PAF gets new VC 3 8 PO/CO Corner 4 District Focus - Jumla Sectoral Focus: Enhancing 9 Rural Access for the Poor Article : PAF Operation in 5 Protected Areas 10 Titibits 6 Success Stories

INSIDE 12 PAF in Brief Wives create employment for husbands

Women of Kadal village of Khirsain plantations can be seen everywhere - 9 in the remote and poor far- in the village, where a large stretch western district of Doti, who were of land in the past used to remain ever pushed to disadvantaged unused and barren. position and braved exclusion, have won a sharp turn in their lives in “Working as a community guard in recent years. These days they are Mumbai, my husband used to remit earning enough and running their just Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 in a year. households, assuming the decision But working together in farm, me and making role and leading changes in my husband make Rs 40,000 in just the family as well as community. one season,” says Dusa Devi Ayer of Kadal. That is not all. They have even started to compel their husbands Her husband Tek Bahadur Ayer too working in India to earn living to is happy with the income and is return home to work in the income readily working for his wife in the generating activities they started. farms. “I never imagined we could make decent earning in the village Opportunities to make decent itself. In Mumbai I used to serve income have surfaced in the village other. Back home, I am helping my mainly after women in the village wife and have become self- jumped into commercial vegetables employed,” says Tek Bahadur. farming. As this spurred a dramatic change in their lives, male members Dabal Ayer, another villager who of their families that were working worked as security guard in Mumbai as security guards in different for 15 years, too has started working Indian cities have started to return in the vegetables farms of his wife to their village. They are readily since a year ago. He shared that the working in the farms that women farming is generating three-fold created. income than what he used to earn in India. Wife of dabal, Dhauli, makes Scene of Kadal village too cast a well over Rs 100,000 by selling the different look these days. Vegetables vegetables in a year. ...contd on page 3 Evaluation of Partner Organizations (POs): a new approach By Krishna Babu Joshi, PAF

Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) has hired 400 partner organizations (POs) A TRIMESTER NEWSLETTER OF PAF in 40 different program districts to support about 12,000 community organizations VOL 4, JULY, 2010 (COs) to achieve the poverty reduction goal. Basically, they are hired for a year and extension of their contracts depend on their performance. But as day-to-day monitoring to POs from the centre is practically not possible, PAF has introduced systematic performance based evaluation system for its POs from 2010/11.

The objectives of the evaluation are: i) to make PFA’s monitoring and evaluation system effective and timely, ii) to identify capacity gap of POs for their enhancement, iii) To strengthen COs towards monitoring and evaluation system, and iv) to promote client based performance evaluation system.

The new system puts pressure on POs to comply with rules/regulations, improve service delivery and enhance accountability, transparency and good governance. Editorial Advisor It provides incentives to POs for the improvement of institutional performance, Raj Babu Shrestha change in functions, systems and procedures and enhance accountability to COs and community poor. The performance of POs is assessed by set indicators.

The assessment focuses on seven components, including organizational capacity; financial management; coordination and resource mobilization; transparency and Editor communication; project implementation and service delivery; social mobilization Shree Ram Subedi and CO institutionalization; and monitoring and reporting. A total of 52 indicators have been laid down for their evaluation. The indicators are collected from the various documents like rules and regulation of PAF; different manuals and guidelines developed by APF; Agreement made between PO and PAF; programme appraisal document (PAD); and previously prepares PO self assessment form. Design: Knowledge Park The indicators are boardly grouped into two categories; one to be measured by the independent consultant or PAF staff; and other to be measure by CO members who are service taker of POs. 70% weightage is given for assessment done by the independent concultant or PAF staff and 30% weightage has been allocated for assessment done by the CO members. This has for the first time empowered Jeevika is published on trimester basis the direct beneficiaries of PAF to evaluate their service providers. by the Poverty Alleviation Fund. Readers are welcome to distribute and Following the introduction of the new system, a total of 205 POs were evaluated reproduce the contents of the Newsletter with the approariate in 25 districts so far in 2010/11. POs that were evaluated had one year or more credits to Poverty Alleviation Fund working relations with PAF. For the evaluation, PAF had assigned 50 professionals, two in each of the total 25 districts. There were also a minimum of five COs (two members from each CO) invited to evaluate their POs. The evaluation process was completed by third week of August 2010.

Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) The PAF management, professionals and POs as well as CO members have Gyaneshwor appreciated the new initiation of PAF evaluating POs on annual basis through P.O.Box 9985, , Nepal professionals and beneficiaries. However, the evaluation is still not perfect due to Tel: +977-1-4410041 lacking in some indicators. It was applied without due field testing as well. Hence, Fax: +977-1-4442450 it is appropriate for PAF to work further on the system, so that the existing E-mail: [email protected] shortcomings are corrected and the system work more perfectly. ...contd from page 1 “Despite 15 years of his (Dabal’s) PAF gets new VC tough efforts, we had failed to change the old roof of our home. The government appointed Mr. Vidyadhar Mallik, 53, as the new vice chairperson of Poverty With vegetables farming, we not Alleviation Fund (PAF) on March 19, 2010. On only changed the roof but also assuming the post, Vice Chairperson Mallik are sending our children to school appreciated the works of PAF and expressed his for education,” smiles Dahuli. commitment towards bringing PAF to a new high on fulfilling its mandate. Kamala Ayer too relates the sad story of ever reeling under “As a retired bureaucrat, it is my privilege to work financial crisis and deprivation for the cause of the hard core poor,” he said. Prior despite husband sending money to his appointment, Mr. Mallik was the Economic home from India. But with Affairs, Development and Administration Advisor to President Dr. Ram Baran vegetables farming, she says her Yadav. Mr. Mallik also served the government of Nepal in different capacity, like days of deprivation have ended. Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Education and Sports, and the Peace Secretariat, among others. Villagers said that at least 22 male A reform-minded bureaucrat, Mr. Mallik holds masters degree on Manpower members of Kadal have returned Studies from University of Westminster, London, Economics and Public home after the commencement Administration from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He has a book “Modern Tax of commercial vegetables System of Nepal” in Nepali to his credit and written scores of papers on Journals. farming in the village. These days He is currently the Chairperson of Public Administration Association of Nepal. they can be found in Silgadhi, Sajghat and Sanfebagar markets selling the vegetables.

PM lauds PAF Planning Commission (NPC) to define “The transformation started after poverty and identify mechanisms to Poverty Alleviation Fund extended target poverty. support to 28 female households to Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal start the vegetables farming,” says On the other hand, referring to a tagged state-run anti-poverty Laxman Khadka, program report which cites that PAF programs as suffering from huge coordinator of Integrated Social intervention raised income and per leakages and manipulations, but he Development Group that is hailed the direct-funding mechanism capita consumption of poor villages providing technical and marketing of Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) by 43 percent and 9 percent assistance to the vegetable farmers. and lauded the positive impacts this respectively, Nepal labeled PAF as He stated that the farmers have has had on poor communities. Nepal´s national mechanism for fighting poverty. “We are focusing to already paid back Rs 422,000 in that Speaking at a high-level coordination expand its reach to all 75 districts from they got as loans through the and partnership workshop on January the present 25 districts,” said Nepal, community organization. 25, PM Nepal stressed on the need to and instructed the PAF and integrate all poverty reduction programs government ministries, local bodies By Tekendra Deuba run by the state so that they could be and other public institutions to work (Courtesy: Annapurna Post) monitored effectively, preventing in close collaboration. leakage and generating better results. The PM singled out “lack of a uniform PAF board member Shree Krishna definition of poverty” as one major Upadhyay said that poor communities hurdle facing the country´s anti-poverty are cost effective in executing local drive. “Because of this, the government infrastructure projects. “Our records is pursuing diverse models for show communities have constructed implementing targeted programs, a kilometer of gravel road at a cost of resulting in duplication of programs and Rs 931,758, whereas the Department poor utilization of resources and of Local Infrastructure Development rendering monitoring work difficult,” he and Agricultural Roads spends Rs 1.7 said. He even instructed the National million for the same,” he said.

3 DISTRICT Jumla

By Lokendra Singh Badal

Background formation of community Likewise, 18.91 percent of total Jumla, situated on the lap of the organizations, capacity building beneficiaries are dalits, 2 percent are Himalaya, stretches in 25.31 square trainings, development of income ethnic groups and 79 percent are km at an altitude between 2,100 m and generation (IG) and community absolute poor and belong to deprived 6,334 m above the sea level. infrastructure sub-projects, technical communities. PAF program has Historically, the district was assistance and monitoring activities. significantly contributed in women considered important for its language, empowerment. Women make 85 culture and important trading centre. As at April end 2010, poor, percent of the total beneficiary But since the recent past, the district underprivileged and excluded people households and of the 1,440 key posts has become known for its relative organized themselves into 480 COs. in different COs, 1,270 (88 percent) poverty and, unsanitary lifestyle, poor During this period, PAF implemented posts are held by female. Thus, PAF health and hygiene, and general 17,000 IG and 2,576 community has enabled women to lead the social infestation by flies. infrastructure sub-projects enabling transformation. 16,869 households, including 106,000 Chhetri is predominant cast, but people, to enjoy access to resources PAF is implementing its programs in Dalits account for a total of 15,910 and sustain their income. the district in collaboration and households and 89,478 people (2001 coordination of local bodies, various Census) in Jumla. The district For these sub-projects, PAF has government agencies and sectoral produces crops, like paddy, millet, signed assistance agreement worth offices, and numerous local, national chino grains to cauliflower, radish, NRs. 363.7 million with the COs. Of and international organizations. carrot, etc., including a wide variety that, it has already disbursed NRs. of medicinal herbs. 254.1 million. Of the total investment, PAF’s direct funding to the COs has 87 percent has gone for IG activities, enhanced people’s access to soft loans. Jumla is touched by road and 7 percent for community They need not acquire loans against Nepalgunj is the nearest regional infrastructure development and 2 heavy interest rate now. Because PAF centre. Therefore, travelling to and percent for capacity building. program has bolstered livestock interacting with the decision making Agricultural farming, livestock and productions, people are consuming body in the regional center is non-agricultural business activities nutritious diets and are healthy. physically and financially difficult. A make the largest chunk of IG sub- large chunk of male population of projects, while micro-hydroelectricity, Literacy programs and other capacity Jumla migrate to India to trade or solar energy, improved stove and building trainings have made women work, while some migrate to urban drinking water and sanitation are able to read, write their names and centers to sell imported or local among the key community interact with different stakeholders on carpets in the winter. In 1991, only 4 infrastructure sub-projects matters of their interests. Increased percent of women were literate. implemented in the district. income has encouraged people to pursue commercial community PAF launched its programs in Jumla Of the total 16,869 beneficiary farming. In some places, they have from 2005. The programs were first households, 66 percent are hard core started production of high-valued started in 5 village development poor (people who cannot meet their food agricultural seeds. Community committees, but within the span of 3 requirement for more than 3 months), infrastructures have eased their lives, years, those were expanded to all 30 27 percent are medium poor (people who helped them adopt modern VDCs of the district. Seven non- cannot fulfill their food requirement for technology and enhance their governmental organizations are more than 6 months) aand 7 percent are production capacity. This has helped facilitating social mobilization, poor (people who cannot fulfill their foodthem link with the market, creating requirement for a year). opportunities at home.

4 PAF Operation in

Protected Areas ARTICLE

By Avishesh Neupane, PAF

Introduction groups) of the User Committee of (3%), Road (3%) and others (8%). PAF operation in the first phase PA. This has helped in harmonizing excluded support to activities within PAF related activities with the PA All the sub projects involve activities a national park or activities that are legislations and synchronizes them incorporated in Management Plan of likely to cause damage to a wildlife with the activities of the PA respective PAs. As of now, no serious sanctuary. However communities management plan. This has also conservation related issues has living in and around protected areas ensured COs to access the financial surfaced during the implementation (PAs) are also living in absolute resources of UC. This has helped to of PAF Program. poverty and are deprived of basic ensure that environmental degrading amenities such as food, shelter, health, activities are not carried out by the Various formal and informal/ education and drinking water. In such COs as they will be regularly interactions have been held with a situation, conservation of PAs can monitored by the UC. DNPWC officials in Kathmandu and be achieved only by integrating Park and Buffer Zone Management conservation efforts with sustainable PAF Ongoing Activities in Committee Officials in the districts to economic development of local Protected Areas coordinate PAF activities in PAs. people in their park management As of April 2010, PAF is working in Buffer Zone authorities have philosophy. 8 PAs, namely Langtang National Park participated during the CO formation (8 VDCs), Rara National Park (8 and public auditing process and are Realizing this fact, PAF embarked to VDCs), Shey Phoksundo National giving feedbacks. These feedbacks and implement poverty reduction programs Park (9 VDCs), Khaptad National suggestions have helped to make PAF in and around parks in coordination of Park (16 VDCs), Chitawan National activities conservation friendly. Department of National Parks and Park (5 VDCs), Parsa Wildlife Reserve Meaningful participation of Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). It (3 VDCs), Gaurishankar stakeholders has ensured that PAF signed a Memorandum of Conservation Area (2 VDCs) and Api activities do not hinder conservation Understanding (MoU) with DNPWC Nampa Conservation Area (20 efforts. Instead it has promoted on May 2, 2008, which allowed PAF to VDCs). There are more than 1,000 conservation by reducing their work inside PAs within a system and COs and agreements have been dependency on PAs. institutional structure of the Buffer signed for 952 income generation Zone and Conservation Area (IG) and 252 infrastructure sub Management Program. projects in those VDCs.

The MoU has simplified the So far, PAF has invested Rs. administrative procedures, avoiding 362,105,000 on various IG activities the need for the Department’s and Rs. 133,081,000 on various approval for implementing each Infrastructure sub projects. activity in the buffer zone and the Investments made in various need for separate environmental sectors, include Livestock (56%), investigations for PAF activities which Community Infrastructure (27%), are already included in the approved Trading (8%), Agriculture and A community vegetable farm of Bote Community in Protected Area Management Plans. related works (5%), Service Sector BZ of Chitawan National Park. (3%) and manufacturing and others Procedures for PAF Operations (1%). PAF investment in Traditional occupation of this in Protected Areas Community infrastructure is as community is fishing in nearby Rapti Going by the MoU, PAF forms follows: Water Supply (33%), River in the National Park. Their shift community organizations (COs) as Irrigation (27%), Building (15%), to vegetable farming has contributed sub-committees (or functional Micro hydro (11%), Solar Systems in biodiversity conservation.

5 Damri folks see vehicles SUCCESS for the first time STORIES By Devendra Verma, Pyuthan

Many might find it difficult to believe times. “I had heard a lot about 3,447,600. Pyuthan District that people in the present 21st century vehicles, but never seen one. Now my Development Committee and Ligha have not yet seen a bus or other forms wish is to ride on it once,” said and Damri VDCs too have pledged of vehicle. But when local community Durga. Other women accompanying the matching fund, and locals had organizations inaugurated the 11-km here did not even prefer to disclose contributed more than Rs 2.2 million agricultural roads that PAF supported their names. in kinds and labor. to construct a large number of people from Damri-1 like Durga Rokka Damri is located at a distance of some Constituent Assembly member Dipak travelled for two hours from her two-days trek from district Bahadur KC, who inaugurated the village to see a vehicle. She had done headquarter Khalanga. The 11 roads said that he would arrange extra work to arrange enough fodder kilometers long road that was built support from Parliamentarian for her cattle that day to be free to with PAF support had connected Development Fund to extend the see vehicles plying on the road. Bhenda village of Damri -5 with the roads further up this hilly district. district headquarter. The inauguration ceremony had a In the absence of roads, local festive mood. And in the crowd were People from almost all households businessmen were paying extra Rs 5 per 8 women from Damri including of Bahane and distant villages kg of goods to get those transported to Durga, aged 40. While others listened attended the roads inauguration. Damri from Bahane market. “The roads to speeches that local leaders gave and Each and every schools of the will now sharply lower that cost, danced to the music, these women locality had taken out a colorful rendering foods and other essential spent hours touching and looking at procession to mark the event. “The commodities cheaper,” said Dhane the vehicles. “Travelling on it must celebration will continue for three Thapa, a local businessman. It will also really be enjoyable,” Durga days,” said Dil Bahadur Thapa, enable local produces find market in commented to Jeevika. former Chairman of Damri VDC. Bahane and other markets of the “The celebration is being organized district, opening new income Local folks said that had never to express thanks to PAF for its opportunities to the people. imagined of seeing a vehicle, even unrepayable contribution,” he added. though they had seen helicopters “We mainly expect locally produced flying above the villages many a On the occasion, community wheat, maize, millet, potato, members had put on vegetables and various herbs to find exhibition goods markets and get due value, helping and produces they people earn more,” said Nabin produced with PAF Pokharel, representative of PAF. support. PAF is already supporting various According to income generation activities, Punarjagaran Samaj community infrastructure Nepal, a partner development sub-projects, skill organization of development and capacity building PAF, the roads was programs in all 49 VDCs of built with Pyuthan district. It has so far investment of Rs pledged grant assistance worth more 10,749,967. Of that, than Rs 400 million to the PAF had community organizations to run contributed Rs those activities.

6 Disable earns 10-fold higher than able Umid Bagchand, Dadeldhura

Dambar Kami, a physically challenged He has hired a person to drive the cart, person who has lost both his legs, has which he rent to transport clay, stones proven that one can easily overcome and wood. His wife and a 12-year old all problems and challenges if one has son are helping him manage the zeal and guts to do something. business. With the income, he has enrolled other sons and daughters in lauded Dambar for his strength and Sixty six years old Kami had lost both a school and asks them to focus on zeal to labor. his legs due to cancel at the age of study only. 53. But operating a cart that he built His wife Naru Kami and 12-year son too himself, Kami is currently earning 10- “Life had become tough after I suffered are happy with the income they are fold higher than what physically able from cancer. But during the course of making. This has eased their lives and people in his village, Sakayal of treatment in Pokhara, I saw people improved their living. And Naru Dadeldhura district, are earning. suffering much more. This helped me particularly thank PAF for the support and build confidence and do something transformation it brought in their lives. Kami, a father of 3 sons and 2 productive, so that I and my family need daughters, had lost all his property not lead a life of beggar,” he stated. “Even small assistance of PAF has during the treatment of cancer and made huge difference in our life,” said Interestingly, Kami said that his successful amputation of his legs. But Dambar, who has played inspirational disability has now come to his because he never gave up hope, he role in the village, something which advantage. “People love and respect has motivated many in the whole of built a wooden cart and took loans to me for what I am doing despite my Dadeldhura district to do something buy a pair of he-buffalo. “This is disability and eagerly pay me more to fight poverty. generating me an income of Rs 3000 for the service,” he stated. His a day,” he related to Jeevika. neighbors too expressed surprise and (Courtesy: BBC Nepali Service)

Pig farming transforms he helps me in the farm,” she smiled. Her son, Pashupati Mallik, passed out lives of dalits of school and recently joined Nepal Police service. “Other three children Darabatti Mallik, a member of suddenly made me helpless. I needed are studying in an English medium impoverish Dum community - one of to treat him and also take care of the school,” she stated. the poorest and excluded ethnic children, whereas we had no money groups of district, has and property to support that,” she Darabatti is now planning to build a undergone a sea change in her life recalled her plight. house in her own residential plot that through pig rearing. This income she bought along -Thadi road generating activity she started with the Commencement of PAF program, segment. She has cleared her initial support of PAF two years ago not however, came as a boon for her. “Now loans, but still owes Rs 19,000 that she only helped her save her husband life all my financial woes have vanished,” borrowed few months ago. when he suffered brain hemorrhage, she added. After six months of but also enabled her enroll children starting the farm, she started meat Inspired by Darabatti’s success, 17 of for education and own a residential retailing. With support of her 23 dalit members of Saraswoti-Jyoti plot and a herd of pigs. husband’s younger brother, she runs CO have jumped into pig farming. meat shops in Lahan and Thadi, the “PAF has spurred very positive Darabatti had started rearing pigs with local business hubs. outcome in the lives of the rural 11 piglets with loans support of poor,” said Tej Narayan Chaudhary, Saraswoti-Jyoti Community With the income, she is treating her president of Gramjyoti Development Organization of PAF. “Brain husband in Siliguri of India. “This has Center, a partner organization of PAF. hemorrhage of my husband had remarkably improved his health. Now (Courtesy: Gorkhapatra daily)

7 Working for poor gives PO/CO new meaning to life CORNER

The credit of success that PAF managed Belbase attributed his choice of programs run with PAF support. to reap in attaining economic and social profession to his family background. transformation of local communities goes“Both my father and grandfather “We have started to see meaningful to its dedicated social mobilizers — who were active social workers. I have changes in the lives of marginalized shoulder responsibility of organizing the seen them working with the farmers, excluded communities, locals and translating vision and programscommunity members through thick women, dalits and ethnic groups. of PAF into action, applying themselves and thin. I was deeply motivated by This has excited us and further day and night in the remote and least them to work for the cause of motivated us to work more for developed parts of the country. PAF has community people,” he related to bringing positive changes in their dedicated this column of Jeevika to those Jeevika. lives,” he states. social mobilizers, aiming to recognize their efforts and share their experiences. Belbase - who passed out of school Thanks to the effort of people like from Argakhanchi and completed Belbase, women have come out of Dhruva Belbase, coordinator of bachelor level education on veil and are actively debating on Siddhartha Social Development economics from Butwal - had started matters of their social interest. They Center, is one of the committed his career working for a NGO in his are heading the community groups social mobilizers making huge own village. Today, he oversees the and leading delegations to district contribution in the implemention of activities of SSDC in all 77 VDCs headquarters, boldly demanding PAF programs in the impoverish of Kapilvastu, where it is operating development programs with District Kapilvastu district. The center was programs on education, food Development Committee and selected as a partner organization to security and community forestry services from other service introduce PAF program, motivate jointly with other PAF POs. “But providers. and mobilize poor and excluded working for PAF and the poorest of people to form community the poor is something else. It has People who constantly reeled under organizations (COs), identify their given meaning to my being. No other poverty today are making good needs and help them design and works has satisfied me to the core as income from activities like vegetables implement the income generation my work for PAF COs has done,” farming, poultry, fishery, buffalo and and community infrastructure sub- he says. pig rearing and furniture making. projects in 2004. Some of them have even bought Belbase works with 80 COs and 3 motorcycles and transport their Initially, SSDC was entrusted to CO Federations, directly serving produces to the market on them. “We facilitate the implementation of PAF 1,835 hard core poor, excluded and can distinctly see improvement in programs in three village marginalized people. He labors day livelihood of 60 - 65 percent of PAF development committees. Currently, and night to motivate them and get beneficiaries,” Belbase states. its responsibility has expanded to them organized into COs. He listens additional one VDC. to them for hours, discusses income Rise in income, increase in school generation and community enrollment, development of critical Balbase’s journey in the center - infrastructure programs they deem community infrastructure, growing established in 1996 - had started in necessary for changing their lives, access to health facilities and rising 2002. Prior to that, he had worked teaches them how to write and demand for the state machinery to as a social mobilizer for various develop project proposals and gives deliver basic services -Belbase says national and international non- inputs for implementing them. He these are special attributes that PAF governmental organizations and creates an environment whereby program has spurred among the United Nations projects. people could maximize benefits from community people.

8 Enhancing Rural Access for the Poor SECTORAL By Shankar Prasad Yadav, PAF

Poverty is the state of lack of capacity community building, market sheds, to fulfill basic human needs, such as agro collection centers, health posts, clean water, nutrition, health care, milk collection centers), 5) Irrigation totals 137 m and they have benefitted education, clothing and shelter. It (surface irrigation, lift irrigation, drip 47,048 people of 6,676 households. emanates largely from the inability to Irrigation), and 6) Miscellaneous (bio To construct them, PAF has afford them. diesel expreller, river training etc). contributed NRs. 15271295.57 (80%) and communities have contributed In Nepal, low economic growth and Under rural access, PAF has funded NRs. 3444571.32 (20%). agricultural productivity, poor social NRs. 124847629.10 for 196 sub- and economic infrastructure and the projects, including 83 roads, 7 trail Likewise, PAF has supported lack of non-agriculture employment roads, 77 culverts and 29 bridges construction of 29 bridges, inlcuding are contributing to poverty. Hence, development sub-projects. RCC, suspension and wooden bridges, Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) has benefitting 33,698 people of 5,186 adopted multi-pronged approach to Together, these sub-projects have households. For that, PAF funding reduce poverty. As infrastructure plays constructed 52 km of earthen roads, contributed NRs. 24136701 (65%), crucial role in facilitating/limiting 101 km of gravel roads and 13 Km while communities’ contribution income generation activities, of trail roads. These have directly made around 12%. Other donors supporting the infrastructure benefited 82,743 community people made 10 % contribution and DDC/ development is one of the priority of 12,498 households. PAF’s VDC too contributed 13.2% of the areas of PAF. The impact of contribution for roads development total estimated cost. infrastructure on poverty is explained so far has totaled to NRs. in the given flow chart. 85439632.50 (67.7%). Communities For rural access, PAF’s contribution have contributed NRs 38327479.40 so far stands at NRs. 124847629 PAF is funding different types of (30%) in labor and kinds. DDC, VDC (68.6%). Communities’ have infrastructures. They can be and other developing agencies have contributed 46033407(25.3%) and segregated into 6 categories: 1) Rural contributed 2.3 % in those projects. other agencies including DDC/VDC Energy (micro-hydro, peltric set, solar, too have extended support worth electric line extension), 2) Rural Construction of culvert is important NRs. 11107339 (6.1%). Among Access (roads, culverts, bridges), 3) part of rural road sub-projects. Under different infrastructures, PAF’s Water Supply & Sanitation (gravity this, PAF has supported to lay down biggest investment has gone in roads water supply, tube well, dug well, 21 pipe-based culvert and 56 slab (68.4%) and least in culvert toilets), 4) Buildings (school building, culvert. The stretch of such culverts construction (12.23%). Details of community infrastructure (as of June, 2010) Activity Type Total Total Total PAF CO Others DDC/VDCUnit Km No Ben.HH Ben.Pop Road Earthen 17 3065 15756 30427424.18 12665155.5 289000 1400287 Km 52.243 Road Gravel 66 9129 64882 52276656.83 24914415.8 674523 0 km 100.977 Road Trail 7 304 2105 2735551.49 747908 0 0 km 13.17 90 12498 82743 85439632.5 38327479.4 963523 1400287 km 166.39 Culvert Pipe 21 958 7273 917700.02 205419 0 0 Culvert Slab 56 5718 39775 14353595.55 3239152.32 0 0 spam,m 137.66 77 6676 47048 15271295.57 3444571.32 0 0 spam,m 137.66 Bridge RCC 7 2029 12939 6575703 1161118 100000 0 spam,m 94.2 Bridge Suspension 3 238 1479 2138294 514892 0 150000 spam,m 244 Bridge Wodden 8 382 2496 704768 250231.8 33529 0 spam,m 102.8 Bridge Others 11 2537 16784 14717936 2335115 3710000 4750000 spam,m 895 29 5186 33698 24136701 4261356.8 3843529 4900000 spam,m 1336 196 24360 163489 124847629.1 46033407.5 4807052 6300287 0 1944.1 9 TITBITS Activities

WB Vice Prez have PAF programs and also the WB mission assesses visits Nepal villages lacking PAF programs. This PAF II progress approach has been adopted so that The World Bank (WB) Vice President A 12 member-World Bank PAF could compare how the for South Asia, Isabel Guerrero, Implementation Support Mission led community people having PAF concluded a weeklong visit to Nepal by Ms. Gayatri Acharya, Task Team support and not fared over the period on February 23, 2010. During her stay, Leader, assessed progress of the PAF of last four years. The survey will she met with senior government from March 16-24, 2010. The mission cover 3,420 households, including the officials, including Prime Minister interacted with PAF board members households covered during baseline Madhav Kumar Nepal, Finance and staffs, held discussions with survey and also the households that Minister Surendra Pandey, and Energy government secretaries visited various were not in the baseline, but are Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and PAF program sites, reviewed its currently involved in PAF programs political party leaders, among others. management information system and to demonstrate the impact of the detailed financial management review program.Following the selection, PAF During her stay, Ms. Guerrero also carried out in February. organized training to the enumerators attended a meeting of the World from March 8 to 17, 2010. Bank’s Regional Management Team The mission concluded that PAF II for South Asia. Guerrero and is making satisfactory progress PAF had conducted the first members of her team also visited towards poverty reduction and other follow up survey, covering districts several development projects in development goals, particularly like Pyuthan, Kapilvastu, western Nepal. She met with improvements in infrastructure and Ramechhap, Siraha, Okhaldhunga community partners and project increase in citizen participation in and Dang in 2009. beneficiaries of the World Bank community decision making. It financed Poverty Alleviation Fund PAF discusses reckoned that employment is being and Social Safety Nets Project in generated at the village level. The collaboration with AEPC Dolpa district as well as a micro-hydro mission also recommended a number scheme and a community managed PAF officials participated in a half day of actions. school in Baglung district. interaction meeting organized by Alternate Energy Promotion Center/ The mission suggested PAF to re- CEDA to conduct second Energy Sector Assistance Program orient its partner organizations and follow up survey (AEPC/ESAP) on February 4, 1010. provide technical inputs from line ministries to ensure that quality of PAF has selected CEDA, Tribhuvan The program aimed at sharing infrastructure works follow University, to conduct the second experiences of implementing micro- established norms and guidelines. The follow up survey in the nine districts: hydro and other rural energy programs. mission noted that there was still a lot Darchula, Mugu, Bajura, Dailekh, As PAF and AEPC are collaborating of discussion required on what is the Jumla, Humla, Doti, Rolpa and on implementing micro-hydro sub- best strategy for PAF to adopt while Rautahat. The survey will figure out projects, the meeting was of special supporting formation of the exact socio-economic impacts of interest for PAF. During the meeting, cooperatives. It recommended PAF its programs in the eight districts AEPC/ESAP officials made and its partner organizations not to where PAF is implementing various presentation on its subsidy policy on encourage the formation of financial income generating and community mini-grid electrification. PAF officials cooperatives but encourage infrastructure development programs raised relevant issues and concerns on production cooperatives or and Bajura where PAF program is the subsidy policy. PAF executive cooperatives formed around absent.Among the PAF districts too, Director Raj Babu Shrestha too shared marketing needs. survey will be done in the villages that his views on the occasion.

10 The mission encouraged PAF to use linkages in planning, implementation Joint mission conducts the innovative program window to and monitoring of programs. The learn new approaches in poverty meeting also decided to constitute a PAF’s mid-term review reduction. It lauded PAF’s increased joint task force of MLD and PAF A joint mission of government of collaboration with line agencies, local under the coordinatorship of Mr. Nepal, the World Bank and IFAD governments and donors, but also Som Lal Subedi, joint Secretary to the carried out the mid-term review suggested PAF to provide additional MLD to make recommendations on (MTR) of PAF program during May budgetary and planning related ways to strengthen MLD-PAF 13-28, 2010. The objective of the information directly to local coordination. Mr. Ram Prasad mission was to review PAF’s progress, development officers, as LDOs are not Dhakal, PAF Program Division Chief; re-assess the initial project design, always informed by the district Mr. Ganesh Pandey, undersecretary evaluate the relevance of the development committees. The mission of MLD and Mr. Sandeep Nath operation, identify constraints and provided considerable feedback to Uprety, Portfolio Manager of PAF propose remedies. As its aim was to PAF on the importance of improving were appointed as members of the provide clear guidance to the project the MIS and its use. The mission task force. team on changes that might be needed suggested that the government as a part of mid-course correction, the counterpart budget for sub-projects Among others, the task force was mission focused on those elements of should increase with the next budget assigned to prepare and furnish a the program which can be improved cycle to reflect the importance of the. report with appropriate suggestions to increase impact of PAF. within a month on: i) how to MLD-PAF task effectively implement the current The MTR mission interacted with the force formed MoU between MLD and PAF, and ii) senior government officials and how additional coordination and development partners, and affirmed Ministry of Local Development the importance of PAF to combat (MLD) and Poverty Alleviation Fund linkages between the two organizations can be built in the future. poverty. The team concluded that (PAF) held a coordination meeting on PAF II is making satisfactory progress 26 April 2010 at PAF premises, aiming and its targeted poverty-focused to develop further effective PAF set up complaint handling system approach remains valid. It also noted coordination and linkages between that the instrument of PAF remains PAF has established complain both organizations in days to come. not only relevant, but complements PAF Vice-chair Mr. Vidyadhar Mallik handling system in a bid to rapidly the government’s efforts at and Secretaries duo of MLD Mr. address concerns and grievances of strengthening local governments and Shyam Prasad Mainsail and Mr. Krishna different stakeholders on PAF participatory planning. Gyawali, two joint secretaries from program and activities implemented MLD, PAF Executive Director Mr. Raj with its support. Under this, PAF The mission assessed that the efforts Babu Shrestha and three Portfolio Monitoring and Evaluation division made by PAF to include communities Managers participated in the meeting. developed a special complaint hitherto excluded from participatory register to facilitate stakeholders planning and development activities The meeting reviewed the progress on lodge their complaints. could result in a more informed and memorandum of understanding empowered citizenry who could (MoU) inked between PAF and MLD The register has separate columns for participate in local government some two years ago. It also stressed mentioning the concern, nature of decision making processes. both the institutions to accord higher complaint and date of lodging it. It priority to deepen coordination and also has space in which PAF team Based on those reckonings, the MTR would need to mention the date on mission stressed for the continuation when it initiated the action on it, steps of PAF program without any change taken to address it and final outcome. in its fund flow mechanism. The With the establishment of the system, mission cited that transparency and PAF hopes to record grievances governance remain key if PAF is to related to its operations and problems have a lasting and permanent impact existing in the field, speed up on the lives of beneficiaries. processes to address those and correct Therefore, it pushed for improved the situation, thereby making overall used of systems, technology and PAF operations smooth and training along with grievance response responsive to all. mechanism.

11 PAF in Brief As of 16 July 2010

Why PAF? National Planning Commission; first for PAF. Participatory well PAF was created to address the Chairperson, Association of District beeing ranking and self selecting targeted programme which is one of Development Committee process to identify poor. the four pillars of Tenth Five Year v Social Inclusion: Dalit, Plan in Poverty Reduction Strategy Nepal; Chairperson, Association of Village Development Committee Janajati, Women and other Paper (PRSP). “Poverty Alleviation Nepal; Chairperson, Nepal Women disadvantage groups below Fund ordinance 2060” and Commission; Chairperson, Nepal poverty level. Demand Driven: subsquently “Poverty Alleviation Dalit Commission. Programmes are designed based Fund Act 2063” was issued to guide on the needs and demand of the structure and activities of PAF. Goal the people. Participatory Governing Board The Goal of PAF is to help the poor community planning find their way on a sustained path out Twelve members governing board is of poverty. v Direct payment to community chaired by the Prime Minister. The organization (CO). Community Vice Chairperson and five members Guiding Principles implementation and management v Targeted to Poor-Antodaya: Community institutional are appointed by the government from Prosperity of poor and development the professional. Other five members disadvantaged at the lower end of of the board are ex-officio - Secretary, economic ladder. The last is the v Transparency at all levels

HEADING NUMBER AMOUNT (NRS.) Community Organisations(CO) Registered with PAF 9,298 CO Federation Registration 434 PAF Investment in CO Agreement 9,039 5,229,881,948.36 Income Generating (IG) Activities 8,497 3,991,771,546.12 Community Infrastructure 1,487 1,238,110,402.24 Partner Organisations (PO) 409 Districts Covered Total 35 Regular PAF Districts 40 Phase I (6 Districts) 6 Phase II (19 Districts) 19 Phase III (15 Districts) 15 Innovative Programme 6 NDM-World Bank Innovative Prog. 0 VDC Covered POs Working 1,657 COs Programme Activity 888 PERCENTAGE CO Member HHs Total 240,816 Poverty Ranking Hardcore Poor (Ka) 154,143 64.01% Medium Poor (Kha) 64,978 26.98% Poor (Ga) 21,669 9.00% Marginal Non-Poor (Gha) 26 0.01% Gender Male 53,567 22.24% Female 187,249 77.76% Ethnicity Dalit 54,333 22.56% Janajati 62,991 26.16% Others 123,492 51.28% Total Beneficiary HH Total 356,652 Ethnicity Dalit 83,689 Janajati 88,972 Others 183,991

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