JICA Office Japan International Quarterly Newsletter Cooperation Agency April to June 2013 | VOLUME 69

Vital support at crucial time -Gopal Gurung

ECN IT officials were give training on Citrix XenServer 5.6 Administration and PostgresSQL, PostGres Plus Advanced Server Administration in and Solar panel Training on Certified Information System Security Professional Course in India.

However, the registration of biometric voter ID card in districts was slow due to old computer servers. So in 2012, JICA decided to contribute 25 computer servers focusing the densely populated districts to expedite the voter registration program in local level. To address the growing need of voter District Election Office,Sankhuwasabha JICA Nepal Chief Representative Tsutomu registration, JICA further handed over 50 Shimizu (right) handing over computers to servers covering all 75 districts amidst a ECN Secretary Narayan Gopal Malego. function held in Election Commission on April 2013. On the occasion, JICA Nepal Chief Representative Mr. Tsutomu Shimizu JICA’s engagement with Election handed over 50 computer servers and 10 Commission, Nepal (ECN) dates back to solar backup systems to ECN Secretary Mr. 2006 when JICA supported ECN for the Narayan Gopal Malego in the presence of strengthening of Information Technology ECN officials. The solar backup systems (IT) section by supplying computers, has been installed in 10 districts—Accham, networking them and specific training Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura, Okhaldhunga, on Election activities. Later in 2008 and Khotang, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Computer Server in Sunsari DEO 2009, JICA supported specifically in the Jajarkot and Kalikot, where daytime capacity enhancement of high level ECN electricity supply is irregular. officials in the policy issues where ECN Commissioners jointly participated with JICA believes that this support will political party leaders; learned the political further contribute towards enhancing the party management and observed the capacity of ECN in the management of management of polling centers in Japan. district level voter database. Furthermore, They also visited Thailand to observe the computer servers will help ECN the election system, voter list and civic in expediting its IT services in all 75 Computer Server in Morang DEO education activities organized by Election districts for smooth functioning of Commission of Thailand. voter registration and voter ID card preparation processes. Since election is Inside As one of the recommendation made after the fundamental principle of , • Integrated Solid Waste Mgmt Page 2 the 2008 Constituent Assembly election JICA reiterates its commitment to support • Dhamile Bridge in Sindhuli Page 3 was to strengthen and upgrade the voter ECN in the coming electoral activities. • All for school health and nutrition Page 4 list, later in 2011, JICA provided training • Inventor of Wrap Therapy in Nepal Page 5 to the IT officials of ECN after ECN (Mr Gurung is Senior Program Officer at • A development model for Nepal Page 6 started the voter registration program. JICA Nepal) • News in Brief Page 7 From Piecemeal to Integrated Solid Waste Management - Bidhya Pokhrel

Unlike constraining waste management in its own youth volunteers. City wide household LSMC Office provides compost collection and disposal, municipalities of campaign on plastic free zone as strictly bins in subsidized rate. Distribution Kathmandu Valley are heading towards followed inside central zoo; formation of designated red and green bins for integrated approach of solid waste of nature clubs in schools to raise public non-degradable and degradable waste management. The integrated approach awareness on solid waste prevention respectively has instigated the household includes prevention, source reduction, are some of the compelling examples of for waste separation. recycling and proper management of the collaboration. waste that aims to protect health and Private sector involvement is also gradually environment, and at the same time considers For waste minimization, the Office increasing particularly in waste collection, the resource potentiality of the waste. A mobilizes 26 scavengers in its temporary segregation and recycling activities, one recent Solid Waste Management Act 2011 transfer station at Balkumari to segregate of the activities emphasized in the Action has conceptualized need of this integrated the collected waste. This has contributed Plan. As a long awaited initiative to conduct approach. Accordingly, municipalities have to 10% reduction of total waste for final waste management activities in public- opted for the integrated solution to solid disposal per day claims the Section Chief. private partnership model, recently LSMC waste problem that are gradually yielding In order to promote segregation from Office has concluded PPP agreement with impact although in snail pace. Nepalese Waste Management Company Ltd for collection and transportation of Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City’s case is organic waste from the slaughter houses of worth discussing in this regard. Following the metropolitan area. The waste is taken to the Action Plans that envision short/mid/ Lele VDC of Lalitpur where compost plant long term management of solid waste, the is located. It has marked an important LSMC has been opting integrated approach initiative in involving private sector and accentuating its activities on source promoting waste recycling. Over 200 tons reduction, segregation, recycling to name a of compost is already on stock from this major few in collaboration with community compost plant ready for sell according to organization and private sector. The Action the official of LSMC Office. As for disposal, Plan developed under Clean Kathmandu Sisdole L/F site is currently being used. Valley (CKV) Study in 2005 supported River bank dumping has been reduced by Japan ODA, projects 90% waste notably after temporary waste transfer management ratio of the city by 2015. The station at Balkumari came into existence. management ratio is measured from the Vehicle used in waste segregation campaign. quantity of waste that is managed by the Such initiatives of LSMC Office for municipalities in appropriate ways such integrated solid waste management have as source reduction, recycling, appropriate contributed rating this metropolitan collection, treatment and disposal. At city comparatively ‘efficient in SWM’, present, LSMC manages 86% of municipal as also acknowledged in recent survey solid waste heading towards achieving report- Nepal: Capacity Building for Waste the target according to the Section Chief Management. Implementation of the of the Environment Section. Door-to-door activities by following the Action Plans collection by private sector contributes and setting the performance target has significantly in this achievement. been major contributing factors for efficient management. Yet, there are several rooms Waste prevention and minimization to improve and reform. An approach taken through segregation and recycling of waste by LSMC could be lesson learnt for rest of before its disposal is what LSMC aims at. the municipalities striving for ‘zero waste’. For prevention and source reduction, it Picking the waste by Municipality vehicle collaborates with several local NGOs and (Photo Courtesy: Nepal: Capacity Building for (Ms Pokhrel is Program Officer at JICA Nepal) women’s group in addition to mobilizing Waste Management, 2012 ( ADB TA-44069)

2 JICA-funded Dhamile Bridge in Sindhuli opens for traffic - Sourab Rana

numerous challenges, the Nepali Contractor i.e. Swachanda Nirman Sewa completed the construction of this bridge with the supervision, support and guidance of Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads; Japan International Cooperation System; and the Consultant Nippon Koei. the Nepalese contractors will catch up with the respective project activities so that the After the completion of all 32 bridges, the overall quality work will be completed soon people of these 5 districts will have much and the development effects will be realized better road connectivity and social/economic as soon as possible. One of the bridges to complete first among opportunities. Road and bridges itself are the 32 under the Community Access not the end, but the means for development This project is very crucial not only for Improvement Project supported by JICA is and progress. Realizing this, JICA has the construction of 32 bridges, but, also now open to traffic in Sindhuli district. The also been assisting for the construction the transfer of technology and know-how traffic opening ceremony of the Dhamile of Sindhuli Road; the Promotion of High on the bridge construction to the Nepali Bridge took place on June 9 at the site in Value Agriculture and the Community stakeholders like DOLIDAR, DDC/DTOs, Ranichuri VDC, Sindhuli. The remaining Mediation Project in the Sindhuli Road Contractors, etc. bridges are under construction in Sindhuli, Corridor. This kind of integrated approach Ramechhap, Mahottari, Kavrepalanchowk will certainly compliment and supplement The appreciation shown by the general and Sindhupalchowk districts. for preparing the necessary basis for the people, local leaders and development of the Sindhuli road corridor officials during the traffic opening Nepal, a mountainous country with around areas and uplift the living standard of the ceremony at Dhamile Bridge and the 6,000 rivers, needs many river crossings. people. However, ultimately, the success commitment expressed by the DDC and With the construction of many roads, depends on the Nepalese stakeholders’ all Nepalese stakeholder in maintaining especially the rural roads, there is an urgent resolve to secure the sustainability of the and properly utilizing this bridge has need to construct river crossing structures. projects; build upon the assistance and given JICA the satisfaction of extending its JICA realized the challenges and supported continue the development efforts. support in Nepal. this project as a JICA Community Grant Project by directly mobilizing Nepali Still there is a long way to go as 31 bridges (Mr Rana is Associate Program Manager at contractors for the first time. Despite needs to be competed. JICA anticipates that JICA Nepal)

3 All for school health and nutrition - Santosh Chhetri

Primary School in Barabise; Sidhdikali Primary School and Kalinchok Primary School in Dhuskun; Kalidevi Secondary School and Deepjyoti Primary School in Gati; Saraswoti Higher Secondary School and Shanti Primary School in Ramche are among the 30 schools. She conducts physical checkup, administers de-worming tablets, provides first aid services, helps prepare school check lists, and mobilizes child clubs in those schools. Like Shree Satidevi, students of these schools have also turned over a new leaf.

Before she was dispatched to Nepal, she was a health and nursing teacher at Junior High School near the Nagoya city in Aichi prefecture of Japan. Soon after the four- year School Health and Nutrition Project, a technical cooperation project of JICA and the Government of Nepal implemented in Students in a primary school in Cooperation Volunteers) is one of the JICA Sindhupalchowk and Syangja, ended in Sindhupalchowk district, around 90 km programs aimed at providing technical May last year, she was dispatched there to north east of Kathmandu, are a changed assistance in developing countries through follow up the project. lot. A large majority of the students of Shree Japanese volunteers. Satidevi Panchakanya take nutritious food, (Mr Chhetri is Public Relations Consultant at brush teeth and wash hands before touching In a hilly district like Sindhupalchowk JICA Nepal) or eating food and after using the toilet. plagued by the school dropout problem, Shree Satidevi made a step forward in school Fukuyama knows that access to health health and nutrition after a JICA volunteer services and nutritious food has a direct started working there under the Barabise impact on academic performance of Resource Center of District Education Office. students. That is why she busies herself explaining the growing importance of Within one year of her tenure in the district, school health and nutrition primary-level JOCV Yukiko Fukuyama has notched up a students, parents and teachers. success in improving health and nutrition habits of students. JOCV (Japan Overseas She has been promoting school health and nutrition in 30 government and community schools in Sindhupalchowk, benefitting around 1,000 students. Sharada Higher Secondary School and Namuna

Lot of changes After she came here, students have started washing hands and brushing teeth regularly. She measures their weight and height and administers students de-worming tablets in every six months. Not only students, she also counsels parents about the importance of school health and nutrition. Jamuna Dhital, Teacher, Shree Satidevi Panchakanya School

4 Inventor of Wrap Therapy visits Nepal

Japan International Cooperation Agency and In 2011, Japanese physiotherapist and JICA applied in Bir Hospital, Kathmandu Model Kathmandu Model Hospital jointly organized volunteer Osamu Watanabe introduced Hospital, Sushma Koirala Memorial Burn ‘Conference on Wrap Therapy’ at Kirtipur Wrap Therapy in Nepal for the first time Hospital, Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Hospital on June 11. Invented by Japanese starting from Model Hospital. So far this Centre, Kirtipur Hospital and Capital physician Dr Shunichi Toriyabe, Wrap wound-healing therapy has already been Hospital. Therapy is a simple and inexpensive method - Santosh Chhetri of treating bedsores and pressure ulcers.

Dr Toriyabe, Clinical Director of Ohsaki City Hospital, Kashimadai, in Miyagi Visit successful Prefecture of Japan, was in Nepal to attend the conference and deliver lectures. He Dr. Toriyabe’s visit benefitted most of the health institutions. invented Wrap Therapy while serving His ideas have been well accepted and brought to practice for the disabled and elderly patients with immediately by some health personnel. His indefatigable efforts bedsores. In the conference, Dr Toriyabe turned out to be very fruitful indeed. delivered lectures on moist wound healing for bedsores, burns, skin wounds and For instance, Kathmandu Model Hospital is really lucky to have him here for few days. surgical wounds, among other things, and We are implementing Wrap Therapy on very minor bedsores and results seem to be share his knowledge and experiences on very good in some patients but not in all the cases. His work has been appreciated by wound care with Nepal’s wound experts. some doctors, nurses and patients visitors as well. But to be honest, some doctors don’t seem to be convinced by his idea. Doctors in KMH say Wrap Therapy is a very new This conference, to some extent, contributed method of treatment and it’s good to have this idea but not for all the cases. to the betterment of wound care system in Nepal. People in developing countries like Hospitals like Sushma Koirala Memorial Burns Hospital was really impressed by his Nepal lack access to expensive medical ideas. We had a very good interaction with doctors, nurses and physiotherapist. He products and Wrap Therapy is one of the treated almost 10 cases of burns and bedsores patients there on the supervision of solutions to this problem. doctors in duty. They were very much keen to continue this method to selected cases at first and if it shows good results then they might be able to practice it most of the cases. In Japan, Wrap Therapy is well received by general physicians, nurses and health Apart from this, Anandaban Leprosy Center and Bir Hospital were also very generous professionals. Japanese medical societies and welcomed him with good hospitality. Possibility of implementing Wrap Therapy recently incorporated Wrap Therapy in is very high in these hospitals. In fact, Bir Hospital did practice this method, but their clinical guidelines for bedsores. continuity depends upon the success rate.

Amrita Tumbapo, Physiotherapist, Kathmandu Model Hospital 5 A development model for Nepal ‘Bring people where there are jobs, not jobs where there are people’

While traveling across Nepal in a bus or nearest roads, services from agriculture “Bringing people where there are jobs, getting airborne, one sees scores of houses extension worker and more importantly, not taking jobs where there are people”. sparsely scattered all over the mountains. jobs—to —people. The 2011 census results Jobs cannot be created easily across the In the far-off areas beyond district show 82.9% of the population in Nepal still country rather it will be an unequal growth headquarters, the settlements are further live in the rural setting. and there will be certain “heat regions”, spread out. What does it takes to provide where economic prosperity will flourish goods and services to those people who are In the current context of resource distribution relatively cheaper and in large scale. To living distance apart from each household? among people living in Mountain, Hill and get benefits from the unequal growth, May it be primary education, safe drinking Terai, a marked resource gap can be seen planners will require re-addressing the water, basic health services, access to the in these three geographical terrains. For modality of development, where the State instance, the per child investment in primary has to encourage people to live relatively education is either way higher in mountains closer by developing structures under than in Terai and densely populated areas the principle of “serviceability” or giving or if made equal, will be meaning less to services to each individual. Then, it will be function properly in remote mountainous/ relatively easy and cheaper for the State to hilly regions. Furthermore, bringing jobs to provide services to a larger population. An all these sparsely populated areas will be educated and healthy citizen is more likely next to impossible or even if that happens, to be competitive enough to contribute in it will not be sustainable. In a recent debate the development of country. on federalism also, regional parties pointed fingers at the planners for making them Therefore, it will be practically feasible and backward due to unequal distribution of economically viable for creating enough development resources. Then how do we jobs in closer vicinity for a larger number address this issue? of people. Now, the time has come for planners, more importantly the political Prof. Shinji Asanuma, longtime friend parties, to bring development slogans of Nepal, has proposed a solution that workable for Nepal. may best fit in the Nepalese context— -Gopal Gurung

JICA mission meets Chairman Regmi

A legal mission of Japan International the harmonization Cooperation Agency (JICA) led by Prof. of the common Hiroshi MATSUO paid a courtesy call laws and the Civil to the Chairperson of Interim Election Code as well as Government Rt. Hon. Khil Raj REGMI at the local situation the Prime Minister’s official residence in of operation of the Baluwatar, Kathmandu on May 5, 2013. Civil Code system.

The three member delegation on During the “Consultation Mission on the Civil Code and meeting, Prof. Related Laws in Nepal” were Prof. Hiroshi MATSUO informed MATSUO (Keio University Law School), Chairperson REGMI Prof. Satoshi MINAMIKATA (Faculty of that the process to Law, Niigata University) and Prof. Hiroyuki write the Explanatory Note of the Civil Code enactment and dissemination of the new KIHARA (Faculty of Law, Asia University). has drawn to an end and expressed hope changes in the law to relevant stakeholders They were dispatched to have intensive that Nepal would soon enact the revised such as judges, lawyers, academicians, civil discussions on the Explanatory Note of the Civil Code. In response, Chairperson society and students. Civil Code and collected information on REGMI stressed the need of the Civil Code

6 news in brief Joint Terminal Evaluation of “Media for Peace” project concludes

6th JICA/EoJ-ADB Consultation Meeting The Joint Terminal Evaluation of the “Project for Promoting Peace Building and Democratization through the capacity development The practice of of the Media Sector in Nepal (project period Nov. 2010 – Oct. organizing a bi- 2013) “recently concluded that the project will achieve the project annual consultation purpose by the end of the project and a Minutes of Meeting meeting among the was signed between the Secretary of Ministry of Information Japan International and Communication Mr. Dhruba Prasad SHARMA and Team Cooperation Leader of the JICA Terminal Evaluation mission Dr. Keiichi Agency/Embassy HASHIMOTO. The project purpose is to establish a model of of Japan and Asian accurate, impartial and fair media in the democratization process Development Bank in Neal through the revision of media policy, acts, regulations and started in 2010 with guidelines and reform of Radio Nepal. the aim of exploring and strengthening possible collaboration. The sixth round of meeting was organized on 25 April at the JICA Nepal office. Among the five DAC criteria; relevance, effectiveness and Three key areas were on the agenda to explore future collaboration: efficiency of the project were evaluated high. Especially relevance private sector development; regional energy; and drinking water supply was favorably assessed as the project aligned the development in the small towns. Among those three key areas drinking water supply strategies of both Nepal and Japan to strengthen the function was found the most matured one as both the agencies had already have of mass media for democratizing and stabilizing a state. As an the field experiences through ADB’s Small Town Water Supply Project impact, the project saw noticeable positive impact to journalist and JICA’s Water Supply Project in Semi-Urban Areas. It was agreed principles among wide range of media personal through the in principle to put together the strengths/learning from those projects drafting and dissemination process of media policy and concerned while designing the next phases. It was also agreed to further share the bills. Whereas sustainability was evaluated to be moderate as information and explore further the possible collaboration in the areas democratization of media environment will largely depend on the of private sector development and regional energy cooperation. political stability and transformation of Radio Nepal into Public Service Broadcasting will be based on the financial sustainability.

RD singed with the Supreme Court of Nepal CONDOLENCE The Supreme Court of Nepal and Japan court’s function for promoting expeditious We express our heartfelt International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and reliable dispute settlement in order condolence on the sudden and untimely demise of Mr singed a Record of Discussion (RD) for the to protect the of people. The project Norihisha Taoka, Team implementation of Technical cooperation will be implemented in Kathmandu and Leader of the Project on project for Strengthening the Capacity of three pilot districts. The project will start Capacity Development of Water Supply Utilities Court for Expeditious and Reliable Dispute tentatively from September 2013 and will in Semi Urban Areas Settlement. Mr. Lohit Chandra SHAH, have period of 3 years and seven months. ( W A S M I P ) . H e h a d Registrar signed on behalf of Supreme Court immediate health problems on 8 June 2103 and passed away the same day of Nepal and Mr. Tsutomu SHIMIZU, Chief The project will draft the plan for improving while undergoing treatment. Representative signed on behalf of JICA the case management system through amidst a function in Supreme Court on May training materials and promoting materials He had been a good friend of Nepal and was always dedicated towards his assignment. His contribution 14, 2013. The project has the objective of to be implemented in courts in Nepal in improving the water supply sector is highly establishing the foundation for improving nationwide. The frequency of using court- acknowledged. May the departed soul rest in peace. related mediation is different from area JICA Nepal Office to area due to lack of understanding and usefulness about the court related mediation. So, in order to promote Incoming and Outgoing Staff court – related JICA Nepal welcomes the new JICA Nepal extends a mediation, necessary staff members: warm THANK YOU materials for promoting to the following staff: and understanding and related training material on court – related mediation will be developed.

Kentaro Suekane Kiwako Nishimae Kenichiru Iizuka Representative NGO Desk Coordinator Representative JICAWhat training the organized journal for governmentists say officials in Japan during April-May-June 2013

Training title No. of Start Date End Date participants Maternal and Child Health 1 May 7 June 22 Urban Development-Focused on Land Readjustment Measure 2 May 29 June 29 Education for Peace through Promoting Mutual Understanding 2 May 22 June 8 Governmental Human Resource Management for Senior Officials 2 May 26 July 13 School Health 2 June 3 July 5 Gender Mainstreaming Policies for Government Officers 2 May 22 July 10 Participatory Irrigation Management System for Paddies for Asian 1 June 3 July 6 Countries (A) Operation & Maintenance of Urban Water Supply (Water Distribution & 1 June 3 June 29 Service) Operation and Maintenance of Urban Water Supply System (Water 2 June 2 June 22 Quality and Purification) Seminar for Foreign Senior Police Officer 1 June 16 June 29 Japanese ODA Loan Seminar 1 June 5 July 20 Local Governance 2 June 2 August 3 Comprehensive Engineering on Water Supply Systems 1 June 12 July 29 Intellectual Disabilities in Community Activities 5 June 3 July 13 Education Finance & Administration: Focused on Basic Education 2 June 9 June 29 Quality, Internal Efficiency & Equity Empowerment of Export through Promotion of Small & Medium 1 July 3 September 18 Enterprises in SAARC Region Waterworks Engineering 1 July 10 October 30 Digital Video Production for Dissemination and Enlightenment 3 June 30 July 9 Seminar on the Acceleration of Disbursement under Japanese ODA Loan 3 July 23 September 3 Project in South Asia Region Eco-tourism for Sustainable Use of Natural & Cultural Resources 2 July 23 August 24

Ongoing JICA Missions in Nepal

Team No. of Experts Follow Up Cooperation for Kathmandu Water Supply Facility 5 Improvement Project Preparatory Survey on JICA’s Cooperation Program for Agriculture and 7 Rural Development -Food Production and Agriculture in Terai Terminal Evaluation Mission on COMCAP 5 Tanahu Hydropower Project Follow up Mission 1

Japan International Cooperation Agency Nepal Office

Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh Building, Hariharbhavan, Lalitpur P.O. Box 450, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 977-1-5010310 Fax: 977-1-5010284 Website: www.jica.go.jp/nepal/english Email: [email protected]

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