This document provides an overview of IFAD's 35 years of operations in Nepal. It discusses why IFAD intervenes in Nepal, noting the high levels of poverty, especially in rural areas, and poor performance of the agricultural sector. It outlines IFAD's strategy of targeting marginalized groups in remote hill and mountain areas. The document also summarizes IFAD's two Country Strategic Opportunities Programmes in Nepal and the projects implemented under each. It concludes by briefly reviewing IFAD's history of cooperation in Nepal since 1978, making it one of the first countries to benefit from IFAD support.
3. Table of Contents
Message from the Joint Secretary of Ministry of Finance 2
Message from the Country Programme Manager 3
IFAD | Enabling Poor Rural People to Overcome Poverty 7
Why does IFAD intervene in Nepal? 8
IFAD's strategy in Nepal 11
Country Strategic Opportunities Programme 12
IFAD Nepal | History of Cooperation 16
Ongoing Projects 17
Agricultural Development Strategy 30
Completed Projects 31
Monitoring and Evaluation 41
IFAD’s Financing 44
Disbursement 44
Beneficiaries 45
Contacts 46
4. Message from the Joint Secretary of Ministry of Finance
I am pleased to note that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
has completed 35 years of operation in Nepal. It is a great pleasure for me that the
IFAD Country Office in Nepal is planning to publish a booklet on this occasion.
Nepal was one of the first countries to benefit from IFAD. Since 1977, IFAD has made
tremendous efforts to help the poor in rural areas of Nepal to overcome poverty for
which we pay our sincere gratitude.
During these 35 years, IFAD has provided a total of US$152.8 million in loans and
US$36 million in grants for a total of 16 projects across Nepal, benefitting more than
800,000 households. This booklet highlights the successful partnership between the
Government of Nepal and IFAD.
Recently, IFAD extended a loan and grant of US$39 million to Nepal for a new seven-
year project, Kisankalagi Unnat Biu-Bijan Karyakram (Improved Seeds for Farmers
Programme) with the goal of promoting inclusive, competitive and sustainable agricultural
growth. This project opens more avenues to improve lives of the rural poor in Nepal.
With about 76% of Nepal’s population depending on agriculture for their livelihoods,
there has been little progress in reducing rural poverty through the development of
agriculture. Together, IFAD and Nepal are striving towards alleviating poverty in the
country through sustainable development policies and programmes in the agricultural
sector of Nepal.
We express sincere appreciation for IFAD’s support and hope to continue this
cooperation in the future towards agricultural development in Nepal.
Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasini
Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Finance
2 IFAD Nepal
5. Message from the Country Programme Manager
With this New Year 2013, we are commemorating 35 years of cooperation and
successful partnership between IFAD and the Government of Nepal.
This booklet is the opportunity to take stock of our activities in favour of the most
vulnerable rural people, before entering a new strategic phase of 6 years with the new
COSOP 2013-2018 under formulation.
IFAD is the only international development institution established exclusively to
help reduce poverty and food insecurity in rural areas of developing countries. Our
goal is to empower the rural poor - men and women, youth and vulnerable groups
- to help them increase their incomes and improve their food security. We believe
that it is possible to overcome rural poverty, but this requires finding long-term
solutions, including: appropriate policies at national and international level, increasing
investment in small family farms, strengthening the capacity of the rural poor and their
organizations. IFAD supports Governments, small farmers organizations and other
development partners to work hand in hand to transform rural economies and create
opportunities to improve sustainably the living conditions of rural communities.
You will read in the following pages the achievements of 5 on-going IFAD funded
projects as well as past projects in Nepal. IFAD and the Government are committed
to strengthen grass root level organisations (WUPAP and PAF projects), make value
chains more profitable to smallholders (HVAP) and develop leasehold forestry (LFLP)
and seeds and livestock (IFSP). Grant portfolio and policy dialogue are also important
activities going on various innovative topics regarding agriculture development.
IFAD is fully aligned with international aid effectiveness agenda by structure and by
processes, within our dual mandate as an International Finance Institution and as a
specialized United Nations agency. In 2013 we will continue to strengthen fiduciary
systems and continue using strengthened government systems.
IFAD Nepal 3
10. Why does IFAD intervene in Nepal?
Nepal is one of the least developed countries in the world, with a population of
26.6 million and a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of about $630 (World
Bank 2011). Approximately 83% of the population live in rural areas, and nearly one
fourth of the total population live below the national poverty line. Nepal’s economy is
dominated by agriculture, which accounts for one third of the GDP and employs more
than two thirds of the total population.
Landlocked between India and China, Nepal has a total area of 147,181 square
kilometres, and altitude ranging from below 100 to above 8800 meters. Nepal is
rich in biodiversity, and has a huge potential for niche agricultural products, with
abundant natural resources, and various agro-climatic conditions favourable for the
development of food as well as cash crops. However, the physical isolation and
rugged terrain in Nepal’s hilly and mountainous regions makes it difficult to promote
economic activities and deliver services.
Political instability has been another major concern to developmental efforts in
Nepal in the recent years. Following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed
between the Government and the Maoists in 2006, Nepal is currently transitioning
from a decade-long conflict fuelled by the inherent inequalities within Nepali society.
Political uncertainty, however, remains high in 2012 with no agreement in relation to
the key issue of the governance structure and the formation of the new constitution.
Despite of these obstacles, Nepal has achieved notable gains in poverty reduction,
from a poverty incidence of 42% in 1996 to 31% in 2006, and to 25% in 2010. In
addition to the expansion of road and communication networks in the country, this
gain was mainly supported by the significant increase in remittances. Inadequate
economic opportunities and the recent conflict resulted in migration of the youths
from villages to cities, neighbouring countries and abroad, in search of alternative
livelihoods. With about 1000 men travelling abroad for work everyday, remittances
now constitute a significant proportion of Nepal’s GDP (23% in 2011).
8 IFAD Nepal
13. IFAD's Strategy in Nepal
In the present context of conflict resolution, IFAD's strategy in Nepal is focused on
supporting the development policies and programmes of the government and other
partners, especially in relation to peace building, reconciliation, reconstruction and
economic recovery. More than ever, IFAD's interventions in Nepal underscore these
efforts by addressing the issues of poverty, inequality and social marginalization
that lie at the heart of the conflict. In particular IFAD continues to direct its support
towards the hill and mountain areas, where poverty levels are very high and access to
infrastructure, services and markets is extremely limited.
Interventions are designed to:
• Help provide infrastructure and services
• Target the most marginalized ethnic and social groups
• Improve income-generating opportunities
• Promote good governance and peace-building
• Support interventions that promote community cohesion and resilience
IFAD Nepal 11
14. Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP)
A country strategic opportunities programme (COSOP) is a framework for making
strategic choices about IFAD operations in a country, identifying opportunities for
IFAD financing and related partnerships, and facilitating management for results.
Designed with respect to the country's poverty reduction strategy and planning
framework, the document reviews the specific rural poverty situation as a basis for
determining geographic sites where IFAD will operate. It also highlights the innovation
that IFAD intends to promote in the country programme.
Furthermore, the COSOP includes an overview of IFAD's previous operations and the
lessons learned, particularly from evaluation studies, and integrates these lessons
into future operational directions.
COSOP I (2001-2006)
The first COSOP for Nepal was implemented for a period of six years from 2001 to
2006. Prepared and approved by the IFAD Executive Board in 2000, this COSOP
was formulated on the basis of the Government’s 9th Plan and the Agricultural
Perspective Plan. The strategic thrust of this COSOP was sustainable livelihoods and
social justice through a programme focused on remote, isolated and disadvantaged
areas of the Mid- and Far-Western Hills and Mountain regions. The projects targeted
dalits, janajatis, women and the poorest sections of the society.
During this COSOP period, two projects, Hills Leasehold Forestry and Forage
Development Project and Poverty Alleviation Project in Western Terai, were under
implementation, and subsequently completed. Two new loan projects, Western
Uplands Poverty Alleviation Project (2003) and Leasehold Forestry and Livestock
Programme (2005), were also designed and initiated during the COSOP period.
The projects implemented during this COSOP had three major components:
• Provision of access to natural resources in the form of 40-year leasehold forest
land allocation
• Rural financial services using three different modes of delivery
• Community infrastructure
12 IFAD Nepal
16. According to the country portfolio review (CPR), undertaken in May-June 2006 to
inform the second COSOP process, IFAD operations during COSOP I were successful
in terms of effectiveness, with significant positive impact on the physical assets and
productivity of the target groups.
In addition, the review identified farmers’ organizations, research and extension
services, accountability and transparency in rural areas, access to markets, and
access to land and water as specific focus areas for future IFAD operations.
COSOP II (2007-2012)
Approved by the IFAD Executive Board in December 2006, the second COSOP
provided opportunities for IFAD’s contribution to poverty reduction, reconciliation
and post-conflict reconstruction over six years (2007-2012) fully aligning with the
Poverty Reduction Strategy (PSR) of the government.
Reflecting on the CPR 2006, the second COSOP focused on improving access
to infrastructure, services and markets to tackle acute rural poverty in the hill and
mountain areas.
COSOP II had three strategic objectives that correspond to the Poverty Reduction
Strategy (PRS) Pillars of the Government of Nepal, as presented below:
PRS Pillars COSOP Strategic Objectives
I. Increased access to economic opportunities
I. High and broad- based
by poor farmers and producers in hill and
economic growth
mountain areas
II. Improved community infrastructure and services
II. Social sector development
in hill and mountain areas
III. A reduction in gender-, ethnic- and caste-
III. Social inclusion and targeted
related disparities through greater inclusion of
programmes
disadvantaged groups in development
Cross-cutting theme: Support improvements in
IV. Good governance
local governance and peace-building
14 IFAD Nepal
18. IFAD Nepal | History of Cooperation
Nepal became a member of IFAD in 1978 and was among the first countries to benefit
from IFAD. The main strategic thrusts of the IFAD financed projects in Nepal are
poverty alleviation and improvement of household food and income security of the
rural poor, especially women, landless, indigenous groups and small and marginal
farmers from the disadvantaged areas of the country.
Integrated Rural Development Project (Sagarmatha Zone), effective from November
1979 with a loan amount of US$ 11.5 million, was the starting point of the cooperation
between Nepal and IFAD. Since then, IFAD has provided US$152.8 million in loans
and US$36 million in grants for a total of 16 projects, benefitting 809,853 households
in rural Nepal.
Ongoing
• Kisankalagi Unnat Biu-Bijan Karyakram (ISFP, 2012-2019)
• High-Value Agriculture Project in Hill and Mountain Areas (HVAP, 2010-2017)
• Leasehold Forestry and Livestock Programme (LFLP, 2005-2013)
• Poverty Alleviation Fund Phase II (PAF, 2008-2012)
• Western Uplands Poverty Alleviation Project (WUPAP, 2003-2014)
Completed
• Skill Enhancement for Employment Project (SEEP, 2008-2011)
• Local Livelihood Programme (LLP, 2006-2010)
• Poverty Alleviation Project in Western Terai (PAPWT, 1997-2005)
• Groundwater Irrigation and Flood Rehabilitation Project (GIFRP, 1994-2000)
• Hills Leasehold Forestry and Forage Development Project (HLFFDP, 1989-2003)
• Production Credit for Rural Women Project (PCRWP, 1987-1997)
• Aquaculture Development Project (ADP, 1986-1991)
• Second Small Farmer Development Project (SSFDP, 1986-1991)
• Command Area Development Project (CADP, 1981-1989)
• Small Farmer Development Project (SFDP, 1980-1987)
• Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP, 1978-1988)
16 IFAD Nepal
19. ONGOING PROJECTS
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this map do not imply the
expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IFAD concerning the delimitation of the frontiers
or boundaries, or the authorities thereof.
Map compiled by IFAD
IFAD Nepal 17
20. Kisankalagi Unnat Biu-Bijan Karyakram
Improved Seeds for Farmers Programme (ISFP), 2012-2019
Total cost: US$59.7 million
IFAD loan: US$19.5 million
DSF grant: US$19.5 million
Directly benefiting: 150,000 households
Cofinancing: Heifer International (US$2.5 million)
Kisankalagi Unnat Biu-Bijan Karyakram (Improved Seeds for Farmers Programme-
ISFP) is a seven year project funded by IFAD to support accelerated agricultural
growth. Building on an approach already tested in the IFAD-financed HVAP and LFLP,
the project intends to improve formal seed and smallholder livestock by developing
partnership between farmer organizations and the private sector with a sustainable
approach in line with the IFAD COSOP 2006-2012. The Project was approved by the
Executive Board of IFAD on September 2012, signed on December 2012 and is being
implemented under Ministry of Agriculture Development.
The goal of the programme is to promote competitive, sustainable and inclusive
agricultural growth in the target area in order to contribute to overall economic
development. It seeks to improve productivity through market-led demand for
improved seeds and livestock, with focus toward testing and scaling up a model
of growth led by agriculture as proposed by the national Agriculture Development
Strategy (ADS).
The programme covers four districts from Mid Western Region and two from Western
Region with possible expansion over a few other districts after the Mid-Term Review.
All targeted districts are in hill areas, some with poverty levels that are considerably
above national rural averages. The target group comprises nearly 150,000 households.
The programme has three components:
• Support for expansion of the formal seed sector (cereals and vegetables)
• Smallholder livestock commercialization (goats and dairy)
• Local institutional and entrepreneurial development
18 IFAD Nepal
22. High-Value Agriculture Project in Hill and Mountain Areas (HVAP)
2010-2017
Total cost: US$18.9 million
Approved IFAD loan: US$7.6 million
Approved DSF grant: US$7.6 million
Directly benefiting: 15,300 households
Cofinancing: SNV (US$0.7 million)
Economic isolation is a major cause of poverty and social disharmony in the hill and
mountain areas of Nepal. The High Value Agriculture Project in Hill and Mountain
Areas aims to integrate poor rural people into the local rural economy to improve their
living standards. The project supports poor farmers respond to the private sector’s
demand for high-value crops, such as vegetables, fruits, non-timber forest products,
medicinal and aromatic plants, by facilitating mutually beneficial and profitable
arrangements with the buyers.
The project focuses on socially excluded and vulnerable people such as Dalits,
indigenous groups (Janajatis) and women, and helps them to:
• Develop strong commercial links with traders to sustainably raise their incomes
• Receive training and support in production and post-harvest techniques
• Get better access to technical services, finances, farm supplies and market
information
Based on the construction of three major road corridors in Mid-Western Nepal
(Chhinchu-Jajarkot, Surkhet-Dailekh, and Surkhet-Jumla), the project aims to cover
10 Mid-Western districts in two phases; 7 districts in the first phase, namely Surkhet,
Salyan, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Kalikot, Jumla and Achham (far-west) and will expand to
Mugu, Dolpa and Humla along with the development of roads in these districts.
The Project was built on the success and lessons learned from a pilot ‘Local Livelihood
Programme’ incorporating the concept of Value Chain Development. It was further
refined with the concept of Inclusive Business Approach successfully tested in Latin
America by SNV – the Netherlands Development Organization and works together
with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI)
through its specialized arm, the Agro-enterprise Center (AEC).
20 IFAD Nepal
24. Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) Phase II
2006-2012
Total cost: US$124.0 million
Approved DSF grant: US$4.0 million
Directly benefiting: 200,000 households
Supplementary financing: US$10.0 million (2012)
Cofinancing: World Bank: IDA (US$100.0 million)
In Nepal, ethnic minorities, lower caste communities and women lag behind in terms of
income, assets and numerous human development indicators. The Poverty Alleviation
Fund aims to improve living conditions, livelihoods and empowerment among these
communities, marginalized for reasons of gender, ethnicity, caste and location.
The project was created with the declaration of a special act (Poverty Alleviation Fund
Act, 2063) and a commitment to address the interrelated problems of rural poverty
and social exclusion throughout the country. While the first phase of the project was
implemented in 25 districts, the second phase increased project coverage annually
and will be operating in all 75 districts by the end of 2013.
Jointly funded by the World Bank under the debt sustainability framework (DSF), the
second phase of the project is designed to introduce rapid development changes in
remote Nepal through community-based interventions. The project has a number of
components, ranging from income-generating activities and capacity building of local
grassroots organizations, to infrastructure development at the community level, such
as small-scale irrigation, roads and bridges, water supply, schools and health posts.
Major achievements of the Project as of July 2012, including but not limited to, are
the following:
• Establishment of 17,898 community organizations (Cos) to implement 19,615
sub-projects
• PAF supported COs are currently pursuing 16,576 Income Generation and 3039
Infrastructure related sub-projects
• PAF projects have helped to increase the average income of individual household
by 82.5%
22 IFAD Nepal
26. Leasehold Forestry and Livestock Programme (LFLP)
2005-2013
Total cost: US$16.3 million
IFAD loan: US$10.5 million
IFAD grant: US$1.2 million
Supplementary financing: US$ 3 million (April 2012)
Directly benefiting: 44,300 households
Leasehold Forestry and Livestock Programme is a community-based forest
management project through which poor and food insecure households are provided
degraded forestland on a 40-year renewable lease to generate income from forest
products and livestock. The programme covers 22 mid-hill districts across the country
where a large percentage of the population lives below the national poverty line.
The project is implemented by the Department of Forests under the Ministry of Forest
and Soil Conservation with support from Department of Livestock Services and
selected service providers. The Food and Agricultural Organization is supporting the
programme by providing Technical Assistance Support to Leasehold Forestry and
Livestock Programme from 2009 for a period of four years with financial support from
the Government of Finland. The total amount of support for this technical assistance
is US $ 3.5 million.
Specifically, the programme’s objectives are to: i) improve household forage and tree
crop production; ii) improve household production of livestock, especially goats, iii)
provide access to microfinance services, and iv) support the government's capacity
to implement leasehold forestry in a gender sensitive way.
The Programme has four components: i) Leasehold Forestry and Group Formation –
(group formation, social mobilization, land and forest development and post handover
support); ii) Livestock Development – (fodder, forage and livestock development related
activities, especially the Goats development); iii) Rural Finance – (issues associated
with the microfinance to the leasehold forestry groups); and iv) Project Management
and Coordination – (overall management of the project and coordination among various
departments, donors and development agencies at the national and regional level).
24 IFAD Nepal
28. LFLP group meeting in Dailekh
Major achievements of the Project as of July 2012, including but not limited to, are
the following:
• Establishment of 4080 leasehold forestry user groups (LFUGs)
• Handing over of 19,900 hectares of degraded forest land to LFUGs
• Distribution of 70,000 goats to the LFUGs
An impact study undertaken in March 2009 by the Food and Agricultural Organization
indicates significant increase in the average income of households in the LFUGs.
While households allocated with leasehold forestry plots were earning NRs 25,589
before joining the LFUG, they now earn NRs 43,768.
Compared to respective poverty lines of 2003 and 2008, the poverty gap thus was
reduced from 55.4% to 74.8%, a 35% improvement in the poverty situation. The
increase in household income resulted from strong growth in revenue from the sale of
goats, forest products and labour income. Together, the first two sources accounted
for 46% of the income growth that can be directly attributed to the project.
26 IFAD Nepal
29. Western Uplands Poverty Alleviation Project (WUPAP)
2003-2014
Total cost: US$32.6 million
IFAD loan: US$19.9 million
IFAD grant: US$550,000
Directly benefiting: 115,000 households
Cofinancing: World Food Programme (US$4.0 million)
The hill and mountain districts of Far and Mid Western Nepal are the most isolated and
economically impoverished regions of the country. Due to poor access to markets,
these districts suffer from high food prices and limited economic opportunities.
The unsustainable extraction of natural resources, mainly from forests, further
exacerbates the level of food deficit and food insecurity in the region. The Western
Uplands Poverty Alleviation Project aims to strengthen the livelihood systems of the
rural poor in these regions in a sustainable manner. The Project has been operational
since January 2003 under a Flexible Lending Mechanism. The Project graduated into
second phase in 2007 and into third phase in 2012 after achieving the triggers set
forth the graduation from one phase into another.
The first phase covered Humla and Jumla from mid-western region, Bajhang and
Bajura from far-western region whereas the second phase covered seven more
districts namely, Mugu, Dolpa, Kalikot, Jajarkot, Dailekh, Rukum and Rolpa from mid-
western region.
A restructuring took place during the design of the third phase reducing the number
of districts from 11 to 8 (withdrawing from Mugu, Dolpa and Jumla), reducing number
of components from five (labour intensive infrastructure, leasehold forestry and non-
timber forest product, crop and livestock, rural finance and marketing, and institutional
support) to three (community empowerment, service delivery improvement and project
management) and changing the management structure at district level. Ministry of
Federal Affairs and Local Development was the implementing agency for the first and
second phase of the Project and Ministry of Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation for
the third phase.
IFAD Nepal 27
31. The project focuses on landless, small or marginal farmers with particular emphasis
on women, youths, and other socially and economically disadvantaged groups. The
Project seeks to promote resilient livelihoods in these communities by supporting the
formation of grassroots organizations that can mobilize their own resources, natural,
physical, and financial, in order to obtain social justice.
Major achievements of the Project as of July 2012, including but not limited to, are
the following:
• Establishment of 2670 community groups
• Construction of 610 community-based small-scale infrastructures – irrigating
1019.24 hectares of land, supplying drinking water to 9453 households, lighting
35,824 households by micro-hydro (448 KW), constructing 117 community
buildings (school, health posts and others), 18 wooden bridges, and improving
14 trails
• Establishment of 859 leasehold forestry user groups, handover of 10 710.4
hectares of forest land with a secure tenure of 40 years, domestication/cultivation
of non-timber forest product (NTFP) and medicinal and aromatic plants in 856.75
• Training of 132 Village Agricultural Workers and Village Animal Health Workers, 36
Village Nutrition Workers
• Established value chains, technical support and marketing for various products
(hand-made paper, vegetables, fruits and others)
IFAD Nepal 29
34. Skill Enhancement for Employment Project (SEEP, 2008-2011)
Total cost: US$ 916,000
IFAD grant: US$ 870,000
Directly benefiting: 1225 youths and their families
Skill Enhancement for Employment Project was executed with the goal of increasing
livelihood opportunities for the youth in the far western districts through improved
employment opportunities. The target age group ranged between 16 and 35 years
with special focus on youths who were conflict affected, internally displaced and
socio-economically disadvantaged groups and women.The project was implemented
in five districts of Far Wester region nemaly, Bajhang, Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura
and Kanchanpur by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
In three years time, the project provided 39 different skill trainings to a total of 1225
youths. Within six months of training completion, 72.3 % of the trainees were engaged
in gainful employment and on-the job training. Altogether five saving and credit
cooperatives comprising of about 200 trained youth were established in the project
districts. Further, approximately 250 project beneficiaries interested in starting their
own businesses were provided entrepreneurship and enterprise development training.
Local Livelihood Programme (LLP, 2006-2010)
Total cost: US$ 0.6 million
IFAD grant: US$ 0.48 million
Directly benefiting: 5134 households
The overall goal of the Local Livelihood Programme was to contribute to sustainable
rural poverty reduction by operationalizing and piloting the North-South corridor
development approach introduced in the Tenth plan/PRSP. The project was
successfully implemented by the Centre for Environment and Agricultural Policy
Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED), covering two north-south road
corridors - Surkhet-Jumla and Chhinchu-Jajarkot. The districts covered by the project
were Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot, Salyan and Jajarkot.
The Programme covered 5134 households through 230 groups (female-28, male-7
and mixed 195) by the end of June 2008. Information on production and sale from
3,433 households indicated an increased average income of NRs. 7,693/household,
with the highest increase of NRs. 150,000 and the lowest of NRs. 100/household.
Increased income thus resulted into increased food security of 2161 households to
3-4 months, 827 households to 4-5 months and 50 households to 6-9 months.
32 IFAD Nepal
35. Poverty Alleviation Project in Western Terai (PAPWT, 1997-2005)
Total cost: US$9.7 million
IFAD loan: US$8.9 million
Directly benefiting: 21,563 households
Poverty in the Western Plains of Terai is widespread and on the increase. Economic
opportunities are limited and population growth is very high. The poor in this region
are either landless or have very small plots of land to cultivate. Therefore, the Poverty
Alleviation Project in Western Terai was implemented in eight districts of Nawalparasi,
Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur with a goal
of increasing the incomes and improving the welfare of small farmers, and landless
people, particularly women.
The project encouraged local people to form small groups to manage credit, receive skills
training and organize community development activities. The project also strengthened
institutional support for the groups and improved access to water resources.
Groundwater Irrigation and Flood Rehabilitation Project (GIFRP, 1994-2000)
Total cost: US$13.2 million
IFAD loan: US$9.9 million
Directly benefiting: 25,000 households
The Terai region has good potential for agricultural development and a reasonably
robust marketing and communications network. This project’s aims were to raise crop
yields, improve farmer’s incomes and increase food security for the poor by providing
irrigation systems. It also set out to repair damage to existing irrigation systems that
were hit by the floods of July and August 1993, and to restore livelihoods to people
living in the flooded areas.
The project offered an opportunity to research and test possible technical and
institutional options for efficient and equitable development of groundwater
irrigation. The project benefitted a total of 10,300 beneficiaries by drilling 715 shallow
tube-wells in 4850 hectares of area. 2307 villagers were given irrigation related
trainings and 12,7799 villagers were given agriculture-related trainings during the
project period.
IFAD Nepal 33
37. Production Credit for Rural Women (PCRW, 1987-1997)
Total cost: US$11.3 million
IFAD loan: US$6.0 million
Directly benefiting: 16,390 households
Rural women across Nepal are held back from improving family living standards by
social discrimination. This project was designed to underline the important contribution
women can make to family incomes. Ultimately it served as a model for efforts to
ensure that women’s interests are reflected in development policies in Nepal. The
project covered all ecological zones of the country and all five administrative regions.
The project empowered women and increased their incomes. The delivery of credit to
the women’s group was implemented successfully and used for services, agriculture
and livestock activities. It demonstrated how they could become more confident,
self-reliant and productive. More than 50,000 women were trained, and more than
18,000 women’s credit groups were formed.
The project successfully launched an institutional innovation and demonstrated that
associations of resource-poor women can manage their credit needs without links
to, or credit from, the formal banking sector, with little default. Initiated as a pilot in
1980 in five districts, expanded to 37 districts with support from IFAD and a parallel
funding from UNICEF, the programme covered all 75 districts in the country and is a
very good example of sustainability.
Aquaculture Development Project (ADP, 1986-1991)
Total cost: US$23.0 million
IFAD loan: US$5.0 million
Directly benefiting: 6000 households
Aquaculture Development Project was the second phase of a project begun by the
Asian Development Bank. Freshwater aquaculture has great potential for raising the
incomes of small producers and landless labourers and for increasing fish exports.
Traditionally, fish farming is practiced by the poorest members of the population. Fish
farming also helps improve the nation’s diet by making much-needed fish protein
more widely available.
Altogether, the project benefited 42,000 people and developed a system for
aquaculture that could be replicated elsewhere. It provided credit and training to
farmers to strengthen support and extension services in the public sector.
IFAD Nepal 35
38. Small Farmer Development Project II (SFDP II, 1986-1991)
Total cost: US$24.5 million
IFAD loan: US$14.5 million
IFAD grant: US$100,000
Others (GTZ, UNICEF, UNFPA): 4.0 million
Government: 4.0 million
Directly benefiting: 50,000 households
Building on the success of the first Small Farmer Development Project, this project
reached 12 additional districts and expanded on work done in the areas already
covered by the first project fulfilling its objectives to increase the income and improve
the well being of small farmers, landless labourers and the rural poor.
At the end of the Project, the major achievements were recorded as reaching out
276 villages from 43 districts, formation of 11,703 (1 978 women) small farmers
groups with 90 287 members, collection of NPR 14.5 million as savings from the
groups and establishment of five regional training centers. Production credit covered
about 81,000 hectares of land and financed procurement of about 58,000 animals
(buffaloes and goats), irrigated 7686 ha and supported 4474 village industries/agro-
processing units.
The project started to federate the small farmer groups into a sizeable number of
farmers considering its institutional and economic viability so as to transform the
federation into a cooperative in 1988 with technical assistance from GIZ. This
emerged as a very innovative model and Asian Development Bank financed the
third phase of the Project. As of December 2012, a total of 267 such cooperatives
at village level, and a national federation of all these cooperatives at national level
have been established. A separate bank, Small Farmer Development Bank, is also
established at national level to support these cooperatives. IFAD-UNICEF funded
PCRW also adopted this model in 1990 and a similar number of women cooperatives
are promoted in the country. This project is one of the very innovative and successful
programmes in the country achieving full sustainability.
36 IFAD Nepal
39. Command Area Development Project (CADP, 1981-1989)
Total cost: US$29.1 million
IFAD loan: US$11.2 million
ADB loan: US $ 13.5 million
UNDP grant: US$ 1.2 million
Directly benefiting: 14,500 households
The Project was implemented in three districts of Kapilvastu (Banganga) and Nawal
Parasi (West Gandaki) in Western Terai and Sarlahi (Manusmara) in Central Terai
where irrigation facilities existed but were under-utilized because of the lack of water
distribution systems. The project aimed to increase food production, raise farm
incomes and provide rural employment opportunities by improving irrigation facilities
and the distribution of water to farms. The project also gave farmers the equipment
and training to maintain the improved irrigation facilities.
The objectives of the project were to: i) increase the production of food grains, ii)
increase farm income, iii) provide rural employment opportunities, and iv) improve the
standard of living of the rural poor living in the area. These objectives were to achieve
through rehabilitation of existing irrigation canals, construction of new canal and farm
ditch systems, creation of drainage and flood control systems and strengthening of
agricultural support services including inputs.
By improving irrigation facilities and the distribution of water to farms, the project
increased food production, raised farm incomes and provided rural employment
opportunities to about 14,500 households. The project also supplied equipment to
the farmers and trained them to maintain the improved irrigation facilities.
IFAD Nepal 37
41. excluding 532 exclusively women groups and 4271 members. Irrigation facility was
provided to 1659 hectors, 49 improved water mill (some with generating small amount
of electricity) installed, 2703 loans extended, 1345 cottage industry units and 416
other enterprises supported. Family income of participating farmers increased by an
estimated 20 to 30%. Most importantly, the farmers were able to break out of the
cycle of debt. The successful implementation of this Project led for a second loan
from IFAD to Nepal.
Integrated Rural Development Project (Sagarmatha Zone, IRDP, 1978-1988)
Total cost: US$37.2 million
IFAD loan: US$13.0 million
ADB Loan: US$ 14.0 million
EEC Grant: US$ 3.75 million
Government: US$ 6.45 million
Directly benefiting: 50,000 households
The project was the first Integrated Rural Development Project in Nepal. The Project
covered three districts from Sagarmatha Zone namely, Siraha, Saptari and Udayapur
including both the Terai lowlands, with its gentle slopes, and the steeper hill areas.
The objectives of the Project were to: i) increase production and employment, ii)
strengthen the income generating base in the rural economy of the project districts,
and iii) improve the living conditions of the people living in the project area through
broad-based economic development.
The project addressed the root causes of poor agricultural productivity in the area
and worked to improve incomes and living standards for the poor directly benefiting
to about 50,000 households. The major achievements of the Project, among others,
include construction of six major link (gravel) roads, 110 kilometers in total, to the East
West Highway, installation of 2843 Shallow Tube Wells, 15 Deep Wells and 12 Tube
Wells, construction of 40 irrigation schemes with a command area of 27,004 hectares
of land, establishment of 27 each agriculture and livestock rural service centers,
establishment of 10 milk collection centers, one chilling centre and 20 rural markets.
The Project triggered the concept of integrated rural development in the country with
funding from various donors including Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United
States, World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
IFAD Nepal 39
43. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
Starting from 2012, the IFAD country programme in Nepal has taken important steps
towards improved Monitoring and Evaluation systems in the IFAD funded projects
within the country. The new and refined system is providing basis for better knowledge
management and improvement of the overall performance of the country portfolio.
Until 2012, the Nepal country programme of IFAD had been underperforming
with respect to establishing and operating effective M&E systems and knowledge
management processes. There was limited generation of data beyond input and
activity levels, and what data and information was generated, was not effectively
utilized for project management purposes. There were also limitations in effectively
capturing and disseminating knowledge and lessons learned.
Acknowledging these concerns, an improved M&E and knowledge management
system is in place to monitor the performance of the new COSOP. In order to manage
better for results there is a need to learn from previous experiences and use the
existing knowledge to improve performance in the future. Therefore, the new M&E
system adopts the value-chain approach towards knowledge building. As illustrated
below, the system works to improve dissemination of the knowledge acquired among
all the stakeholders involved at the various stages and levels of the IFAD projects and
programmes towards effectively achieving the poverty reduction objectives.
IFAD Nepal 41
44. IFAD Nepal will also make use of the knowledge pyramid, illustrated below. Similar
to the value-chain approach, the knowledge pyramid also works to ensure effective
collection and flow of information in order to stimulate better design and policy
dialogue. All projects funded by IFAD have their own knowledge pyramids that feed
into the knowledge pyramid of the Country Programme of IFAD in Nepal.
For a more efficient and effective knowledge management system, it will be ensured
that all projects have carefully identified COSOP indicators. The IFAD Results and
Impact Management System (RIMS) will be also further strengthened at project level
and integrated to the project M&E systems to aid progress reports.
A standardized spreadsheet has been developed as a simple tool for projects to
better report on their progress against the targets set and fulfilling Government and
IFAD requirements. Through workshops and ongoing support from the country office
it will be ensured that the projects will adopt and use the spreadsheet to report on the
COSOP and RIMS indicators..
In addition, IFAD Nepal country office will set up a simple website under IFAD Asia
platform that will host documents and various analysis produced by the country
programme. The COSOP and RIMS data will be annually analysed at the country
programme level and presented in the IFAD Nepal website as well.
42 IFAD Nepal
45. Below the picture illustrates how the IFAD country level M&E system will look like
once it is established and functioning.
IFAD Nepal 43
46. IFAD’s Financing
Since the establishment of IFAD Nepal in 1978, a total of 16 projects have been
approved for a total cost of US$435 million. With US$152.8 million in loans and
US$36 million in grants from IFAD, these projects have directly benefitted 809,853
households in rural Nepal to improve their living conditions.
The loans IFAD provides to Nepal are highly concessional and have particularly
favorable conditions for repayment. These loans are interest-free, match with service
commission of 0.75% per annum, a repayment term of 40 years and a grace period
of 10 years. Further, within the Debt Sustainability Framework, Nepal benefits special
conditions as all new IFAD financing are split into 50% loan and 50% grant.
Disbursement
IFAD disbursements in Nepal have been growing over time, from around US$1.7million
in 2007 to over US$7.7million in 2012. The disbursement of fund was low during
2000’s decade reflecting the unstable political situation in the country when many
development activities came to a halt. After 2007, however, the size of the country
portfolio and its delivery has been growing significantly.
During the 2007-2012 COSOP, WUPAP and LFLP received the largest amount of
disbursements. While IFAD disbursed US$3.7 million to PAF, it is to be noted that
the project receives most of its funding from the World Bank, amounting to US$100
million, making it a good example of inter-agencies cooperation.
Project 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 TOTAL USD
LFLP 694 240 1 382 271 1 201 463 2 945 261 1 612 159 1 789 703 9 625 097
WUPAP 837 385 891 070 2 039 142 878 333 2 846 373 4 657 363 12 149 666
PAF II 750 000 717 231 2 247 701 285 068 4 000 000
HVAP 600 000 1 009 409 1 609 409
SEEP 28 175 463 375 491 550
LLP 163 047 198 216 47 940 409 203
Total 1 694 672 2 499 732 4 038 545 5 004 200 7 306 233 7 741 543 28 284 925
44 IFAD Nepal
47. Beneficiaries
As illustrated in the table below, the total outreach of the Nepal country programme
during the fiscal year 2010/2011 was about 524,000 households. Without taking into
account the PAF beneficiaries (as PAF is for the main part funded by the World Bank)
this number would decrease to 178,000 households. LFLP and WUPAP have both
reached close to 230,000 cumulative beneficiaries during the implementation of the
current phases of the projects. Altogether, the total number of beneficiaries reached
by the ongoing IFAD projects in Nepal is more than 2 million people. This accounts to
approximately 8% of the rural population in the country.
This number will increase by 150 000 households (700 000 people) with the start up
of the new seed and breed project (ISFP).
Outreach by end of Outreach during
Project Target at appraisal
2010/2011 2010/2011
WUPAP 610 000 228 309 174 064
LFLP 264 471 229 463 3 827
PAF II 2 209 000 1 619 206 345 892
HVAP-IB 6 580 6 580 -
HVAP 245 810 0 0
Total 3 335 861 2 083 558 523 783
IFAD Nepal 45
48. Contacts
IFAD Ministry of Finance
Bashu Aryal Kailash Pokharel
Country Programme Officer Under Secretary, Ministry of Finance
WFP Office Complex, Patan Dhoka Road kpokharel@mof.gov.np
Lalitpur, Nepal Fax (+977 1) 4211165
Tel: +977 1 5542607 4144 Office 4211372
Fax: +977 1 5524101
b.aryal@ifad.org
Benoît Thierry
Country Programme Manager
Via Paolo Di Dono, 44
Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 0654592234
Fax: +39 0654593234
b.thierry@ifad.org
Projects
Kisankalagi Unnat Biu-Bijan High-Value Agriculture Project in Hill
Karyakram and Mountain Areas
Suryal Prasad Poudel Rajendra Prasad Bhari
Project Manager Project Manager
Project Liaison Office Project Management Unit
Kumaripati, Lalitpur Birendranagar, Surkhet
Tel and Fax: +977 1 5552977 Tel and Fax: +977 1 525 403
Email: suryapaudel@ymail.com E-mail: bhari_rp@yahoo.com
www.hvap.gov.np
46 IFAD Nepal
49. Poverty Alleviation Fund
Raj Babu Shrestha,
Executive Director
Poverty Alleviation Fund Nepal
Tahachal, Kathmandu
Tel: +977 1 4030700
Fax: +977 1 4030701
E-mail: rbshrestha@pafnepal.org.np
www.pafnepal.org.np
Leasehold Forestry and Livestock Programme
Bala Ram Adhikari
Programme Coordinator, Leasehold Forestry Section
Department of Forest, Babar Mahal, Kathmandu
Tel and Fax: +977 1 4257870
E-mail: lflp@wlink.com.np
www.lflp.gov.np
Western Uplands Poverty Alleviation Project
Uttam Prasad Nagila
Project Coordinator
Project Coordination Unit
Ranjha, Nepalgunj
Tel: +977 81 565043/565232
Fax: +977 81 565042
E-mail: uttamngl@yahoo.com
www.wupap.gov.np
IFAD Nepal 47