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Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. -1 of 74 BACK | NEXT Home Page of Dams and Development Foreword I. Why an e-paper on dams and development? II. Assessing options III. Participatory processes IV. Social impacts V. Environmental impacts VI. Benefit distribution VII. Dam safety and sustainability VIII. Existing projects IX. Improving governance X. What other organizations say XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

Nepal: Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector Project (CMIASP-2004)

Over 90% of the poor in Nepal live in rural areas and poverty is more concentrated among smallholders, landless people, ethnic minorities and dalit (occupational castes at the lowest stratum of Hindu social hierarchy). Agriculture plays a central role in the livelihood of the poor yet productivity remains low and largely subsistence oriented. CMIASP aims to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability of existing small and medium size farmer managed irrigation systems (FMIS) and enhance the livelihoods of poor men and women. To achieve this objective, the project will provide improved means for water user association (WUA) empowerment, irrigation facilities, agriculture extension, and targeted livelihood enhancement to build the human capital of the poor including women and traditionally neglected groups; and, strengthen policies, plans and institutions for more responsive service delivery and sustained impacts.

During the loan design, ADB's successful policy dialogue with the Government resulted in increasing women's representation from 20% to 33% in the registered WUAs under the national irrigation policy. Moreover, a pilot demonstration activity was undertaken to show positive impacts of innovative non-conventional micro-irrigation systems on women and poverty reduction. To mainstream gender concerns, a Gender Action Plan was prepared and covenanted for CMIASP with the following features, targets and activities under the Project's two main components:

1. Participatory Irrigated Agriculture Development for FMIS:
1. 250 FMIS will have at least 33% women's representation in the registered WUAs in line with the DOI's amended irrigation policy;
2. 35% of all irrigated agricultural extension will be targeted to women farmers in line with the MOAC's policy on women's representation;
3. special programs will be developed for women in agriculture and water management and included in the district gender action plans to provide guidance at the local level;
4. at least 35% female centered households will have access to non conventional irrigation schemes such as drip, sprinkler, and water harvesting;


2. Policy Dialogue, Institutional Strengthening and Project Management:
1. two regional and one national workshop will be undertaken on gender policy development and dialogue in conjunction with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the National Planning Commission and the National Women's Commission;
2. institutional capacity of the DOI will be strengthened by hiring a local gender consultant;
3. gender specialists will be hired by NGOs/firms to work closely with the Women Development Officers of the MWCSW and the DDC gender focal point to support gender mainstreaming activities at the district level;
4. gender training will be provided to all stakeholders including DOI, DOA, DDC (senior and mid level government officials involved in extension and field level interaction) all WUA members, and NGOs/firms;
5. at least two decision making positions on WUA management committee will be promoted for women in districts with increasing women's participation;
6. gender roles in irrigation and agriculture will be analyzed in district level baseline surveys to inform subproject planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
7. all project data will be gender disaggregated;
8. partner NGOs/firms will have at least 50% women field staff;
9. the project will recruit at least 50% female Community Organizers to improve outreach and benefits to women farmers.

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