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Implementation
Strategy:
CBED
managed and generated economic activities within communities and
provided support for the organization and development of viable
Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in agriculture (Farmers Associations),
rural finance (Saving and Credit Organizations) and forestry (Forest
Users' Groups). These components were selected in light of the
facts that eighty percent of Nepal's people depend on agriculture
for their basic livelihood, forestry is an abundant local resource
which must be well-managed, and the increase of income security
through rural finance plays an important role in enabling farmers
and other entrepreneurs to undertake the risks associated with
new income-generating activities.
CBED was implemented by CECI with the help of the Center for Environment
and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED)
in Baitadi, the Center for Self-Help Development (CSD) in Jumla,
and the Development Project Service Center (DEPROSC) in Dadeldhura.
A project office was established in each District headquarter
and small sub-offices in selected Village District Committees
of the project area.
Qualitative
results:
- Increased awareness and confidence of the population in addressing
development issue
- Economically viable and sustainable CBOs such as Farmer's
Associations, Savings & Credit
Cooperatives and Forest Users' Groups are managed by their own
members.
- Partnership for local development planning between these
CBOs and the locally elected VDC's and DDC's is established
- Lessons learned from the project districts are disseminated
at CIDA, HMG/N's central policy making level and within the international
development community in Nepal through innovative policy feedback
mechanisms
Quantitative
Results:
More
than 525 economic Community Based Organizations (CBOs) provided
services to members and established linkages with local government
bodies, as well as their own district and national level apex
organizations.
-
339 Producers' Groups (PGs) with 7,341 cash crop growers (36%
women) were established
- Three registered farmers'
cooperatives provided competitive services of input supply, quality
control, production planning and marketing management to their
members
- Production and sales of fresh vegetables, fruits,
and seeds reached 5,060 MT in 2000- 2001, an increase of 56% over
the previous years
- Total sales volume of cash crops in 2000-2001
was CDN$ 910,000 with off-season vegetables being the lead commodity
(74%), an increase of 85% over previous years.
- A total of 111 micro-irrigation schemes were built
during the project term and are currently in use.
- 106 Saving & Credit Organizations, 58 registered
(as cooperatives), were formed with 14,437 active members
- 50% of general members and 47% of Board members
were women
- 16% of general members and 12% of board members
were from lower caste families
- SCOs have accumulated NRs. 18,480,000 (CDN$401,700)
in capital from member savings, shares, and other sources of income
- Since the formation of CBED, SCOs have cumulatively
provided 11,981 loans totaling NRs. 41,204,000 (CDN$895,700),
40% to women
- The average loan size was NRs. 3,439 (CDN$75).
- 78 Community Forest User's Groups (CFUGs) have
now been legally registered
- 82% of CFUGs started collection of non-timber
forest products (NTFP), developed domestic cultivation and generated
income of CDN$ 23,000 from sales of forest products and collection
of royalties.
Policy
Feedback and Lessons Learned:
- A program for central policy-making bodies was established.
- Mass media program for project 'lessons learned' dissemination
to interested agencies and groups was also implemented.
- In addition to the Project Advisory Committee field visits and
meetings, two policy feedback mechanisms were successfully developed
and tested.
- 'Lessons learned' seminars and workshops and support to the
government for policy formulation.
- Two studies were prepared by the project: CBED Impact on Women's
Socio-Economic Status and Gender Relations in the Family Socio-Economic
Impact of the Community - Based Economic Development (CBED) Project:
A Study on Spill-Over, Spread, and Migration
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