Training of Trainer on Climate Change Adaptation
and LAPA Implementation to Government and
Non-government Officials

Rupantaran Nepal facilitated Training of Trainer on Climate Change Adaptation and LAPA
implementation to the District Energy, Environment and Climate Change Coordination Committee
(DEECCCC) members of 14 Nepal Climate Change Support Programme (NCCSP) districts of Far-
western Region (Achham, Bajura and Kailali) and Mid-western Region (Dailekh, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Dolpa,
Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Bardiya, Dang, Rolpa and Rukum). This assignment was undertaken in July and
December, 2015. Total 56 participants were trained on the training techniques and climate change
adaptation.
The aims of the assignment is to develop trainers who can deliver the training activities more
systematically and effectively so that trainings could be rolled out to different levels using a cascade
approach. More specifically
 To facilitate two of Training of Trainers on Climate Change Adaptation and LAPA implementation
 To prepare a trainers guide to facilitate climate change adaptation and LAPA implementation training
on the experiences of these event’s experiences.
The assignment activities were timely and effectively completed. In this assignment, Rupantaran Nepal
undertook consultation with NCCSP officials to unpack the expectation of the assignment. Likewise a
curriculum was designed and agreed with NCCSP Central Team and Ministry of Population and
Environment senior officials. The assignment delivered in two events at Dang on July, 2015 and
Nepalgunj on December, 2015. For this training, RN prepared PowerPoint presentation, photo
documentation report and training event report. On the experiences and learning the training a trainer’s
guide was prepared and submitted to NCCSP.

Involvement with the vegetable farming group helps a farmer improve his livelihood in Rupandehi

People at Sanaidiha Rayapur-9, Rupandehi were not aware about being organized in groups and receiving support in a collaborative manner. Though it is located close to the district headquarter, Bhairahawa (about 20/25 km), not much services and facilities can be seen in the village. Most of the people possess some land, where they practice conventional agriculture farming of rice, wheat, cereal etc as they are skeptic to adopt new agriculture technology such as vegetable farming. It is very difficult for them to support their family whole year round as they do not have any additional income.

Sitaram Kurmi, 48 is an inhabitant of this VDC with his family of 9 members (5 female and 4 male). As it is hard for him to support his family with agricultural income alone; he works under daily wages as well. He has 10 kathha of land with additional 3 kathha for shared cropping. Besides, his livestock include two pairs of buffalo and oxen. Out of the total land area, about 1 kathha is used for occasional vegetable farming. As his children are still attending school, he must work for daily wages. Furthermore, the situation is worsened due to inadequate irrigation facility.

Samayamai Vegetable Group was formed after the intervention of ICCA project, in Sanaidiha-9, Rayapur in 2070 BS. The group is comprised of 23 members (11females and 12 males).

Sitaram Kurmi, Chairperson of Samayamai Vegetable Group says, “Mr. Abdesh Barai, the Community Facilitator under ICCA, informed us about the objectives and goals of ICCA and persuaded us to form a vegetable cultivation group. I was chosen as a Chairperson of a 9 membered Executive Committee.” The group was supported through capacity development training along with nursery management and vegetable cultivation. Some inputs (seeds and technology) were also provided.

He explains, “I also got an opportunity to participate in trainings related to nursery management and post harvest management. We started demo plot for leguminous crop in the beginning and distributed seedlings to all members in the group. I have planted bitter gourd, long beans, Ladies finger, cucumber, pumpkins, Sponge gourd, onion etc covering about 2 kathha of land. Mr. Barai has helped me to get onion seeds from District Agriculture Development Office with 50% subsidy as well.”

He adds, “I am happy to have participated in different capacity development trainings such as nursery management and post harvest management and others through ICCA program.  It has been helpful in increasing coordination and cooperation between and among group members. Occasional vegetable farming of about 1 kathha in earlier time has now converted to 2 kathha of commercial cultivation. Now, two of my children are admitted in private boarding school. I have also purchased a water pumping set from the sale of vegetables. Now I don’t need take loans for buying fertilizers. This year alone I have earned Rs.33,300 by selling onions worth NRs. 25,000, Bitter gourds worth NRs. 4,500 and other vegetables worth NRs. 3,800. The income that I earn within 6 months alone is enough to support my family“.

Now, he is fully aware about how one can benefit by associating to a group. He is planning to increase 1 more kattha for farming vegetable this year and is planning to increase land area gradually in the coming years. No he has also an increased understanding of how farming practices compatible to changing climate conditions can be a great measure to cope with its adverse impacts and increase resilience too.

Enhancing Climate Change Resiliency of Identified Climate Vulnerable Communities through Sustainable Management of Natural Water Bodies (Ponds)

This is a 2 years project funded by UNDP GEF SGP and is being implemented in Rampur VDC of Dang district. The project aims to enhance climate change resiliency of identified climate vulnerable communities through sustainable management of natural water bodies of Rampur VDC, Dang. It includes capacity building of local community and stakeholders in climate change adaptation and mitigation through CAP process, restoration of natural water pond for developing climate change adaptive/resiliency capacity of climate vulnerable households, promotion of improved practices and technologies for mobilization of local resources and income generation of target households and conservation of biodiversity through forest fire control, controlling alien species, promoting organic farming and alternative energy technologies.

Rupantaran Nepal has signed MoU with Rupantaran to provide technical backstopping for the effective implementation of the project.

An update on Himalayan Community Carbon Project (HCCP)

Rupantaran Nepal has been succesfully initiating the Himalayan Community Carbon Project, A Plan Vivo certified project in eight VDCs of Nepal. Following are the latest updates from the project

1. Functional mechanisms have been established at 4 pilot sites for financial management and project implementation as per PDD.

2. Specific project activities have been developed and are being implemented by the communities.

3. Technical capacity of communities, government and non-government bodies and Rupantaran Nepal has been developed on areas such as GIS, carbon modeling and statistical analysis; commercialization of Plan Vivo certificates and data management.

4. Sensitization of district and VDC level stakeholders have been performed and FUGs in the project areas have been oriented accordingly on the topic regarding PES.

5. Local communities and other stakeholder’s knowledge and skills on carbon project development, participatory carbon assessment, and management enhanced.

Interim Forestry Project (IFP)

Interim Forestry Project (IFP) is the succeeding project of Livelihoods and Forestry Programme (LFP). The project started from July 2011 to April 2012. The overall objective of the project is to provide continued forestry and livelihoods services to forestry groups in 18 ex-LFP (Livelihoods and Forestry Programme) and ex-NSCFP (Nepal Swiss Community Forestry Project) districts, focusing on promoting multi-stakeholder governance, enhancing livelihoods of poor, excluded and climate vulnerable communities, helping to enrich the forest resources and environmental services along with the monitoring, reporting and communication.

The project followed different approaches according to area specific context and practices. Activities are delivered through local implementing agencies [NGOs, Networks] in close coordination with local government.  Joint monitoring with local stakeholders was performed to ensure the effectiveness of this project.

The project locations are distributed across 18 districts of Nepal.

  • Central:Ramechhap, Okhaldhunga, Khotang
  • East: Dhankuta, Terhathum, Shankhuwasabha and Bhojpur
  • West: Baglung, Parbat, Myagdi,
  • Terai :Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi
  • Midwest: Dang, Salyan, Pyuthan, Rukum and Rolpa

Project activities:

  • Management of NGO partners and local implementing agencies
  • Fund management and achieving value for money
  • Promoting good governance in  forest user groups
  • Creating and strengthening multi-stakeholder forums at VDC and DDC levels
  • Ensuring active and inclusive targeting of poor, excluded and climate vulnerable households for social and economic empowerment
  • Capacity development of forest users groups
  • Strengthening and stimulating  sustainable forest based enterprises
  • Enhancing forest resources and environmental services
  • Helping forest users groups and theri networks to develop and implement climate change adaptation plans through the process of social mobilisation

Consolidating Local level Adaptation Planning Initiatives (LFP-LAPA and CAPA)

Rupantaran Nepal undertook the task of consolidating the LAPA initiatives which was started in Livelihood and Forestry Programme (LFP) districts in early 2009 in order to mobilize community institutions to respond to the adverse impact of climate change. The LAPA and CAP initiatives have achieved significant progresses in terms of sensitizing vulnerable households and building their adaptive capacity. The initiatives have also tested and promoted institutional mechanism for ensuring collaboration and synergy among agencies at the local level. Important lessons have emerged during piloting and so have challenges in terms of institutionalizing and mainstreaming these initiatives. The project started from January to March 2012.

The consolidation process is necessary to identify sustainable process, mechanisms and modality of facilitating community based adaptation at local and district level. Consolidation will also harmonize the LFP/IFP learning with LAPA framework recently endorsed by Ministry of Environment. It is considered that this consolidation could also provide strategic roadmap for DFID and EU supported NCCSP and other donor-supported projects in facilitating the local level adaptation planning and delivery.

Objectives:

  •  To document key learning and reflections of the CAP and LAPA process generated from piloting and implementation
  •  To build ownership of district based stakeholders on the CAP and LAPA initiative by initiating district level sharing and discussion workshop
  • Reflection paper consolidating learning and reflection of district on LAPA and CAP piloting

Chairperson of Rupantaran Nepal conferred with an Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Social Science from the University of Wolverhampton, UK

Chairperson of Rupantaran Nepal Mr Vijaya Narayan Shrestha has been conferred upon an Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Social Science from the University of Wolverhampton, UK on 11 September  2014.

The entire team of Rupantaran Nepal would like extend their warmest felicitations to him in this moment of great pride

FLEGT – Field Review by Technical Working Group

7th/8th of December 2015 – Field review by TWG members and local stakeholders was conducted in the CFs of Rupandehi and Kapilvastu districts. The purpose of the visit was to observe existing Shorea robusta exploitation in the Terai including reciprocal observation of timber product manufacturers, saw millers and traders as well as forest management and harvesting practices by FUGs.  Forest status and management system particularly of Shree Manakamana CFUG and Shree Mayadevi LFG of Kapilvastu; Shree Rajapani CFUG, Shree Lumbini LFG and Shree Pahila Khola CFUG of Rupandehi were observed.