Lessons for local administrative approach

—The case study of integrated watershed management projects in Nepal—

Abstract

In Nepal, Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM) of Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation promotes participatory integrated watershed management. In the past projects implemented by DSCWM in collaboration with various donors/NGOs, user groups formed on the basis of settlements (watershed approach) were targeted to promote integrated watershed management. However, it is pointed out that such an approach is questionable in terms of sustainability of the groups and efficiency of the projects. On the basis of lessons of the related projects in the past, Local administrative approach is gradually being spread in consideration of sustainability of targeted groups and decentralization policy promoted by His Majesty's Government of Nepal.

Community Development and Forest/Watershed Conservation Project (CDFWCP-II), which is implemented by DSCWM in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), promotes a local administrative approach for the purpose of developing an applicable model of participatory community resource management on an equitable and sustainable basis. This paper examines the local administrative approach in integrated watershed management projects in Nepal with reference to experiences in CDFWCP-ll, the trend of DSCWM and lessons in related projects supported by other donors/NGOs.

This paper argues that it is important to recognise the difference between watershed approach and local administrative approach. Under this recognition, it will be appropriate to harmonise watershed approach with local administrative approach rather than to choose one or the other: a project could select target areas on the basis of a watershed area, and could approach the local administrations as a working unit. As other donors/NGOs mentioned, it will be important for efficient promotion of the local administrative approach to take a programme approach rather than a project approach, co-ordinating all related sectors. Moreover, it will be essential for DSCWM to take more initiatives to co-ordinate concerning donors and NGOs so that a united approach for participatory integrated watershed management will be fed back to its policy.