FORWARD Nepal 2019 2018/19 (2075/76) FORWARD Nepal 2019 2018/19 (2075/76) FORWARD Nepal Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development (FORWARD Nepal) Central Office Bharatpur-2, Chitwan, Nepal P.O.Box 11 (Bhp) Tel: +977(56)-527623/527734 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.forwardnepal.org Liaison Office Pulchowk, Damkal Chowk, Lalitpur +977(1)-5009148 Editorial Team: Ram Krishna Neupane, Rishi Kesh Dhakal, Toya Gautam Design and Layout: WPS, Tel. 015550289, [email protected] Photos: FORWARD Nepal's Photo Bank Citation: FORWARD Nepal (2019). Annual Report 2018/19. Chitwan, Nepal Celebrating 23rd FORWARD Day Vision FORWARD Nepal aims a society where all women and men at all levels, the economically poor, vulnerable and marginalized have prosperous and dignified lives. Mission FORWARD Nepal reaches and empowers vulnerable and marginalized communities for their improved livelihoods through value chain approach, technology generation and adaptation, advocacy and social transformation. Objectives FORWARD Nepal pursues the following objectives through its Programmes/projects: y Enhanced food and nutrition security, and increased income of disadvantaged people. y Improved technical and managerial capability of the vulnerable communities in biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and disaster risk management for resilient livelihoods. y Developed and validated agricultural technologies and innovations using participatory research and development approaches. y Developed physical infrastructure and strengthened local institutions. y Advocating and conducting capacity building Programmes to ensure the rights of people with different ability, elders, indigenous/ethnic groups, Dalits, women, and children. Foreword This annual report gives you an overview of Having said this, in this year, we were not the FORWARD Nepal for the FY 2075/76 B.S. so successful in receiving new programmes/ covering the period from 15 July 2018 to 16 July projects of longer period for coming years. 2019. During the reporting year, we implemented This is largely due to the adaptation of new 13 projects in 10 districts employing 46 regular working approach and modality by donors (in staffs and 45 paid volunteers. Besides, collaborating projects with local NGOs from the some consultants and research assistants/ project-implementing district only), which is a enumerators were also engaged in the projects challenge for us for collaborating new projects mainly on research activities and trainings as per outside Chitwan district. It is also a matter of fact the needs of the projects and the organization. that our financial turnover has been reduced as a result we have adapted a short-term strategy With the start of four new projects this year for cost savings measures including downsizing namely; Livelihood project in Siraha, Nutrition of regular staffs in the organization. This has also Smart Village in Saptari and Rautahat, School affected us for retention of professional staff in support initiative in Sunsari and the second phase the organization and maintaining institutional of lentil promotion in Siraha, we were engaged memories. Whatsoever, our efforts has been in project planning, coordination, programme continued for institutional relation buildings and sharing and projects launching meetings and networking with the possible project funding workshops together with local governments, agencies both within and outside country with donors and other project stakeholders. As in the hope that situation will improve in the future. previous years, we were also involved in results documentation and reporting of three phased Under the new federal structure of Nepal, we out projects to the project partners/donors, have seen many opportunities to work together continued implementation of six projects that with local government in our field for the mutual carried over from the last year. Brief highlights benefit and farmer community at large but we of all the above-mentioned projects with major have not been able to materialize it due to our achievement, accomplishments, outputs, lesson ineffective approach and realization of such learnings and some success cases is shared need gap from the both sides. It is heard that herein. a new Government Act for I/NGOs is in the process to release by the Government of Nepal, It is our pleasure to note here that under which has a direct implication on NGOs. Hence, the "Strengthening Community Resilience we are waiting for the government new law and to Disaster through School Safety Initiative policies to be applicable for NGOS for making project in Sunsari", FORWARD Nepal was our long-term institutional operational plan and involved in supporting five local schools for strategies. In this context, support is needed disaster risk management planning process from all concerned to make a FORWARD Nepal and their integration into municipality planning a dynamic and vibrant organization to work for process, preparation of Ward Level Disaster and the target people/community. At the same time, Climate Resilience Plan (WDCRP), facilitation there is a need to change in our traditional and technical support to Barahachhetra and thoughts, which does not work always. Ramdhuni municipality, Sunsari for preparation of Local Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan The working team spirit of all staff members of (LDCRP). Under livelihood project, FORWARD FORWARD Nepal during this reporting year was Nepal supported Kalyanpur municipality, Siraha very encouraging for us, which was the basis for for field data collection and compilation of flood- continuing our programmes/projects to this level affected households. Together with WHH and in partnership with multiple donors and partners. its partners, we were also involved in supporting The professional and management policy support wash kits and nonfood items to more than 600 and backings for the organization from the board households affected by flood on 12 and 13 July members, members, professionals and founder 2019 in Siraha and Saptari districts. members were equally praiseworthy and was v always motivating. The support and feedforward disaster risk management. Above all, we are provided by the project partners and donors always indebted with our clients (farmers and for the programmes and FORWARD Nepal community) wherever we have worked for their remained truly commendable, professional and extraordinary support and tireless participation in lively. For all these, we would like to express our our programmes. sincere thanks and appreciation to all concerned individual, organizations and donors. We are Lastly, we are enthusiastic to work together looking forward to continue working together ahead with our staff members, members, in future for the benefits of our people through partners, donors and supporters for the benefit of our expertise and action, and our programme the needy people in the community where we live thematic areas; food and nutrition security, in. Our thoughtful actions do opens opportunity business promotion and market development, for someone, somewhere in the community. Let adaptive research and development, natural us keep up a professional and friendship spirit resource management and climate change and ahead. Prof. Dr. Madhav Kumar Shrestha Netra Pratap Sen Chairperson, FORWARD Nepal Executive Director vi Contents Foreword v Abbreviations and Acronyms viii Introduction to FORWARD Nepal 1 Programme Thematic Areas 1 Strategies/Approaches 2 Overview of the FORWARD Nepal's work in the FY 2018-19 2 Major Achievements 2 FORWARD Nepal's implemented projects in the FY 2018-2019 3 Description of the projects 4 Building Community Enterprises of Small-holders in Bangladesh and Nepal 5 Building livelihood resilience through smart farming practices in Kamala river basin in Siraha district 8 Regional Programme for promoting a multi-sectoral approach for Nutrition Smart Villages in Bangladesh, India and Nepal 12 Dairy for Development in Nepal 14 Girls Agency and Youth Empowerment Project (GAYEP) 16 Girls and Boys Start Equally (GBSE) Project, Morang 17 Strengthening Community Resilience through Disaster Risk Management (SCR-DRM) Project 18 Strengthening Community Resilience to Disaster through School Safety Initiative 20 Enhancing food and nutritional security and improved livelihoods through intensification of rice- fallow system with pulse crops in south Asia 22 Agricultural entrepreneurship among female-headed remittance receiving households in Nepal 25 Sustainable economic Development of Rural Areas (SEDRA) 25 Facilitation of riverbed farming initiatives in Banke, Siraha, Saptari, Morang and Jhapa districts 26 Monitoring & verification of community development programme (CDP) 26 Collaboration and linkage with Donors and Partner Organizations in FY 2018-19 27 List of publications 28 Trainings, Workshops, Conferences, Meetings, and Visits 29 External visitor at FORWARD Nepal and its project sites 31 Members Board, Honorary, Founder, Advisory, Professional, and Auditors 32 Financial Report 2018-19 (2075/76 B.S.) 35 Geographical Coverage 41 Abbreviations and Acronyms ANM Assistant Nurse Mid-wife FGD Focus Group Discussion BFC Business and Finance Consulting FORWARD Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development BMZ Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development FS Foundation Seed CBDCRP Community Based Disaster and FY Fiscal Year Climate Resilient Project GAP Good Agricultural Practices CBF Community Business