Annual Report

practical action Worldwide

HEAD OFFICE Practical Action The Schumacher Centre for Technology & Development Bourton on Dunsmore Rugby, CV23 9QZ, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0) 1926 634400 Fax: +44 (0) 1926 634401 E-mail: [email protected] SRI LANKA BANGLADESH Practical Action Practical Action 5 Lionel Edirisinghe Mawatha House 12/B, Road 4 Kirulapone Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205 Colombo 5, Sri Lanka GPO Box 3881, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh Telephone: +94 11 2829 412 (413, 414, 415) Telephone: +880 2 865 0439, 967 5236 Fax: +94 11 2856188 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

KENYA Practical Action SUDAN P.O. Box 39493, Nairobi Practical Action AAYMCA Building (Second Floor) P.O. Box 4172 Along State House Crescent Khartoum, Sudan Off State House Avenue # 4 Street 49 off Pio Yukwan Road Nairobi, Kenya Khartoum W Telephone: +254 20 271 9313, 271 9413 Adjacent to and north of Khartoum 3 Sports Club Fax: +254 20 2710083 Telephone: +249 83 578 821, 578 827 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +249 11 472002 E-mail: [email protected], PERU Practical Action ZIMBABWE (Soluciones Practicas) Practical Action Casilla Postal 18-0620, Lima 18 P O Box 1744, Harare Av. Jorge Chavez 275 Number 4 Ludlow Road (off Enterprise Road) Miraflores, Lima 18 Newlands, Harare, Zimbabwe Telephone: +511 446 7324, 444 7055 Telephone: +263 4 776 107, 776 631 Fax: +511 446-6621 Fax: +263 4 788157 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

Practical Action Nepal Office House No. 750 Pandol Marg, Lazimpat P.O.Box : 15135 Kathmandu, Nepal Annual Report Tel : 977-1-4446015/4434482 Fax : 977-1-4445995 E-mail : [email protected] 2009/10 Web : www.practicalaction.org/nepal A group of women benificiary. A. de la Vega

Text and production coordination: Upendra Shrestha and Shradha Giri Photo: Practical Action, unless stated otherwise Cover page photo: Farmer taking rest after ploughing. A. de la Vega

Designed & Processed @ Wordscape, 977-1-5526699 Printed in Kathmandu, Nepal 3

Message from the Country Director

The country is going through an important transition period, impact in 26 VDCs of Achham, Doti and Kailali Districts. These unstable political circumstances and negative economic trends positive changes have been possible due to introduction and are aggravating the situation to worst. The Asian Development application of different kinds of technologies, such as multiuse Bank (ADB) has reported decreasing trend on Nepal’s GDP growth of water systems for enhancing productivity, notice board from 5.3 per cent to 4.7 per cent in the last fiscal year. The GDP services for market price information of different commodities growth is well below than required rate of 6 per cent in reducing and so on. Nepal’s high levels of poverty, especially while average annual population growth is increasing rapidly at the rate of 2.3 per cent There have been significant works on improving poor people’s over the past decade. infrastructures during this reporting period. The communities of selected VDCs in Gorkha, Tanahu, Achham and Kalikot now have Due to high inflation (13.2 per cent in 2009), and declining better access to nearby market facilities with the installation of remittances, exports and reserves, Practical Action realises the six new gravity goods ropeway systems. Similarly, five improved urgency to concentrate its focus in more remote areas, where tuins in these districts have helped the scattered communities to over 80 per cent of the economically active population live and significantly reduce their travel time to the markets and service depend upon subsistence agriculture. centres. We expanded our Renewable Energy Village concept in other wards of Bhumlichowk VDC in Gorkha and Devchuli VDC Despite the challenging situation in the country, we believe that in Nawalparasi District targeting to the poor and marginalised Practical Action has made impacts in its working areas. In line communities. The infrastructure support has been extended not with its three major thematic areas, (i) reducing vulnerability, only to scattered rural communities but also to the urban poor. (ii) markets and livelihoods and (iii) access to services, Practical During this reporting period, communities in Bharatpur, Butwal, Action through the local partners helped the communities to Gulariya and Tikapur Municipalities, and other emerging towns overcome various barriers to improve their lives. were supported for safer drinking water and sanitation facilities and improving indoor air quality leading to better health. We are particularly proud for being able to help the communities in building resilience to fight against different natural and Last year, we piloted a new concept on creating local technical manmade adversities, such as food insecurity, disaster risks and contents and disseminating those using MP4 devices. The negative impacts of climate change. In selected VDCs of Doti, trained Local Resource Persons are using this concept to provide Surkhet, Kailali, Banke, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi Districts, we knowledge about different technologies to the local communities. provided support to the socially excluded and disadvantaged These kinds of innovative ideas have been integrated with other communities to fight against food insecurity using land projects to ensure sustainability of the initiatives. leasehold approach, on and off farm skill building and market linkages. We are convinced that the land leasehold concept can Besides implementing the regular projects, we worked closely address immediate need of the communities and ensures long with central government institutions, notably, the Ministry of term access to land from the earnings. Based on our lessons on Environment in preparing National Adaptation Plan of Action food security issues, we launched HELP Food Security Project in (NAPA) and Department of Local Infrastructure Development and January 2010 with financial support of the European Union’s Food Agricultural Roads (DoLIDAR) in developing technical guidelines Facility Programme. Likewise, early warning systems together for Gravity Goods Ropeways to standardise and scale up the with preparedness for possible disasters, and diversification of technology. livelihood options for communities provided through our SEWIN and DRR Projects have saved lives and assets, and brought I express my gratitude to all the funders who believed on us positive impacts on poor people’s lives in Chitwan, Nawalparasi, and supported our project work. Likewise, I thank all our partner Banke and Bardia Districts. organisations for their continued support in field delivery of our work and closely working with the communities to make We feel satisfied with the ways we have been able to help the them understand about the approach we wanted to put forward. conflict affected poor communities in building their confidence Similarly, I would like to thank the government institutions both and entering into the local economic activities by gaining at local and national level for encouraging us and supporting knowledge and skills on off seasonal vegetable farming and our approach. Last but not the least, I would like to thank the markets linkage. SABAL Project has brought about a positive people in the communities who saw hope for the future in us.

Achyut Luitel Country Director

Annual Report 2009/10 4

Vision Mission A sustainable world free of To use technology to challenge poverty by: poverty and injustice in which n building the capabilities of poor people, technology is used to the n improving their access to technical options and knowledge, and benefit of all. n working with them to influence social, economic and institutional systems for innovation and the use of technology

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Contents

Acknowledgements 7

Acronyms 8

Practical Action in Nepal 10

AIM 1 Reducing Vulnerability 13

AIM 2 Markets and Livelihoods 21

AIM 3 Promoting Infrastructure for the Poor 29

AIM 4 Responding to New Technologies 38

Knowledge Products 38

Practical Answers 39

Finance at a Glance 40

Core Principles n Putting people first n Working in partnership n A concern for future generation n Respect for diversity

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Children observing bio-gas inputs mixture in Hururedanda, Nawalparasi Annual Report 2009/10 7

Acknowledgements

Practical Action sincerely acknowledges the financial and moral support provided by individuals, organisations and trusts from Europe and elsewhere. We would like to thank following organisations and individuals for supporting us in our mission:

Audio Partnership plc Bodyshop Foundation British High Commission Churches together Bookham Effingham Danish Government – RISO Delves Charitable Trust Department for International Development (DFID) Diocese of Blackburn European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection (ECHO) European Union Evan Cornish Foundation Farrer-Brown Trust Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) George and Margaret Taylor Glacier Trust Government of Nepal H C D Memorial Fund Hodgson Charitable Trust International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) J H F Green Trust Jose Entrecanales Ibarra Foundation, Spain L D Rope Third Charitable Trust Persula Foundation PJK Charitable Trust Rotary Club of St. Helen Souter Trust Sutasoma Trust Tanner Trust Triodos Foundation UKAid United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN HABITAT) USAID USEPA/PCIA Waterloo Foundation Zepher Charitable Trust

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Acronyms

BLOP Better Life Option Programme CAA Community Agriculture Assistant CCODER Centre for Community Development and Research CEDPA Centre for Development and Population Activities CLA Community Livestock Assistant CPC Community Peace Centres CSDR Centre for Social Development and Research DADO District Agriculture Development Office DDC District Development Committee DFID UK Department for International Development DGIS Netherlands Directorate-General of Development Cooperation DH&M Department of Hydrology and Meteorology DIPECHO Disaster Preparedness European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection DoLIDAR Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads DLSO District Livestock Service Office DRR Disaster Risk Reduction DWO Dalit Welfare Organisation EC European Commission ECHO European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection EIG Education for Income Generation ENPHO Environment and Public Health Organisation EU The European Union EWS Early Warning System FCHV Female Community Health Volunteers GTZ/PASRA Poverty Alleviation in Selected Rural Areas in Nepal HH Household HELP FS Helping to Enhance Local Productivity for Food Security

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IAP Indoor Air Pollution ILISSCON Improving Livelihood Security of Socially Excluded Communities in Nepal ISWM Integrated Solid Waste Management IUD Integrated Urban Development KCCI Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industries KIRDARC Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre LED Light Emitting Diode LIBIRD Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development MPIS Market Price Information System MuAN Municipal Association of Nepal MUS Multiuse Water System NGO Non Government Organisation NPR Nepalese Rupees ODF Open Defecation Free PCIA Partnership for Clean Indoor Air RKJS Radhakrishna Tharu Janasewa Kendra REV Renewable Energy Village SABAL Sustainable Agriculture with Bazaar for Advancing the Livelihoods of conflict affected poor people SCORE Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration and Electricity SEBAC Social Empowerment and Building Accessibility Centre - Nepal SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Market Initiative SLTs School Led Total Sanitation SWASHTHA Strengthening Water, Air, Sanitation and Hygiene Treasuring Health USAID United States Agency for International Development USEPA United States Environment Protection Agency VDC Village Development Committee

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Practical Action IN Nepal

The renowned economist Dr. E.F. Schumacher Aim 2 – Markets and Livelihoods - by enabling poor people established Practical Action in 1966 to prove that his to use technologies to build secured livelihoods, through philosophy of ‘Small is Beautiful’ could bring real and improved systems of production, processing and marketing. sustainable improvements to poor people’s lives in developing countries. With its Head Office in the UK, Aim 3 – Promoting infrastructure for the poor - by Practical Action works through its country and regional improving access of poor women and men to locally offices in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Peru, Sri Lanka, manage services, by developing and disseminating Sudan and Zimbabwe. technologies related to water and sanitation, housing, shelter and secure tenure, modern clean and sustainable Practical Action is committed to reduce poverty. It supports energy, transport, solid waste management and the efforts of poor women and men to improve their communications. livelihoods by providing appropriate technology options, associated information, knowledge, and skills, and the Aim 4 – Responding to new technologies – by enabling capacity to organise and use all these to get more control poor people to assess and respond to the challenges of over their lives and livelihoods. The people centred unique new technologies and to develop and adopt applications and innovative approach of Practical Action incorporates that improve their livelihoods. local knowledge and skills, which ensure their wider adoption and replication respecting sustainability, basic Practical Action Nepal Office is currently working according human rights, and strategic partnership. to its Strategic Plan 2007-12 primarily focusing on three international programmes Aims: (i) Reducing vulnerability, To help achieve its mission and respond to the (ii) Markets and livelihoods, and (iii) Promoting changing global development scenario, Practical Action’s infrastructure for the poor. These themes are further programme objectives are based on the following four categorised into six broad focal areas – 1) securing food for Aims: the poor, 2) reducing risk from disaster and climate change, 3) minimising impacts of conflict, 4) increasing rural Aim 1 – Reducing vulnerability – by strengthening productivity, 5) sustainable urban environment and the ability of poor people to use technology to cope 6) healthy homes. with threats from natural disasters, environmental degradation and civil conflict.

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Off farm support to a Stakeholders and community beneficiary members visiting upstream site in Rajaiya, Chitwan

Irrigation canal in Rakam, Wind energy plant Karnali, Dailekh installation in Hurhuredanda, Nawalparasi

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GLIMPSES OF Growth Practical Action IN Nepal

In 1979, Practical Action started its work in Nepal, initially into other forms of renewable energy, expanding into agro concentrating on the development and transfers of microhydro processing, rural transport and disaster management. Since 2003, technologies, building the capacities of local manufacturers and Practical Action Nepal Office is directed by four International rural entrepreneurs, and advocating for appropriate policies and Programme Aims: Reducing vulnerability; Markets and livelihoods; institutions in the microhydro sector. After establishment of the Promoting infrastructure for the poor; and Responding to new Country Office in 1998, Practical Action diversified its activities technologies.

313,183

258,560

1. Number of beneficiaries

104,723

35,616 No of benificiary No

2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10

62 Total Support 58 Programme 52 48

42 37 38 34 2. Human resources 32 32 28 24 22 21 18 16 14 10 No of employees No 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11

2,800,000

1,700,000 3. Financial resources 1,300,000 1,075,000 750,000 350,000 GBP amount (‘£000) GBP

2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11

Annual Report 2009/10 13 aiM 1

Smallholder farmers preparing nursery bed Annual Report 2009/10 14

Reducing Vulnerability

Reducing vulnerability programme helps the poorer status of vulnerable and socially excluded communities to build their resilience towards all the communities in conflict affected areas of western adversities. It strengthens the ability of the poor to Nepal. The project areas were selected Village cope with disasters - man made or natural including Development Committees (VDCs) of Banke, Doti, impacts of climate change. The programme ensures food Kailali, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi and Surkhet Districts. security of the poor to reduce their vulnerability; provides The targeted direct and indirect beneficiaries of the support to overcome environmental degradation and put project were 8000 and 12,000 HHs respectively. Key into practice the methods to adapt to climate change. This components of the project included leasehold farming, Aim covers two thematic areas: Enhancing food security, semi commercial vegetable production, river bed and Disaster risk reduction and climate change. farming, mushroom production, capacity building for women, dalits and minorities, and strengthen Projects under Enhancing Food Security market linkages through infrastructure and capacity development. The project was co-funded (75 per cent) ILISSCON - Improving Livelihood Security of by the European Union, and implemented through local Socially Excluded Communities in Nepal partners - Dalit Welfare Organisation (DWO) and Local The main objective of the ILISSCON project was to Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development enhance the livelihood security and socioeconomic (LIBIRD). The project ended on 31 March 2010.

Shallow tube well installation

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Hridaya Ram Harijan in front of the temple

Success story ILISSCON Project

A dalit becomes Chairperson of the Temple Management Committee

Due to poverty and discrimination at school, Hridaya Ram Harijan a With gained knowledge, patience and hard work Hridaya is growing dalit in Gonaha VDC, Rupandehi District had to quit school at grade vegetables and has leased 2 more katthas1 of land. “I grow three nine and migrated to India in search of a job. Difficult life in India harvests per year and I make NPR 40,000 to 60,000 (£351-526) brought him back to Nepal. After returning back he worked with a local annually,” he states. informal sector on a daily wage basis for 15 years. His income and situation did not improve and with old age he was no longer able to The project paid partial cost for the land leased by the farmers and work as a labour. He then decided to grow traditional crops. supported them with quality seeds and fertilisers to raise confidence for sustainable income. Today the farmers no longer require monetary “With just one kattha of land sustaining year round income was very support from the project. difficult,” he states. Hridaya recently became a member of the Dalit Welfare Organisation, one of the implementing partners of Practical Action. Soon after, he Hridaya learnt about ILISSCON Project’s intervention in his VDC through was elected as the new Chairperson of Prakateshwor Mahadev Temple his neighbours and started participating in community meetings and Management Committee despite initial opposition from the upper training on vegetable production. caste people.

“During the training I learned about the leasehold process and better “I am a dalit and I am the Chairperson of the temple. Do you know ways to grow vegetables, nursery raising and marketing techniques. what this means. Before we were not even allowed to enter the I joined one of the existing farmer groups and in no time I am now the temple premise, look at what we have achieved?” he questions with leader of my group as I can read and write,” he further adds. a smile.

1 -one kattha equals to 333.33 square metre

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HELP – Food Security Practical Action launched a 22 month HELP – Food Security (Helping to Enhance Local Productivity for Food Security) project in January 2010. The project is co-funded (90 per cent) by the European Union’s Food Facility Pro- gramme. The overall objective of the project is to secure year round daily food requirements for 10,000 small- holders HHs in far and mid western regions of Nepal particularly in Doti, Dailekh and Kalikot Districts. Local implementing partners of the project are Social Aware- ness Centre (SAC) in Dailekh, Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC) in Kalikot and Equality Development Centre (EDC) in Doti.

Projects under Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mainstreaming Livelihood Centred Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Practical Action is implementing DRR project in Peru, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. In Nepal, the project started in January 2007. The objective of the project is to build on the resilience capacities of the local communities to reduce the risks of disasters through improvement in livelihoods, preparedness for effective rescue and relief measures, and mitigate the impacts of disasters through physical infrastructures. The project areas are selected VDCs of Chitwan and Nawalparasi Districts and it is working closely with respective District Development Committees (DDCs) and VDCs. Local implementing partners of the project are SAHAMATI in Nawalparasi and Multidimensional Agriculture and Development (MADE) Nepal in Chitwan. This international project is funded by the UKaid from the Department for International Development (DFID) and will continue until December 2010.

Scaling up Early Warning System in Nepal (SEWIN) With learning from DIPECHO I, III and IV projects on people centred Early Warning Systems (EWS) and experiences from real time evaluations, Practical Action is implementing SEWIN project in vulnerable VDCs along the major rivers of Banke, Bardiya, Chitwan and Nawalparasi Districts. The project is co-funded (85 per cent) by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection (ECHO) under the fifth DIPECHO action plan for South Asia. The objective of the project is to reduce disaster risk of most vulnerable communities in flood prone districts of Nepal through early warning. The implementing local partners are Centre for Social Development and Research (CSDR) in Banke, Radhakrishna Tharu Janasewa Kendra (RKJS) in Bardiya and SAHAMATI in Chitwan and Nawalparasi Districts. The project ends on December 2010.

A flood resistant house Annual Report 2009/10 in Chitwan 17

Highlights of the Year Enhancing food security Practical Action provided skill and material support to 9213 HHs in Banke, Doti, Kailali, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi and Surkhet Districts to increase the food security status of the households. Around 7,613 HHs increased income by 49.2 per cent that helped them secure food for additional six month in average i.e. HHs only having three months food now have food for six months. On an average the beneficiaries’ land holding has increased to 7 katthas from 4.7 initially. Additionally, 163 HHs affiliated with the leasehold farmer groups have purchased an average of 3.7 katthas of land from income through commercial vegetable production.

Better irrigation facilities mainly introduction of treadle pumps, water harvest ponds and sprinklers have increased the vegetable production by 90.07 per cent and cereal and rice production by 21.6. The improved harvest is also credited to farmers’ exposure to improved seeds and efforts to link farmers with agro vets and government service providing offices. Participation of women in saving groups has increased to 84.9 per cent compared to baseline (2007) of 9.8 per cent. Social activities, community institutions and networking for other services have increased to 79.8, 58.1 and 70.8 per cent compared to baseline of 8.9, 5.1 and 4.2 per cent respectively. Women’s participation in decision making for health and medicine, education and purchase of land has increased to 19.68, 17.52 and 8.9 per cent compared to baseline of 14.6, 12.5 and 5.2 per cent respectively.

• 44 per cent of the total ILISSCON Project beneficiaries are now living in corrugated sheet roofed houses • On an average each HH saves NPR 4,225 (£37) annually from commercial vegetable production • 2,540 women are actively involved in agriculture and off farm income generating activities • 739 HHs who were landless are now owners of at least 1 kattha of land

With increased income and job opportunities created through land leasehold, river bed farming and goat raising, mushroom production and off farm skill development training the seasonal migration to India has decreased to 26.7 per cent compared to 42.8 per cent from the baseline (2007).

As an exit strategy, the Ilisscon Project helped to develop capacities of 74 Local Resource Persons (LRPs). These LRPs are registered in the respective project district’s DADO and are in alliance to exchange

Annual ReportBeneficiary 2009/10 ready to sell his carrots 18

knowledge and learning. The LRPs are trained and and District Management Committee (DMC) members supported with MP4 device and a technical manual. attended the basic first aid training, and training They are using the MP4 device to record the local on disability, gender and social inclusion in Banke, technical content mainly related with agriculture in Bardiya, Chitwan and Nawalparasi Districts. Small local language and are disseminating the content scale mitigation activities were conducted along during farmers gathering using the player followed by with infrastructures support such as construction of interaction session. dykes and spurs using bioengineering technologies, culverts and small bridges (including renovations), Practical Action facilitated 110 farmer groups to register machans and, emergency shelters. These supports have with DADO and District Livestock Service Office minimised the risks from flood to 43,700 beneficiaries. (DLSO) to access the inputs and services from these government line agencies. In Rupandehi, the DADO Livelihood centred approaches for DRR benefited over provided a pump set to a farmer group for irrigation. 9,000 people from 1,500 families vulnerable to recurring Similarly, three water user groups are also registered flood and drought in Chitwan and Nawalparasi. This with Divisional Irrigation Office in Nawalparasi District. integrated approach included improvement of irrigation facilities, riverbank protection, training and input on Practical Action together with VDCs, DADO, GTZ- crops and livestock, income through on and off farm PASRA Surkhet, Nepal SIMI and USAID/EIG Programme activities, saving and credit schemes, and institutional supported to establish eight market centres in development for managing infrastructure like shallow Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Banke, Surkhet, Kailali and tube wells and irrigation canals. Similarly, project Doti Districts. These market centres are serving as supported wildlife proof fencing helped over 2,465 market place cum information centre and are managed farmers save their crops and reduce stress. by the local marketing committees. Small producers of the areas are benefiting with easy access to market Integrated DRR approaches introduced by Practical information, commodity price and reach to the buyers Action have proved to be appropriate for sustainable ultimately helping them to get good price for their coping of multiple stresses which require linking produce. The beneficiaries are also supported with different sectors and stakeholders for devising and complementary means of transport such as tuins (cable addressing development priorities along with EWS and river crosing), gravity goods ropeway, bicycle/rickshaw DRR. Formation of DMC at the VDC level and access of trailer, and push carts to transport their produce to emergency fund within local governments, preparation the local markets on time. Two hundred and forty four of disaster management plans at district and VDC families are using bicycle trailers to transport their level in leadership of local government institutions, produce to the market. Installation of a tuin each in 33 Doti and Surkhet Districts has benefited around 8,000 persons and a gravity goods ropeway in Surkhet has benefited at least 135 HHs from neighbouring villages of the upper station.

Disaster risk reduction and climate change

A series of awareness campaigns such as street dramas, song competitions, school led elocution competitions, radio jingles aired from the local FM stations, rallies, community mock drills and exhibitions helped to increase knowledge on issues causing flood disaster and reduce the vulnerability of the communities. Two hundred and sixty six local community volunteers

A bee keeper with honey comb

Annual Report 2009/10 19

Som in his farm

Success story DRR Project

Integrated approaches to DRR combat poverty by securing livelihoods for the poor

Som Bahadur Kumal (41) lives with his wife and three children at Knowledge and skills were other constraints that prevented Som to Laukhuri village in Meghauli VDC, Chitwan. He owns 0.25 hectare gain optimum benefits out of their efforts. “I did not have ideas on of land where he grows traditional crops and sells buffalo milk for different varieties and quality seeds and whatever I bought would go extra income. Besides poverty, wildlife intrusion is one of his biggest bad by the time I harvested the seeds,” explains Som. problems. Som has lost crop every year sometimes up to 75 per cent due to wildlife intrusion. Som received training on seasonal and off seasonal vegetable farming and cereal crops of different varieties. With the new knowledge Som “Wild animals destroyed my crops. Rhinos and deer kept entering in initiated vegetable farming and with surplus water from the shallow my property and leopards snatched our newborn calves,” says Som. tube well and no danger of animal intrusion his production has “My wife and I had to guard our crops and spent many sleepless brought him good income. nights.” “I sell vegetables in the village market centres. My income has In this situation, Som and his wife had to work as daily wages labour increased three times; my children are well fed and go to school to support their family. Today Som’s situation has changed for the regularly,” smiles Som. “It is a nice feeling when people ask me for better. Practical Action’s DRR Project helped erect a low voltage three advice because they regard me as a model farmer.” strand electric fence around the village with the community’s labour contribution to prevent wildlife intrusion. A shallow tube well was also Today Som and his wife sleep sound at night as wildlife intrusion is a installed to irrigate the smallholder farmer’s land during the dry season. story from the past.

Annual Report 2009/10 20

33 preparedness for seasonal hazards and promotion of agriculture for the poor people in the new 3 years of watershed conservation are some of the major National Plan document (2010 – 2012) initiatives of the DRR approach. For the sustainability, • Based on our learning stakeholders are scaling up effective coordination between service providing leasehold farming approach • Social acceptance of dalits in different roles by the institutions and utilisation of functional mechanisms communities is a milestone conquered where dalits such as DMCs, community groups, cooperatives and are selling their dairy products to non dalit members inter linkages within and outside the community is a and one such dalit member is the Chair of the Temple must. Management Committee in Rupandehi • We advocated for the need of National Early Warning In Chitwan and Nawalparasi 2473 HHs have improved strategy, as a result, a Management Committee and access to irrigation facilities and enhanced knowledge Advisory Committee were formed in agreement between on better agricultural and livestock rearing practices Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Environment. Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) is drafting a National Early Warning Strategy with technical A sustainable DRR approach also requires integrating support of Practical Action climate change adaptation. Incorporating DRR and • Local government incorporated livelihood centred climate change adaptation is a challenge in itself but approaches for disaster management in the it is important to integrate both these components to development plans in Chitwan and Nawalparasi Districts find an effective coping mechanisms. Practical Action • Stakeholders working in the DRR field have initiated the recently conducted a two year extensive field survey integrated approaches in the planning to understand the community’s perception on climate • Seventeen VDCs in Chitwan and 26 VDCs in Nawalparasi change and its impacts. The information was collected Districts have DMC and disaster management plan for from 14 districts representing mountains, hills and tarai. at least three potential hazards in top priority. Similar plans were developed for 59 VDCs and one municipality Based on the information collected, a report “Impacts of in Chitwan and Nawalparasi Districts Climate Change: Voices of the People” was produced to • VDCs are initiating community led disaster planning highlight the community’s perception on climate change and implementation, incorporating it into development and its impacts. The report concludes that climate planning. DRR initiatives for development work are change has a significant impact on the communities replicated in 31 VDCs and one municipality in Chitwan locally. Therefore, localised actions for adaptation are and 28 VDCs in Nawalparasi through VDC level disaster necessary as the impacts varies in different locations management plans. and a general recommendation for adaptation does not • Based on our learning and technical assistance, work for all places and all types of impact. stakeholders are promoting EWS through their project and programmes • Five VDCs, two DDCs and stakeholders have recognised Influencing and supported the livelihood centred approaches to DRR integrating this approach in their disaster • The National Planning Commission (NPC) reflected management and development plan, and setting up leasehold farming as a strategy to enhance the production DMCs

Impact in numbers

9,213 HHs enhanced their food security 2,500 HHs benefited from DRR and climate change activities 13,357 HHs benefited from community based early warning activities

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MUS beneficiary watering pumpkin plantation

Annual Report 2009/10 22

Markets and Livelihoods

Aim 2 works with smallholder farmers to increase SABAL applies two pronged approach – starting their access to established markets. The programme with “confidence building activities” and leading supports poor communities by making market work for to “quick return complementary livelihoods them. It explores a participatory and systemic market activities”. The project supports to increase the development approach to reduce vulnerability and livelihoods of conflict affected people by exploring secure livelihoods of smallholder farmers by applying a participatory and systemic market development technology for better production and networking skills approach to reduce vulnerability and secure their to engage effectively in fairer markets. This Aim focuses livelihoods. Target beneficiaries of the project are its work in a single thematic area in Nepal - Minimising 9,565 conflict affected poor people. The project impacts of conflict. components are building confidence, creating livelihood opportunities locally, improving access Projects under Minimising Impacts to business and improving market chain linkages. of Conflict The project is implemented in partnership with Social Empowerment and Building Accessibility SABAL Centre (SEBAC-Nepal) in 26 VDCs of Achham, Doti SABAL Project started in January 2008 with 90 per and Kailali Districts of the Far Western Development cent co-funding support of the European Union. Region.

Market centre in Kailali Annual Report 2009/10 23

Women checking vegetable prices through MIS

Success story SABAL Project

Market Information System: Alternative information for farmers

During the Participatory Market Mapping process, lack of market In addition to this more than 60 per cent of the regular users have information was identified as a major hurdle in accessing fairer prices reported that the service has provided them valuable information for the rural and remote farmers. For the first time in Nepal, in 2009 to make informed decision on selling prices. These results are the notice board service for on demand Market Price Information being shared with interested advertisers in order to include “paid System (MPIS) through a mobile phone application was introduced for” advertising as a revenue generating model for the service by Practical Action in collaboration with Kailali Chamber of Commerce making it sustainable and market led. and Industries (KCCI). This 30 second to 1 minute long pre recorded price information is available on demand to farmers. The information Practical Action is hopeful that in the long term KCCI will be was collected and uploaded by KCCI and cross promoted through a able to continue providing the market information in Kailali by free local FM broadcast for the past 9 months. Preliminary assessment attracting more sponsors and advertisers based on their reach and suggests that over 60 per cent of SABAL project beneficiaries are audience. This is critical in ensuring that rural and remote farmers aware of the service and more than 42 per cent use this service with limited mobility can still get fair prices for their agriculture regularly once a week as the service cost is low and it is user friendly. commodities.

Annual Report 2009/10 24

A BLOP class in session

Annual Report 2009/10 25

Highlights of the Year Small holder Minimising Impacts of Conflict farmer in Doti Building the confidence of conflict affected people to revive their livelihoods includes fundamental shifts not only in the structure of governance and access to economic opportunities but also in the underlying hierarchical norms, values and behaviours that govern social interaction.

Irrigation inputs benefited over 1,930 HHs in Achham, Doti and Kailali District

Practical Action facilitated to establish 19 Community Peace Centres (CPCs) in Achham, Doti and Kailali. These CPCs are self selected and self governed local bodies which are providing counseling services, mediating local conflict and coordinating mechanisms to help aid agencies provide relief to the conflict affected HHs. CPCs also led implementation of a variety of activities including Behaviour Change Communication (BCC), such as psycho social counseling, street theatres, community awareness programmes, and construction of communal infrastructures such as irrigation canals and collection centres. As an important confidence building initiative for the out of school and most at risk youth, Practical Action assisted 2,062 youths through Better Life Option Programme (BLOP). This programme helped youth to regain their confidence and participate in productive activities.

With the Government of Nepal (GoN) emphasising the support to local communities in peace building, Practical Action assisted local line agencies to adopt and adapt its promising practices like the CPCs for sustainable peace building in Nepal

With a focus on ensuring better incomes and food security, over 5,000 smallholder farmers were provided with agriculture inputs, technical training and access to service providers. This has led to better HH nutrition, reduced drudgery for women and children and increased enrollment in schools. Landless victims of conflict were supported through group enterprises such as community leasehold, fish and riverbank farming, and off farm enterprises. Transformations in these communities are visible. Better income has translated into increased food security, better access to critical services and increased confidence to take charge of their own lives. All these initiatives resulted in an average increase of more than 80 per cent in their incomes.

More than 200 landless victims now have a more secured and dignified life with alternative livelihood options such as carpentry, small retail stores and tailoring in Kailali

Annual Report 2009/10 26

Partnership developed among smallholder farmers, notice board service of mobile phone platform helped private and public sector service providers including smallholder farmers to become more competitive and input suppliers, Community Livestock Assistants (CLAs), earn substantial incomes. For the sustainability of the Community Agriculture Assistants (CAAs), LRPs and market information service Practical Action is working public extension services helped to build the capacity in partnership with KCCI. Moreover, 108 farmers were of target beneficiaries and improve marketing skills to provided training and cross learning visit opportunities increase incomes. In the project districts, 192 farmer for effective operation of the communal infrastructures groups are registered with respective local DADO such as collection centres and collection points. increasing smallholder farmer’s ability to acquire pay for and use much needed inputs and services effectively On demand market price information via mobile phones and sustainably. reaches more than 50,000 farmers in Kailali making this service now commercially viable Four collection centres and 12 collection points were constructed with support from the DADO and VDCs as Other Initiatives necessary platform for the local farmers to sell their produces in Achham, Doti and Kailali. These facilities Starting from September 2007, the Aim 2 programme combined with various innovative services including in Nepal initiated an intensive programme development development of market information system using action research with the objective to understand the

Smallholder farmers meeting in Kailali

Annual Report 2009/10 27 context of the conflict’s impact in the markets and Influencing livelihood situation of poor smallholder producers in rural and remote areas of the country. Based on • CPCs are being used as models for Local Peace Centres extensive researches and studies conducted through (LPCs) and are receiving support from local government situation and policy analysis, sub sector analysis, line agencies. Local line agencies have agreed to support scoping studies and Participatory Market Mapping CPCs for managing local level disputes and conflict. DDC workshops within a period of one year, the Aim 2 and VDC members, representatives of political parties and police station representative suggested continuing programme team have prioritised dairy sector as a implementation of CPCs activities at VDC level strategically important sector. • Practical Action and KCCI have jointly developed and piloted a mobile phone based MPIS. The new MPIS uses In 2010, UKaid from the Department for International Nepal Telecom’s notice board service to inform farmers Development (DFID) assured GBP one million to on daily vegetable prices of Attaria and Dhangadhi implement the dairy component of the Market Access for markets by dialing 1618091521237 at a very low cost. Smallholder Dairy Farmers (MASF) project in Nepal. The Based on the success of this system, KCCI has developed Goal of MASF Project is to reduce poverty and achieve similar kind of services for transportation sector and sustainable increase in income of 10,000 smallholder other commodities • Partnership in developing collection centres with dairy farmers in Nepal. The project will be launched in local government line agencies in Achham, Doti and June 2010 and builds on the Making Markets Work for Kailali have helped the beneficiaries receive much the Poor (M4P) approach which harnesses the power of needed support and the local bodies have agreed markets to channel benefits to the poor. to replicate the concept of collection centres and collection points in other districts as well. The VDC also co-funded construction of the collection centre at Joshipur

Annual Report 2009/10 28

Leader farmer preparing nursery bed

Impact in Numbers

1,613 HHs have access to proper irrigation facilities 329 HHs have access to clean drinking water 8,779 beneficiaries involved in agriculture production 786 beneficiaries involved in community fish farming 123 beneficiaries involved in off farm activities

Annual Report 2009/10 29 aiM 3

Local woman using Ghatta

Annual Report 2009/10 30

Promoting Infrastructure for the poor

Aim 3 strives to increase poor people’s access to, Kalikot and Tanahu Districts since 2007 with control over, and choice of appropriate and sustainable financial support of the European Union, Jose infrastructure services. It promotes partnerships between Entrecanales Ibarra Foundation, Spain, Rotary Club marginalised people, the public and the private sector, to of St. Helen and the UK trust funds. The local plan, deliver and sustain infrastructure services. The Aim implementing partners are Centre for Community facilitates these actors to demonstrate innovative models Development and Research (CCODER) in Gorkha, of service delivery with a positive impact on poor people’s Social Empowerment and Building Accessibility livelihoods. Based on learning, this Aim helps uptake Centre (SEBAC – Nepal) in Achham, Karnali good models for attaining impact at scale by influencing Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre concerned authorities for pro poor policy changes. Aim 3 (KIRDARC) in Kalikot and NGO Network in Tanahu. focuses its work in three broad thematic areas – Increasing The project aims to improve the socio economic rural productivity; Attaining sustainable urban environment; condition of the poor and marginalised people by and Creating healthy homes. supporting the poor farmers to increase their agricultural Projects under Increasing Rural Productivity productivity and delivering complementary means Access for Opportunities of transport facilities – gravity goods ropeways for agricultural produces/goods transport and improved This project is implemented in Achham, Gorkha, tuins for river crossing.

Women using the improved tuin Annual Report 2009/10 31

Tomatoes transported using gravity ropeway selling at a Cooperative in Dhading

Success story Access Project

Access Project influences local government bodies

During an official visit to Mansangkot VDC in Syangja District two regarding the availability of such technologies where the local years back I noticed tomatoes lying all over the path and wondered producers can easily transport their produces to the local market where the tomatoes had come from? Further up I saw two boys without any difficulties. At last I came to know about Practical in their school uniform crying. When I inquired, I learned that Action’s work on gravity goods ropeway. Today when I look back I their families had sent them with loads of tomatoes to sell in the realise if people have genuine interest to solve problems it does market and they had slipped spilling tomatoes all over. The path to eventually get solved - Birendra Hamal, Regional Agriculture Director, Mansangkot is a two hours steep walk and the monsoon rain had DADO, Pokhara. made the earthen path slippery and dangerous. In 2009, the DADO successfully installed a gravity goods ropeway An instant thought came to my mind, what if the villagers could in Syangja District with technical support from Practical Action and send their produce filled in a plastic bag with a rope attached from labour support from the local people and cooperatives. the up hill to the down hill? I knew this was not the solution and the quest for an answer to solve the transportation of vegetables To date, Practical Action has installed 17 gravity goods ropeway in from uphill to the main highway haunted me in a positive way. I Achham, Gorkha, Tanahu, Kalikot, Dhading, Mustang and Syangja enquired lots of organisations working in the agriculture sector Districts directly benefiting 3162 HHs.

Annual Report 2009/10 32

Renewable Energy Village (REV) REV Project is funded by the UK trust funds, Livelihoods Community members installing solar panels in Hurhuredanda, Nawalparasi and Forestry Programme (LFP) of DFID and individual supporters. The local implementing partner is CCODER and the project is closely working with the VDC. Initially REV Project started in 2006 in few wards of Bhumlichowk VDC, Gorkha District which has now been expanded to newer wards in Bhumlichowk and Devchuli VDC in Nawalparasi. REV aims to provide practical solutions and demonstrate various low cost and community managed renewable energy options – solar power, wind power, biogas along side increasing energy efficiency through promotion of improved cook stoves and Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration and Electricity (SCORE) stoves. Target beneficiaries of the project are the disadvantaged communities including Chepangs, Magars and Bishwokarmas (dalits).

Projects under Creating Healthy Homes SWASHTHA – Strengthening Water, Air, Sanitation and Hygiene Treasuring Health SWASHTHA is a four year (2009-2012) project implemented in seven municipalities– Bharatpur, Butwal, Gulariya,Tikapur, Siddharthanagar, Ramgram and Ratnanagar and three small towns – Sunawal, Bardaghat and Kawasoti with financial support of the European Union, UN-Habitat’s Water for Asian Cities programme and ISLE of Man Government. The implementing partners are Environment and Public Health Organisation (ENPHO) and Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN). The project aims to develop and promote integrated approaches of safe drinking water, improved sanitation facilities, safe hygiene practices and reduced indoor air pollution (IAP) to address major environmental health risks and to create healthy homes benefiting 30,000 women and children.

Scaling up of indoor smoke alleviating technologies The project is implemented in Gorkha and Dhading Districts since March 2008 with financial support from USEPA’s Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA) and DGIS. The local implementing partners are GORETO in Gorkha and Prayatnasheel Community Development Society (Prayas Nepal) in Dhading. The project aims to reduce major health risks of women and children from IAP, particularly kitchen smoke. Sustainable market promotion of indoor air alleviating products such as smoke hoods and stove improvement techniques, capacitating manufacturers and suppliers and providing credit facilities through revolving fund mechanism are key elements of the project.

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Highlights of the Year Small scale wind plant Increasing rural productivity in Phakhel, Makawanpur This thematic programme aims to increase productivity of rural people and their access to other basic services and markets through use of complementary means of transport services and small decentralised renewable energy systems. Interventions include scaling up of technologies such as, cable river crossing tuins, gravity goods ropeways, decentralised renewable energy technologies focusing on the development of wind and solar energy systems and strengthening their manufacturing bases as well as their operation and maintenance for sustainability.

This year installation of six gravity goods ropeways and five improved tuins has benefited 1,668 and 1,096 HHs respectively in Achham, Gorkha, Kalikot and Tanahu. Farmers are saving 50 to 70 per cent transportation cost compared to the past and their produces are being transported to the road head within 2-3 minutes depending on the load and span of the ropeways. Through newly installed five improved tuins, 1,096 poor HHs have easy access to road heads, markets and different service centres like VDCs, schools and health posts. The attendance rate of school going children has significantly increased based on the anecdotes from the locals. They spend less time traveling and can cross the river safely even during the monsoon. It is reported that the beneficiaries save at least 75 per cent of their travel time when using tuins.

Easy access to services and markets has encouraged the beneficiaries to enhance their agriculture production as their incomes have started to increase. Support of small irrigation technologies (36 plastic ponds, 53 sprinkles and 5 drips), agro inputs including different vegetable seeds to 625 HHs and introduction of 5 new and diversified crops has further strengthened the earning capacity of the beneficiaries. The combination and introduction of new technologies such as cost effective method of transportation, micro irrigation infrastructure and improved knowledge on better crop production has paved a new and meaningful future ahead for the residents, particularly in Gorkha and Tanahu.

Further, to enhance the production and secure a market platform for the small scale producers six Resource cum Collection Centres are established in all six gravity ropeway sites. These centres are expected to provide a

Annual Report 2009/10 34

sustainable platform to farmers to sell their produces or wind chargeable lights to the member HHs. The based on a fair market price. Sixteen village level farmer fund has already accumulated a total loan investment producers and marketing groups and 40 community exceeding NPR 3.7 million users groups were formed and their institutional (£ 336,37). As a result the local people now have capacities enhanced. These groups are now capable of easy access to finance their energy need. operating and maintaining tuins and gravity ropeways on their own in Achham, Gorkha, Kalikot and Tanahu Sixty two Improved Cook Stoves (ICS) and 80 latrines Districts. were built during the last fiscal year in Gorkha and Nawalparasi 24 VDCs are benefiting with installation of gravity goods ropeways and tuins Attaining sustainable urban environment Learning from our engagement in urban sector in the Five 150W wind turbines together with eight solar past three years through our projects - Integrated panels of 43Wp were integrated forming wind solar Urban Development (IUD) and Integrated Solid Waste hybrid energy system to power community charging Management (ISWM) has established that poor people station in Hurhuredanda, Nawalparasi. The community can make informed decisions when they are involved in charging centre is now providing power to 95 units of the overall planning processes at various levels. Hence, rechargeable Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps. The 46 Practical Action is in the process to generate evidence HHs of Hurhuredanda village have now lighting facility on appropriate technology choices for services that during the night, this has brought various benefits to give urban poor ample opportunities to live in healthy the HHs. The children can complete their homework environment and generate incomes and employment. every day and women are cooking their evening meals in ample light and they finish their cleaning on time Creating healthy homes which gives them spare time for other productive or Four thousand HHs are now aware of the negative recreation activities. Moreover, the charging station impacts of Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) including HH proved to be very effective in enhancing communication energy use and safer alternative source of energy. services of communities in Hurhuredanda. The numbers Awareness raising campaigns were organised for of HHs using mobile phones increased significantly behaviour change of the beneficiaries. These campaigns after the charging station started to generate energy. helped them to make informed decisions on switching More than 25 numbers of new mobile phone users to cleaner fuels and stoves, improving ventilation in the added only in Hurhuredanda village within one and half kitchen, improving on site sanitation, water treatment months due to availability of mobile phone charging and storage at point of use and help create local facility. demand for such services. Mass rallies, song, essay, speech and quiz competitions were organised in four The energy produced from wind solar hybrid systems is municipalities to raise awareness on water, sanitation further linked to income generating activities through and good hygiene practices. To observe the Global collection of service cost for charging LED lamps and Hand Washing day, demonstration on hand washing mobile phones. As decided by the community, single practice was organised in these municipalities. More charging cost for a LED lamp is NPR 5. The collected than 800 people benefited from these activities. funds are spent on repair and maintenance and to pay the monthly salary of a technical staff. Promotion of School Led Total Sanitation (SLTS) was implemented in 35 schools. Six schools out of 10 in Similarly, more than 266 units of solar power 2 VDCs of Chitwan are declared Open Defecation Free LED lamps were supported in Bhumlichowk VDC, (ODF). In these schools, teachers and students were Gorkha benefiting 266 HHs. One local cooperative trained on environmental sanitation concept and low in Bhumlichowk is established to run as a financial cost sanitation facilities. intermediary which can fund the capital investment for 300 water seal and 80 regular toilets completed and energy services such as microhydro project and solar are in operation

Annual Report 2009/10 35

One hundred and ninety eight Female Community Health • Sharing our experiences on small wind system has Volunteers (FCHVs) were trained in water quality, better convinced government, private sectors, academic institution sanitation, hygiene and IAP. FCHVs were also trained to and other relevant stakeholders in the usefulness of small develop and strengthen coordination with local health wind energy system as an important and potential source of service providers for effective service delivery. A training rural energy manual for FCHVs on “Indoor Smoke and Health” was • ISWM approach is introduced in three new municipalities developed and produced to assist the FCHVs as well (Butwal, Sidharthanagar, Ramgram) and 3 small towns (Kawasoti, Bardaghat and Sunawal in Nawalparasi District) as to undertake indoor air quality monitoring under followed by the promotion of HH separation of wastes, “National Living Standard Survey, 2009”. Moreover, introduction of door to door collection of wastes and youth groups/cooperatives and revolving funds were awareness campaigns established to provide technical support to monitor the • A local club in Kawasoti and Business Management quality of the smoke hood installation and to financially Committee in Bardaghat, Nawalparasi is promoting HH support the poor HHs for smoke hood installation. waste separation and decentralised waste management approaches Influencing • The GoN endorsed, gazetted and published the ‘Indoor Air Quality Standards and Implementation Guidelines, 2009’ • DoLIDAR endorsed “Technical Guidelines for Gravity • Gulariya Municipality supported Surajpur community to build Goods Ropeway” and committed to install 10 gravity a school after increased awareness of the community and ropeways in the coming year raising their voice following SWASHTHA project facilitation • Department of Agriculture/GoN and Kaadorie Foundation • Gulariya Municipality allocated funds to implement at installed one gravity ropeway each in Syangja and least 200 toilets in poor communities influenced by the Dhading Districts SWASHTHA project activities

Impact in Numbers

2764 HHs benefited from the installation of complementary means of transport 75 per cent reduction in travel time after the installation of tuins 625 HHs have agro inputs access to enhance their production and earning capacity 406 HHs have access to clean energy 4000 HHs are aware on proper sanitation, IAP, safe means of energy and good hygiene practice

Annual Report 2009/10 36

Nandalal in front of his Sulav toilet

Success story Swashtha Project

Promoting Sulav toilet

Nandalal BK (58), one of the residents of Thimura, has recently provisioned locally available raw materials like bamboo, straw, sand, built a Sulav toilet with the help of SWASHTHA Project. Thimura is stone and aggregate for the toilet. In order to save cost Nandalal and amongst the three settlements selected by SWASHTHA in Bharatpur his family members constructed the toilet on their own. The project Municipality, where lack of proper sanitation is a major issue. Nandalal assisted Nandalal with four rings, a cover and fitting materials, which has four members in his family and they had one temporary toilet is about 35 per cent of the total cost of his new toilet. covered with jute sack in their paddy field. “Now we do not have to worry about rain and snake. We have a ”The jute sack covered toilet was difficult to use during the monsoon. permanent toilet,” says Nandalal with a smile in his face. “The toilet We would be drenched during monsoon and it was difficult during the has made our life so much easier especially when some one is sick night time. We were also scared of the snakes,” says Nandalal. or when one suffers from diarrhea,” he further explains. Due to the construction of the toilets the neighbouring areas has become cleaner Nandalal found out about the subsidy provided by SWASHTHA and safer. “Toilet construction has given me moral support as well. Now Project during one of the community meetings in Thimura. Nandalal I can proudly tell my neighbours to build toilet in their house too.”

Annual Report 2009/10 roPes of hoPe 37

1 2 Upper station Ropeway operator signaling ropeway operator the lower station before uploading produce sending the produce

3 4 Lower station operator Local small producer receiving the produce checking the goods

5 6 Local suppliers and Small scale local producer buyers segregating selling fresh vegetables in the produces market centre

Annual Report 2009/10 38 aiM 4

resPonDing to neW teChnologies

aim 4 has a vision, “a world where science led new recorded in a MP4 player in local language using the technologies deliver products which fulfill human Practical Action LRPs. The LRPs were trained on the use needs rather than consumer wants”. nepal office of the MP4 player to deliver the contents to the farmers. started piloting this Aim since 2007 by conducting a The contents include information on 19 commodities of scoping study to explore issues and opportunities. vegetable and fish farming. The LRPs are now using it as Based on the study and the vision, this aim has an effective tool during the farmers’ gathering to deliver streamlined its work in two broad areas: technical the demanded contents followed by interaction. content in local voices and nanotechnology and water. Nanotechnology and Water Practical Action is planning to work in this sector in highlights of the year collaboration with Universities in the Europe. It has already organised a workshop in collaboration with Technical content in local voices Cambridge University on “Arsenic removal Practical Action initiated works on technical content in and sensing technologies” involving different local voice by integrating with ongoing projects using stakeholders - water users, scientists, academia Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). and development activists. The main purpose of Practical Action produced technical content in local the workshop was to develop an effective solution language on vegetable production. The content was to locally identified needs.

knowledge products published last year

• Community Based Disaster Management Plan for Chitwan • FCHV training manual on Indoor Air Pollution and its health effects ISBN 978-9937-8135-4-9 • Impacts of Climate Change: Voices of the People ISBN 978-9937-8135-3-2 • Promoting Adaptation to Climate Change – Helping the Poorest to Survive • SABAL - Building back better ISBN 978-9937-8135-5-6 • Shallow Tube well Guidelines • Technical Guidelines for Gravity Goods Ropeway ISBN 978-9937-2-2246-4 • Temporal and Spatial Variability of Climate Change over Nepal (1976-2005) ISBN 978-9937-8135-2-5 • Technical Brief: Multiuse Water System (MUS) ISBN 978-9937-8135-6-3 Annual Report 2009/10 39

PraCtiCal ansWers

Practical Answers is a free service run by Practical technological knowledge and information on project’s Action. It aims to increase access to knowledge various components even after its completion. resources gathered during the implementation of various projects and programmes. The objective is to To do so, Practical Answers comprises of: help individuals, small producers, small entrepreneurs, n Technical enquiry service and organisations to improve their access to technical n Information resources information. n Partnership with different knowledge nodes

The major goal of Practical Answers is to supply We believe knowledge generated must be shared. So information of direct relevance to the enquirer’s come share your knowledge resources by partnering circumstances and take into account the non technical with Practical Answers. factors that might contribute on the use of technology. It also serves as a permanent solution to provide Contact: [email protected]

Technical brief Multiuse Water System (MUS)

Technical Guidelines for GRAVITY GOODS ROPEWAY

Ministry of Local Development Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DoLIDAR)

Annual Report 2009/10 40

Finance at a glance

Financial statement for the period covering April 2009 to March 2010

Sources of income restricted Unrestricted total

£ £ £ Government Grants 1,124,410 1,124,410 Other Grants 208,848 208,848 Donations 40,972 40,972 Other Income 21 21 Sales of Publications 131 131 Income from Services 56,136 56,136 Bank Interest 5,782 874 6,656 Total income 1,380,013 57,161 1,437,174

Expenditure areas

Marketing and Fundraising 29,676 29,676 Reducing Vulnerability 492,235 52,896 545,131 Markets and Livelihoods 386,561 2,565 389,126 Promoting Infrastructure for the Poor 532,414 12,684 545,098 Responding to New Technologies 1,900 1,900 Directorate 2,000 214,227 216,227 Total expenditure 1,415,110 312,046 1,727,157

Note: A consolidated financial statement was signed at organisational level in the UK. The figures provided are part of the report which are related only to Nepal Office.

Annual Report 2009/10 A group of women benificiary. A. de la Vega

Text and production coordination: Upendra Shrestha and Shradha Giri Photo: Practical Action, unless stated otherwise Cover page photo: Farmer taking rest after ploughing. A. de la Vega

Designed & Processed @ Wordscape, 977-1-5526699 Printed in Kathmandu, Nepal practical action Worldwide