JICA Office Japan International Quarterly Newsletter Cooperation Agency July to September 2012 | VOLUME 66

of Agriculture, is implementing “The Project for the Master Plan Study on Enhancing corridor based High Value Agriculture Extension and Promotion in the Sindhuli Road Corridor” rural development (SRCAMP), which covers four districts— - Narendra Kumar Gurung Kavre, Sindhuli, Ramechap and Dolakha. It is expected that livelihoods of the rural people will be improved through the high value commercial agriculture production by increasing their income level. SRCAMP intends to intervene through major stakeholders from farmers, middlemen, private sector, cooperatives to government level to raise income for the improvement of living standard of rural people in a sustainable manner. There are other projects assisted such as Strengthening Community Mediation Capacity for Peaceful and Harmonious Society (COMCAP), Strengthening the Monitoring and Evaluation System (SMES), Road Maintenance, Participatory Watershed Management and Local Governance (PWMLGP) and the dispatch of JICA volunteers (Senior Volunteers and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers) in the same areas. Besides, the Japanese Embassy, through its Grass Roots Grant Photo: Narendra Kumar Gurung Assistance Scheme, has been supporting various activities at the community level evelopment has multiple facets the improvement of the accessibilities and in the same areas. COMCAP encourages Dwith dynamic dimension and thus subsequently to the overall development in coherence and congenial atmosphere JICA, as one of the leading development the hilly areas of zone. among the neighborhood that would agencies, has major theme “Inclusive and Banepa to highway (160 km), enable everyone to live in a win-win Dynamic Development”. JICA’s assistance which started in mid 90s passes through situation where as the PWMLGP embraces in Janakpur zone of Nepal started in late the mid hill districts (Sindhuli, and Kavre) the local community members in each that connects the Capital city with the 1970s with the Janakpur Agriculture Continued to page 7 Development Program (JADP) and and eastern parts of Nepal. To complement gradually moved towards the hilly districts the uses of this highway, JICA has been with the implementation of Horticulture supporting for the community access Development Projects (HDP I & II) in mid improvement project around the Sindhuli Inside 80s for more than a decade. Agriculture corridor areas. This project is ongoing n Cooperative sector has... Page 2 in a hilly and mountainous country like where 33 bridges are under construction n Ktm-Bkt Road Page 3 Nepal with diverse agro climatic variation to enhance connectivity on rural roads. n Dialogical facilitation Page 4 within short range of altitude has been Thus the major concern is how the rural n GeMSIP exchange tour Page 4 considered as the entry point by JICA people would be able to make best use of n Popularizing 5S Page 5 for the rural development. And JICA’s these facilities to improve their livelihoods. n News in brief Page 6-7 cooperation gradually moved towards JICA, in collaboration with the Department Cooperative sector has a lot of potential

allowing people to work together to create credit and so on. JICA is trying to develop sustainable enterprises that generate jobs high value agricultural products in the and prosperity and provide answers to Sindhuli corridor area. Hopefully it can be poverty and short term business practices. used as a future model.

The number of cooperatives in Nepal is Since Nepal has adopted three- large but their quality is quite questionable. pillar economic policy—government, More credible and members based cooperative and private—how the cooperatives are yet to come forward for cooperative sector can boost the other two the modernization and commercialization sectors? What are your recommendations Shigehisa Ozawa presenting a paper on Nepal’s for the agricultural development of Nepal. to revitalize Nepal’s economy through the cooperative sector development at the JICA cooperative sector? Nepal office. How can the cooperative sector make This sector realizes promotion of possible economic, social and cultural community development and reduction o-operatives are the life blood and transformation of a country like Nepal? of poverty and it can contribute to social Cbackbone of Nepal’s economy. Co-operative is a democratic business economy development of Nepal. Recently, Stalwart figures speak for themselves. organization and managed by members. the Government of Nepal has established More than three million Nepali people Poverty can be reduced through people the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty are affiliated with 22,646 co-operatives self-reliance. It creates people’s cooperative Alleviation to enhance and develop this the country boasts and over 50,000 are businesses and contributes to community sector. The government is determined to directly employed in the co-operative development, not only in urban areas but finalize a Cooperative Policy as soon as sector, recognized as one of the three also at local level. People not only can get possible. There is a challenge ahead on pillars of development. Like other sectors, business opportunities, they can learn how to deal with an increasing number of cooperative is one of the priority areas the ABCs of democratic management by co-operatives. of the Japan International Cooperation participating in cooperatives as a member Agency (JICA) in Nepal. Shigehisa has three aspects in a cooperative--- How can donor agencies like JICA work Ozawa, a JICA co-operative expert who investing, using and participating in for the development of Nepal’s cooperative worked here from 2006 to 2008 (as JICA management. sector? Any specific areas that they need to Senior Volunteer) and 2009-2012 (as focus on? Volunteer Coordinator) is all praise During your stay you have closely Japan considers agriculture and rural for Nepal’s co-operative sector. While observed Nepal’s cooperative sector, what development one of the priority sectors for he was in Nepal, he saw the fast-paced does a cooperative revolution mean in the reduction of poverty in rural areas of development of the co-operative sector. Nepalese context? How you promoted and Nepal. The rolling plan is one of a strategic Upon successful completion of his tenure supported cooperative activities in Nepal? document to extend assistance, which in Nepal recently, Santosh Chhetri of Cooperative is indispensable component mentions that the farmer groups are one JICA Nepal spoke with Ozawa about the of agricultural development in Nepal. of the most effective mediums to promote nitty-gritty of this sector. The large number of cooperatives (that agriculture and rural development in emerged in a short period) have a pivotal Nepal. Cooperatives are considered one of Being a foreign cooperative expert, how role in Nepalese economy. Now we can see the most effective institutional mechanisms do you find Nepal’s cooperative sector? some farmers who are producing various through the mobilization of farmer groups How does it fare in comparison with the agricultural commodities in commercial to promote the overall development in cooperative sectors of the other countries? scale. JICA has also supported in transferring rural areas. Cooperatives of Nepal have few members agricultural technology over the years. and their scale is small. The power of The spread of OVOPs (One Village, One What JICA should do to promote and community people is not being fully Product) in recent years is promising. Now, support cooperative activities in Nepal? utilized. Cooperatives are businesses many farmhouses are guided by market- owned and run by and for their members. driven approaches. But at the same time Utilizing experiences of the Japanese No matter who the members are, they there is a huge margin between the prices cooperative movement, using cooperative have an equal says and shares. Co- that farmers and consumers get. potential for poverty reduction in rural operatives share internationally agreed Nepal’s agriculture sector needs to be areas and continue working towards principles and act together to build a better modernized at the earliest. We can see agriculture development are the foremost world through cooperation. Successful some initiatives by cooperatives such as things that JICA can do. co-operatives around the world are in milk, vegetable production, saving and

2 Ktm-Bkt road: A symbol of modernization - Sourab Rana ransport is one of the most important the contractor and consultant on September by the enforcement of regulations by Tand foremost infrastructure for 17, 2012 to confirm the works carried out the traffic police, better solid waste the development of the nation. More under the defects liability by the contractor. management by the related municipalities importantly, the quality transport JICA officials were also present during the and VDCs, support from the local people, infrastructure can be taken as an engine of successful completion of the defects liability and the proper use by the road users. growth and development. inspection. And now, it can be said that the Then, it will certainly give satisfaction to Government of Nepal and the other Nepali the Government of Japan and JICA for In order to support for the development of stakeholders have further greater role to having supported this important project. Nepal, JICA assisted for the construction manage this road’s efficiently; complete This road a portion of the Asian Highway of the 9.1 km stretch of the - other supporting infrastructure like service with all required standard is one of its kind Bhaktapur Road by widening it from road, pedestrian overhead bridges for which symbolizes another chapter in the the existing 2 to 4 lanes from Tinkune in better usage of this road; and improve modernization process of Nepal or a step Kathmandu to Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur. the physical environment by regularly further in creating a new Nepal. Although late, the Government of Nepal is cleaning it and clearing the drainage. The constructing the service road on both sides management of the road only by the DoR (Rana is Associate Program Manager and also constructing other facilities like is not enough and should be complimented of JICA Nepal) overhead pedestrian bridges to secure the efficient utilization of the road.

The improvement of this road is strategically important not only for improving the traffic flow between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, but also essential to have a reliable link with the Sindhuli Road, and the under construction Mid-hill highway. Thus, this road is linking the capital with the eastern Terai, the eastern hills of Nepal, India and China. Therefore, the economic and environmental implication of this road is high since it facilitates for better international trade, creating wider scope for urban-rural linkages, and mitigating urban traffic congestion. Photo Courtesy: Ktm-Bkt Road Improvement Project

Before the improvement of this road, the people were aware that the traffic handled by the two-lane road was far more than the road capacity, thus creating traffic congestion leading to longer travel time, high fuel consumption by vehicles, environmental pollution and frustration among the road users and the local people.

The project which started in 2008 was completed in 2011 and handed over to the Government of Nepal. After the completion, the defects liability period of one year has the provision of rectifying the faulty construction work within a period of one year. Therefore, the contractor Hazama Corporation, in coordination with the Department of Roads (DoR) and the consultant Nippon Koei, identified the defects and rectified it. Defects liability inspection was carried out by the DoR with

3 Dialogical facilitation methodology training for first time - Prerana Bishet direct contact with beneficiaries. classes. Practical classes such as one day JICA Nepal NGO Desk is now trying to field trip to VDC in Kavre district provide opportunities for Japanese NGOs and half a day visit to vegetable market and its counterpart NGOs to develop in Kalimati were also conducted. The their skills which are necessary for the training was for 5 days and there were 39 promotion of their current projects. As participants from 18 organizations in total. a part of such initiatives, NGO Desk had The essence of the dialogical facilitation organized ‘Training on the Dialogical skills were efficiently conveyed to all Facilitation Methodology” for Japanese the participants within a short period of NGOs as well as their counterpart NGOs time and the learning seemed to be very from September 19-25 at Summit Hotel important and applicable for everyday in Lalitpur. NGO Desk has initiated this practice in the field. Photo: Prerana Bishet Prerana Photo: type of training for the first time since its establishment in 2003. Since this was the first facilitation training ialogical Facilitation Methodology organized by NGO Desk, the questionnaire is a technique to collect reliable D The training was mainly held for two were circulated for the feedback and information from the villagers by simple purposes; one was to promote the suggestions. And having received an awe- conversation and reflect the voice of facilitation skills and aptitude of Japanese inspiring response, NGO Desk is willing the villagers to project formulation and NGOs and its counterpart NGOs, and the to plan for some more beneficial trainings evaluation. The technique can also be other was to build an effective network and events for Japanese NGOs and its used to facilitate the villagers to realize amongst themselves. Toyokazu Nakata counterpart NGOs in future so that NGOs their own problem through the process was invited as a special trainer from Japan can promote their own skills and capacity of concretization until they become to facilitate the training program. He is and to build an effective development empowered to take action to solve their famous as a founder of this dialogical partnership amongst themselves to problems on their own. This kind of facilitation methodology and has been contribute towards the socio-economic methodology has been increasingly conducting a similar training for several development of Nepal. significant to current development years. The training materials included case practitioners especially among those studies and trainers’ manual incorporated (Bishet is Consultant at JICA Nepal NGO Desk) NGO’s staff at field level who often have with theory, practical and presentation

GeMSIP exchange tour and dissemination workshop - Nama Raj Adhikari The Gender Mainstreaming and Social representatives, User Groups and other to discuss VDC- and community-level Inclusion Project (GeMSIP) organized stakeholders. A meeting with LDO, WDO GMSI activities in pilot VDCs and to an observation and exchange tour from and GESI IC members of Syangja district discuss applicability of GMSI mechanism Morang to Syangja on 13-16 August 2012. was held after the site visit to Phedikhola. in Nepal to the participants of the five This is a part of GeMSIP’s dissemination/ During the tour, participants found that neighboring districts of Morang. There internalization program. As such, the women were empowered to lead sub- were 64 participants including 16 women. exchange tour aimed to observe the projects, proving their capacity. The level of Main invitees were officials of the five implementation and progress of GeMSIP confidence heightened even among highly surrounding districts (Jhapa, Ilam, Pilot Project in Syangja, to exchange excluded groups so that they now seek Panchthar, Dhankuta and Sunsari): LDOs, views on GeMSIP, its strengths and access to the development process. For the WDOs and SDOs. Executive Officers weaknesses, and to get acquainted with VDC IPC and WCFs, gender-responsive of eight municipalities in the same area GeMSIP stakeholders. There were 41 and socially inclusive composition has were also invited. Representatives of participants including 19 Morang delegates been realized and members are sensitive to the central-level counterparts (MoFALD, (LDO, WDO, GESI IC members, VDC GESI matters, giving chances for women, MoWCSW, DWC) and JICA Nepal Office Secretaries and others), representatives Dalits, poor and other excluded groups to also joined the program. In addition, from MoWCSW, MoFALD and DWC, voice their concerns. some development partners, INGOs representatives from Japanese Embassy and Journalists based in Biratnagar and JICA, and JICA experts. During the Similarly, GeMSIP organized a participated. From Morang District, GESI exchange tour, sub-projects supported dissemination program in Morang on 13- IC members and VDC Secretaries of Pilot by GeMSIP were observed in two VDCs, 16 September 2012 to introduce GeMSIP VDCs received the delegates Phedikhola and Jagatradevi. At the time of and its pilot project, to introduce Gender sub-project observation, various interactions Mainstreaming and Social Inclusive (Adhikari is Senior Program Officer at were made with IPC members, WCF (GMSI) mechanism developed in Morang, JICA Nepal)

4 Popularizing 5S: A success formula - Santosh Chhetri

he day Hajime Kihana was posted in A clean and tidy workplace leads to a The students are enjoying learning how TSanothimi Technical School (STC) on greater well-being of staff, teachers and to assemble and dissemble automobiles as a two-year assignment, the Japan Overseas students of STC as well as improves well as maintain and inspect vehicles from Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) was struck image of the school, says Kihana, who Kihana. Many of them are familiarized with by seeing rugged parts of automobiles was crowned Mazda A Class Service 5S. In technical sectors like automobiles, dotting the warehouses and garages of Engineer in 2010. He says that 5S are 5S save time, minimize mistakes, increase Nepal’s one of the leading technical training a must to achieve high level of quality, space and create workplace ownership by institutes. A few days after taking charge as safety and productivity as well as creating a better working environment and an automobile instructor, he toyed with the ensure a conducive environment at a consistently high quality process. idea of introducing 5S in the school. workplaces. STC says the host organization is greatly While working for Mazda Motor As his assignment is ending in January benefitted from Kihana’s service rendered Corporations back in Japan, the JICA 2013, Kihana is busy drawing up teaching with diligence by sacrificing his time to volunteer had solved most of the problems plans and training schedules as well as serve miles away from home. We are encountered at workplace through 5S— teaching methods at STC. thankful for Kihana and are also grateful Sorting (Seiri in Japanese), Straightening for JICA’s assistance, says Rajeshwor (Seiton), Sweeping (Seiso), Standardizing Presently, he is preparing an automobile Devkota, Executive Director of UCEP- (Seiketsu) and Self-discipline (Shitsuke). maintenance course book and is planning to Nepal, which runs STC. Today, the mechanical equipment at STC hand over it to STC within his assignment are well-maintained and even a minor period. Besides teaching students who join Kihana is among 68 volunteers who are problem such as loose bolts or leaking STC from all across the country as well currently working in Nepal in several sectors, oil are immediately fixed, courtesy of the as from Bhutan aspiring to be automobile sharing their valuable skills and experiences efforts made by Kihana, an automobile instructors, he spends significant amount acquired in Japan with Nepali people. engineer by profession with more than 10 of time at STC to teach ABCs of 5S to both years of experience in this field. staff and students. (Chhetri is Public Relations Consultant at JICA Nepal) Photos: Santosh Chhetri

5 news in brief Japanese teachers’ study tour very year, during the month The program was for one week and Eof August/September, JICA during the program the teachers visited Nepal NGO Desk receives a different local schools in Kavre and request of Teachers’ Study tour Dhading districts to observe the situation visit from JICA domestic centers. of government schools and interacted This year JICA Shikoku domestic with students by song exchange activities center made a request to this effect. and various Japanese games which they The schedule was from September had brought from Japan. The team also 9-16. There were nine Japanese observed the activities of Muguruma teachers as participants and one (JICA Senior Volunteer) and of Azuma JICA staff from Shikoku as a (JOCV) and interacted with them to know coordinator. The main purpose about their everyday efforts. In addition, of the program was to know the there was a special activity of home stay overall education structure in rural program at Pathlekhet VDC in Kavre. The Photos: Prerana Bishet and urban areas of Nepal. villagers welcomed the teachers with songs and dances and all the participants joined along with them in joviality. This was a great moment for all the participants to know and experience the real rural life of Nepal.

On the final day, one of the teachers shared, “Japan has lost some basic valuable things in life during the process of modernization such as family love, community ties and other safety net of human relations which still exits in Nepal. We would like to tell what we have learnt and experienced in this tour to children in Japan after our return and not to forget the warmth and smile of Nepali people”.

Sustainability of PWMLGP model discussed

A Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting. PWMLGP is being implemented meeting of Participatory Watershed in eight districts, Sindhupalchok, Management and Local Governance Kavre, Tanahun, Kaski, Syangja, Parbat, Project (PWMLGP) was organized on Baglung, and Myagdi since August 2009 September 11, 2012 at Department of Soil by the MoFSC and the DSCWM in close Conservation and Watershed Management coordination with the Ministry of Federal (DSCWM). The meeting was chaired by Dr Affairs and Local Development with the Chandra Paudel, Secretary of the support of the JICA. Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC). The major agendas of the PWMLGP is now in a crucial stage and started among top ranking officials. In meeting were progress made by the project, running in 4th year of implementation. this process, JICA’s role is only observer work plan of the fourth year and progress To ensure sustainability of the program, and the Government Counterparts, being of the exit strategy preparation. The Exit Strategy Working Group has been the main characters, are responsible for meeting approved the progress of the year officially formulated to prepare the exit preparing the exit strategy with the support threes and work plan for the fourth year. strategy. Though it has not concluded yet, from relevant ministries and department The exit strategy working group made a high level discussions on how to internalize considering the internalization, expansion presentation and discussed on it in the JCC the model into government program have and the replication of the program.

6 For Environmental awareness riko Okawa, JOCV working in the program in Kusma on 16-18 Sep. JICA Children, who turned out in a huge number, Ecommunity development sector at volunteers, through a demonstration, too enjoyed coloring posters, a move aimed the District Development Committee showed the ways to make compost, at preventing litters. The posters have been (DDC), Parbat, is actively engaged in toys, and other usable products from hung at many places around the Kusma developing tourism in Kusma. To that waste materials such as leftover meals, bazaar after the program. A performance effect, she has been organizing town old cloths and used papers. Bad by some national actors, who sang various clean-up programs to welcome tourists. weather didn’t deter many people from folk songs, and also another show by JICA On the occasion of the Teej festival, attending the program and learned how volunteers, who sang Japanese songs nine JICA volunteers, including Okawa, to utilize waste materials and reduce and performed cultural dances, received organized an environmental awareness garbage. thunderous applause.

Synthesis meeting of SMES phase II he Project for Strengthening the SMES II has three levels of taskforce ahead, their institutional and individual TMonitoring and Evaluation System formed in NPCS; five partner ministries capacity development plan. The meeting in Nepal phase II (SMES II), implemented (Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local helped ministries and districts officials to under the National Planning Commission Development, Ministry of Education, coordinate in formulating M&E plan and Secretariat (NPCS), conducted the “Synthesis Ministry of Agriculture and Development, align their annual implementation plan. Meeting” on the completion of its first year Ministry of Forests and Soil conservation on September 24, 2012 amidst a function in and Ministry of Physical Planning, Works In the second half of the program, Kathmandu. The main objective of the meeting and Transport Management; and five the preliminary findings of the third was to share the achievement of first year and partner districts—Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, party evaluation of the program and the result of the third party evaluation of one Dolakha, Ramechhap and Sindhuli. Each project—essential drug procurement and program and one project selected this year by partner ministries presented the progress distribution program under free health the National Planning Commission, which of ministerial level M&E Coordination services and impact evaluation of Sunsari- has high national priority. Taskforce, M&E plan, issues and challenges Morang Irrigation Project—were shared.

Continued from page 1 concept of development is gradually evolving in the mid-hill and mountains Enhancing ... of Nepal. A comprehensive model of corridor-based rural areas development with the systemic and synergetic of the watershed together with the approach shall be emerged that could sustainable watershed management be replicated not only to the similar while improving their living standard. hilly and mountainous areas of Nepal SMES basically stresses on how but also be replicated to the wider rages best the evaluation results could be of Hindakush region of Asia. properly included into the forthcoming development initiatives. development is the comparative advantage of the hill and mountains which has to be (Gurung is Chief Program Manager at JICA Nepal) Therefore to sum up all, Japanese further developed based on the rural areas assistance is concentrated in the with the gainful employment to reverse the hilly areas by using its cumulative outbound migration. Human development experiences in Nepal together with is the focus as well as the pivotal of any the adoption of multiple sectors and development initiatives, so the strong and Incoming Staff schemes, which can also be observed viable rural peoples based institutions needs JICA Nepal welcomes new staff member: from the seamless assistance strategy to be developed through the cooperatives of JICA. Now, it is time to have a and farmers’ institutions, which will have broader and long term perspective strong and sustainable network with the on how the Japanese assistance in market and service providers both at the these areas will bring sustainable and national and international level. Nama Raj Adhikari enduring impact at the grassroots Senior Program Officer level to improve their livelihood. The Banepa-Bardibas highway is main vein diverse agro-ecological based economic of the economic growth and the corridor

7 Government officials sent to Japan for JICA training from July - September 2012 Field of Training Duration Number of Participants Waterworks Engineering July 4-Sept 19 2 Urban Solid Waste Management by Local Government July 23-Sept 22 2 Animal Agriculture for Sustainable Rural Development July 22-Sept 15 2 Improvement of the Social Welfare System July 16-Aug 8 1 Water Environment Administration July 4-July21 1 Capacity Building for Developing Communication and Information Environment in Rural July 24-Sept 8 1 Community Education for Peace Through Promoting Mutual Understanding Aug 26-Sept 27 3 Rural Development for Small-Scale Farmers through Animal Cooperatives Activity in Asia Aug 26-Oct 30 2 Planning of Agricultural Policy Aug 19-Sept 15 1 Public Participation, Consensus Building and Resettlement in Public Works Project for Asian Aug 26-Sept 27 2 Countries Trunk Road Management and Maintenance Aug 13-Sept 22 2 Urban Road Management and Maintenance Sept 12-Oct 13 2 Comprehensive Bridge Engineering Sept 24-Nov 3 4 Strengthening the Export Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Coffee Producers Sept 23-Oct 20 2 Project Management in Infrastructure Development for Civil Engineers Sept 18-Nov 17 1 Gf]kfn hfOsf cndgfO{ Pzf]l;P;g ネパール JICA 帰国研修員 同窓会 JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN) Welcome to Language Door! Courses on Japanese Language. JAAN Information, Language & Culture Institute (JILCI) offers Japanese Language Courses on: 1. Basic Level. 2. Advance Level. 3. Preparation Classes for Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). 4. Preparation Classes for JITCO Trainees. 5. Classes on Developing Communication Skills in Japanese Language for Advance Learners. Our Specialty • Well Trained Japanese and Nepali Instructors. • Small Class Sizes. (Our Classes only have 3 to 8 Students and an Average of only 5 Students per Class). • Only the Authorized Organization in Nepal for Conducting Examination for JITCO Trainees.

For further information JAAN INFORMATION, LANGUAGE & CULTURE INSTITUTE (JILCI) JAAN CDC Building, Balkhu, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel:977-1-4285520, Web: www.jaan.org.np

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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