October to December 2011 | VOLUME 63

Japan InternationalCooperation Agency

Quarterly Newsletter from

JICA Nepal Office

Engendering development

Dil Maya BK was confined to kitchen and household chores until three years ago. Like other Dalit women, she had no idea on her role in the community and information to access state services. Under compulsion to stick to the traditional roles of women, the 38-year-old woman from a socially excluded group was totally oblivious of the term ‘gender’.

Her neighbor, Motikala BK, found herself engrossed in daily household works for years without knowing that inequality based on gender roles hinders equity based social and economic development of her village. Like Dil Maya, she is also a Dalit woman of Jagtradevi VDC-2 in Syangja district, who had experienced greater challenges in accessing rights, benefits and opportunities provided by the state for the upliftment of the disadvantaged communities like theirs. In their village, neither govt service providers nor they themselves were aware of the fact that they were an important agent of change until some years ago. However, the scenario is gradually improved now with their participation in every activity from ward level planning to the evaluation process. They have gone beyond their domain of kitchen from the traditional stereotypes of women from passive to change makers. Today, women here have made significant strides with anchoring role, breaking through the traditional norms and coming forward to participate in the development activities outside their homestead.

“Earlier, we didn’t get any chance to lead or represent any development committees. Our voices and opinions were never

heard. But when the GeMSIP came to our VDC, we are slowly learning how to voice our concerns and problems. Amid loads of household works, we have been sparing time to actively involve in the social activities,” says Debaka BK, also a native of Jagtradevi, which is one of the VDC among Phedikhola and Archale VDCs of Syangja district where Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Project (GeMSIP), a technical cooperation project of the Government of Nepal (GoN) and the Japan International co-operation Agency (JICA), is being implemented.

Launched in February 2009 mainly in selected VDCs of Syangja and Morang districts, GeMSIP is trying to integrate gender and social inclusion issues making the whole VDC level development process gender responsive and socially inclusive. Debaka BK is among those women who are appreciative to GeMSIP for visible changes their community has seen. “Because of the GeMSIP we came to know that there should be gender equality in all the VDC level activities. In our village, we hadn’t seen any significant progress even after the government ensured 33 percent representation of women in every state organ. Now, after implementation of GeMSIP, we have started executing this policy into action by ensuring women’s representation in all local level committees.”

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Even women from other communities have realized the importance of the inclusion of Dalit women. “Brahmin women are also supporting to increase the number of Dalit women in different local groups like Aama Samuha, Women’s cooperative, and User Groups,” says Dil Maya, who is also a member of VDC IPC (Integrated Planning Committee) of Jagtradevi VDC. The VDC level IPCs are formed in an inclusive manner ensuring representation of people from socially disadvantaged groups like women, single women, PWDs (People with Disabilities), Dalit, Adibasi/Janajati, Other Backward Communities (OBC), children as well as NGOs and local political parties in the targeted areas.

- Santosh Chhetri

InsIdEn JICA Award for Shrestha Page 2nNPPR Page 3nNews in Brief Page 4-5nA memorable trip Page 6n JICA Press Tour Page 7nFrom the horse’s mouth Page 8

from the field

FOR SOCIAL EQUALITY: Mainstreaming issues of gender and excluded groups through the Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Project (GeMSIP), a technical cooperation project of JICA.

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Similar are the changes at Phedikhola, a northern VDC of Syangja dominated by Janajatis. “Earlier, it was seen that most of the rural women were not confident enough to express themselves in the group meetings. Most of the members were shy and unable to speak up and participate in local activities. But now most of them can express their needs and are calling for equal opportunities in participation and decision making process,” says Maina Gurung of Phedikhola-2.

After GeMSIP started its activities here, an inclusive IPC was formed in accordance with the GoN’s existing policy and guidelines on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) that calls for inclusion of women, children, Dalit, PWDs and excluded groups to ensure their meaningful participation in the planning process of VDC, said says VDC Secretary Shreeram Acharya.

At Archale VDC, also in Syangja where the project is picking up pace, Maya Darmali,

Chairman of JICA Alumni Association Forum of SAARC Countries Chandi Prasad Shrestha became the first Nepali national to receive the JICA Recognition Award for making noteworthy contribution to the community development and conservation of forest and watershed, as well as for promoting JICA’s activities in the SAARC member countries. On October 21, Chief Representative of JICA Nepal office Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki handed over the award to Shrestha, who is the former Home Secretary. Shrestha is among 21 persons and four organizations from all over the world selected for this award.

“In recognition of your many years of cooperation with the work of Japan International Cooperation Agency and your deep understanding of the promotion of international cooperation, I am pleased to present to you this certificate of appreciation as an expression of our sincere gratitude to you,” reads the award certificate signed by President of JICA Sadako Ogata.

JICA Nepal Chief Kawasaki also congratulated Shrestha for wining this award. “I appreciate his involvement

coming out of a low-profile status, has earned reputation as a woman leader. “I used to spend most of my time inside home, but now I can voice for women’s representation and inclusion in every activity. I did so in the recently held Ward meeting too,” she says. Through the Ward level planning meetings local communities are identifying their needs and problems and also equipping themselves with skills to submit GESI responsive proposals to the VDC.

The increasing level of awareness among rural women has helped in speeding up development activities, says Syangja LDO Rammani Bhattarai. He is hopeful that the project will be expanded to more VDCs. “GeMSIP’s process oriented participatory approach ensuring people’s participation, ownership, and good governance, transparency and accountability is making a lot of difference at the local level.” GESI IC (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Implementing Committee), IPCs and Ward Citizens Committees established under

the GeMSIP in line with the MoLD policy have proved to be effective to materialize GESI integration in the development process, he adds.

Another government official is encouraged to see representation of disadvantaged groups in ward and VDC level planning process. This project has developed a feeling among the excluded groups that they are exercising inclusive democracy, says Thanapati Neupane, Member Secretary of GESI IC Syangja and Program Officer of DDC Syangja. “Realizing the positive impacts of the GeMSIP at the grassroots level, the DDC Syangja has started expanding GeMSIP model in 15 LGCDP’s program VDCs.” Neupane feels that GeMSIP has strengthened the VDCs’ capacity to ensure equal and inclusive participation in planning, implementation and monitoring of VDCs level activities and services.

(Mr Chhetri is Public Relations Officer of JICA Nepal)

JICA Award for shresthain community development by using the network of JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN) and also for promoting JICA’s activities in Nepal,” he said, expressing hope that Shrestha will work more actively for the economic and social development in Nepal.

After receiving the award, Shrestha, thanked JICA for honoring him with this award. “This is indeed a recognition for a team work; a recognition for the transformation of an organization in a dedicated social mobilizing institution; a recognition to address the human needs; a recognition for cultivation of collaborative approach; and a recognition for harnessing trust and mutual understanding among the people of Japan, Nepal and SAARC countries,” he said. “The award has energized us to work more with synergies for the better tomorrow of all.”

Shrestha has contributed to JICA projects since he was the Secretary of Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation. He was the President of JICA Alumni Association of Nepal (JAAN) for two terms between 2004 and 2010. He has utilized the JAAN network for community development.

Tadashi Fujiwara, Charge d’ Affaires at the Embassy of Japan, praised Shrestha for his constant support and collaboration in the implementation of JICA projects.

Similarly, JAAN President Dr. Dilli R. Shakya expressed his happiness for the recognition of his association’s community development activities.

Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Office Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki hands over the certificate of JICA Recognition Award to Chandi Prasad Shrestha.

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The annual meeting of Nepal Portfolio Performance Review-NPPR ’11 was organized on November 17-18. NPPR has been acting as a dialogue mechanism between the Government of Nepal (GoN) and the major Development Partners (DPs) operating in Nepal. It is basically focused on reviewing the progress of program/project implementation, identifying bottlenecks, and agreeing on action plan to address such bottlenecks. It started in 2001 with the initiation of the Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and the World Bank. In 2006, the process was led by the Ministry of Finance, GoN and later, in 2007, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development joined the process. Since NPPR ’11, the United Nations and European Union also joined the process as core DPs. In this way, NPPR has witnessed broader participation of the stakeholders.

Similarly, the NPPR has also experienced continuous improvement in terms of its planning, implementation and monitoring the progress. Since 2010, periodic progress reviews are conducted with the involvement of DPs other than the Core DPs. Moreover, since 2010, the action plan has been endorsed by the cabinet, thus upgrading the ownership level of GoN.

JICA, after the birth of New JICA, has been giving continuity to the NPPR process since 2008. JICA started submitting its background paper since NPPR ’10 reflecting its development assistances to Nepal, lessons learned while operating in Nepal, and extending suggestions for the effectiveness of development efforts. In the NPPR ’11 annual meet, JICA shared its governing approaches

A constructive dialogue for development effectiveness- Ram Bhandari

of programming and implementing development cooperation in Nepal–field-based approach, integrated assistance, and capacity development. Furthermore, it underlined the importance of monitoring and evaluation to connect the policy and program formulation based on the field realities. The key highlights of JICA’s experiences shared to the NPPR’11 through its background paper are:

National development strategies and planning in Nepal often seem to be ambitious as compared to the ground realities. To overcome such practices the policy/program formulation should be based on the field-based experience. The policies and programs devised at the center need continuous testing and revision based on the field experience with due consideration to improve the development conditions, and implement the order-made approach in line with the capacity level of the counterpart agencies. This needs technical cooperation projects working truly at the field level to test the broader policy and program framework;

Program-Based Approach is very strong at the conceptualization level and setting out broader vision for development interventions. But, it demands much stronger institutional and individual capacity base at the operational level. It needs more analytical capacity and practice, strong feedbacks mechanism, and the financial resource base. In this context, considering the institutional capacity and presence of numerous DPs and I/NGOs, Project-Based execution aligning with broader Program-Based vision seems to be the most viable programming option to Nepal;

It is imperative that the development cooperation best matches the level of development in the recipient country and organization, taking long-term perspective and offering seamless assistance to ensure sustainable development. JICA undertakes the mix of aid instruments namely Technical Cooperation, Grant Aid and ODA Loan to offer comprehensive support that organically combines such elements as policy and institutional improvements;

JICA believes in capacity development as “a process which enhances partner country’s capacity in managing development issues at individual, organizational, institutional and societal level” by working together with counterparts. The capacity development aims to bring out counterparts’ strong motivations for change from within; and

Findings and results of the existing monitoring have not been shared and utilized adequately. Similarly, the feedback to the projects is very weak ultimately limiting the monitoring and reporting to a ritual activity. Additionally, the evaluation system has not been established or functioning at the central and at the local levels. The GoN should practice the monitoring and evaluation and share the outputs and feedback with the stakeholders at the central and the district levels. Monitoring and evaluation mechanism needs to be strengthened to ensure quality works and outputs. Ultimately, if practiced the real cycle of M&E, the policies and programs to be formulated will have real-field flavor and ultimately become easier to implement and thus producing intended outcomes.

(Mr Bhandari is Senior Aid Coordination Advisor of JICA Nepal)

nepal portfolio performance review

The annual meeting of NPPR underway at Hotel Yak & Yeti.

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COMCAP Joint MTR report signed

JICA marks joint IYV+10 celebrations

Discussions on draft of new media policy

The Joint Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Strengthening Community Mediation Capacity for Peaceful and Harmonious Society Project (COMCAP) was held from December 9-27, 2011. A Joint MTR team comprising officials from the Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) and JICA officials examined the progress made by the COMCAP visiting project VDCs of Sindhuli and Mahottari districts and holding interactions with district officials, trainers and mediators. The team concluded that the project had introduced an effective

Coinciding with the 10th International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10), the Volunteer Service Agencies organized a series of events in Nepal with an aim to promote volunteerism, social responsibility and emotional bonds between the providers and recipients of volunteer services.

JICA Nepal, being an active member of the National Steering Committee for Volunteerism in Nepal (NSCVN), also took

The Media for Peace Project (MeP Project) organized three-day-long workshops in Pokhara and Biratnagar to disseminate the draft of new media policy, prepared by the Ministry of Information and Communications, with technical assistance from JICA/MeP Project, and receive feedback on the draft. Nearly 100 media related stakeholders of the Western and Eastern Regions took part in the workshops. The participants include journalists, owner of media organizations, representatives of organizations working in the field of human rights and peace-building, lawyers and representatives of civil society organizations.

news in brief

disputes management mechanism at the local level so far. At the end of review, the Joint Coordination Committee meeting was held under chairpersonship of MoLD Joint Secretary Teertha Raj Dhakal. In the meeting, both sides discussed on the MTR report and agreed with certain changes. Joint Secretary Dhakal, on behalf of the Government of Nepal, and Senior Representative of JICA Nepal and MTR Team Leader, Take Toru, on behalf of JICA, signed the Meeting of Minutes.

part in different events on December 5 in Kathmandu and made some contributions to make the joint volunteer caravan successful in seven different cities of the country held on December 7-9. Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Mitsuyoshi Kawasaki, volunteer coordinators and several volunteers attended the official launching ceremony of the State of World’s Volunteerism Report at the office of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Caravan as well as National Volunteer Conference in Kathmandu. Kawasaki also addressed the conference as a guest speaker.

Participants from Kaski, Syangja, Palpa, Tanahu and Gorkha attended the Pokhara session held from 13 to 15 December 2011, while participants from Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Dharan and Dhankuta joined the Biratnagar session from 23 to 25 December 2011. The participants held extensive discussions on all provisions of the draft and came up with valuable feedbacks. The participants expressed happiness to be the part of policy drafting process. MeP Project has been organizing workshops, experts meeting and sending questionnaires to the stakeholders, who do not take part in such workshops, to

disseminate the draft of new media policy and receive feedbacks from them. The draft is also being disseminated through the website of the Ministry of Information and Communications (www.moic.gov.np). The feedbacks received from stakeholders will be incorporated while finalizing the draft.

Launching of SMES Phase II

Teaching vital skills

Young leaders training program

The Project on Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation System in Nepal (SMES – 2006 to 2009) was implemented by the National Planning Commission Secretariat with the technical cooperation from JICA. After the terminal evaluation of the Project, upon the request from the Government

The 3rd Training Program for Young Leaders for Nepal/Legal System Development Course was conducted in Japan from December 5-21. Seventeen legal practitioners and officers—three from the Ministry of Law and Justice, nine from the Supreme Court, two from of the Office of Attorney General and three from Nepal Bar Association—took part in the training. The participants learned about the situation of Japanese law and problems, the role of Japan’s Ministry of Justice, constitution of Japan and law making process, criminal justice procedure in Japan, criminal procedure and hearing process on criminal

On December 8, a team of eight JICA volunteers named “Team Timro Shahar (Your Town)” set off for an 8-day-long Volunteer Caravan with an aim to promote environmental education. In order to encourage awareness of knowing and caring for our own surrounding environment and to demonstrate the importance of waste management, the volunteers, whose working field varies from environmental education, agriculture, community development to early child education conducted their program in four districts of Baglung (at Dauragiri Deaf School), Syangja (Kalitas School and Bhupu Sainik Secondary School), Walling (Walling Municipality Office), and Pokhara (International Mountain Museum and Pokhara Municipality Office). The program was organized with the help of fellow JICA volunteers and their local colleagues.

of Nepal, the Government of Japan is extending technical cooperation for the second phase of SMES. The SMES Phase II is a 3.5 years project starting November 2011. SMES Phase II has formally begun its functioning with the holding of 1st Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting.

The JCC meeting was held on December 19 under the chairmanship of Mr. Yuba Raj Bhusal, Member Secretary of National

Planning Commission (NPC). On the occasion, Secretary Bhusal stressed that SMES Phase II will work to enhance monitoring and evaluation capacity of NPC, partner ministries and pilot districts. He also remarked SMES 1 brought positive change. Mr. Bhusal extended thanks to the Government of Japan for extending support is such an important endeavor. Mr. Takeshi Kikuchi, Representative of JICA Nepal Office, explained about major outputs of SMES 1.

justice in District Courts during the training period. They also visited the Ministry Of Law, Diet (Parliament) of Japan, Tokyo District Court, Center for Civil Judgment Execution, Waseda University School

of Law, Japan Federal Bar Association, Fuchu Prison and Tochigi Prefecture Bar Association. Over the last three years, around 56 individuals have participated in the Young Leaders training program.

The team shared its activities with the local participants, whose group comprised school students, teachers, women group, college eco club students, and government officials. The program featured street drama, song, short documentary film, quiz contest, road cleaning campaign by using recycled materials, handicraft making and training on waste management and proper disposal of garbage.

Overall, the program was fruitful for both local participants and the volunteers. Elsewhere the team received a warm welcome with a keen interest from the participants, who actively participated in the event and enjoyed the team’s performance to the fullest. By the end of each day, the

team felt a small, yet definite process of awareness awakening and learning from the participants. For the volunteers, too, they have discovered a great joy of working as a team, exchanging and combining their individual knowledge towards a good cause. The team is now planning to continue another event this year.

-Namiko Motokawa, JOCV

jica volunteers

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JPP (JICA Partnership Program) is a technical cooperation program implemented by JICA to contribute to the social and economic development of developing countries at the grass-root level in collaboration with partners in Japan such as NGOs, universities, local governments and public cooperation. IHC Japan (Institute for Himalayan Conservation) is one of the Japanese NGOs under JPP and its sister organization (counterpart) is IHC Nepal. IHC is working for nature conservation and rural development through the local people’s participation, capacity building and raising their living standard through income generation programs in the Himalayan rural mountain area.

JICA monitors JPP projects quarterly. For the same cause, I had an opportunity to visit the project sites of IHCJ/N at Begakhola and Barangja VDCs in Myagdi district in Dhaulagiri zone. Since this was my first trip to Myagdi, I was pretty thrilled to visit the new place. Though Begakhola is about 12 kilometers away from Myagdi, it took us almost 3 hours to reach our destination due to bad condition of roads. As we reached, the locals welcomed us with garlands and

A memorable trip to JPP project sites- Prerana Bishet

tika along with the traditional Magar folk music played by the locals which felt like a courteous greeting gesture.

Following this hospitality, we were introduced to IHC Nepal staffs, Nar Bahadur Pun (Member Secretary), Chitra Bahadur Pun (Field Coordinator) and IHC Japan’s Project Director T. Tanokura. After the introduction, we went to observe the plant nursery in Begakhola, where different kinds of pot plants were available— some of them lemon, salla, sirmu, tuni etc. This particular nursery functions mainly for agriculture and forestry. A nursery leader (naike) is in charge of taking care of plants and is responsible for the collection of different types of seeds. He distributes the plants to the households for free according to demands however, in future he has some plans to collect Rs 1 from each plastic pot so that the money can be utilized for the development of the nursery. He guided us with the plants and about the uses of some plants. According to IHC, they have already planted 760,000 trees in the Western Region of Nepal, thereby contributing to improve the lives of local people and regional revitalization. On the second day, we traveled to Barangja

which took us almost 4 hours to reach the project site, again due to bad roads. Barangja nursery was more focused on timber plantation. It was good to know that the VDC is supported by the District Forest Office. Forest Ranger Chandra Mani Sapkota helped us during the monitoring. IHC’s other activities were also observed such as road side plantation and also the stone fencing. Some of the other activities of IHC Nepal are forestation, handmade paper, nettle fiber based handy crafts and highlands honey (bee keeping). We were also informed that that every year they have been planting 50 to 60,000 tree saplings specially those of locally available species. If the roads were in good condition, then the villagers could have had many commercial opportunities to enhance their skills in agro and forest based products and to increase their income. But since access to roads is only seasonal (mainly in dry season) anybody can notice year-round struggle of local people.

Lastly, IHC staffs were kind enough to show us the landscape of the Dahulagiri and Annapurna mountain range from one of the spot of Barangja. As I captured the range in my camera, I was stuck for a moment with serenity and I felt miraculously on top of the world.

(Ms Bishet is working with JICA Nepal, NGO Desk)

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A majestic view seen from Begakhola village of Myagdi district.

The Press Tour, organized from December 7 to 9, was designed to provide select journalists with insights into issues that are of contemporary interest within the field of development. The aim was is to raise awareness among the media of JICA’s activities by giving journalists the chance to see first-hand how projects are delivered, interact with local beneficiaries, and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that JICA is working to address in Nepal. The Kali Gandaki ‘A’ Project, School Health and Nutrition Project, Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Project in Syangja district and activities of volunteers in Pokhara were included in the tour.

An officer of the DDC Syangja informing the members of JICA Nepal Press Tour 2011 about the activities carried out by Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Project (GeMSIP) in Syangja district.

Journalists, officials of the Kaligandaki project and JICA staff posing for a group picture.

A student of Tindobate-based Shree Sarba Shakti Primary School in Syangja being interviewed by TV journalists.

Namiko Motokawa, a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer, informing journalists about the JICA Volunteer Environmental Caravan Project, in Pokhara.

Journalists inside the power house of the Kaligandaki ‘A’ Hydroelectric Project.

jica nepal press tour 2011

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Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh Building, Hariharbhavan, LalitpurP.O. Box 450, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 977-1-5010310 Fax: 977-1-5010284 Website: www.jica.go.jp/nepal/englishEmail: np_oso_rep@jica.go.jp

Japan International Cooperation Agency Nepal Office

I am deeply indebted to the JICA Nepal office for organizing a wonderful Press Tour. The tour not only refreshed the participating journalists, but also provided me with an

opportunity to write on many issues. My long-held dream to see the Kaligandaki ‘A’ project came true. I want to specially thank Santosh Chhetri as well as Akio Endo and Laxmi Konwar of the JICA Nepal for accompanying us during the entire tour.

After this tour, I knew that efforts made by the Government of Japan to support Nepal by providing grants, technical cooperation and loans deserve high praise. JICA volunteers have been cementing ties between people of Nepal and Japan. Cooperation to Nepal through volunteer program continuously for the past 40 years is no mean feat. Hats off to JICA volunteers for working with Nepali people and the government!

The projects of JICA in Syangja district—GeMSIP and SHNP—has been greatly benefitting women, children and others. As Nepal is facing load shedding, we need another project like Kaligandaki ‘A’. I hope JICA will build another hydropower project like Kaligandaki in future.

Nirmala Acharya, Chief Editor National News Agency

As a member of the Press Tour, I found it an important opportunity to learn about various community programs supported by JICA.

The School Health and Nutrition Project and the Gender Mainstreaming and Social Inclusion Project in Syangja district have been bringing about tangible changes in the lives of the target groups.

The Kali Gandaki ‘A’ Hydropower Project, the largest power project in operation in Nepal, has not only contributed to the overall development of Nepal but has also helped in improving

lives of the people living in its vicinity.

Another memorable part of the tour was that all the JICA staff, officials of DDC and DEO Syangja, Kaligandaki ‘A’ Project, school teachers, guardians, social mobilisers and volunteers were very friendly and cooperative.

Ballav Dahal, Associate EditorThe Rising Nepal

Special thank goes to JICA Nepal for giving me a great opportunity to visit its project areas in Kaski and Syangja districts. The Press Tour left a lasting impression on me. I am impressed with various JICA-funded projects there. Among them, GeMSIP, School Health Nutrition Program, JICA volunteer program are really effective at the grassroot level. People in the remote areas have been benefited by these programs. I covered and made several news stories, which Nepal Television broadcast in its Prime News bulletins.

During my interactions with local people, I found people cherishing JICA projects. I would certainly love to avail myself of such opportunities in future too.

Ram Prasad Bhandari, Senior News Editor Nepal Television

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for what you would like to see in future issues, please do not hesitate to write us at chhetrisantosh.np@jica.go.jp

Thank you JICA An unforgettable tour

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