Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

I.1. Name(s) of person(s) in-charge of project management in SCLC in 2017-18

Niroj Shrestha, Project Coordinator

I.2. Context and background of the project in 2017-18

Describe the context of the project, the problems to be addressed and the recommended solutions

Nepal is a poor and difficult to access country with poorly developed economic infrastructures. Agriculture employs 80% of the working population but generates only 35% of GDP because the cultivation methods are archaic and the family farms are scattered in isolated areas. Poverty, illiteracy, lack of infrastructure and health care, unemployment and lack of vocational qualifications are all additional challenges that young people and adults in rural areas have to cope with, and which push them to emigrate massively to accept unsafe and low-paid jobs.

The project area is a suitable area for agriculture, with a favourable climate, rich biodiversity, and abundant water sources. Potential for establishing/strengthening farms is important enough to catch the interest of young people and adults but requires awareness and prior training. In addition, the rapid development of the tourism industry and the growing demand of hotels and restaurants for quality and organic products offer many prospects for small farms. Promoting the agricultural sector is also part of the Government of 's strategy to fight poverty and ensure food sovereignty.

Our local partner SCLC has created a non-formal learning center and model farm to help young people and adults: • Learn about modern, efficient and sustainable agricultural techniques (avoiding the use of chemicals) • Acquire the skills and confidence to create an income-generating agricultural activity.

Describe the methodology (participative, simple request) used in the planning and managing of the project and, notably, the extent to which the stakeholders have been involved in this process.

The project was designed by Shikharapur CLC with its experience of a decade of working in community in an informal way. While working with many self-help groups, women's group, agriculture groups, this project concept came as emerging as their need. Therefore, the concept of the agriculture development, the need and importance of organic farming and the use of technology in agriculture etc were thought as essential part of development. Few schools, college and some farmer's network group were involved to discuss about the concept.

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

After the approval of the project by ONGD-FNEL, we have involved local government; municipality, District Coordination Committee, DCC (previously District Development Committee), local cooperatives, farmers' network group etc were involved to implement the project. This has helped to form new farmer's group and also to work with the new steps of project implementation. Therefore, we can say, this project has involved stakeholders for the implementation of project.

During the project years, there was local election and the total system of Nepal changed, therefore, we need to include Ward Office and Municipality Office in most of the activities. In the trainings, meetings, workshops, seminars etc, the locally elected people's participation became a must. But, we took this as very positive and we also tried our best to make them take the ownership of the project. This is because, our entire project activities are to support some parts of the municipality, we are helping them. So, their ownership and their positive participation became inevitable. This process took some time but again, it has been very helpful to complete all our activities. And again, this is going to be helpful for our upcoming 5 years project.

How have the various project stakeholders (institutional actors, local authorities, beneficiaries...) been involved? Please describe the planning and consultation process used.

Formal meetings, sharing workshops, official visits were organized by the project team to share the concept and implementation strategy of the project. We also provided all the stakeholder local government bodies and municipalities with the project documents, budget and our implementation strategy, This process has helped us to take approval of project from DCC.

Our regular meeting with our own staffs will guide them to disseminate the information of the project to the stakeholders. More importantly, we have sit meetings with the stakeholders both in their own office and our office (mainly in project site). We also organized preliminary and other frequent meetings with the beneficiaries both to share the project ideas and also the formation of farmers group. This is going to help us with the selection of good and active farmers for our future activities. We have also involved the members of the local government bodies, municipalities, farmers cooperative, farmers' coordination committee in our project steering committee.

A 7 member steering committee has been formed as below

Project Steering Committee

1. Project Coordinator: Niroj Shrestha 1 2. Chairperson of the organization: Shyam Bahadur KC 1 3. Member of Ward no 5, Municipality 1 4. District Coordination Committee, : Member 1 5. District Agriculture Development Office : Member 1 6. Dakshinkali Municipality Member 1 7. Representative of Farmer's Coordination Committee : Member 1

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Describe SCLC areas of competence and expertise, which your intend to contribute to the realisation of this project.

The main competence of SCLC is community support, mobilization of expertise from community and also from central line agencies. The coordination of SCLC with DCC, DADO, Local Government Bodies, locally formed agriculture group and their coordination committee are mainly the capacities. This practice seems very much sustainable, because when we work with government bodies, they feel very easy to work in community. Community people also know about the subsidies of government, they are aware of the government programs, which they share in our meeting and workshops.

Every stakeholders and community beneficiary parts are convinced that the need of the project is emerging one and they all wanted to support this cause. In totality, we can say that the competent staffs, enthusiastic board members, volunteers, and supportive line agency managers from Nepal Government etc are very much helping to meet the objective. They also support the advocacy of this issue in the community in their respective fields.

Were the assumptions, in a way or another, influenced the course of the project?

Yes, the assumptions which project forecasted influenced the course of project. Mainly, the local election has hampered the project activities in many ways. Though the election was for few days, the elected related activities in grass-root level disturbed the project activities and we need to stop it for at least two week. Youth's interest in agriculture is another part of the assumption. This is also difficult task to involve the youths in this field because of the insecure economy of Nepal, the instable politics and also low level of income from agriculture. But we have been doing our best to motivate them to involve them into agriculture. Project has taken initiative to involve college level students to utilize their leisure time to train themselves in agriculture. Normally in Nepal, college time is morning shift, so that the youths can utilize their day time leisure to be involved in agriculture. Another assumption is mobilizing youths from open school. Open school is that where the school dropouts study. SCLC has been running this special class since 7 years, so there is decreasing number of open school participants. Other things are going smoothly as per the project objective.

Interest of youths in agriculture is another thing to think about. It is hard to bring back the youths in field. It has been always risk for any projects. But, the social incentives, educational benefits, the distance of schools and home have been some factors which has played positive roles in bringing youths in agriculture. And, the motivational actions and stories always help them to be empowered towards agriculture development.

Were there cross-fertilization synergy effects between the different activities?

Community itself is an idea bank. We learn from community. SCLC creates platform for discussing new ideas and implement them in good way for better result. The project plans for the integrated approach for the best result from it. We have integrated and complementary activities which is helping the beneficiaries to gain better knowledge in the field. For example, the agriculture training, business plan training, marketing training etc are integrated to develop the skills of farmers. Therefore, it creates the synergy effect.

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Lessons learned from the project in 2017-18

"Community itself is an open school where we can learn and share our experience." This is our main slogan while we work in community. Therefore, community based project will give much learning to us in a frequent manner.

The main lesson that we learn from the project in 2017-18 is the issue that we raised to work with it. The issue of need of agriculture development, the importance of organic farming, mobilization of open school participants for their better skill, mobilizing college students to motivate themselves into self employment etc are genuine issues which we must bring in community. All the stakeholders, beneficiaries and even partners are happy to learn about the project concept and its relevancy in the community.

Other learning is time management. Time has been very crucial for us to pace up with the project activities. The local election has given us the learning since we are little back with our progress due to it. And as an underdeveloped country like Nepal, we have massive political influences in community that people do not work during pre-election environment, all are involved and they would like to influence the project in many ways which is not necessary.

Our next learning is the slow government process for the approval of the project. We need to be aware that the government process is very slow in most of the developing countries. So, it also hampers our project progress. Availability of the suitable man power that can motivate youths, mainly from Staffs level, is also very difficult.

The expectation with the new system of Nepal Government, which we call three tiers of government, is also in very beginning stage. The elected people are learning and the bureaucratic members are also obstructing the development process demanding their facilities. Sometimes, there seems to loose hope with this new system, but again, as we say, even the clouds have silver line, we develop patience. For example, municipalities increases tax for NGOs. Since NGOs play vital role in development and bringing fund for development from their own initiatives, municipalities mostly think of charging tax. This kind of system is discouraging. But again, the alliances are working to decrease the tax.

Challenges and difficulties in 2017-18

Our project activities went well in totality. Program wise we do not face many difficulties in our project. But while we go deeply with the project's integral management part, the field area of the project is bigger while we compare with the limited staffs. Since, we have chosen some villages like Phakhel, Sisneri of Makwanpur District, they are 1 hours drive in motorbike. There is no regular vehicle and walking is mostly not possible there. So, it is difficult to access to those places for the staffs and also for the beneficiaries to visit our project site.

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Continuous motivation of youths towards agriculture is another challenging task. The fast growing society, the trend of people moving towards foreign jobs always attract youths. This attraction always distract youths in regular agriculture sector. Another important thing which we took as challenge is the prices of agriculture products. The prices are never static. The government doesn't have any policies regarding the pricing of products. The price always depends in the price of Indian imported vegetables. Therefore, there has been always injustice among the farmers of Nepal. Slow bureaucratic system of Nepal is also a challenge.

Local election time has been a challenging time for our project. In one hand, we can be happy for the great political awareness among people living in our project area while in other hand, maximum political influences in local level always hamper the activities. Only during a month of election, our project activities are rushed or we need to stop because of people participation in rallies, campaigning etc. But, we tried our best to maintain all activities in time in days to come.

I.3 Strategic guidelines in 2017-18

Describe the strategic guidelines and main actions envisaged by the project in order to achieve the intended results.

[Describe the objectives and activities implemented from 2017-18]

Once the project was signed by both partners, we, the project implementing partner, SCLC immediately started the project activities. Here are the description of project activities which are completed so far.

1. A project office established.

A project office was established at Dakshinkali Municipality, Ward no 5, Chintaganesh Sthan. The project office is established in new building of Shikharapur CLC which was built as a post earthquake reconstruction project. Our office consists of good, spacious, techno training hall with good facilities. We have internet access and also we can use smart technologies.

2. Procurement of equipment. Office equipments like computer, furniture, etc were purchased. These all goods are purchases as per the project need and the plan.

3. Procurement of staff. Staffs are recruited from internal and external source. Project Coordinator and Multipurpose Worker, these two positions are fulfilled from internal source while Junior Technical Assitant (JTA) and Community Mobilizer are recruited from external source. For these post, SCLC did public accouncement and a formal interview was done to select best candidates.

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Staffs Detail: a. Niroj Shrestha, Project Coordinator b. Dhruba Kunwar, JTA c. Narayan Adhikari, Community Facilitator d. Saru BK, Multipurpose Worker e. Sabita Sunar, Farm Assistant

4. Demonstrable Sustainable Farming System Development: Shikharapur Sustainable Farmer's School under SCLC is the main project site of our partnership. The main motto of the project is to develop this school as a well equipped demonstrable sustainable farm, so with the fund of the project, we updated it. Basic infrastructure and some investment were done in prior but SCLC was lacking fund to complete this mission as per the vision of school, and this was going to be completed by ONGD-FNEL Project partnership. Improvement and extension of cow shed, development of goat, pig, hen shed, plastic pond, irrigation system, organic farming in green house tunnel, solar water pumping system, purchasing of quality equipment, purchase of power tiller, development of bio kitchen, dining hall, and store etc were done to develop bottle house as a Sustainable Farming Center. The activities are increasing to complete it into a full fledge center where the farmers can enjoy learning of agriculture systems.

5. Construct of well-equipped training center.

A well facilitated training center was also established in a partial investment of our project. The training center was on the top floor of our newly constructed SCLC building. SCLC will be using two training hall for this project, one at the originally established Bottle House Hall, another is at the new building center. The bottle house hall is also improved for the project activities. This hall will be used for mainly agriculture practical training while New Hall at New Building will be utilized when we need to use technology and other computer based equipments. For example; workshop, seminar etc.

6. Formation of youth farmers groups Project has selected 8 pocket areas for the implementation of the project. The places are namely, , Setidevi, , Dakshinkali, Talku Dudechaur, , Sisneri and Phakhel. In these pocket areas, SCLC has formed 8 contact groups of farmers. These farmers who are enrolled in the group will help the project as contact person for that area. They are also beneficiaries but their main help will be to contact and find more farmers to send them to our different trainings.

7. Conduct feasibility study of working villages

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

During the farmer's group formation meeting, a focused group discussion (FGD) was also held to gather information about the village. In our different meetings we organized few FGDs which helped us to collect information. With this information we prepared the profiles of the village which show some clear picture of the working areas. The profiles of the villages show the capacity, strength, weakness and also the opportunities of those places. These kinds of the documents are very useful to make the farmers aware about their own places.

8. Develop current profile of selected youth Preliminary selection of the youths has been started. But a detailed survey among them is essential before we start any support program for them. We will develop personal profile of the farmers which will be taken further to decide if they are eligible for the matching grant. A booklet of profile is also published. Every year, project will increase the stories of youths who are benefited by our project support. This kind of story booklet will help us elaborate our effort in community and it will also express the benefit of fund utilization.

9. Monitoring Visit by Project Manager, Julie Deneve Project Manager, Ms. Julie Deneve visited SCLC project for the first time during 20-21 February 2017. This was preliminary monitoring visit to give some direct instruction to implement project. This has been an introductory meeting for both partners and also to gain idea about the real situation of both partners. Despite of difficult situation in Nepal, mainly due to local strike, the visit became difficult but our Ms Julie made it facing the challenge and also stay overnight in a village hotel to complete the mission. This first visit was very much fruitful for the project team. There has been many visits after that.

Frequent visit by project manager, board members, volunteers associated with ONGD-FNEL, will surely encourage the staff members. When the delegates from ONGD-FNEL visit to the beneficiaries then, it would also help them in many ways. They are really encouraged. Further, they are also aware about their work.

10. Evaluation visit by SBI ONGD-FNEL selected Sustainable Business Initiative as a monitoring and evaluation company for SCLC project. Though it has been very new experience for SCLC, we were happy to have lots of learning during the evaluation visit. We shared our activities, our learning with the team and they also suggested us in many ways to carry out our project in a well organized manner. The visit was done during May 24, 2017. Mr. Tej Raj Dahal and Ms. Sumedha Mainali Gautam visited SCLC project for the evaluation.

11. Reflection based by Project Coordinator and SBI Team Our Project Coordinator Ms. Julie Deneve from ONGD-FNEL visited SCLC for follow up mission accompanied with the experts from SBI on 22nd July 2017. During this visit, the results of May 24th visit by SBI was

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

discussed. The project team shared about the project progress, while they also gathered the committee members, beneficiaries and few stakeholder members to discuss about future implementation of the project. Both partners and the evaluators form SBI took this opportunity to share their views about the project. This event has also been very fruitful for better project implementation and also to track better result.

12. Develop rooster of trainers: The six months time has been spent for the development of sustainable farm and to create working environment in the community. The delay of starting project and the local election also hampered us and we are bit slower in our progress. Now we have already started the framework to commence training. We have prepared the rooster of the trainers to that they are available during our training time.

13. Visit by Marc and Team ONGD for Filming (April 4 to 6 ) A team of ONGD-FNEL Luxembourg accompanied with a filming professionals lead by Marc visited Shikharapur CLC during April 4 to 6. The team visited Bottle House Project of Shikharapur CLC, observed and filmed an ongoing training of farmers and did few interview of SCLC board members and project managers. They also interviewed the farm house periphery and some farmers. The next day, the team visited different villages of remote villages where SCLC work. The team captured the progress of the project visiting the beneficiaries' home and farm. Mainly, successful farmers were captured during this visit.

14. Visit by Project Manager Julie 10-12 (sisneri, chitlang, khadbu, pharping ) Project Manager Julie Deneve visited Shikharapur CLC during 10-12 November for project monitoring and field visist for reporting purpose. We did some meetings with Ms. Julie for ongoing project and upcoming new project. SCLC managed a field trip to makwanpur district. Julie visited a farmer in Sisneri Village and Chitlang Village at the same day. The first day, our team stopped at Chitlang Home Stay, where we observed the Goat Cheese Factory and Local Winery. The next day, we visited a model farmer in Khadbu Village. We visited farm of Mr. Ram Krishna Karki, at Khadbu Village. After that visit, we had a meeting with locally elected ward chairperson Mr. Dhan Lal Maharjan, we discussed relevant issued and also shared each other's idea. After that visit, we met a local florist farmer at Humane Village of Makwanpur. We visited her for probable resource person in next trainings and this visit became inspiring both ways for the project managers and also the supporting organization.

15. ONGD Partners Meeting and Workshop about logical framework and reporting and 13-15 November 2018 HRDC Following the field visit to Makwanpur, a workshop with all ONGD-FNEL partner organization was held in HRDC on 13th November, Banepa, organized by ONGD itself. The projects shared their progress, activities, challenges and so on. SCLC also got chance to share its inspirational video which won global award for ESD Okayama 2018 from Japan. The sharing workshop was very fruitful to exchange ideas among the partner NGOs,

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Further, a 2 day's management training was offered by ONGD-FNEL for the partner NGOs. On 14-15 November. Staffs and members of partner NGOs were given training about Logical Framework Approach and reporting. The training was successful and fruitful for all. There has been practical session to enhance the learning of participants.

16. Some Progress from local level towards province level: SCLC board members visited the office of Chief Minister and Ministry of Agriculture located in Hetauda Makwanpur to share the agriculture ideas we are doing with ONGD-FNEL Project. Chief Minister Mr. Dor Mani Paudel, shared his happiness to see the innovative ideas of mobilizing youths in agriculture and also helping them for continue education. After the meeting, he visited our project farm and also met the beneficiaries. He shared his ideas with us during a meeting in our bottle house hall. He asked us to elaborate the project concept to new places. He also gave his word that he will help to replicate the ideas to many other local level governments. The office of Chief Minister has asked us to continue the mission of organic agriculture and also showed their interesting in enlarging the farm. They also see for some possible help in coming years if not this year.

17. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Global Award 2018 The SCLC Project of ONGD-FNEL bid a project for ESD Global Award 2018 hosted by Okayama Prefecture in Japan. In 2017, SCLC applied for this prize with the concept of Eco House- Bottle House only, hence the project was not sort listed. In 2018, we elaborated the concept with boarder vision. We put together our project idea and made a video to share our concept. This project was nominated and also selected for the Global Award with $3000 Prize. Our project coordinator Mr. Niroj Shrestha visited Japan in September last week to receive the award. Mr. Shrestha shared the ideas of ONGD FNEL project in ESD Forum of students from school, universities and also from CLC network. Mayor of Okayama Prefecture handed over the prize to Mr. Shrestha. Mr. Shrestha got courtesy calls, and some special field visits to agriculture based organizations, farm house, markets and polytechnic institutions.

18. Global Award and Plan of Agriculture College SCLC decided to keep the award money as seed money for some new project. As discussed, the board members decided to look forward for an agriculture college for the production of agriculture manpower for coming days. For this, SCLC collaborated with Shikharapur Campus and purchased a piece of land. Now, SCLC is raising some fund for proposed college. SCLC also look forward to cooperate with ONGD-FNEL for the future partnership for this agriculture college goal as well.

19. Trainings, Workshops, Learning Exposures, Sharing Meeting in 2017-18 Demonstration Sustainable Farm Development, Continue Education of youths and women and training of farmers in project area are main mottos of SCLC Project. Among these mottos, the trainings are best part of the project for which we need to gather farmers from different villages, visit villages and also help them in many ways. In 2 years 34 trainings (it includes training, exposure, workshop, seminars etc) were organized. 1037 farmers are directly

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

benefited while thousand others are benefited indirectly. 53% (total 554) participants are female while 47 % are male. 116 so called lower caste (Dalit Groups) got benefited while 577 of the ethnic group famers got benefited. 344 other caste people got benefited. This database shows that we have utilized the fund in optimum way. Women's and Dalit's participation is exciting in our project activities.

20. Model Farmers' Matching Grant Fund: In 2 years, 16 farmers were selected for matching grant. Each farmers were given NPR 50000 in cash for the project. Mainly, SCLC management selected the farmers consulting the local level government, and well wishers/social workers. The farmers organized different projects like poultry, cow farm, tomato green house, dip irrigation, goat farm, mushroom farming, vegetable farming and many more. All the farmers are successful. This is great example of entrepreneurship.

21. Residential Program for Students. Our project's one of the main mottos is to help continue education for the students of remote villages. With this regards, 2 open school participants (school drop outs), one from Makwapur District, Phakhel while other from a tribal caste group Chepang Community from Rakshirang Village rural Makwanpur. Other participants are from Makwanpur, Lalitpur, Tehrathum, Kailali, Dolakha districts etc. The students are studying in Grade 10 Open School, 10+2 level and bachelor level. They are living at bottle house as residential participants. They go to school/college in morning time while they work as intern in day time. So, with this we ought to give both educational and skill development opportunities to the youths from our project. In coming years, we would like to increase the number of residential students and also increase the volume of farming, and work hard to sustain the farm for its operational cost.

I.4 Project beneficiaries in 2017-18

Qualitative elements: socio-economic and cultural categories and characteristics

What are in the criteria used to select the beneficiaries?

Inclusion is our main principle when we do selection of the beneficiaries. We have taken care of geographical inclusion, social inclusion, gender inclusion etc. The project aims for 50-50% gender inclusion in all activities. We have more than 50% inclusion of women in our project. Among 4 of the staffs, 3 are women, and again 3 persons are from indigenous ethnicity.

While we select beneficiaries, the inclusion will be our main motto. We will balance it in all contexts.

Quantitative elements: number of direct and indirect beneficiaries?

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

As stated above, the number of the beneficiary will be scientific. We will do justice for all caste, geography and cultural groups. But while we talk about direct and indirect beneficiaries, we will have more indirect beneficiaries. Our workshops, sharing sessions, etc will help us increase indirect beneficiaries. The demonstration effect created by the trained farmers will also create indirect beneficiaries. Till this time, we have the listed numbers of farmers only, so in next report we can clearly define the number of beneficiaries.

I.5 Aid effectiveness

To what extent is the project integrated within a development plan/programme promoted by SCLC?

The project is integrated within a development plan of SCLC. The concept of the project came as a dream project of SCLC, which was thought as the crucial need of the community. This project idea is supporting a development goal of Nepal Government. For example, emerging need of youths' involvement in agriculture, the idea of decreasing youths' movement to foreign countries for low paid jobs, creation of self employment among the youths with local expertise and locally available resources etc. are national issues. So, that we can assure that this is integrated with the development plan and program promoted by SCLC.

Is the implementation of the project being coordinated with other partners?

ONGD-FNEL is the only partner for funding. For other activities, we have informal partnership with local government, central level government agencies like DCC. These partnerships also help for smooth implementation of the project. But the major and important partner is ONGD-FNEL only.

Does the project take into account criteria related to aid effectiveness: Ownership, Alignment, Harmonisation, Results- based management, Joint responsibility?

Above mentioned principles like ownership, alignment, harmonisation etc are taken care while we implement the project. Yes, it is a joint responsibility since it is a partnership project. In this context, the aid is spent very effectively. We are also working for result based management. In future also, we will take these criteria as our main guiding principles.

I.6 SCLC institutional structure

Capacities of SCLC: especially in terms of the organization of services, human resources and past experiences, in relation to the mission of the organization.

This project is first ever projects of SCLC with international NGO. Therefore, there have been many requirements for SCLC to manage this project in well manner. But the devoted team members, the culture of volunteerism, the passion towards better community development and close relation with community has worked a lot to bring SCLC in this success level. Past experience of SCLC has also played vital role to help SCLC implement the project well.

Does SCLC have any needs in terms of capacity building?

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Yes, SCLC needs staffs capacity development training. Main requirements are project management ideas, report writing skills, reporting in Logical Framework Approach, Financial Management etc. These techniques must be enhanced. Staffs and Board members of SCLC need some exposures to enhance their skills.

What are the respective roles of the beneficiaries and of SCLC?

SCLC plays vital role in bringing new ideas for the community. SCLC has leading role to implement the ideas of project and also to apply all the techniques that were thoroughly defined in the project. It will consult with main funding partner and also find more funding for extending the project area and activities.

Beneficiaries should play vital role in project implementation. They are also integral part of project. In our project the beneficiaries are like ambassadors who will learn from different training and will share the knowledge in community. So, they have important role. As they are in our group, they will also help the community as contact person for the project.

What are the decision-making mechanisms?

Decision making is done by mainly SCLC Executive Board. SCLC has one executive board and a project management committee (PMC) under the leadership of project coordinator. But, the PMC will consult regularly with the board members for most of the decision. Or, board will give the PMC with some authority to implement the project. But again, the decision making in our project is participatory. We also take feedback from staffs, board of directors and even from the beneficiary and stakeholders team.

Does the project have a steering committee? If this is the case, how does it function?

A 7 member steering committee has been formed as below. This is formed for the regular follow up of the implementation of project and also works for feedback mechanism. We have occasional meeting of this committee. Further, we take suggestion from them through different media like telephone or from meeting.

Project Steering Committee

1. Project Coordinator: Niroj Shrestha 1, Secretary 2. Chairperson of the organization: Shyam Bahadur KC 1 Member 3. Member of Ward no 5, Dakshinkali Municipality 1 Member 4. District Coordination Committee, Kathmandu: Member 1 Member 5. District Agriculture Development Office : Member 1 6. Dakshinkali Municipality Member 1 7. Representative of Farmer's Coordination Committee : Member 1

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

I.7 Transversal themes

To what extent does the project address issues related to gender, good governance/human rights, the environment in 2018?

Gender:

- Does the project accord sufficient consideration to relations between men and women?

Gender is important part to address from this project. We ensure at least 50% of women participation in all sectors of project. But, since the women are far beyond men, we are giving more priority for them.

- To what degree do women and men have access to the resources and control the resources and benefits of the project?

In Nepal, it's a traditional patriarchal society, so it is obvious that men have more access to resources and they do control it. But, the concept of the project is just reversal. We are focusing in access of women in financial resource, decision making and also planning to benefit them directly.

- Are women involved and consulted at each stage of the planning and implementation of the project (are there female members of the project team and directly represented amongst the partners, as well as amongst the beneficiary population)?

This project is women focused project. 75% of the staffs are women. We have major portfolio in the committee females and our beneficiaries are mostly female. They have been involved in project conception, project planning, and implementation and also they are introduced with our partners in all levels.

Good governance/human rights

- Does the project strengthen the legitimate local authorities and the local good governance mechanisms?

Good governance is main part of project management. We have practice it well and we would like to apply this throughout our project. We have developed a system which clearly shows the application of good governance. Decision making process, transparency etc are main pillars of SCLC.

- Does the project help to consolidate the participation of the local population in the decision-making processes?

Our executive board members are assigned from all villages where we work. Moreover, we have steering committee representing different sectors of development. So, that we can say that we have good participation of local population in decision making process.

- Does the project take into account the (political, structural and cultural) causes for the failure to uphold human rights?

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Human right is always in crisis in developing countries, mainly post conflict countries. In our project area, we do advocate of human rights in many indirect ways. Since we are agriculture and self employment based project, we do not have direct human right based topics to discuss but we do it in indirect way mainly while we talk about the participation of women, access of women in finance, decision making processes etc. We have orientation among women to reserve their seats in development activities.

Environment

- What are the environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the project?

Promoting sustainable farming system with organic farming is our main motto to mobilize youths for self employment. Therefore, this project will help the community to decrease the usage of chemical fertilizers and also move forward for healthy measures of life. This is main impact in environmental context.

- Does the project contribute to improve the environmental conditions of the local populations?

Yes, this kind of promotional activities were discussed in our community meeting, farmers' group meeting. The project also shares the ideas, knowledge from social media etc.

- Is the technology used appropriate?

Yes. We plan to apply different technology mainly to promote organic farming. This will help in protecting environment.

I.8 2018 Follow-up and evaluation by SCLC

How is the follow-up process implemented by SCLC?

Mainly, follow up is done through field visit, telephone calls and also inviting people in meetings. These are very effective ways of follow up.

How and by who is the follow-up organised in the field?

Staffs, board members and few members of steering committee are involved in follow up.

How many visits to project have been scheduled over the course of the year?

There are many visits scheduled, at least we have 2 visits per month. More than that, the farmers and the stakeholders are invited for meeting occasionally.

What is SCLC’s approach envisaged with regard to the evaluation of the project?

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

The project concept is very much viable in the community. All the beneficiaries are happy to learn about the motto of the project and they are helping to make it a successful one. We are happy that we chose this very important issue for community.

I.9 Sustainability and risks at the end of 2018

SUSTAINABILITY

Analyse the project’s sustainability in relation to its social and economic aspects.

1) Social sustainability

Is there any evidence to show that the (political, religious, traditional, …) authorities are really supporting the project?

Bottle House Agriculture Project is a model project for Dakshinkali Municipality. This is the only organized farm done by community based organization. Other farms are mainly based in a business company. This farm has been listed as model in District Development Committee Kathmandu, District Agriculture Development Office. They have published the activities of our farm in their journals and also in social media. For the local government like Municipality, they have also listed our organization for future possible support with regard to our sharing of project document with them. They also attend our meeting, inaugural ceremony etc.

Does the project take the local socio-cultural environment into account?

Yes, project is sincere about the local socio-cultural environment. There is no any activity that hampers the social cultural importance of the community. It only supports the strength of community. In totality, it will help the production of vegetables and also help promotion of organic farming which is very important for social health of the area.

Is the project making a long-term contribution to the capacity-building of the beneficiaries?

The project itself is a short term one. But project is thinking for sustaining it in many ways. Project team is planning for some development of Technical School to produce paraprofessional in the area so that the continuation of such farming activities will take place. Therefore, project will help to establish the farmers group so that they can also lobby with line agencies for subsidy or start better business to sustain themselves. There are many ideas which help them in long run.

Does the project take into account the most vulnerable and/or discriminated against in the social context in which the project is taking place, without reinforcing the existing social inequalities?

Nepal is still facing social inequalities. Caste discrimination, class struggles are still prevailing in the society. But, the project's priority is the most vulnerable and discriminated people, especially women. The farmer's group and coordination committee, project steering committee with provide us adequate suggestion for this inclusion.

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

2) Economic sustainability

Does the project generate any recurring costs (maintenance/operating costs)? If this is the case, who bears these costs?

This project has sustainable farm developed from the project fund. The income from the farm and some regular grant form government could be used for the recurring costs.

Will the project naturally produce economic and financial returns on a sustainable basis? If so, will these returns (partially or entirely) continue to generate the desired results on a sustainable basis for a reasonable period of time after the project?

Yes, the project will give some return which may help in sustaining few activities. We have target of 3 years to sustain the sustainable farmer's school project. But according to the strategy of SCLC, we will develop plan for Technical School/ Agriculture College in near future.

Is there a financing strategy beyond the long-term support provided by ONGD-FNEL (for example, certain parts or the entirety of the project may be handed over to the local authorities, other donors may be sought out, the integration of the project within an existing provision)?

There are few strategies of the project in terms of project parts. For example, the development of sustainable farmer's school, the infrastructure that we construct in this project site could be handed over to the group of farmers in long run. Another scheme we have is helping the model farmers with the matching grant. They farmers will get direct support to start social business in their own land, that will be also handed over to themselves. But handing over process could be discussed with ONGD-NFEL in future meetings.

RISKS

Are there any internal or external events that may place the achievement of the project’s expected results at risk?

-Political or socio-cultural opposition to the project?

Political and socio-cultural opposition prevails everywhere in Nepal. But, the main thing for any project team is to overcome of this risk. Every political parties or other active citizen's forum seek their presence in project planning and implementation. SCLC has maintained this idea since its establishment. Therefore, the risk on this issue is lesser for us. But again, we need to be very much careful about their interest for involving. Since, our project has overcome the issues like corruption, exclusion, bloodism, nepotism etc. so that we have less issue with the community groups.

-Disruption caused by possible natural disasters?

In our project area, natural disasters are not that much risk. Landslides and floods in some places may disturb the road connection for few days but it normally does not create risks in our project implementation.

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

-Political and/or economic instability?

Political and economic instability is major risk for any project. As we aim for some production based project in the area, the economic instability always hamper mainly in the price of production. We have maximum middle man exploitation, farmer's never get regular price for their products. Political instability also ruins the system; which always disturb project activities. For example, strikes, blockades etc are the problem for the project. Therefore, instable politics, the frequently changing government is also risk for all of us.

Annex Participants Detail in different trainings 1ST Jan 2017 to 31st December 2018 Sn Name of Training Date Total Male Female Dalit Ethnic Others Participant Caste 1 Seasonal Farming and Fertilizer 19 11 8 2 8 9 making 2 Learning Exposure to Goat 16 8 8 2 5 9 Cheese Farm Chitlang 3 Off seasonal vegetable farming 49 17 32 1 36 12 Makwanpur Phakhel 4 Off seasonal vegetable farming 47 38 9 3 26 18 Makwanpur Sisneri 5 Entrepreneurship Development 31 14 17 2 22 7 Training 6 Financial Management and 29 13 16 7 9 13 Accounting Training 7 Idea Exchange Workshop 41 18 23 4 16 21 8 Cattle Rearing/Management 39 17 22 15 11 13 Training 9 Learning Exchange to ICIMOD 43 26 17 9 21 13 Godawari 10 Mushroom Farming Training 17 8 9 2 4 11 11 Green House Tunnel 21 9 12 3 7 11 Development Training 12 Residential Participants at bottle 12 6 6 1 3 8 house 13 Model Farmer Matching Grant 8 5 3 1 1 6 Recipient 1st Group 14 Capacity Enhancement 20 8 12 3 9 8 Workshop 15 Capacity Enhancement 29 12 17 7 17 5 Workshop 16 Exposure 47 11 36 5 30 12 17 Idea Exchange workshop 29 11 18 2 10 17 18 Motivational and 47 6 41 5 31 11

Annual Narrative Report Of Project 018 Final Report 2018

Encouragement Workshop 19 Seasonal Vegetable Training 30 13 17 0 30 0 Purandee Phakhel 20 Seasonal Vegetable Training 32 11 21 0 32 0 Khadbu Phakhel 21 Seasonal vegetable Training 29 11 18 2 17 10 Tauthali Ktm 22 Seasonal vegetable Training 40 8 32 2 25 13 Tauthali Ktm 23 Green House Tunnel 20 6 14 4 12 4 Development Training 24 Matching Grant 2nd Group 8 2 6 1 4 3 25 Mushroom Farm Training 20 10 10 2 12 6 26 Off Seasonal Vegetable Training 25 8 17 8 7 10 27 Business Plan Development 17 8 9 0 13 4 Training 28 Financial Management & 33 23 10 3 19 11 Account Training 29 Cattle Farming Training (2 69 41 28 6 39 24 trainings) 30 Off seasonal vegetable training 24 8 16 2 16 6 31 Sustainable Technology Training 80 52 28 6 53 21 (2 Trainings) 32 Marketing Management 48 34 14 4 25 19 Training (2 Trainings) 33 Training to give knowledge 18 10 8 2 7 9 about subsidy TOTAL 1037 483 554 116 577 344 Prepared by: Niroj