FORWARD Nepal

2018 2017/18 (2074/75)

FORWARD Nepal

2018 2017/18 (2074/75) FORWARD Nepal

Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development (FORWARD Nepal)

Central Office Bharatpur-2, Chitwan, Nepal P.O.Box 11 (Bhp) Tel: +977(56)-527623/527734 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.forwardnepal.org

Liaison Office Pulchowk, Damkal Chowk, Lalitpur +977(1)-5009148

Editorial Team: Ram Krishna Neupane, Ashmita Pandey

Design and Layout: WPS, Tel. 015550289, [email protected]

Photos: FORWARD Nepal's Photo Bank

Citation: FORWARD Nepal (2018). Annual Report 2017-18. Chitwan, Nepal. Vision

FORWARD Nepal aims a society where all women and men at all levels, the economically poor, vulnerable and marginalized have prosperous and dignified lives.

Mission

FORWARD Nepal reaches and empowers vulnerable and marginalized communities for their improved livelihoods through value chain approach, technology generation and adoption, advocacy and social transformation.

Objectives

FORWARD Nepal has the following objectives, and its programmes/projects contribute to meet these objectives.

• Enhanced food and nutrition security, and increased income of disadvantaged people. • Improved technical and managerial capability and resilience of vulnerable communities in biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk management. • Developed and validated agricultural technologies and innovations using participatory research and development approaches. • Developed physical infrastructure and strengthened local institutions. • Advocating and conducting capacity building programmes to ensure the rights of people with different ability, elders, indigenous/ethnic groups, Dalits, women, and children.

Foreword

We are delighted to present annual report of sustainable interventions, inbuilt under diverse FORWARD Nepal, which outlines our major projects. Besides, it also gives an overview of the programmes and achievements over the period financial health of the organization. July 16, 2017 to July 15, 2018. During our 22 years of existence, we were able to contribute This fiscal year has been a productive one with to the development of poor and vulnerable the launch of new concepts and interventions, communities in the social, humanitarian and addressing the issues of rural communities in livelihood spheres. Our organization has made every possible way. We successfully contributed contribution and notable achievements, and it to the increased income and improved household has served the rural communities through 98 food and nutrition security of the small-holders projects in 57 districts involving 0.402 million through the value chain development of direct beneficiaries. In the reporting year, we selected subsectors under Building Community implemented 11 projects, employing 58 regular Enterprises of Small holders in Bangladesh and staff. Besides, some consultants and research Nepal (BCES) and Enhancing Livelihoods of assistants/enumerators also contributed to Smallholder Farmers in Central Terai Districts the projects mainly on research activities and of Nepal (ELIVES) projects. Similarly, we trainings. effectively introduced climate-smart safe school programme to strengthen the communities and FORWARD Nepal has contributed to promote schools for disaster risk management as well several technologies for increased agricultural as built the resilience of a community against productivity and maintain/enhance the quality in the adverse effects of climate change through the agricultural production systems. Our projects various programmes in partnership with Plan had contributed to increase the resilience of International. We also addressed gender issues communities to cope with the climate change through various gender-responsive projects impacts and the disasters. Interventions as Girls Act, Girls and Boys Start Live Equally, regarding climate change and disaster risk Advocacy Campaign for Women Empowerment reduction (DRR) include the construction of the & Gender Equality, Youth Empowerment, and emergency shelter houses (evacuation centers) Gender Transformative - Community Resilient to protect communities from floods, construction projects, which empowered and capacitated girls of culverts and drainage canals, floods rescue and young women for lobby advocacy on their and response training, check dam construction issues of economic empowerment and stopping at the riverbanks, promotion of the climate- gender-based violence. Likewise, we have resilient technologies, climate-smart agriculture, boarded on few new leading projects namely emergency response training and many others. Agricultural Entrepreneurship among Female- In the reporting year, among the 11 projects, headed Remittance Receiving Households in we succeeded to accomplish four projects Nepal, Sustainable Economic Development in with remarkable results, in the partnership Rural Areas (SEDRA) and Dairy for Development with multiple actors having common visions. in Nepal, in collaboration with Hiroshima Similarly, we embarked on four new projects of University, Business and Finance Consulting diverse funding agencies and continuing with and Jersey Overseas Aid respectively. three projects from the previous years, which are progressing very acceptably. From the institutional standpoint, we prospered in terms of building, intensifying and fostering The annual report documents our advancement associations with a wide range of partner and gives a portrait of FORWARD Nepal- nearly agencies. We succeeded to enter in a new 22 years after its establishment. This report partnership with BFC and Jersey Overseas showcases the several ways the organization Aid. We also created a history by providing a launched its efforts to achieve the Sustainable platform for the Journalist to come together for Development Goals (SDG) through integrated and an agriculture training to enhance their capacity for better reporting of the technical issues of v an agriculture sector, in collaboration with coming years, we will strive and keep up our pace Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Chitwan. to become even more inventive and accountable Besides, we updated FORWARD's brochure in organization. Our organization does not exist on English and Nepali as well and also developed a its own, rather it's an integrated institution. So, FORWARD’s documentary video. This year, we we would like to acknowledge those who are part withdrew our investment of NPR 14,720,000 from of it and without whom the organization would the Global Agri-tech Nepal Pvt. Ltd, Banke due to not have meaning to its existence. We would change in government policy to invest such fund like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere in private company by NGOs. To reinforce our gratitude to our funding agencies, government organization in more deliberate way, we came line agencies and development partners at all up with three year’s strategic plan of FORWARD levels for their effective cooperation and support, Nepal and also amended its Constitution. As and look forward to the same in the future. We regards to the infrastructural development of would also like to express gratitude to the Board the organization, it has laid foundation for the of Directors, Advisors, Professional Affiliated building construction on its own land in Bharatpur Members, Auditors, General Members, Staff Metropolitan City-4, Kalyanpur, Chitwan. Members, and Former Staff Members for their determined work towards the betterment of the We put our generous efforts for the new community and organization as well. Our special programme partnership, collaboration and, thanks goes to the communities whom we work networking, and we need to keep up this work with. as it's a continuous process. We spent lots of time and efforts for the global grant projects Together with partners, we will continue to serve in consortium with International and National the poor and disadvantaged rural communities consulting firms and institutions but could not even better with the assimilated knowledge, succeed as expected this year. However, it has remaining committed to our mission. enhanced our skills and knowledge on proposal development and partnership capabilities. In the Let's work together to set an exemplary work and

Prof. Dr. Madhav Kumar Shrestha Netra Pratap Sen Chairperson, FORWARD Nepal Executive Director

vi Contents

Foreword 7 Abbreviations and Acronyms 10 Introduction to FORWARD Nepal 1 Programme Thematic Areas 1 Strategies/Approaches 2 Overview of the FORWARD Nepal's work in the FY 2017-18 2 Major Achievements 2 FORWARD Nepal's implemented projects in the FY 2017/18 3 Description of the projects 4 Facilitation of riverbed farming initiative in Banke, Siraha, Saptari, Morang and Jhapa districts 5 Enhancing food and nutritional security and improved livelihoods through intensification of rice-fallow system with pulse crops in South Asia 7 UN Women advocacy campaign for women’s empowerment and gender equality 10 Dairy for Development in Nepal: Boosting rural livelihoods by enhancing production techniques, strengthening value chains and improving the genetics of dairy cows in Nepal 12 Sustainable Economic Development of Rural Areas (SEDRA) 14 Enhancing livelihoods for smallholder farmers in the Central Terai districts of Nepal (ELIVES) 15 Agricultural entrepreneurship among female-headed remittance receiving households in Nepal 17 Girls’ Act Project (BALIKA SHAKTI) 19 Gender Transformative - Community Resilient (GET-CR) in Morang and Sunsari 21 Building Community Enterprises of Small-holders in Bangladesh and Nepal 23 Monitoring & Verification of Community Development Programme (CDP) 27 Donors and development partners in the FY 2017/18 29 List of publications 30 Training, Workshops, Conferences, Meetings, and Visits 31 Members – Board, Honorary, Founder, Advisory, Professional, and Auditors 33 Financial Report 2017-18 (2074/75 B.S.) 36 Geographical Coverage 41 Abbreviations and Acronyms

ADRA Adventist Development and Relief DFID Department for International Agency Development AFE Action for Enterprises DLS Department of Livestock Service AFU Agriculture and Forestry University DLSO District Livestock Service Office AI Artificial insemination DOA Department of Agriculture AT Agricultural Technology DPAC District Project Advisory Committee BCES Building Community Enterprises of DRM Disaster Risk Management Smallholders in Bangladesh and Nepal DRMP Disaster Risk Management Plan BFC Business and Finance Consulting DRR Disaster Risk Reduction BMZ Federal Ministry for Economic DVPL Development Voyage Pvt Ltd. Cooperation and Development DWIDP Department of Water Induced Disaster CBDCRP Community Based Disaster and Prevention Climate Resilience Plan ELIVES Enhancing Livelihoods of Smallholder CBF Community Business Facilitator Farmers in Central Terai Districts of CBSP Community Based Seed Production Nepal Group FORWARD Forum for Rural Welfare and CC Collection Center Agricultural Reform for Development CCA Climate Change Adaptation FRM Flood Resilient Measurement CD Cluster Demonstration FS Foundation Seed CDAFN Community Development and FY Fiscal Year Advocacy Forum Nepal GAPs Good Agricultural Practices CDMC Community disaster management GBV Gender based Violence committee GDP Gross Domestic Product CDP Community Development Programme GET-CR Gender Transformative - Community CE Community Enterprise Resilient CEAPRED Center for Environmental and GOs Government Organizations Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development Ha Hectare CIMMYT Center for International Maize and HHs Households Wheat Improvement Center HRBA Human Right Based Advocacy CoRD Centre of Resilient Development I/NGOs International/Non-governmental CPiE Child Protection in Emergency Organizations CR Community Resilience ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas CRP Community Resource Person iDE International Development Enterprises DADO District Agriculture Development Office IFAD International Fund for Agricultural DAP Di-ammonium Phosphate Development DDC District Development Committee IPNI International Plant Nutrition Institute DDIN Dairy for Development in Nepal ISER Institute for Social and Environmental DDMC District Disaster Management Research Committee JJYC Jan Jagaran Yuba Club viii JOA Jersey Overseas Aid PCVA Participatory Capacity Vulnerability Assessment JSPS Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and Technology PGS Participatory Guarantee System Kg Kilogram PLA Participatory Learning and Action Km Kilometer PMAMP Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project LANN Linking Agriculture Nutrition and Natural Resource Management PMCA Participatory Market Chain Analysis LDCRP Local Disaster and Climate Resilience PUC Purdue University Cowpea Bag Plan RbF Riverbed Farming LDMC Local Disaster Management RDC Rural Development Center Committee RF Resource Farmer LRC Local Resource Center RGP Resilient Girl Project LRP Local Resource Person SDRMP School Disaster Risk Management LSAR Light Search and Rescue Plan LSARM Light Search and Rescue Materials SEDRA Sustainable Economic Development in Ltd. Limited Rural Areas of Nepal M&V Monitoring and Verification SIFS Sustainable Integrated Farming System MCC Milk Chilling Center SIP School Implementation Plan MDFN Market Development Forum Nepal SMC School Management Committee MEAL Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning TBS Tole Bikas Sanstha MOAD Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock TL Truthfully labelled Development ToT Training of Trainers MOU Memorandum of Understanding VAHW Village Animal Health Worker MPC Market Planning Committee VBSE Village-based Seed Enterprise MSD Market System Development VCA Vulnerability Capacity Assessment MSMEs Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises VCPC Village Child Protection Committee Mt Metric Ton VDC Village Development Committee MUS Multi-Use Water System WFG Women Farmers' Group NARC Nepal Agriculture Research Council WHH Welthungerhilfe NPR Nepali Rupees YWGs Young Women Groups NTFPs Non-Timber Forest Products YWOs Young Women Organizations

ix

Introduction to FORWARD Nepal

ORWARD Nepal is a non-profit making, of experience in validating and disseminating the service-oriented non-governmental riverbed farming technologies. It has considerable Forganization established in 1997 in Chitwan, experience in the construction of the productive Nepal. The organization has its head office in infrastructure such as community resource Bharatpur, Chitwan, and a Liaison Office at centers, cooperative buildings, seed storage, Pulchowk, Lalitpur and project offices in various potato rustic stores, emergency shelter houses, working districts in Nepal. FORWARD Nepal is improved livestock sheds, irrigation channels, committed to contribute to the socioeconomic access roads, rainwater harvesting ponds, fish development of the disadvantaged groups and ponds, school buildings, dam construction at the rural poor through integrated and sustainable riverbanks and many others. FORWARD Nepal development interventions. The organization has contributed to the development and inclusion provides a forum for researchers, development of climate change adaptation course/chapter in professionals, rural artisans, private sectors, some of the School Curriculums in Banke and academia, grass root level organizations and Sunsari districts. Likewise, leasehold farming is funding agencies committed to change the quality practiced for the last 20 years for landless and of lives of underprivileged people in Nepal. The ultra-poor communities and has positive results organization emphasizes collaboration and for their household income. The organization partnership with government organizations (GOs), has also implemented several interventions on international/non-governmental organization (I/ climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster NGOs), research institutions, academia, private risk reduction (DRR), and has developed various sector, public media, and community-based training packages and conducted training on organizations for greater impacts of its programmes, this at the district and community levels in resource generation/sharing, and sharing of work different parts of the country. The organization experience and learning. The organization has has developed and implemented several MOU with several institutions as GOs, universities, interventions on the market system development I/NGOs and private sectors at national and (MSD) and promotion of the Micro, Small and international levels for project collaboration and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). partnership. Over the past 22 years, FORWARD Nepal has implemented 98 projects in 57 districts involving a total of 0.402 million direct beneficiaries. Programme Thematic Areas FORWARD Nepal's programme development FORWARD Nepal has contributed to the and implementation are multi-pronged, integrating promotion of the several innovative technologies key interventions both in horizontal and vertical to increase agricultural productivity and dimensions to enhance sustainable livelihoods and improve the livelihoods of the disadvantaged ensure positive socio-economic impacts on the communities, including rural farmers. One of communities. The organization has five Program the major achievements of FORWARD is the Thematic Areas with the following interventions. facilitation in the establishment of a Private Seed Company “Global Agri-tech Private Limited” 1. Food and Nutrition Security in Banke, which is running independently. In • Food crops and seed supply system collaboration with the national and international • High-value commodities research institutions and farmer groups, • Farm forestry and Non-Timber Forest FORWARD Nepal has released some crop Products (NTFPs) varieties. It is a pioneer organization for the • Productive infrastructure promotion of riverbed farming technology in Nepal. The organization has more than 16 years 1 2. Business Promotion and Market • Facilitate employment opportunities through Development vocational training and income generation • Enterprise development activities for targeted groups. • Value chain development • Develop and institutionalize local resource • Market promotion and networking persons, local resource centers, and community-based organizations for 3. Adaptive Research and Development sustainable community development. • Participatory innovation, technology • Seek and promote collaboration with various development and verification stakeholders, including governmental • Development studies and technology and non-governmental organizations, dissemination academia, corporate, and funding agencies at local, national and international levels 4. Natural Resource Management as appropriate for institutional networking, • Biodiversity conservation, promotion and sharing knowledge, skills, experiences, and optimum utilization resources. • Promotion of renewable energy • Promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) • Nutrient use efficiency and recycling considering sustainable and judicious use of natural resources. 5. Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management • Awareness raising and capacity building Overview of the FORWARD • Climate Smart Agriculture Nepal's work in the FY • Disaster preparedness, emergency 2017-18 response and recovery Major Achievements 6. Cross-cutting themes In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18, FORWARD • Gender and social inclusion Nepal implemented 11 projects, employing 58 • Participatory planning, monitoring and regular staff. Some consultants and research evaluation assistants/enumerators also contributed to • Rights-based approaches to development the projects, mainly on research activities and training as per the needs of the projects and the Strategies/Approaches organization.

FORWARD Nepal continues to be known as a FORWARD Nepal has contributed to promote respected, committed and dynamic organization several technologies for increased agricultural in alleviating poverty through these strategies/ productivity and maintain/enhance the quality Approaches: in the agricultural production systems. Several • Devise a value chain approach for selected projects had contributed to increase the sub-sectors within agriculture, livestock, resilience of communities to cope with the climate fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry. change impacts and the disasters. Interventions • Actively engage target communities in regarding climate change and disaster risk research, institutional strengthening and reduction (DRR) include the construction of the development interventions to ensure the emergency shelter houses (evacuation centers) realization of their stakes and ownership. to protect communities from floods, construction • Utilize and promote local knowledge and of culverts and drainage canals, floods rescue skills in devising resource management and response training, check dam construction solutions through participatory action at the riverbanks, promotion of the climate- research and development approach. resilient technologies, climate-smart agriculture, • Address gender and social inclusion issues emergency response training, etc. Similarly, by ensuring participation of disadvantaged the organization also implemented several members of the community at every step of projects focused on the social and economic the development programmes. empowerment of women, adolescent, and girls.

2 The notable achievements/outcomes of the wells, piloting of human digital platform based FORWARD’s implemented projects in the agricultural extension and marketing/selling FY 2017-18 include construction of three programme in collaboration with Development community enterprises, 10 irrigation schemes in Voyage Private Limited (DVPL), and piloting of Chitwan; construction of two emergency shelter artificial insemination (AI) and insurance scheme houses, evacuation centers, and shallow tube in goats. FORWARD Nepal's implemented projects in the FY 2017/18 Development Direct HH SN Name of project Project districts Collaboration partners Coverage Facilitation of riverbed farming initiative in Morang, Jhapa, 1 Banke, Siraha, Saptari, Morang and Jhapa Helvetas Nepal Communities 200 Saptari, Siraha Banke districts Enhancing food and nutritional security and improved livelihoods through 2 intensification of rice-fallow system with Siraha IFAD/ ICARDA NARC 459 pulse crop in South Asia (Bangladesh, India and Nepal) Advocacy campaign for women’s Sindhuli, Rautahat & 3 UNWOMEN Women groups - empowerment and gender equality Sarlahi Dairy for development in Nepal: Boosting rural livelihoods by enhancing production Practical Action/ Chitwan, Nawalpur, 4 techniques, strengthening value chains Jersey Overseas Dairy Cooperatives 5,000 Makwanpur and improving the genetics of dairy cows Aid in Nepal Sustainable Economic Development of Rural Selected district of Global IME Bank, Mega 5 BFC - Areas (SEDRA) in Nepal Province No 5, 6 & 7 Bank, and MSMEs Enhancing livelihoods for poor farming UKaid & Bara, Rautahat, JJYC, RDA, CDAFN, 6 households in four Central Terai districts ADRA-UK 31,000 Sarlahi & Mahottari Chetana of Nepal Exploratory research : Agricultural Hiroshima 7 entrepreneurship among female-headed Chitwan - - University remittance receiving households in Nepal Girls’ Act Project (BALIKA SHAKTI) in 8 Morang Plan International Community and School 3,740 Morang Gender Transformative - Community Community, YWG and 9 Morang and Sunsari Plan International 19,490- Resilient (GET-CR) in Morang and Sunsari YWO Building Community Enterprises of WHH/BMZ, 10 Chitwan Groups, Cooperatives 2,338 Smallholders in Bangladesh and Nepal Germany Monitoring & Verification of Community Western Hills and 11 Development Programme (CDP) with DAI DFID DFID - Terai districts (18) Europe

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTS FACILITATION OF RIVERBED FARMING INITIATIVE IN BANKE, SIRAHA, SAPTARI, MORANG Collection of fresh watermelons for AND JHAPA DISTRICTS marketing

he project has been implemented with farming groups were successful in getting co- support from Helvetas Intercooperation funding of NPR 580,000 from DADO Jhapa for T to enhance food security and livelihoods the purchase of 14 diesel pump and fungicides, of the landless and poor people living in the NPR 100,000 from Kankai Municipality, Jhapa vicinity of riverbeds/riverbanks in Banke, from Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Siraha, Saptari, Morang, and Jhapa districts. project (PMAMP) to purchase diesel pumps and In this project, 2,158 households belonging to seeds inputs; NPR 300,000 from Jhapa Rural 107 groups are engaged in riverbed farming Municipality for diesel pumps, seeds, fertilizer in about 212 ha. FORWARD Nepal played inputs; and NPR 2,500 from Ratuwamai the facilitating role for the implementation of Municipality, Morang for the purchase of riverbed farming practices amongst previously cucurbitaceous vegetable seeds. Apart from formed groups and linking the groups to local riverbed farming technology, the project service providers, municipalities, DADOs, introduced an innovative hand tool for digging pits and other value chain actors. Other activities for sowing seeds of riverbed crops. Farmers have included joint monitoring of project activities achieved mean production of 5536 MT (n=200) at the district level along with Helvetas riverbed crops and earned gross income of an intercooperation. average NPR 80,708 per household. Farmers from Jhapa realized the highest while those from Due to the facilitation for linkage and collaboration Saptari and Siraha the least income from riverbed with local government and line agencies, riverbed farming.

5 District-wise production and income per household from riverbed farming

Challenges Learnings In spite of the benefits from RbF, it faced several • Planting drumstick (Sajiwan) variety All- challenges such as rivers changing its courses season on riverbanks is found to be a leading to yearly variation in the nature of sustainable source of income to the RbF bagarland; crop damage due to cold & hot waves farmers. and sudden winter floods; poor investment in • Loss of unripe watermelon fruits due to RbF by landless and land-poor households; theft, hailstone damage can be reduced by 70 stray animals, wild animals and heavy winds; percent through the application of fungicides Jackal attack, etc. The other problems faced by followed by micronutrient spray on the crop RbF farmers include non-availability of seeds just after the occurrence of a hailstorm. of RbF crop varieties; group members often • Watermelon at flowering and during drought changing posing difficulty in group organization; periods are prone to heavy mite infestation and price reduction of riverbed crops due to open • Water melon varieties Augusta, Periposa, border. and SN 34 are preferred by the traders. ENHANCING FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SECURITY AND IMPROVED Lentil Field monitoring by LIVELIHOODS THROUGH Mayor and vice mayor of Lahan INTENSIFICATION OF RICE- Municipality FALLOW SYSTEM WITH PULSE CROPS IN SOUTH ASIA

ORWARD Nepal has been implementing crops. To address the problem, the project the project with support from IFAD/ICARDA intervened through demonstration with a Fsince October 2016 in 12 wards of Lahan technology package consisting of improved lentil Municipality of Siraha district. The project aims variety, seed priming, DAP fertilizer application to enhance the food and nutritional security and need-based application of fungicide to and improve the livelihood of poor farmers manage stephyllium blight disease. Accordingly, through intensification of rice fallows with pulse 430 cluster demonstrations (CDs) on improved crops. The project has promoted an additional production technology of lentil were conducted in crop of lentil in winter, which otherwise used 12 clusters/villages in Siraha district. To facilitate to be left fallow by farmers due to a number of the activity implementation and service delivery, reasons such as non-availability of seeds, lack of the beneficiaries were organized into 12 groups. irrigation, delayed paddy harvesting, too dry soils, A total of 75 hectares including five hectares stray animals and socioeconomic constraints promoted by farmers on their own was brought like absentee landlords and uneconomic winter under CDs.

7

1200 1077

1000

800 693

600 489 365 384 400 311 244 178 200 121 141 56 40 73 68 16 26 25 1 0 Cluster Seed Increse Training Monitoring FFD Total demonstrations Total Men Women

Gender disaggregated beneficiary numbers by interventions

To address the scarcity of quality seeds, 8.6 mt • Demonstrations are key to convince farmers Truthfully labelled (TL) and 1.9 mt Foundation on the superiority of technology in enhancing Seed (FS) of lentil varieties produced, which yields and their incomes. is adequate to cover an area of 332 ha in the • Local FMs/ national newspapers, participation current season. Village Based Seed Enterprise in agriculture fairs and exhibitions: effective (VBSE) was implemented in 10.8 hectares area means of dissemination involving 30 farmers affiliated to Community • Village-based seed enterprise was effective Based Seed Production Group (CBSP), for providing access to quality seeds to the Padharia and Jandibya Farmers’ Cooperative, farming community in the project area and Gadha of Siraha district. The varieties used beyond. were: Shisir, Simal, Khajura 2, Simrik, and Maheshwor Bharati. The participation of women Impacts was encouraging in all activities except project • Landless and land-poor farmers have initiated monitoring due to social barrier. leasing-in fallow lands for lentil farming. • Lentil farmers were convinced of the need for Lessons Learnt application of DAP, Rhizobium inoculation, • Lentil technology package proved better than and plant protection. farmers existing practice of lentil farming. • Farmers have initiated increasing area under The average yield from CD was 41 percent lentil. higher (n=365) than the baseline yield. • Beneficiaries were successful in capturing • Local capacity building in crop management co-funding from Government for the is key to the success of technology purchase of power tillers, and hermetically interventions. sealed bags (IRRI bags, PUC bags for seed/ • Involvement of local government, elected grain storage). personnel from the municipality in FFDs, • Success of VBSEs and or CBSP in generating monitoring and meeting is effective for good income through seeds transaction motivated collaboration/supports. the beneficiary farmers for establishing Lotus Seed Company Pvt. Ltd, at Lahan. 8 Seed bin supports to Sahlesh Fulbari Seed producer group, Lahan

Cluster Demonstration motivated for lentil farming

Mr. Bhagilal Saday (35), a resident of Lahan Municipality-12, Betha lives with his family of 12 including six children. He used to face difficulty in meeting the family expenses from wage earning as he possesses only 0.05 ha land in which he used to grow wheat. He was very much impressed by good lentil crop and its profits realized by his neighbor in the previous season. He contacted IFAD/ ICARDA project staff at Lahan and expressed his interest to engage in the CDs. He narrates that after meeting IFAD staff, he got technical knowledge and input supports for conducting CDs in his land. He used to be in regular touch with the project staff and got the opportunity to participate in on-the-spot training. He conducted a lentil demonstration in 0.05 ha with technology/ advice from IFAD project staff. He was very happy to harvest 50 kg lentil from his land. Previously, he used to get NPR 1,650 from the sale of 90 kg wheat. Now from the same area, he got NPR 4,000 from the sale of 50 kg lentil. Mr. Saday plans to grow lentil in one hectare leased-in land next year to support the education of his children. Mr. Saday with his produced lentil 9 UN WOMEN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND Kachahari Drama under 'Sahi-ho! GENDER EQUALITY Campaign, Rautahat

ORWARD Nepal The project facilitated on advocacy events at the implemented Women district level. FORWARD Nepal organized field F Empowerment and level events like project kick-off meetings, multi- Gender Equality Project format community forums, Kachahari Theatre as 'Sahi ho!' campaign show, and a mobile-based video recording during the period of 1 November 2017 to 28 coaching session under Sahi ho! Campaign. February 2018 in RWEE programme districts, Representatives of Women Farmers' Group namely Sarlahi, Sindhuli, and Rautahat in (WFG- the beneficiary women groups of RWEE financial support of Equal Access International. programme), local level elected government The objectives of the project were to: a) raise authority, line agencies, NGOs, media and awareness on gender-based discrimination other people participated in the campaign. The and structural barriers hindering women's campaign was highlighted by print and audio leadership roles in economic activities in media at the local level. Sahi ho! Campaign households, communities, and labour markets also distributed promotional materials to the in the local context (urban/semi-urban/rural), concerned stakeholders. b) bring about policy changes that are sensitive to the needs of women by advocating strongly The project kick-off meetings introduced the for gender-sensitive plans and policies, programme and the implementation approach/ and c) promote increased participation and modality to the district level stakeholders in representation of rural women farmers in respective project districts. There were 106 local-level decision-making process through participants including 50 women. Multi-format community-level awareness raising and policy community forums, which included 'Kachahari advocacy. theatre show and community dialogue', was 10 organized at district Head Quarter of each Scope for improvement project district. The issues and the problems of The project may have additional scope of the women farmers were focused by the theatre working by intermittent and longitudinal follow up whereas the problem-solving programmes to governmental commitments among the public and policies were presented by the public for the fulfillment of WFGs problems. The project authorities. Susheli Kala Samuha, Bardaghat, can be further improved in the future with the Nawalparasi presented the Kachahari theatre involvement of both women and men member among the stakeholders. Community dialogue of the targeted household in the programme; was organized immediately after the Kachahari timely script preparation for Kachahari Theatre; theatre, among representatives of WFG with similar events organization in rural areas, local bodies and government officials, for and acceleration of media mobilization in the interaction with the issues too. Altogether 221 campaign. participants observed the Kachahari theatre, from three districts, including 99 women. Mobile In conclusion, 'Sahi-ho!' campaign was an video recording training was the third activity of initiative that brought local level stakeholders, the campaign where twelve WFG leaders, four public representatives, government officers, from each district, participated in the training in mass media, different networks and citizens at Rautahat. Sahi ho! Campaign also distributed sub-national level into sensitization, dialogue promotional materials like posters, cap, and seeking solutions for rural women's T-shirts, pen, and wrist band to the campaign economic empowerment and gender equality. participants. The government authorities and stakeholders realized the capacity of rural women on The campaign initiated community dialogue with agricultural development and committed to the rural women and the government authorities. support them by targeted programme and Public representative realized the issues of policies. Local level and regional print, digital and the WFGs and expressed their commitment audio media extended the issues raised by the to address the issues by formulating gender campaign in a broad spectrum. friendly programme and policies. The result of 'response survey' and 'intercept interview' illustrated that WFG members were sensitized on women empowerment and gender equality for the economic empowerment.

Challenges Emergence of a cold wave during the period in Rautahat caused trouble to invite people in district head quarter during programme implementation. Similarly, limited human resources for response survey and intercept interview, resources for the programme broadcasting by media, non- availability of SMART mobile among rural women for mobile-based video record training, and dysfunctional district level line agencies after the federal structure of the country were the Champa Chaudhary, president from Gujara other problems felt by the project. Municipality-2, Simra Bhawanipur expressing her experience of prior project (RWEE) during project kick off meeting

11 DAIRY FOR DEVELOPMENT IN NEPAL: BOOSTING RURAL

LIVELIHOODS BY ENHANCING Farmers selling milk to a dairy PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, cooperative STRENGTHENING VALUE CHAINS AND IMPROVING THE GENETICS OF DAIRY COWS IN NEPAL

airy sector contributes about 8 percent to is estimated to grow at more than 10 percent the national GDP of Nepal. Over 130,000 annually, mainly due to changes in the food habit Dpeople have been employed within the along with population growth. Such a situation dairy value-chain, in addition to more than offers the good future potential for livelihoods 500,000 smallholder farmers currently engaged and rural development for smallholder dairy in the formal dairy channel as producers and producers who are supplying more than three- suppliers. Annual production of milk is about 1.45 quarters of the domestic consumption of milk and million metric tons, and there is a deficit of around milk products. 400,000 liters of milk per day during the lean season due to low productivity resulting from poor Dairy for Development in Nepal (DDIN) project, animal husbandry, high cost of production, poor funded by Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA-a UK extension & market linkage, lack of knowledge based charity), has been implemented by on value addition, etc. Demand for dairy products FORWARD Nepal, in collaboration with Practical in Nepal has been growing over the last few Action Nepal Since April 2018 and will terminates decades and has doubled since 1995, which in March 2021. The project is being executed in 12 Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality & Madhyabindu quality. The survey further showed that majority Municipality of Nawalpur, Kalika & Rapti of the farmers (i.e. 99 percent) do not know about Municipalities of Chitwan, and Manhari & Bakaiya the balance feed preparation for cattle. All the Rural Municipalities of Makwanpur district. respondent farmers mentioned that feed used The project intends to reach 5,000 smallholder by the farmers is not of good quality and 93.75 dairy farmers through dairy cooperatives to percent of them mentioned about the high cost of improve their production practices resulting in 50 feed which ultimately affects their net profit. percent increased milk production due to higher productivity and increased number of cows. The Before the initiation of the project, a project pre- project, therefore, aims to increase the income consensus was inked between the concerned level of beneficiaries by 50 percent against the offices of the rural/urban municipal executive and baseline income level from dairy business, due FORWARD Nepal. Project orientation workshops to higher productivity and decreased cost of were conducted in all the concerned Rural/Urban production resulting into 150,000 liters of extra Municipalities to inform the dairy value chain milk into the formal market, thus reducing the actors about the project objectives, activities, and deficiency by approximately 25 percent in its allocated budget. Similarly, interaction meetings working areas. between concerned livestock service sections, local technology suppliers, dairy cooperatives, A baseline survey of the farmers as well as dairy and smallholder farmers were organized and cooperatives was done in all the working sites cluster mapping of the dairy pocket areas was of the project districts. The study revealed that also performed simultaneously. an average of seven liters of milk is produced per day by a household in project areas, which Problems faced by dairy farmers is very low, and it is due to poor management The major problems identified were the high cost practices, use of traditional technologies, lack of cattle feed, low price of milk, high-interest rates of quality and timely veterinary services, lack of against the loan, lack of sufficient animal health superior breed cattle, and many others. Similarly, technicians, and lack of genetically superior it was found that 91.56 percent of the farmers do cattle. not have any knowledge of maintaining the milk

Project orientation workshup at municipality level 13 SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL

AREAS (SEDRA) SEDRA team at FORWARD Nepal

ustainable Economic Development of Rural Areas (SEDRA) project is funded FORWARD Nepal participated in the Sfrom KfW Development Bank Germany brainstorming session at SEDRA/Samriddha through Business and Finance Consulting (BFC) Pahad and the assessment of a private company Company. The project aims to support and Shreenagar Butwal, mainly on main production develop micro, small, and medium enterprises assets and key premises, understanding the in the rural areas of Nepal through agri value production process of chicks and its relationship chain financing. The project has Global IME, with farmers, and also visited some business / Om Development bank, FORWARD Nepal and agro-industries in Narayangarh Chitwan. Samriddha Pahad as implementing partners Similarly, other accomplished activities in Nepal, and the role of FORWARD Nepal is include participation of Experts of FORWARD to prepare the Agriculture Tech Cards for 57 Nepal in project kick-off meeting and Agri- crop species and 9 animal types and capacity Tech Card preparation of five crops namely building of partner banks and selected private mango, lentil, rice, tomato, and winter maize enterprises on good agricultural practices (GAP) and two animal types: poultry and dairy cattle. and agricultural technology (AT). Agriculture Future programmes consist of Agri Tech Card tech cards have been designed for automatic preparation for 47 crops and 7 animal types and computation of production costs, returns and capacity building of partner banks on GAPs and profitability, and cash flow on monthly basis to ATs. facilitate lending through the banks. Similarly, the development of a banking software on loan lending process is underway.

14 ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN THE CENTRAL TERAI DISTRICTS OF NEPAL (ELIVES) Vegetable Farming, Rautahat

nhancing Livelihoods of Smallholder The major interventions of the ELIVES project Farmers in Central Terai Districts of Nepal included the development of the managerial E(ELIVES) project had been implemented and entrepreneurial capabilities of farmers, since April 2015 in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, and especially women, and cooperative management Mahottari districts with financial support from committees through series of technical and The UKAid and ADRA UK. FORWARD Nepal vocational trainings, demonstrations, and implemented the project in coordination with campaigns - management and saving-credit ADRA Nepal and iDE, and with providing technical training to increase the effectiveness of farmer support to district-based NGOs: Jan Jagaran groups in the enterprise and marketing of the Yuba Club (JJYC) in Bara, Rural Development produce; market management training; business Center (RDC) in Rautahat, Chetana in Sarlahi, literacy classes for semi-literate women farmers and Community Development and Advocacy and service providers; goat breeding, animal Forum Nepal (CDAFN) in Mahottari. The project health, animal shed management, and feed aimed to enhance the livelihoods and income and forage management to goat rearing groups of poor and marginalized smallholder farmers to improve goat farming practices; Village with a focus on women and socially excluded Animal Health Worker (VAHW) training; nursery groups through the development of pro-poor management training to nursery operators; off- value chains in the goat and vegetable sub- season vegetable production training; training to sectors. The project has capacitated the district- landless and land-poor households on riverbed based NGOs, farmer groups and cooperatives, vegetable farming and vegetable farming in entrepreneurs and other major market actors in leased-in lands, and so on, demonstration of the development of the value chains of goat and various innovative technologies: improved goat vegetable sub-sectors. sheds and plantation of fodder/forage plantation (demo on common land), IPM demonstration in 15 vegetable development, campaign on castration, technical capacity building activities on goat can dipping, drenching, and PPR to increase the be noticed in the initiatives taken by goat farmers goat productivity. The project also constructed in the construction and repair of goat sheds in the collection centers, promoted local resource project sites, as well as improvement in the goat centers (LRCs) and local resource persons production systems. The VAHWs have been (LRPs), and facilitated in the establishment of providing their services- now farmers can have linkage among vegetable value chain actors. the opportunity to protect animals from diseases

The notable achievements and outputs of the Lessons/ Learning ELIVES projects in the FY 2017-18 include • Goat breeding intervention was highly registration of all farmer groups (600 groups) successful as a large number of crossbreeds in the DLSO/DADO, establishment of seven has been produced by cross-breeding with new farmer cooperatives, artificial insemination Jamunapari bucks. in 264 goats, 265 breeding bucks support to • There is a need to carry out follow up farmer groups, PPR vaccination in 67,645 goats, programme to avoid inbreeding depression campaign for internal and external parasites through the exchange of breeding bucks and control, construction of more than 3,500 encouragement of stall-feeding, and also improved goat sheds, insurance of 13,383 goats, need to strengthen the existing goat resource establishment of six goat resource centers, one centers for quality buck production. mineral block manufacturing scheme, training • Coordination and collaboration with line to 31 Community Business Facilitators (CBFs), agencies is necessary for the smooth development of two units of multi-use water implementation of project activities and system (MUS), and establishment of 11 collection achieving good results. centers and 41 small irrigation schemes. The • Participatory Market Chain Analysis (PMCA) piloting of artificial insemination (AI) in goat workshop is effective in the market network initiated by the project has been successful and development. a total of 226 local goats were inseminated with • Private sector involvement for the Jamunapari cross buck semen or Boer buck sustainability of enterprises. semen. Other accomplishments include exposure • Motivation of riverbed farmers (providing visits, animal health management training to 106 incentives and result demonstration) can persons, goat management refresher training aware/empower farmers for the adoption of to 219 persons, organization of four castration, RbF farming. dipping and drenching campaigns, 35 goat shed • Huge number of trainings hamper the regular management trainings, and demonstrations of follow up of the activities, and farmers can 15 improved goat sheds in the third year. lose interest to participate in the trainings. • Follow up project interventions is necessary The business literacy classes have a positive to monitor the project activities and additional impact on reading and writing ability of support to the Market Planning Committees participants and enabled them to keep the (MPCs) and cooperatives. record of income and expenditure. The impact of

16 Vegetable Farming, Rautahat Improved goat shed, Rautahat AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG FEMALE-HEADED REMITTANCE RECEIVING HOUSEHOLDS IN NEPAL

he research project ‘Agricultural The research site has been identified in Chitwan Entrepreneurship among Female-headed district, Bharatpur Municipality-25, Shukranagar TRemittance Receiving Households in after the thorough consultation with several Nepal’ is funded by the Japan Society for the agencies like District Development Committee, Promotion of Science and Technology (JSPS) Bharatpur Municipality, district level officials of and lead by Hiroshima University, Japan. This the Election Commission, and Institute for Social is a 4-year project running from April 2017 to and Environmental Research (ISER)- Nepal. A March 2021. This project aims to assess the reconnaissance survey of the potential research factors determining entrepreneurship behavior, sites was conducted along with a meeting with focusing on female-headed remittance receiving the Ward Chairpersons and focused group households. The major roles of FORWARD discussion with the key informants. Nepal as a research collaborator in this project are to provide expertise inputs on the research Based on the insights gained from the design and pre-testing-finalization of data reconnaissance survey, a sampling framework collection instruments; support the principal was prepared. Eight clusters were selected investigator in field activities including data through systematic-random sampling, with an collection and logistics; lead the process of aim to cover at least 20% of the total clusters hiring/training research assistants; monitoring i.e. 41 Tole Bikas Sanstha (TBS)– functions the data cleaning and entry processes; and as a cluster, ensuring the evenly distribution contribute as a co-author in the publication of of sampled clusters throughout the study research findings. area such that they sufficiently represent the geographical and socio-cultural diversity within

17 the research area. The clusters included in the A total of 346 households were interviewed final sample were Chhahari TBS, Namuna TBS, from the selected eight clusters through face-to- Jeetwaahan TBS, Suryamukhi TBS, Namuna face interviews. The principal investigators and TBS, Sagarmatha TBS, Devisthan TBS, and research collaborators were actively involved Bayarghaari TBS. in day to day monitoring of the data collection. During the process, the research assistants A survey questionnaire was finalized after its revisited the households to confirm, correct or pre-testing in the adjoining settlements falling supplement the information, as required. The under the Bharatpur Municipality-24. Finally, data entry has been completed and the data a household survey was administered by eight analysis and write-up activities are ongoing. In research assistants, which were selected based parallel, second phase of the fieldwork has also on the competitive scores. A one-day training was been planned for the next fiscal year. provided to them before the household survey.

18 GIRLS’ ACT PROJECT (BALIKA SHAKTI) Celebration of International Women Day (8th March 2018)

irls Act Project (GAP) was implemented girls and young women with YWG and 377 jointly by Plan International Nepal and adolescent girls and young women with YWO. GFORWARD Nepal to empower children Young women were capacitated in different and adolescent girl’s Agency in humanitarian skills through vocational training (sewing/cutting, and development settings. To achieve the goal, advanced computer course, Acharaco boutique, project focused on three objectives i) Promoting beauty parlor, mobile repairing etc.) and received economic security, self-employment and start-up support for the economic empowerment of entrepreneurship development for young women/ all adolescent girls and young women. Altogether, girls of landless, very poor and marginalized 379 adolescent girls and young women received families through their access to on-farm and off- different capacity building training and events farm intervention (Learn), ii) Promote participation like, anchoring and public speaking, institutional and capacitate participants and the members of development and networking/alliance, leadership Young Women Organizations (YWOs) to carry out development, Gender Based Violence (GBV), lobby advocacy on issues of children, adolescent human rights-based advocacy (HRBA), proposal girls, young women, and women with disability writing, sexual and reproductive health right, (Lead), and iii) Raise awareness about sexual orientation on reproductive health right, workshop and reproductive health and rights, education and on advocacy for the availability of health services control over their body for adolescent girls, young and early child marriage, etc. As a result of these women and women with disability (Decide). interventions, positive changes were observed in their knowledge, attitude, and practices. Four The project provided capacity building training Municipalities and five Rural Municipalities to the members of YWGs and YWOs for the of Morang along with 908 Plan-sponsored organization and their better life opportunity. The families were directly benefited from the project project facilitated in affiliation of 2,453 adolescent interventions. 19 Furthermore, the project organized different Additionally, the project provided a good community based activities such as street drama, opportunity for networking/cooperation and speech competition, adolescent girls’ football sharing of lessons with DADO and local tournament, quiz competition, and cultural dance government. YMOs were able to attract co-funding to stop gender-based violence, child marriage, based on their proposals. In this context, Letang child love marriage. These interventions enabled Municipality provided NPR 10,000.00 to Pragati YMOs of both Morang and Sunsari district to Young Women Organization to organize one- submit a provincial level memorandum to Social day workshop on early child marriage. Similarly, Development Minister at Biratnagar to address YWO members of Jahada Rural Municipality-06, rights and welfare of adolescent girls and women Pokhariya, succeeded in receiving a grant of NPR in the upcoming provincial constitution. YWO's 300,000.00 for commercial mushroom farming members also succeeded to stop child marriage from Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization at Sorabhag, Nocha, Thalaha, Babiyabirta, Project (PMAMP). Teatariya, Motipur and Kaseni through advocacy. Similarly, YWO at Siswanijahada succeeded to punish a man involved in child harassment and child love marriage.

Nothing can stop a determined mind for achieving a goal

"I went through the worst phases in my life, to extend my business by taking a loan of NRs. which used to break me down,'' says Malati 10,000 from cooperative. She has developed Kumari Chaudhary, a resident of Gramthan herself as an independent and hardworking Rural Municipality-4, Motipur- around 2 women entrepreneur. Those who used to find km towards North-East of Morang District. her useless are now praising her. She has Currently, she is living with five family been contributing to sustain the livelihood of members. She was born with an abnormality her family through cosmetic business. She as her both hands are shorter than normal, expressed her thanks to FORWARD and Plan and her parents used to worry about her International Nepal for all kinds of support, future. The community members used to have and she hopes to make more income in the different attitude and perception towards her coming days. due to the unusual appearance. She used to have hard times facing the society and living her life. But after she got involved in Plan family, she finds a new way for her life. Now, she is a treasurer of Parikalpana Youth Women Organization, formed under Girls Act project, implemented by FORWARD Nepal with financial support from plan international. The project provided NRs. 20,000 as a start-up support for a cosmetic business. She, thereafter, rented a room and set-up a cosmetic shop.

Ms. Chaudhary says," It has been eight months since I started a cosmetic business, and I am able to make NRs. 15,000 to 18,000 income per month." She adds, "I have a plan Ms. Chaudhary in her cosmetic shop

20 GENDER TRANSFORMATIVE - COMMUNITY RESILIENT

(GET-CR) PROJECT Rescue Shelter at Kirtiman, Morang

ender Transformative - Community and school through providing first aid training Resilient Project (GET-CR) was and supporting Light Search and Rescue (LSAR) Gimplemented in partnership with Plan materials. The project successfully implemented International Nepal in two Municipalities of the programmes in close collaboration with District Sunsari and three Municipalities of Morang Disaster Management Committee (DDMC), districts. The project aimed to strengthen the District Coordination Committee, Local Disaster capacity of community and school for disaster risk Management Committee (LDMC), and Rural/ management (DRM) through capacity building Municipalities of Morang and Sunsari Districts. training on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and awareness raising activities in selected Rural The project worked as an innovative approach Municipalities of the project districts. The specific to DRR, and it fostered the empowerment of objectives of the project included: i) Build capacity of children and youth in groups and as individuals children and communities on life-saving skills, and to work towards making their lives safer and prepare them for effective disaster response along their communities more resilient to disasters. with support of equipment, ii) Raise awareness It facilitated children’s active participation in of disaster to children and communities through efforts to prevent, prepare for, cope with, and mobilization of child clubs and adolescent girls, iii) adapt to climate change and extreme events. Prepare Community Based Disaster and Climate The initiatives included curriculum development Resilience Plan (CBDCRP), Local Disaster and in schools, teacher training, and knowledge- Climate Resilience Plan (LDCRP) and School transfer through a range of media, which has Disaster Risk Management Plan (SDRMP) increasingly enabled child participation through through the assessment of the community and rights-based approaches, children’s engagement schools, iv) Develop local human resources to in related policy spaces, and child-centered risk respond disaster-affected people in community communication. 21 Various activities were designed and implemented to the community and schools. The supports to bring the project outcomes through supporting included construction of five culverts, one school the children, community people and schools in compound fencing and two drinking water different aspects, and help them to become more schemes, one hume pipe installation and school resilient towards disaster in the sites. The project railing supports in the project areas. Such small- directly supported four new and six old schools scale structure supports the community people from Morang and four new and six old schools or school students to increase their resilience from Sunsari. The key stakeholders of the capacity. Besides, the project facilitated for project were school students, child club/network the formation of 48 local First-Aid task forces members, school head and school DRM focal in the project catchment area involving eight teachers and school management committee. communities, development of 47 community The project sensitized 4,822 people in Sunsari members as local taskforce for Search and and 4,691 in Morang districts about DRM through Rescue in emergency, development of family different awareness programmes and DRM safety preparation and response plan amongst activities. Community disaster management 236 families, awareness creation among plus committees (CDMCs) were formed aiming to 10,000 children on different kinds of hazards, develop community task force by providing and practice of safe evacuation camps. various training and supporting some necessary LSAR materials to the community. Major learnings • Programme activities should be in line with School Disaster Management Committees Municipality/Rural municipality and approved (SDMC) were formed in four schools of Morang by municipal council meeting and school and three of Sunsari district to prepare SDRMP activities in line with School Implementation and conduct activities according to the plan. Plan (SIP)/ SDRMP. Similarly, Participatory Capacity Vulnerability • Programme as a model approach, with Assessment (PCVA) of communities and the intensive support activities in a certain area school was also conducted in order to identify would have better outcome rather than the vulnerable situation regarding structural covering larger area. and nonstructural commodities of communities • Project activities should be readjusted and schools. Participants of the community according to time and staff numbers. prepared hazard map including capacities of the community and prioritized list of hazards through pair comparison. Hazards that were listed out in highly risk for school were cross verified through the historical time line of hazards and its affect.

The project provided various capacity development trainings such as DRM planning (VCA and Planning), behavior change and DRR knowledge transfer (peer facilitator training), light search & rescue, and Child Protection in Emergency (CPiE) training to children and Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) to about 250 youth, community people, local authorities, School Management Committee (SMC) members, and school teachers. About 4,699 children, youth, school teachers, and community members were sensitized through day's/events celebration and campaigns such as child events on DRR/ CCA, street drama on disaster safety and peer classes on DRR/CCA.

To increase the resilience of community and 22 students, small structural supports were provided Earthquake mock drill practice sessions in schools BUILDING COMMUNITY ENTERPRISES OF SMALL- HOLDERS IN BANGLADESH AND NEPAL Poly-tunnel farming in Ichhakamana-1

hree-year project entitled “Building security through extension services for quality Community Enterprises of Small-holders control of farm input and production, value Tin Bangladesh and Nepal”, funded by the addition and marketing support through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Community Enterprises (CE). This project has Development (BMZ)/Welthungerhilfe (WHH), been developed to further fine-tune and up- Germany has been initiated since October scale the concept of an earlier project (SIFS). 2015. It is being executed by four partners The project has continuously put its effort to in two South Asian countries, i.e. Nepal and remain in close proximity to the line agencies Bangladesh. In Nepal, CEAPRED has been and other actors for the smooth implementation implementing the project in Salyan district and of project activities. FORWARD Nepal in Kalika municipality-8, 9, 10 &11 (former Shaktikhor and Siddhi) and During the fiscal year 2017-18, as a part of Ichhakamana Municipality-1 & 2 of Chitwan the productive infrastructures, the project district. The direct beneficiaries of the project has accomplished 10 irrigation schemes, include 2,338 households, representing 2.8% which has benefitted 88 farm-households, Dalit, 61.4% Chepang, 24.5% Janajati and resulting in an increased area under vegetable 11.3% Brahmin/Chhetri. The project covered cultivation. Similarly, the project has contributed most of the households belonging to Chepang to the construction of one collection center in and socioeconomically disadvantaged Ichhakamana ward no. 2 for the collective and communities. The overall objective of the ease marketing. Community enterprises have project is to combat poverty and food insecurity been established in convenient locations for of the most vulnerable sections of the society. collectivized marketing and value addition of The project aims to increase the income of the farm produce. It is functioning as a formally smallholders and improve the household food registered entity for backward and forward 23 linkage to small-scale farmers for the supply of Centers (CC) and Community Resource technical and farm inputs at one hand and work Persons (CRP) on the business development as a major stakeholder of a fresh vegetable and plan, account keeping, financial management, spices (cash crops) supply chain on the next. and market management training and Those CEs have been equipped with trained facilitated to develop business plans of two human resources - CRPs and management CCs in participatory manner. Moreover, four committees and equipment/materials like digital training modules have been developed for weighing balance, packaging tools, processing the capacity building of CRPs. Four events of mills, furniture etc. and is owned and managed training, each of two days were organized for by farmers' group representatives/volunteers. the selected CRPs and interested management In addition to this, project has supported 75 committee members of CCs and CEs on poly-tunnels along with the drip irrigation sets operation of collection center, disease and pest to the farmers in Ichhakamana-1 &2 and nine management, leadership development, and poly-tunnels in Kalika-8&9 on cash sharing post-harvest management of major vegetable basis. Based on the interest, demand and crops. Likewise, to strengthen the resource farm cash contribution capacity of the farmers, three as a demonstration plot, Resource Farmers clusters involving 71 farmers in three sites were (RF) were supported with some farm inputs, supported with the cement bags according to based on their need and also according to the the animal herd size, and the rest materials were sessions conducted under Farmer Field School. managed by themselves. Similarly, the project Farm inputs were supported by developing 18 has developed two mushroom entrepreneurs Resource Centers (RC) - an individual farmer through technical and input support, based on owns/run business unit (multipurpose nursery) developed business plan. that supplies seed/seedlings to the nearby 3-4 group members on a seasonal basis and The project has been capacitating the farmers on reasonable price. Besides, as a start-up through series of trainings and visits and support, a revolving fund of NPR. 50,000 has providing services and inputs through various been provided to two CEs, each in Kalika-8 and approaches. The project has capacitated the Kalika-10 for the purchase of commodities and management committees of the Collection its marketing.

24 Poly-tunnel farming in Ichhakamana-1 The project organized series of review Lessons workshops/meetings – internal project review • Community interest-based activity/support and planning meetings and two multi-country makes the work praiseworthy e.g., Shed project review and planning workshops, which floor improvement, plastic tunnel, mushroom were held each in Chitwan, Nepal and Sylhet, cultivation, irrigation support. Bangladesh. Different studies and survey • Shareholders based membership increase were also conducted as value chain analysis, the ownership towards an organization/ baseline and end-line evaluation survey, institution during this fiscal year. A three-day training was • Micro-irrigation support always brings conducted to enumerators and project team positive impact in terms of farmer's attitude on Akvo flow software based data collection. or crop production In addition, the project has been piloting • Linking producer groups to collection center application-based agricultural extension and (input supply through CC) foster the better marketing/selling model in collaboration with business relation Development Voyage and facilitating THE • Resource Center (multipurpose nursery) is BAZAAR team for the Participatory Guarantee successful only in feasible areas. System (PGS) promotion. Similarly, different • The resource farmer or leader farmer should visitors as fund coordination group from WHH, be motivated enough to lead the group in a RTL trainee for video documentation and a proper way monitoring visit from social welfare council • CRP model is less effective due to low- visited the project sites. The BCES team from interest in community works, and the FORWARD Nepal made visit to BCES project expectation of more project facilities sites, implemented by CEAPRED in Salyan • Input support alone is not enough to bring the District to exchange the field learnings and change, follow-up is needed get insights into the working modality of CEs, CCs and RFs. Besides, staff meetings and monitoring and field visits were also performed periodically.

Production and marketing of the vegetable crops

25 Smart step lead to a success

Mr. Mitra Bahadur Chepang (27), a young seedlings. Initially, it was difficult to sell the entrepreneur, residing in Ichhakamana-2, seedlings and now it’s difficult to fulfill their Chhapdanda is feeling very determined demand. He made a profit of NRs. 15,000 nowadays. It was not easy for him to satisfy from a nursery in the second try. Now based the needs of eight family members with just on farmers' demand and their preference he labor work, and his family used to have hard is growing the seedlings of different vegetable times sustaining life. Though labor work was crops. Some farmers demanded the vegetable his main source of income, he also used to do seeds also. Then a business idea flickered in small-scale farming. Anyhow, he was trying to his mind, and he planned to supply seeds to make his life easier. With the launch of BCES his community members. He has now started project, he gave a new way to his life. He a small shop of a wooden structure and sells was selected by other groups and community vegetable seeds like cauliflower, cabbage, members to serve as a Resource Farmer of tomato etc. along with grocery items. a farmers group, due to his hard work and smart nature. He received a series of training "I had never thought that I would be able to on SIFS_LANN PLA manual and other input start a business, but the profit from nursery and support to establish demonstration farm. With vegetable farming was like a start-up fuel to lit the progression of the project, he also got a fire, for my business," says Mr. Chepang. partial support for the multipurpose nursery He made the structure with available wood on cash contribution basis. The multipurpose and purchased seeds and groceries from nursery was established with the purpose a nearby market on the installment basis. of providing ease availability of seedlings to He had also borrowed certain money from the nearby farmers as well as making a profit his neighbor for a business. He is making a out of it – a business model. He took the good income from the shop, due to which, risk, and it was really difficult for him to sell he became able to pay back the money and those seedlings initially, as the community complete the installment payment within three members were seeking for the free seedlings. months' period. He is planning to expand his When the performance of multipurpose business as well as vegetable growing area. nursery didn't go as expected in the first He wants his family to engage in a vegetable try, he planted all the seedlings on his own farming. "I am really surprised; a small start land. Currently, he is growing vegetables in can bring a big difference in one's life. I 0.25 acre and nursery in 0.02-acre land. The want to thank FORWARD for the continuous purpose of nursery didn't work out, but he at motivation and encouragement", says Mitra. least expanded the farming land and started commercial vegetable farming. He received a good return by selling fresh vegetables last year- around NRs. 70,000 from cauliflower only, which has further encouraged him for vegetable farming.

Mitra didn't lose his hope from the multipurpose nursery. He raised seedlings in the next season, but this time, he reduced the number of seedlings in the nursery. Later on, slowly the farmers realized the service and the benefit they would reap from nursery or in-short they realized it's a win-win business model for both, and they started buying the Mr. Mitra Bahadur Chepang weeding his cauliflower field 26 MONITORING & VERIFICATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CDP) Nursing Birthing Center, Sunsari

FID had awarded a contract to DAI phase, but this was within the shorter timeframe Consortium for the "Monitoring and - around nine months of active work unlike the Dverification of the Community Development first phase, which had covered over 16 months. Programme (CDP) Phase 2" and as one of The project monitored and verified the same the project-implementing partners of DAI, geographical area across 18 districts as in first FORWARD Nepal had deployed its four staff phase. During first phase, 54% of the total active (Field Engineers) to the CDP project districts for projects were in the West and 46% in Terai. the monitoring and verification of infrastructural In the second phase, 36% of the total active works. This report succinctly highlights the projects were in the West and 64% in the Terai. progress of the Monitoring and Verification (M&V) works. 500 458 400 323 The construction works of CDP were undertaken 300 236 222 173 by Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) with a 200 135 150 86 direct contract from DFID and implemented in 18 100 49 districts namely; Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, 0 Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari and Total Active Project Terai West Sunsari in Terai of East and Achham, Bajhang, Bajura, Dolpa, Humla, Jajarkot, Jumla, Mugu Phase I Phase II Total Projects and Kalikot in the Hill districts of West Nepal. Total number of active CDP projects during Phase I In the second phase, CDP worked on fewer and II projects than the first phase i.e. 42% of first 27 M&V process Site assessments by type of The second phase of CDP was for January to infrastructure project October 2018. During this period, M&V Officers The assessment of CDP sites by infrastructures (Field Engineers) continued to monitor the such as ward building, school building, coverts progress of CDP infrastructural works against /hume pipe, health posts, irrigation ponds, its technical standards and reported to DAI on water supply, community buildings, market monthly basis. The M&V team were reduced sheds, micro-hydro component, mitigation ad from four to three field engineers, retaining one bio-engineering, public toilets, and others is engineer designated for the Terai and two for the presented below. West. Due to the greater complexity and strategic importance of the project investment, the M&V team allocated more for site assessments of those buildings constructed to track progress over time.

Total projects undertaken by infrastructure type in the Terai and West Number of projects visited & monitored during phase two (phase one and phase two sites)

RCC Slab Culvert at Laxmipur, Dhanusha Ward office building at Baragadhi Rural Municipality -3, Khopaya, Bara

28 COLLABORATION AND LINKAGE WITH DONORS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN FY 2017-18

FORWARD Nepal emphasizes programme some institutions. In the FY 2017-18, FORWARD implementation in collaboration and partnership Nepal worked in collaboration and coordination with GOs, I/NGOs, research institutions, with several government institutions/bodies academia, private sectors, and community- (i.e. Municipalities, DADO, DLSO, DDC, DOA, based organizations as appropriate for greater NARC), academic institutions (Agriculture impacts of its programmes, resource generation/ and Forestry University, Hiroshima University, sharing, and sharing of knowledge and learning. Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science), and The organization also has MOUs signed with with several donor and development partners. Donors and development partners in the FY 2017/18

29 List of publications

• Neupane RK and Tek Prasad Gotame (2018). Crop Groups based on Use Values of Agronomic Crop Species: Food Crops, Commercial, Industrial, Plantation, Beverage Crops, Fiber Crops, Manuring Plants, Pesticidal Plants and Trap Crops. Proceedings of National Workshop on Plant Genetic Resources.

• Neupane RK, A Sharma and S Bist (2018). Lentil Promotion and Marketing: FORWARD Nepal’s Experiences. Proceedings of National Workshop & Expert Elicitation on Lentil Productivity & Profitability in Nepal, 21-22 Feb 2018. CIMMYT-NARC.

• Neupane RK, S Bist, DB Basnet, and J Timsina (2017). Enhancing Rice, Maize, and Wheat Yields in Nepal Using the Nutrient Expert Fertilizer Decision Support Tool. Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Potassium Research for Efficient Soil and Crop Management. 28-29 August 2017. International Plant Nutrition Institute, New Delhi, India.

• Darai R, Sarker A, Agrawal SK, Poudel P, Aryal L, Dhakal KH, Neupane RK and I Pokhrel (2018). Present status and future prospect of lentil improvement in Nepal. Jour of Agric sci and Tech (JAST). Paper accepted for publication.

• Tiwari, U. and Paudel, K.P. (2018). Behavioral Practices of Supply Chain Actors on Quality Maintenance of Raw Milk in Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Forestry University, Vol. 2, pp. 79-89.

• Four quarterly bulletins of FORWARD

30 Training, Workshops, Conferences, Meetings, and Visits

Training, Workshops, Conferences, and Meetings participated by FORWARD Nepal's staff and project stakeholders

Title of Trainings /workshop / Organizer Place Date Participant/s conference/meeting Preparedness for Emergency Response Centre of Resilient Sauraha, Mr. Krishna Bahadur June 19-21, 2018 Training Development (CoRD) Chitwan Bhandari Sharing the Approach of Sustainable Sambridha Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane & BFC June 18, 2018 Economic Development in Rural Areas Pahad Dr. Ujjal Tiwari NGOs Work Planning and budget to be Bharatpur Metropol- Bharatpur June 15, 2018 Mr. Netra Pratap Sen implemented in Metropolitan City itan City Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane, Sauraha, Staff Induction and Planning Workshop Practical Action Nepal June 13-14, 2018 Mr. Ramesh Jung Shahi, Mr. Chitwan Ram Dayal Tharu Major Changes in Tax and Tax Manage- Management Associ- Thamel, Kath- June 13-14, 2018 Mr. Suraj Sharma ment Skills ation Nepal mandu Innovative Learning Centre /Kwame Rural Entrepreneurship Training Kumasi, Ghana June 11-22, 2018 Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal Nukrum University of Science & Technology Institute for Challenges and opportunities for con- Social and trolling invasive plants: Learning from ISER Nepal Environmental May 05, 2018 Mr. Netra Pratap Sen Community Forests of Western Chitwan Research-Nepal Valley (ISER-N) Social Welfare Central Advisory Committee Meeting Welthungerhilfe April 19, 2018 Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal Council Complex Learning Sharing and Capacity Building Sauraha, Practical Action March 21-24, 2018 Mr. Ramesh Jung Shahi on Financial Management Chitwan Strengthening National Agricultural NARC NARC March 21-22, 2018 Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane Research System (NARS) in Nepal Ensuring Sustainability of I/NGO in Changed Context of Federalism with Best Biz Hub Consultancy Hotel Himalayan Mar 08, 2018 Mr. Suraj Sharma Practices HR Develop- HR Development Ms. Sakchha Timilsina Front Desk Handling Skills ment Center March 3-4, 2018 Center Subedi Hall National Workshop & Expert Elicitation February 20-21, on Lentil Productivity & Profitability in CIMMYT & NARC Nepalgunj Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane 2018 Nepal FORWARD Nepal/ Sarlahi, Sindhu- February 12-14, Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal & Mr. Sahi-ho! Campaign EQUAL Access li, Rautahat 2018 Pramesh Bade Agriculture for Food Bangkok, Translating Science into Policy & Practice January 22-27, 2018 Dr. Ujjal Tiwari Security 2030 Thailand Asia Programme Design Civil Society Academy New Delhi, India January 15-19, 2018 Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal Exploring the Possibility of Collaboration in Writing Project Proposal for Post Swiss Contact Swiss Contact January 05, 2018 Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane Recovery Project Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal, Ms. Multi-country Annual Review & Planning Welthungerhilfe Bangladesh January 01-06, 2018 Ashmita Pandey, Mr. Suraj Workshop Sharma State Restructuring and Innovations in Market Development Lalitpur Dec 19, 2017 Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane Market System Development Forum Nepal 31 Title of Trainings /workshop / Organizer Place Date Participant/s conference/meeting Central Coordination Committee Meeting ADRA ADRA December 13, 2017 Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane of ELIVES project ADB Skills Develop- Consultation Meeting Kathmandu November 27, 2017 Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane ment Project Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane Workshop on Climate-Smart Agriculture MOAD/LI-BIRD Kathmandu Nov 09, 2017 & Mr. Purna Bahadur Chemjong Programme Design Training WHH India Cambodia October 2-9, 2017 Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal Land-use & Land-cover Management University of Agricul- September 23-Octo- Vietnam Dr. Ujjal Tiwari with respect to Ecosystem Services ture & Forestry ber 2, 2017 17 Journalists from National Training for Journalists on Agriculture FORWARD Nepal Chitwan August 30-31, 2017 and Local Media Harvard Humanitari- Building Better Response Kathmandu August 30, 2017 Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal an Initiative International Conference on Advance in Potassium Research for Efficient Soil and New Delhi New Delhi August 28-29, 2017 Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane Crop Management Ms. Bimala Shrestha, Ms. Participatory Learning and Action- Im- Anjana Rai, Ms. Renuka Civil Society Academy proving Nutrition Outcomes (Linking Ag- Neupane, Mr. Chhon Bdr, (CSA) and Welthuner- Gaindakot August 21-25, 2017 riculture, Natural Resource Management Praja, Mr. Sudarshan Bista, hilfe (WHH), Germany and Nutrition- LANN Plus) Mr. Durga Bdr. Basnet & Mr. Suraj Khanal Parliamentarian-CSO Dialogue Human Right Alliance Kathmandu August 08, 2017 Mr. Netra Pratap Sen Mr. Netra Pratap Sen, Mr. Action for Enterprises Collaboration with Action for Enterprises Kathmandu July 27, 2017 Ram Krishna Neupane & Mr. (AFE), USA Pustak Raj Ojha Right Based Approach in the Context of Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal & Ms. WHH Kathmandu July 17-21, 2017 Nepal Ashmita Pandey Joint Emergency Preparedness and WHH and Concern Kathmandu July 11, 2017 Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal Planning Worldwide

Visitors at FORWARD Nepal

Date of Visitor/s Place of Visit Objective/Activity Visit Ms. Asja Hanano (Country Director), Mr. Surendra July 03, Gautam (Programme Manager) Maheshwor Rijal 2018 Head Office BCES project learning and experience sharing (MEAL Office) from WHH & Mr. Nawal Yadav (AASAMAN Nepal), To share the approach of the Sustainable Mr. Eugen Birca & Mr. Dmytro Bobyrev (Business April 26, Economic Development in Rural Areas project, as Head Office and Finance Consulting Team) 2018 well as to allocate the task to the project team in the inception phase March 14, Prof. Kaneko Shinji, Hiroshima University, Japan 2018 Head Office Supervision of the internship by Ms. Yan Chan, February Head Office & Juliana Schatzschneider, RTL Trainee Visited the BCES Project Site 21, 2018 Kaule Ms. Friederike Group (Thomas Cook), Ms. Patricia Kalika-10 & Niewels, Mr. Surendra Gautam (Programme February Icchakamana-2, Manager, WHH) 8-9, 2018 Chitwan BCES project monitoring visit 32 Date of Visitor/s Place of Visit Objective/Activity Visit Mr. Salil Bhattarai (Team Leader, ELIVES Project), January To ELIVES Project Mr. Lalit Chaudhary (Finance Officer), Mr. Ganesh Joint Monitoring of the Project Implementation 14-17, implemented Gurung (PC) from ADRA & Dr. R. P. Thakur (PC, area of ELIVES Project 2018 Districts FORWARD) Mr. Kapil Pokharel (Team Leader), Mr. Shashidhar Mid-term evaluation of BCES Project Site and Sharma (SWC), Mr. Jyoti Prakash Pandey (Finance January Garibari, Kalika-8, review of financial system and vouchers of the Expert), Mr. Ram Babu Adhikari (Ministry of Agri- 10, 2018 Chitwan BCES Project cultural Development & Mr. Sushil Ghimire (WHH) Kritiman September (Morang), DWIDP, DCC, DADO & Municipality 17-18, Pulthegauda Monitoring and evaluation of CR project 2017 Jabdi Community (Sunsari) Members – Board, Honorary, Founder, Advisory, Professional, and Auditors Executive Board Members of FORWARD Nepal (2016-2019) S.N. Name Position 1 Prof. Dr. Madhav Kumar Shrestha Chairperson 2 Prof. Dr. Durga Devkota Vice-Chairperson 3 Mr. Dharma Prasad Pandey Secretary 4 Ms. Sunita Shrestha Treasurer 5 Mr. Purna Bahadur Chemjong Member 6 Mr. Krishna Bahadur B.K. Member (Farmer's representative) 7 Mr. Dinesh Babu Thapa Magar Member 8 Ms. Madhu Shah Member 9 Ms. Sabita Chepang Member 10 Dr. Narayan Prasad Khanal Member 11 Ms. Maiya Giri Member FORWARD Nepal's Honorary Members S.N. Name Address Email 1 Prof. Dr. John R. Witcombe Bangor University, UK [email protected]. [email protected] 2 Dr. Dave Harris Bangor University, UK [email protected] Country Representative, International 3 Dr. Krishna Dev Joshi [email protected] Rice Research Institute, Nepal Office Founder Members of FORWARD Nepal S.N. Name Current Address Expertise 1 Mr. Netra Pratap Sen FORWARD Nepal Management/Rural Development 2 Mr. Gam Bahadur Gurung Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RNN) Soil Science 3 Mr. Yam Bahadur Thapa FORWARD Nepal (part-time) Natural Resource Management 4 Dr. Ramesh Raj Pokharel Currently in the USA Plant Science 5 Mr. Dinesh Neupane Currently in Denmark Livestock Livestock & Dairy Production and 6 Mr. Ram Mani Poudel Himali Project, Kathmandu Management 7 Mr. Krishna Bahadur Bhandari FORWARD Nepal Management

33 FORWARD Nepal's Advisory Board S.N. Name Current Address Expertise Agriculture and Forestry University, Director, Directorate of Agriculture Research and Extension, 1 Prof. Dr. Naba Raj Devkota Rampur, Chitwan (AFU), Nepal Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur 2 Mr. Yam Bahadur Thapa Bharatpur-12, Chitwan Natural Resource Management Advocate/Notary Public Pairabi Legal Office, Bharatpur, 3 Mr. Jagannath Bhandari Bharatpur-10, Chitwan Chitwan 4 Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal Lalitpur-14, Nakhipot Member of Upper house and former NPC member AFSP Office, Ramkrishna Marga, Former Secretary, Nepal Government, Currently at ASFP Office, 5 Dr. Bajra Kishore P. Shah Sridhar-4, Kathmandu Ramkrishna Marg Gaindakot Municipality-1, Milan- Member of National Planning Commission and former, Execu- 6 Dr. Dil Bahadur Gurung chowk, Nawalparasi tive Director, National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Department for Communities and ERDF and RGF Fund Manager, Department for Communities 7 Dr. Shyam Prakash Chand Local Government, London, UK and Local Government, (DCLG), UK FORWARD Affiliated Professionals S.N. Name Current Address Expertise Currently at Department of Plant Agriculture University of Guelph, 1 Mr. Tejendra Chapagain, PhD Plant Science Canada 2 Mr. Toya Gautam Freelancer Publication/Media 3 Ms. Luni Piya, PhD Associate Professor, Hiroshima University Rural Economics 4 Mr. Niraj Prakash Joshi, PhD Hiroshima University, Japan Agri. Economics 5 Mr. Krishna Prasad Paudel, PhD Bagdol, Lalitpur-44 Animal Science 6 Prof. Sunila Rai, PhD Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan Aquaculture & Fisheries FORWARD's Statutory Auditor (2017/18) S.N. Name Engagement Partner Address Contact Phone & Email 1 C.A. Anil Joshi Kuber & Company Kathmandu P.O. Box 890 01-4416547, [email protected] Interns at FORWARD Nepal S.N. Name University Country Duration 1 Ms. Yan Chen Hiroshima University Japan February 22 to March 21, 2018 2 Ms. Rachana Khanal Millennium Model College Nepal February 01 to March 31, 2018 3 Ms. Ashmita Shrestha Millennium Model College Nepal February 01 to March 31, 2018 FORWARD Nepal Staff in the FY 2017-18 (July 16, 2017 – July, 2018)

A list of regular staff who worked for FORWARD Nepal in 2017/18.

S.N Name Position S.N Name Position 1 Mr. Netra Pratap Sen Executive Director Admin & Procurement 8 Mr. Kirti Sasmit Joshi 2 Mr. Ram Krishna Neupane Programme Director Officer Admin & Procurement 3 Dr. Ujjal Tiwari, PhD Planning Director 9 Mr. Ram Dayal Tharu Officer 4 Mr. Rishikesh Dhakal Programme Manager 10 Mr. Suraj Sharma, ACCA Account Officer Mr. Krishna Bahadur Project Monitoring & 5 Dr. Subhash Chandra Bhandari Internal Audit Officer 11 Project Coordinator Chaudhary Senior Programme 6 Ms. Ashmita Pandey Officer 12 Dr. Nirmal Katuwal Project Coordinator 7 Mr. Ramesh Shahi Finance Officer 13 Dr. Ram Pukar Thakur Project Coordinator

34 S.N Name Position S.N Name Position 14 Ms. Pratistha Thapa Project Coordinator 35 Mr. Shree Ram Chaudhary Admin Assistant Facilitation, Reporting & 36 Ms. Rashu Thakali Admin Assistant 15 Mr. Pramesh Bade Monitoring Officer 37 Ms. Renuka Neupane Field Facilitator 16 Mr. Suraj Khanal Project Officer 38 Ms. Bimala Shrestha Field Facilitator 17 Mr. Mahesh Lal Vaidya Field Officer 39 Mr. Mohan Kumar Basnet Field Facilitator 18 Dr. Aashish Dhakal Project Officer 40 Ms. Anjana Rai Field Facilitator 19 Mr. Tanka Prasad Acharya Agriculture Officer 41 Mr. Durga Bahadur Basnet Field Facilitator 20 Mr. Jay Praskash Chaudhary Project Officer 42 Mr. Chhon Bahadur Praja Field Facilitator 21 Mr. Shova Ram Devkota Field Officer 43 Mr. Omkar Raj Kafle Field Facilitator 22 Mr. Prakash Pulami Field Officer 44 Mr. Rana Bahadur Ranabhat Field Facilitator 23 Ms. Ashmita Baral Field Officer 45 Mr. Damber Prasad Mandal Field Technician Monitoring & 24 Mr. Manoj Singh Dhami 46 Ms. Sabita Biswas Social Mobilizer Verification Officer 47 Mr. Deepak Paswan Social Mobilizer Monitoring & 25 Ms. Heman Paneru Verification Officer 48 Mr. Shyam Charan Mochi Social Mobilizer Monitoring & 49 Mr. Dronacharya Poudel Social Mobilizer 26 Mr. Niranjan Goit Verification Officer 50 Ms. Man Maya Tamang Social Mobilizer Monitoring & 51 Mr. Raj Kumar Lama Driver 27 Mr. Krishna Bhatta Verification Officer 52 Mr. Bharat Lal Shrestha Office Boy Monitoring & 28 Mr. Bhaskar Bhatta 53 Mr. Dharma Raj Mahato Cook Verification Officer 54 Ms. Laxmi Singh Thakuri Cook 29 Mr. Sudarshan Bista Farm Facilitator 55 Mr. Dipendra Tharu Security Guard 30 Mr. Pankaj Kumar Chaudhary Project Accountant 56 Mr. Raju Shrestha Programme Helper 31 Ms. Saharsha Ojha Project Account Officer Mr. Chandra Bahadur 57 Office Messenger 32 Ms. Geeta Gurung Admin Associate Chepang Admin/Logistic NRM Specialist 33 Ms. Anupama Katuwal 58 Mr. Yam Bahadur Thapa Associate (Part-time) 34 Ms. Sakchha Timilsina Subedi Admin Assistant

35 Financial Report 2017-18 (2074/75 B.S.)

During the reporting year, FORWARD and important to support the poor and rural Nepal mobilized NPR 89,667,253.00 for the communities through our agriculture, DRR, implementation of 11 projects. This was 52.35% climate change, youth and women empowerment lesser than last year fund mobilization NPR and development initiatives. 188,188,428.00. This was due to our lesser amount of involvement in infrastructure project In the year 2017/18 (2074/75) the following works and continuing with small sizes of projects chattered audit firms and institutions were in monetary term. However, those projects involved in auditing of FORWARD Nepal's we implemented were very much valuable account.

Period of audit Project audited Audit Firm or institution April 23 & 24, 2018 ELIVES Project – External Audit from Donor Sanjay Chaudhary & Associate January 22 &31, 2018 BCES Project –Annual Donor Audit Raj MS January 9 & 10, 2018 ELIVES Project – Internal Audit from Donor Kuber and Co. January 11, 2018 BCES Project- Mid-Term Evaluation of Project 2017 Social Welfare Council team July 24-25, 2017 ELIVES Project – Mid-Term Evaluation of Project Social Welfare Council – CA – Gopal Kumar Shrestha September 17 & 26, 2017 FORWARD Nepal annual audit FY 2016/17 Kuber & Co.

36 Annual Audit Report (2074/75 (2017/18)

37 38 39 40 Geographical Coverage

41 Training on Agriculture Reporting to Journalists at Narayangarh, Chitwan

42

FORWARD Nepal

Annual General Meeting (AGM) of FORWARD Nepal 2018