the situation, I thought of Nepal; how it was so peaceful then. Now, it is here—the conflict, the violence.

Years before the Maoist revolution officially started here (in 1994), we had an idea that it was coming. People were getting poorer and poorer, and were being bypassed by services or aid. Government programs were not effective.

RAISING AWARENESS Drinking water supply projects need to first educate communities

We have to get to communities first, mobilize them to participate in projects that will provide them work and food. By integrating them into a project, they are being mobilized. If the community is strong, conflict resolution is achievable.

With an effective program, too, the Maoists there may melt into the community. They may leave the movement. Who wants that life anyway—in the jungles? They are human beings. They, too, want opportunity.

How does SAPPROS prioritize projects?

SAPPROS is rendering its best available services in Bajhang, Bajura, and Mugu districts in the far-western and midwestern development regions. Their basic needs may differ due to the varying—but all extreme—forms of poverty. Sometimes, they choose to sacrifice sanitation facilities in search of other basic needs. If they do not want our program, we leave that area. We do not impose. We facilitate. They must own it. They must master it. This way, they are empowered. And when they are empowered, they are effective and sustainable.

What are some of the challenges of your work in Nepal?

Awareness levels in targeted communities are dismal. Drinking water supply projects selected for implementation need to first of all educate communities even on the need for the project, which requires substantial time. Better-off members of the community usually work to discourage and create confusion among its members so that they can continue to exploit them. The poor communities are also located where access to water is difficult.

SAPPROS tries to educate communities on the need to integrate drinking water supply systems with water-harvesting tanks for irrigation to enable them to realize and create income-generating activities. The systems will not be sustainable unless the communities raise operation and management funds for regular maintenance of the system.

Why does SAPPROS focus on research as a part of its work program?

We cannot throw stones in the dark. We must have fact-based, not assumptionbased, implementation. SAPPROS frequently carries out research activities to evaluate our performance. It helps rectify or intensify or improve action research that is relevant to the given conditions of a community.

What three main lessons can you highlight from your work in Nepal?

Development must be humanitarian. We have to see with vision and clarity the development of communities. We are delivering to the poorest of the poor. We have identified the bottom line. That, in itself, is a lesson learned. Development is possible in rural areas where there are three characteristics—grassroots organization, transparency in all activities and provision of public auditing system, and means to build capacity of the community and guide and facilitate the community in constructing productive infrastructure.

Go back to current issue

Email this to a friend