Overview on the current social, economical and environmental situation in rural areas in Nepal (IFAD-funded projects/programmes and other relevant actors in rural development);

Ways to reduce rural poverty: leasehold forestry management, groups’ formation, social development and empowerment, diversification of rural livelihoods, access to financial access, value chain etc.

LFLP, PAF, HVAP, WUPAP, SEEDS SNV, FAO, NACFFL, SFDBL

Day One13 Sept 2013 Opening Panel

Kathmandu

Day One13 Sept 2013 Experience Fair

Days Two and Three14-15 Sept 2013 Kavre

LEASEHOLD FORESTRY USERS GROUPS of RAYALE

Diversification of rural livelihoods (Coop and individual businesses) based on the sustainable use of forest resources (cardamom, grass and forage, goats, briquettes, dairy products)

Management of the Cooperative, social inclusion, role of women

Days Two and Three 14-15 Sept 2013 Kavre district

STRENGHTS

Awareness of their territory and NR –(decision-making, self-reliance, risk control)Strong commitment and cultural identityGood organization and management (LFUG)Women’s participationOpenness to adopt new technologies

WEAKNESSES

Weak involvement of youthLack of leadership rotationWeak documentation of their vision (action plan)Individual access to market (not through the Coop)

OPPORTUNITIES

Good presence of raw material, water, soilEasy access to external markets (road)Potential to expand to organic marketSupport of several donors and agencies

THREATS

Land ownership (changes in regulation)Youth migrationClimate changeDependency from external donors

Case Study Analysis ILFUGs Rayale

Case Study Analysis ILFUGs Rayale

LESSONS LEARNED

Leasehold forestry as a good way to promote the improvement of poor rural people’ s livelihoodCommunity’s awareness of their territory and commitment is fundamental to promote sustainable NRM and good group management PPP can be effective also at small scale (grassroots and community level)

RECCOMMENDATIONS

Increase women’s active participation within the Coop’ and in decision makingCreate mechanisms to incentive participation of the youthThe Coop’ should integrates more livelihoods activities now run as individual businessesImprove documentation at Coop’ level (action plan, financial records etc.)

Days Four, Five, Six16-17-18 Sept 2013 Chitwan

Devitar Leasehold Forest User Groups, Shaktikhor

Women empowerment and gender mainstreaming

Diversification of rural livelihoods based on sustainable management of forest resources (LFUGs)

Days Four, Five, Six 16-17-18 Sept 2013 Chitwan

STRENGHTS

Women’s active participationAble to mobilize people and involve youthGood management of forest resourcesSharing of responsibilities and leadership rotation, good group managementSocial cohesion and conflict managementSelf-awareness of their needs

WEAKNESSES

“Women only”, men participation is lowSavings at LFUGs but not at Coop’ level“Goat-dependency”Weak documentation/ recording at group level

OPPORTUNITIES

Availability of natural resourcesAccess to market and value-chain based market systemProcessing center for livestock

THREATS

Lack of female leadership at public levelLow level of formal education to access new opportunitiesLow involvement of menLack of infrastructure

Case Study Analysis IILFUGs Shaktikhor

Case Study Analysis IILFUGs Shaktikhor

LESSONS LEARNED

Commitment generates good management (in NRM)Combination of sustainable NRM and livelihoods improvement to overcome povertyActive female participation is essential to contribute to the sustainable management of forest (and other) resources

RECCOMMENDATIONS

Improve formal educational at community levelPromote the differentiation of livelihoods (not only goats) as organic vegetablesStrengthen gender balance (not women only)Enhance visibility of other key actors during field visits (as men) and charge a fix price for the knowledge transfer provided to visitorsDevelop self M&E indicator for self-assessmentBuild mobile dipping tank

Day Seven19 Sept 2013 Kapilvastu

PRAGATISHIL AGRICULTURAL COOP LTD, BIJUWA

Diversification of rural livelihoods through the Coop’

Women empowerment and social inclusion

Networking, access to market, PPP

Day Seven19 Sept 2013 Kapilvastu

STRENGHTS

Gender balance and positive social changes Paid staff and presence of physical assetsDifferentiation of IGAs Effective linkages with different actors (PPP)Good record at Coop’ level

WEAKNESSES

Poor sanitation system and infrastructureWeak document. and financial recordDependency on external financial aidThe shared capital is lowNot clear participation of youthLack of clear budget and timeframe Weak coordination btw groups and Coop

OPPORTUNITIES

Commercial seeds production (fertile land) and potential for mixed farmingScaling-up of Coop’ shop (supplies)Linkages with financial institutions, NAFFCLExternal aid (if well managed)Improved education (opportunity for youth)

THREATS

Poor sanitation might compromise the development of other activities (agric.)Youth and male (seasonal) migrationPotential lack of ownership of collective goods by community

Case Study Analysis IIIPragatishil Coop’ Bijuwa

Case Study Analysis IIIPragatishil Coop’ Bijuwa

LESSONS LEARNED

Paid staff will improve the sustainability of the CooperativeInvestment on social assets (education) is important to livelihoods’ improvementUnity and commitment are key ingredients for the success of any collective actionIntegration and coordination btw groups and Coop’ is required for sustainabilityMarket promotion and diversification of livelihoods are the good combination for poor livelihoods improvement The Coop’ should be involved in different IGAs and not only as linkage btw farmers; in this sense, the Coop’ could act as agent of change and development for the community

RECCOMMENDATIONS

Gender mainstreaming and women empowerment should be a continuous process: promote the inclusion of women also at managerial level of the Coop’Capacity building should be improved (community mobilization, integrated farming)Carry out campaign for sanitation and hygieneEstablish an extension network at village level Seek for alternative IGAs (e.g. biogas)Improve education standards and infrastructureEven if the businesses are run at individual level, the link with the market should pass through the Coop’ (price regulation, quality standards)Improve access to market’s prices and design a concrete action plan with budget

Case Study Analysis IIIPragatishil Coop’ Bijuwa

Days Eight and Nine20-21 Sept 2013 Lumbini

Innovation Plans

INNOVATION: WHAT’S ALL ABOUT?

Not a completely new idea, it’s new to me (or to the context where I work)

Innovation brings (positive) changes and new ways of doing things, new approaches

It adds value to what I’m already doingCan bring lessons to others (scaling-up)It’s based on opportunities already in place

Innovation Plans

VISION (what I would like to achieve/ most relevant changes)

PEOPLE (for whom? beneficiaries, target groups)

OPPORTUNITIES (background, on-going activities)

PARTNERS (networking, exchanges)

OBJECTIVES (general and specific)

ACTIVITIES (timeline – max 12 months)

RESOURCES (human, physical, financial)

SUSTAINABILITY (exit strategy, indicators)

Innovation Plans

INNOVATION MARKET PLACE: 21 September Lumbini

SUBMISSION FINAL VERSION INNOVATION PLANS: 15 October 2013

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS (after technical evaluation): 15 November 2013

AWARD OF 4 INNOVATION PLANS (USD 2000 each)

Innovation PlansNext steps

PROCASUR CORPORATION Asia and the Pacific Region

209/34 Moo 10, Chiang Mai-Hangdong Road, T. Padad,

A Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand

http://asia.procasur.org Procasur Asia Pacific

Danebat!