Sunday, March 4, 2012

Sisdole Landfill Site, Okharpauwa, Nuwakot

Monday, December 5, 2011

Action Learning Group (ALG) - Nepal Climate Change Knowledge Management Centre Strengthening Project

Introduction

Owner:

Carl Jackson (Westhill Knowledge Group) and Chiranjibi Rijal (Development Inn Pvt. Ltd)

The purpose of the NCCKMC Action Learning Group is the Strengthening project, rather than the more general issue of climate change and development in Nepal. Clearly the two are closely related but for climate change and development to succeed it is important that the NCCKMC becomes stronger. The Action Learning Groups are an opportunity for NCCKMC Staff and Partners to learn together during the project how to overcome challenges, explore questions and take advantage of opportunities to improve delivery and ultimately impact on climate change and development. To this end the concept of Action Learning was introduced to participants in an Inaugural ALG meeting at the NCCKMC Technical Workshop on 4th August 2011 (see Annex for details on the model process and agenda for ALG):
• Action Learning Groups offer opportunities for reflection on experience for staff and partners of NCCKMC so that learning can be quickly acted upon to enhance the Strengthening project
• Through membership of a group that meets at NAST every month to share ideas and give each other helpful feedback
• Supported by a convener who ensures that everyone is heard and the group remains motivated
• Following the eleven essential values of Action Learning1
o Membership must be voluntary – forced participation undermines trust
o Individuals take responsibility for action to bring about positive change o Reflection on past experience is central to new learning
o Each person is the expert on their own experience
o The group offers support but also a challenge to individuals’ reflection
o The group practices empathy to stand in the other person’s shoes
o The experience should be personally empowering
o Members pay attention to each other by actively listening and sharing time
o The detail of discussions within the group remains confidential
o Commitment over time is essential to build confidence and see change
o The process values the whole person in all their complexity Having introduced the concept of
Action Learning and explored in practice how groups might function, participants were asked to say if they would be interested in joining the group formally. We were looking for between 6-8 participants and 17 people put their names forward. Everyone was contacted after the workshop to hear more about their expectations and commitments and to confirm the group’s membership and start dates.

http://www.ncckmcnast.org.np/publications/synthesis-report-ncckmc-action-learning-group

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Small Scale Water Storage Systems: Appropriate means of improving Agricultural Livelihood in the Hills of Nepal

Deepak Lochan Adhikari, Technical Advisor, Development Inn Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal

E-mail: deepaklochan@yahoo.com

Chiranjibi Rijal

Managing Director, Development Inn Pvt. Ltd, Kathmandu, Nepal

E-mail: csrijal@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Agriculture is the backbone for sustaining rural livelihoods in Nepal. Such an important sector is predominantly based on natural rainfall. Although Nepal is blessed with abundant rainfall on annual basis, most of it occurs during four monsoon months leaving other months almost dry. The hill and mountain slopes are the most water scarce areas. Climate change effects have further aggravated the reliability of rainfall as seen from past years. Poorest have been the hardest hit due to their low adaptive capacity. To cope with the seasonal water scarcity local community have built varieties of water storage structures since historical times. Over years improved modern structures have also been adopted by them with or without agency support. These water storage systems have made significant improvement in the agricultural livelihoods of the rural hill community through easier access to water for micro-irrigation to grow high value crops, livestock watering and domestic water needs. Especially, small water tanks at household level such as modified thai-jars have profound positive effect among rural women who take the prime role to manage water for multiple uses. This paper presents a description of various types of water tank technologies being used by the hill communities of Nepal. Some international experiences have also been cited. Basic impacts of the tank users in their livelihoods are presented. Constraints and opportunities at local and national levels for tank dissemination are identified. On the basis of findings some recommendations are proposed for future course of actions including policy issues. Year-round irrigation is available, farmers grow irrigated crops – wheat, potatoes and vegetables in winter; and spring paddy, mungbean and irrigated maize in spring. Crop production in the dry season has been made possible largely by irrigation, though rainfed winter cropping is feasible in areas of high rainfall (in central and eastern regions) and also through using residual soil moisture following the wet season rice crop. The methodologies used were review of secondary information, field observation, and interviews. Finally potential for its expansion is projected and institutional implementation framework is recommended.

Keywords: micro-irrigation, thai-jars, Multiple Use Water System(MUS), high value crops, livelihoods

http://assets.helvetas.org/downloads/national_seminar_report.pdf

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Master's Thesis: Post Conflict Economic Situation: A case of conflict affected female-headed HHs in Bardiya, Nepal

Abstract

http://edepot.wur.nl/167032

In Nepal, conflict has affected different social groups at different scales and levels. The research aims to assess the economic activities and safety nets of conflict affected female-headed households in Bardiya district. In the study area, there was rampant effect of the decade-long state-Maoists conflict resulting into the formation of many female-headed households. As of date, there has not been study done and documentation made on conflict affected women-headed households especially in relation to their livelihood activities and livelihood outcomes. This empirical study provides an important insight to the situation of conflict affected female-headed households’ economic activities.

http://edepot.wur.nl/167032

It is apparent that conflict affects peace, solidarity, brotherhood, sisterhood, and consequently the development process in the conflict affected area. Interviews were carried out with 30 conflict affected female-headed households; it is evident that rural Nepal was extremely affected by the conflict. Female-headed households have started selling traditionally male operated agricultural tools such as ploughs and bullock drawn carts resulting in a loss of economic opportunities. However, due to proliferation of development initiatives targeting conflict affected families, their social capital has increased to a great extent and economic capital to lesser extent. Consequently, economic security of conflict affected families has increased in some cases, while it has decreased in others since the end of conflict. In terms of human capital, after the conflict development organizations have intervened with post conflict rehabilitation programs targeting income generation and social reconstruction, which have raised the hopes of female-headed households. On the contrary, the patriarchal social system undermines a woman’s role as breadwinner when her husband is absent. Moreover, single women (largely widows) are stereotyped exclusively as either victims or beneficiaries, and their roles as key resources and contributors to social capital in development and peace building are ignored. Hence, the study confirms that in conflict and post-conflict situations to female-headed household’, livelihood options and opportunities are limited in Nepal. This study is therefore expected to provide an important insight into a state like Nepal, in a post-conflict situation.