Rural Environment Development Center (REDC) Dadeldhura SUSASAN: Sustainable Use of Technology Public Center Accountability in Nepal Quarterly Report April - June, 2020 REDC/SUSASAN CECI Regional Office Amargadhi 5-Dadeldhura Dhangadhi, Kailali June, 2020 i Acronyms REDC Rural Environment Development Center CSO Community Social Organization DCSO District Community Social Organization REDC Rural Environment Development Center GESI Gender Equality and Social Inclusion WMG Women and Marginalized Group CECI Centre for International Studies and Cooperation TH Techno-Hub CTH Community Techno-Hub SUSASAN Sustainable Use of Technology for Public Sector Accountability in Nepal IMS Infrastructure Management System GRMS Grievance Redressal Management System JAMS Judicial Affairs Management System AIMS Agricultural Information Management System ii Table of Content Acronyms .......................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Content ............................................................................................................................... iii Executive summary .......................................................................................................................... iii Project Description and Context ........................................................................................................ 1 I. Progress on Outcome Statements .............................................................................................. 5 A. Outcome: 1100 .......................................................................................................................... 5 B. Outcome: 1200 .......................................................................................................................... 5 C. Outcome: 1300 .......................................................................................................................... 6 II. Operations: ................................................................................................................................ 7 A. Progress on Activities Implementation....................................................................................... 7 a. Output 1121 .............................................................................................................................. 7 b. Output 1212 .............................................................................................................................. 9 B. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion ........................................................................................ 10 C. Coordination and Collaboration at a Local Level ....................................................................... 11 D. Risk Strategy ............................................................................................................................ 11 E. Visibility ................................................................................................................................... 11 F. Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................................... 12 G. Management Activities, Issues and Adjustments ..................................................................... 12 H. Major Constraints and Challenges ........................................................................................... 13 I. Major Lessons Learnt ................................................................................................................ 13 J. Local Level Grievance Management .......................................................................................... 13 K. Suggestion to the project management for corrective measures .............................................. 13 L. Financial report ........................................................................................................................ 13 Annex: 1 Some Photos Features:.................................................................................................. 14 iii Executive summary Sustainable Use of Technology for Public Sector Accountability in Nepal-SUSASAN project has been implementing in Amargadhi Nagarpalika and Nawadurga Gaunpalika of Dadeldhura District through Rural Environment Development Center (REDC) Dadeldhura since 1st April, 2017. It is for four years (2017-2021) program launched in the partnership between the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) and Rural Environment Development Center (REDC) Dadeldhura funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The Project seeks to close existing gaps between demand from non- Governmental organization, communities, citizens, and supply of government services using integrated technologies, with a focus a women and marginalized groups. After the partnership agreement, in the first quarter (April-June, 2020) of the project SUSASAN, it completed some major and supportive activities with a proper coordination and collaboration at local level even at the risk of COVID-19 pandemic. The project activities of the first quarter were badly affected due to the pandemic although the project accomplished the review with local governments on regular operation of the techno-hubs and sustainable use of technological tools and systems. The meeting discussed and reviewed about the proper operation and use of the technological platforms, tools and systems, gaps and made action plan for necessary improvement. The project supported to both working area's local governments some materials/equipments to combat the COVID-19 crisis. It enhanced the mutual collaboration and harmony between the organization and the local governments. The project broadcasted awareness jingle on gender-based violence and women, youths, elected representatives, migrants and parent's mental health related podcasts (5 episodes) through FM radios. The project updated technological tools/systems mobilizing the IT Volunteers too. Likewise, the project various surveys and assessments at local level regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and reported. Except these, the project initiated to forward the tool/systems replication process of Ajayameru Gaunpalika and reported accordingly. The critical situation of the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the lesson, necessity and importance of the technology and technological tools/systems to the local governments and citizens. The group messaging system has maximumly utilized on conveying the messaging by the local governments. The local government elected bodies and officials participated so many virtual meetings with the project and other meetings too. Because of the developed recent condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, the local governments and project also seems to have to change its activities from time to time. 1 Project Description and Context Sustainable Use of Technology for Public Sector Accountability in Nepal (SUSASAN) project is a four years project. It has been implemented in Amargadhi Nagarpalika and Nawadurga Gaunpalika of Dadeldhura in the partnership between the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) and Rural Environment Development Center (REDC) Dadeldhura funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The REDC as an implementing partner of SUSASAN project, it is playing action role of SUSASAN project. It has been working in and with two local governments of Dadeldhura; Amargadhi Nagarpalika and Nawadurga Gaunpalika for the SUSASAN project. In these locations, the REDC is in action for the project according to project partnership. The project seeks to close existing gaps between demand from non-governmental organization, communities, citizens, and supply of government services using integrated technologies, with a focus a women and marginalized groups. Specially, the project has been supporting to the local government and the citizens on capacity building through training, coaching and technical supports, developing and adapting of specific technological mechanisms and tools, establishing infrastructural technological facilities and implementing and awareness campaign in gender and social inclusion (GESI) and interested technology. Objective • To report to the CECI Area Coordinator about the accomplished 3rd quarter activities of the project SUSASAN in Dadeldhura. Project Working Area: The project has been implementing in Amargadhi Nagarpalika and Nawadurga Gaunpalika of Dadeldhura district. There are 11 wards at Amargadhi Nagarpalika and 5 wards at Nawadurga Gaunpalika. The working areas were selected considering the availability of the project's target community like WMGs like women, dalit, janajati, persons having disabilities, single women and the marginalized communities. The headquarters of Amargadhi Nagarpalika and Nawadurga Gaunpalika as the municipal level techno-hubs and Amargadhi ward n. 10 Rai and Nawadurga Gaunpalika ward n. 3 Dandaban as the community level techno-hubs. The Municipal Techno-Hubs and Amargadhi Nagarpalika Community level techno hubs in Amargadhi Nagarpalika and Nawadurga Gaunpalika Nawadurga Gaunpalika are in operation. The working areas of the Project are here in map: 2 Beneficiaries of project: According to the project document, especially the women marginalized groups (WMGs) and marginalized groups were the key beneficiaries of the project that the project has focused in each activity from the initial phase of the project implementation process. The target is disaggregated in the percentage