Inception Report, Mid-Term and Final Reports) Before They Are Submitted to UNDP
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Conducting a Baseline Study on the State of Financial Inclusion and Provide detailed recommendations towards improving the same in the SECURE Himalaya project landscapes in selected districts of Sikkim Submitted to Submitted by BASIX Consulting and Technology Services Ltd 3rd Floor, Surabhi Arcade, Bank Street, Troop Bazar, Koti, Hyderabad 500 001 Telangana, India Tele Fax: 040 66585800, 66585801 Website: www.basix-consulting.com, www.basixindia.com November 2018 Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Chapter I: Background ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Chapter II: Objective ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Scope of the assignment .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter III: Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Secondary research ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2. Sample Design, Size and Selection ...................................................................................................................... 6 3.3. Research Tools: ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter IV: Team Structure ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter V: Execution Plan .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Chapter VI: Deviations from Terms of Reference .................................................................................................. 13 Chapter VI: Tasks and Deliverables-Timelines ...................................................................................................... 13 Annexure -1 Work Plan ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 Annexure -2 Baseline Report Format ........................................................................................................................... 17 Executive Summary The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India along with UNDP is implementing a new Global Environmental Finance (GEF) funded project: SECURE Himalaya (Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems) in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. One of the six outcomes of the project envisages “Improved and diversified livelihood strategies and improved capacities of community and government institutions for sustainable natural resource management and conservation”. While creating sources of income is one aspect, it is equally important for all citizens to be included in the mainstream economy, the primary step towards which involves inclusion in the formal banking and financial systems. This not only includes access to financial services, but also their acceptance by the local communities, and their ability to offer economic security to the in the long run. With this background, it is important to gauge the current extent of financial inclusion in the SECURE Himalaya project landscapes and suggest mechanisms to boost the same. To assess the current extent of financial inclusion in the selected landscapes, UNDP has called for interested agencies to submit their proposals to conduct the assignment. BASIX Consulting and Technology Services Ltd (BASIX Consulting) expressed interest and was selected by UNDP to undertake the assignment in Sikkim. The duration of the assignment is six months. The objective of the assignment is to conduct a “Baseline Study” on the State of Financial Inclusion and provide detailed recommendations towards improving the same in SECURE Himalaya project landscapes Khangchendzonga and Upper Teesta of Sikkim. As part of the assignment a secondary research will be conducted to understand the current status of financial inclusion in Sikkim. In the context of the project landscapes financial inclusion will be defined. The depth of definition will be used as a benchmark with focus on specific and measurable parameters including access, quality, usage, welfare etc. Primary Research will be conducted with important stakeholders such as the Community, Financial Institutions (including community based financial institutions), Mobile money operators, State Government. Community Sensitization Workshops also will be conducted to raise awareness on the importance of financial inclusion of the local communities. After completion of market research, a draft report will be submitted for the input from working committee, project steering committee, Landscape Level Project Management Unit and UNDP. A final report will be submitted by incorporating the inputs/suggestions. The final report will explain the current status of financial inclusion in the project landscapes, key challenges to financial inclusion including social factors, literacy, logistics, physical connectivity and telecommunications etc. The report also suggests appropriate solutions including policy/ regulatory mechanisms and on-ground activities to enhance awareness and adoption of financial services along with a comprehensive 5-year strategy to enhance financial inclusion in the project landscapes. 3 Chapter I: Background The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India along with UNDP is implementing a new GEF funded project: SECURE Himalaya (Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems) in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. The project has the following major outcomes: (1) Improved management of high range Himalayan landscapes for conservation of Snow Leopard and other endangered species and their habitats and sustaining ecosystem services; (2) Improved and diversified livelihood strategies and improved capacities of community and government institutions for sustainable natural resource management and conservation; (3) Enhanced enforcement, monitoring and cooperation to reduce wildlife crime and related threats; (4) Effective knowledge management and information systems established for promotion of sustainable management practices in the High range Himalayan ecosystems. The outcome 2 of the project envisages “Improved and diversified livelihood strategies and improved capacities of community and government institutions for sustainable natural resource management and conservation”. While creating sources of income is one aspect, it is equally important for all citizens to be included in the mainstream economy, the primary step towards which involves inclusion in the formal banking and financial systems. This not only includes access to financial services, but also their acceptance by the local communities, and their ability to offer economic security in the long run. With this background, it is important to gauge the current extent of financial inclusion in the SECURE Himalaya project landscapes and suggest mechanisms to boost the same. The project identified Khangchendzonga – Upper Teesta Landscape, Sikkim for the project implementation as this falls within biogeographic province 2C and 1C of India (Rodgers & Panwar 1988), located in North Sikkim District. This landscape spans over an area of about 3600 km2. In the north, the landscape forms international boundary with Tibetan Autonomous Region of China while in the east and west it is bordered by Bhutan and Nepal respectively. The landscape includes Khangchendzonga National Park and Singba Rhododendron Sanctuary as Protected Aras and also the Tso-Lhamu Plateau in the northern Trans-Himalayan zone as a proposed conservation area. Mount Khangchendzonga, the third highest peak in the world, and adjacent Singalila range strongly govern the relief features on the western part of the landscape while Chola range plays prominent role in determining physiography on the eastern part. The entire landscape is above 4000m and the highest point is the summit of Mount Khangchendzonga at 8586m. The chief ridge of Khangchendzonga range is aligned in north-south inclination with west- east running transverse spurs. The major valleys in the southern and south-eastern part of the park are oriented north-south thereby creating east and west aspects. On the other hand, the valleys in the central and northern portions of the park are east west oriented having mostly north and south aspects. The landscape is the major catchment of river Teesta that originates from Tso Lhamu lake in the north. Together, these ranges strongly influence the atmospheric circulation and regional climate in the region but also affect the