Conclusions, 21 September, Lumbini Learning Route, Women empowerment, new businesses and sustainable natural resources management in Nepal. 13 - 21 September 2013

2. 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 One
13 Sept 2013 Opening Panel
Kathmandu

3. Day One
13 Sept 2013 Experience Fair

4. Days Two and Three
14-15 Sept 2013 Kavre

5. 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

6. STRENGHTS
Awareness of their territory and NR –
(decision-making, self-reliance, risk control)
Strong commitment and cultural identity
Good organization and management (LFUG)
Women’s participation
Openness to adopt new technologies
WEAKNESSES
Weak involvement of youth
Lack of leadership rotation
Weak documentation of their vision
(action plan)
Individual access to market (not through
the Coop)
OPPORTUNITIES
Good presence of raw material, water, soil
Easy access to external markets (road)
Potential to expand to organic market
Support of several donors and agencies
THREATS
Land ownership (changes in regulation)
Youth migration
Climate change
Dependency from external donors
Case Study Analysis I
LFUGs Rayale

7. Case Study Analysis I
LFUGs Rayale
LESSONS LEARNED
Leasehold forestry as a good way to promote the improvement of poor rural people’ s
livelihood
Community’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 making
Create mechanisms to incentive participation of the youth
The Coop’ should integrates more livelihoods activities now run as individual businesses
Improve documentation at Coop’ level (action plan, financial records etc.)

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

9. 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

10. STRENGHTS
Women’s active participation
Able to mobilize people and involve youth
Good management of forest resources
Sharing of responsibilities and leadership
rotation, good group management
Social cohesion and conflict management
Self-awareness of their needs
WEAKNESSES
“Women only”, men participation is low
Savings at LFUGs but not at Coop’ level
“Goat-dependency”
Weak documentation/ recording at group
level
OPPORTUNITIES
Availability of natural resources
Access to market and value-chain based
market system
Processing center for livestock
THREATS
Lack of female leadership at public level
Low level of formal education to access
new opportunities
Low involvement of men
Lack of infrastructure
Case Study Analysis II
LFUGs Shaktikhor

11. Case Study Analysis II
LFUGs Shaktikhor
LESSONS LEARNED
Commitment generates good management (in NRM)
Combination of sustainable NRM and livelihoods improvement to overcome poverty
Active female participation is essential to contribute to the sustainable management of
forest (and other) resources
RECCOMMENDATIONS
Improve formal educational at community level
Promote the differentiation of livelihoods (not only goats) as organic vegetables
Strengthen 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 visitors
Develop self M&E indicator for self-assessment
Build mobile dipping tank

12. Day Seven
19 Sept 2013 Kapilvastu

13. PRAGATISHIL AGRICULTURAL COOP LTD, BIJUWA
Diversification of rural livelihoods through the Coop’
Women empowerment and social inclusion
Networking, access to market, PPP
Day Seven
19 Sept 2013 Kapilvastu

14. STRENGHTS
Gender balance and positive social changes
Paid staff and presence of physical assets
Differentiation of IGAs
Effective linkages with different actors
(PPP)
Good record at Coop’ level
WEAKNESSES
Poor sanitation system and infrastructure
Weak document. and financial record
Dependency on external financial aid
The shared capital is low
Not clear participation of youth
Lack of clear budget and timeframe
Weak coordination btw groups and Coop
OPPORTUNITIES
Commercial seeds production (fertile land)
and potential for mixed farming
Scaling-up of Coop’ shop (supplies)
Linkages with financial institutions, NAFFCL
External aid (if well managed)
Improved education (opportunity for youth)
THREATS
Poor sanitation might compromise the
development of other activities (agric.)
Youth and male (seasonal) migration
Potential lack of ownership of collective
goods by community
Case Study Analysis III
Pragatishil Coop’ Bijuwa

15. Case Study Analysis III
Pragatishil Coop’ Bijuwa
LESSONS LEARNED
Paid staff will improve the sustainability of the Cooperative
Investment on social assets (education) is important to livelihoods’ improvement
Unity and commitment are key ingredients for the success of any collective action
Integration and coordination btw groups and Coop’ is required for sustainability
Market 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

16. 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 hygiene
Establish an extension network at village level
Seek for alternative IGAs (e.g. biogas)
Improve education standards and infrastructure
Even 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 III
Pragatishil Coop’ Bijuwa

17. Days Eight and Nine
20-21 Sept 2013 Lumbini
Innovation Plans

18. 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 doing
Can bring lessons to others (scaling-up)
It’s based on opportunities already in place
Innovation Plans

19. 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

20. 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 Plans
Next steps

21. 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!