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PAANI PROGRAM | पानी प�रयोजना NINETEENTH QUARTERLY REPORT

(October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020)

Cover photo: Members of Bhagraiya Lake Management Committee removing water hyacinth from Bhagraiya Lake using a water mower. Photo credit: Bandana Awasthi for USAID Paani Program

USAID.GOV USAID PAANI 19TH QUARTERLY REPORT | 3

PAANI PROGRAM | पानी प�रयोजना NINETEENTH QUARTERLY REPORT

(October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020)

Program Title: USAID Paani Program DAI Project Number: 1002810 Sponsoring USAID Office: USAID/Nepal IDIQ Number: AID-OAA-I-14-00014 Task Order Number: AID-367-TO-16-00001 Contractor: DAI Global LLC Date of Publication: January 30, 2021

4 | USAID PAANI 19TH QUARTERLY REPORT USAID.GOV

CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS 6

SECTION 1: ACTIVITY OVERVIEW 12

SECTION 11: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 24

SECTION 111: ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION 26

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1A: IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF CAPTURE FISHERIES 26

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1B: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR WATER MANAGEMENT 38

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1C: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR REGULATION AND

MANAGEMENT OF ROADS AND MINING 41

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1D: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES

43

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2A: IMPROVE RIVER BASIN PLANNING 46

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2B: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION49

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2C: SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER 50

STRATEGIC APPROACH 3A: STRENGTHEN POLICY AND PLANNING FOR INTEGRATED WATER

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (IWRM) 54

STRATEGIC APPROACH 3B: SUPPORT CSOS TO ADVOCATE FOR TRANSPARENT AND

ACCOUNTABLE HYDROPOWER DECISION-MAKING 57

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4A: LEARN AND DISCOVER (GENERATE KNOWLEDGE) THROUGH A

RESEARCH AGENDA THAT INFORMS SAS UNDER IRS 1 AND 2 61

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4B: SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING, LEARNING, AND KNOWLEDGE

SHARING IN ACADEMIC AND OTHER LEARNING SPACES 66

PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATION, KNOWLEDGE SHARING 70

CROSS CUTTING ISSUES 75

SECTION IV: ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT 80

SECTION V: LEARNING 98

SECTION V: MAJOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR NEXT QUARTER 103

ANNEXES 112

EXHIBIT A1: INDICATOR PERFORMANCE TRACKING FOR Y5 Q2 112

EXHIBIT A2: STATUS OF SAVINGS OF CAACGS OF JHIMRUK AND MIDDLE RAPTI WATERSHED

118

EXHIBIT A3: RESOURCES LEVERAGED BY DIFFERENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO CAACGS FOR

AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT. 119

EXHIBIT A4: STATUS OF PAANI KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS AND PLANS FOR YEAR 5. 120

EXHIBIT A5: MAP OF PAANI WATERSHEDS 125


FIGURES

Figure 1: Paani Development Hypothesis .................................................................................................................. 14

Figure 2: Institutional River Stretch Co-Management Model ................................................................................ 16

Figure 3: Trade volumes of fish by main product categories in Middle Karnali and Lower Karnali river

basins. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 28

Figure 4: Annual returns to investments on capture fisheries business compared to baseline (USD) ....... 30

Figure 5: Growth in savings (NPR) of CAACGs in Jhimruk and Middle Rapti watersheds. .......................... 37

Figure 6: A screen shot of WWF’s SSP-HCVR-EOA results sharing webinar on November 10, which was

attened by more than 100 participants representingdiverse sectors of biodiversity, conservation,

hydropower and government agencies. ..................................................................................................................... 51

Figure 7: A screen shot of the beta version of interactive web tool. The web tool is an information

portal as well as an interactive platform providing a closer touch and feel of data generated from the

three studies. .................................................................................................................................................................... 53

Figure 8: Parallel plots for SWITCH Reference scenario demonstrating least cost combination for

hydropower construction in Karnali Basin with combination of impact over different variables related to

biodiversity, livelihood, socio-cultural, sediment capture etc. .............................................................................. 59

Figure 9: Parallel plots for SWITCH Karnali-secondary scenario demonstrating a combination of impacts

for no new dam construction in main stem Karnali over different variables related to biodiversity,

livelihood, socio-cultural, sediment capture and others. ....................................................................................... 59

Figure 10: Paani Research Implementation Areas .................................................................................................... 61

Figure 11: The map shows potential FS river stretch areas for coldwater fish (Asla) along the Karnali

River in the Middle Karnali Watershed. ..................................................................................................................... 64

Figure 12: This map shows potential FS river stretch areas for warm water fish (Mahseer) along the

Thuligaad and Karnali rivers in the Thulihgaad Watershed. .................................................................................. 65

Figure 13: Participation in Paani events by sex ......................................................................................................... 76

Figure 14: Participation in Paani events by ethnicity ............................................................................................... 76

Figure 15: Leadership of women and marginalized people in CAACG .............................................................. 76

Figure 16: Watershed level saving increasing trend ................................................................................................ 78


TABLES

Table 1: Estimated areas (hectare) for aquaculture of warmwater fish species ............................................... 31

Table 2: Estimated areas (hectare) for aquaculture of coldwater fish species .................................................. 31

Table 3: Paani-supported livelihood activities in Y5 Q2 ......................................................................................... 33

Table 4: Watershed level local employment generation and livelihoods support in Y5 Q2 ......................... 33

Table 5: An updated list of CAACGs ......................................................................................................................... 35

Table 6: Field level activities for LWM ....................................................................................................................... 39

Table 7: Hands-on training on climate smart vegetable farming .......................................................................... 40

Table 8: Paani’s support to vulnerable community groups by supporting the establishment of vegetable

farms to improve their livelihoods .............................................................................................................................. 41

Table 9: Local employment generation and support to livelihoods for community members engaged in

aquatic invasive management in Y5 Q2 ...................................................................................................................... 46

Table 10: Status of Manuscripts Submitted to Peer Reviewed Journals in Y5 Q2 ........................................... 62

Table 11: Protocol that defines roles and responsibility of key actors for managing rivers, freshwater fish

species and conservation ............................................................................................................................................... 66

Table 12: Training conducted in different watersheds ........................................................................................... 68

Table 13: Meetings with USAID/Nepal and Other USAID Programs ................................................................. 70

Table 14: Meetings with Stakeholders ........................................................................................................................ 71

Table 15: GESI disaggregated data of local employment generation ................................................................... 77

Table 16: Request submitted to USAID ..................................................................................................................... 80

Table 17: Key administrative and management task completed during Y5Q2 ................................................. 82

Table 18: Paani personnel updates Y5 Q2 ................................................................................................................. 83

Table 19: Closed and completed Paani grants as of the end of Y5 Q2 .............................................................. 85

Table 20: On-going Paani grants as of Y5Q2 ............................................................................................................ 89

Table 21: Paani grants cancelled as of Y5Q2 ............................................................................................................ 91

Table 22: COVID-19 Impacts and Responses in Paani Watersheds ................................................................... 93

Table 23: Indicators that Paani was unable to measure during the quarter ...................................................... 96

Table 24: Major activities planned for next quarter ............................................................................................. 103


ABBREVIATIONS

AABCA Aquatic Animal and Biodiversity Conservation Act

AABCB Aquatic Animal and Biodiversity Conservation Bill

APS Annual Program Statement

AWP Annual Work Plan

BAFER Balchaur Forest and Environment Resource Development Centre

BCN Bird Conservation Nepal

BLMC Bhagaraiya Lake Management Committee

BZUC Buffer Zone Users Committee

CAACG Community Aquatic Animal Conservation Group

CAPA Community Adaptation Plans of Action

CAS Catch Assessment Survey

CBAPU Community-Based Anti-Poaching Units

CDES Central Department of Environmental Science

CFMG Capture Fisheries Management Guidelines

CFOP Community Forestry Operational Plans

CIS Creative Innovation Society

CMDN Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal

CODEFUND Conservation Development Foundation

CREEW Center of Research for Environment, Energy and Water

CS Citizen Scientist

CSO Civil Society Organization

DCC Dolphin Conservation Center

DG Director General

DHM Department of Hydrology and Meteorology

DNPWC Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation

DoLIDAR Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads

DPRP Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans


DRR Disaster Risk Reduction

DSV Dolma Group, SAFAL and VRock

EAP Emergency Action Planning

ECC Education Concern Center

EF Environmentally Friendly

EFLG Environmentally Friendly Local Governance

EFRC Environmentally Friendly Road Construction

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

EMP Environment Management Plan

EOA Energy Options Assessment

EPB Environment Protection Bill

EPLE Environmental Policy and Law Expert

FAA Fixed Amount Award

FAN Forest Action Nepal

FCOE Freshwater Center for Excellence

FECOFUN Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal

FEDWASUN Federation of Water and Sanitation Users Nepal

FEWS Flood Early Warning System

FIRDO Fulvari Integrated Rural Development Organization

FS Fish Sanctuary

GESI Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

GIIS Global Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies

GIS Geographic Information System

GON Government of Nepal

HbD Hydropower by Design

HCVR High Conservation Value Rivers

HWEPC Human Welfare Environmental Protection Centre

IDES Integrated Development Society


IEC Information, Education and Communication

IEE Initial Environmental Examination

IFC International Finance Corporation

IFF Integrated Fish Farming

IPPAN Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal

IR Intermediate Result

IRBM Integrated river basin management

IRBMP Integrated River Basin Management Platforms

ISET-N Institute for Social and Environmental Transition – Nepal

IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature

IWMI International Water Management Institute

IWRM Integrated Water Resource Management

KBCF Karnali Basin Conservation Foundation

KCDC Karnali Community Development Center

KDCN Kalika Development Center Nepal

KIRDARC Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center

KRBCF Karnali River Basin Conservation Fund

KU Kathmandu University

LAPA Local Adaptation Plans of Action

LDCRP Local Disaster Risk Management Planning

MoALD Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Development

MoEWRI Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation

MoFE Ministry of Forest and the Environment

MoIAL Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law

MoITFE Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment

MoLMAC Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative

MPDS Multipurpose Development Society

MRC Multi-Dimensional Resource Center


MRDCC Mallarani Rural Development Concern Center

MWU Mid-Western University

NARC Nepal Agriculture Research Council

NC Natures Conservation

NCE No Cost Extension

NEA National Electricity Authority

NEFIS Nepal Fisheries Society

NESS Nepal Environmental Scientific Services

NHDP Nepal Hydropower Development Project

NEEDS Nepal Environment and Equity Development Society

NENCID Nepal National Commission on Irrigation and Drainage

NEFEJ Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists

NEFIN Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities

NFIWUAN Nepal Federation of Irrigation Users Associations

NNSWA Nepal National Social Welfare Association

NPR Nepalese Rupee

NRBCF Nepal River Basin Conservation Fund

NRCT Nepal River Conservation Trust

NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products

PEA Political Economy Analysis

PHG People’s Help Group

PLA Participatory Learning and Action

PPA Puchase Power Agreement

RAT Risk Assessment Tool

RCDC Rural Committee for Development Centre

RDC Research and Development Center

RHF Resources Himalaya Foundation

RLRSMP Rara Lake Ramsar Site Management Plan


RMP Risk Management Plan

RSLUP Risk Sensitive Land Use Planning

RSN Rural Situation Nepal

RuDEC Rural Development and Empowerment Center

SA Strategic Approach

SAEWCC Sustainable Agriculture Environment Water Conservation Center

SBS Sohaha Bikas Samaaj

SESA Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment

SHD Sustainable Hydropower Development

SNV Netherlands Development Organization

SPNP Shey Phoksundo National Park

SSA Small-scale Aquaculture

SSP System Scale Planning

STTA Short Term Technical Assistance

SWN Scott Wilson Nepal

TNC The Nature Conservancy

TOC Theory of Change

TOT Training of Trainers

TU Tribhuvan University

UN United Nations

USFS United States Forest Service

USG United States Government

WECS Water and Energy Commission Secretariat

WMO Watershed Management Office

WMS Watershed Management Specialist

WUDAN Western Upland Development Association Nepal

WWF World Wildlife Fund

YAE Youth Alliance for the Environment

12 | USAID PAANI PROGRAM 19TH QUARTERLY REPORT USAID.GOV

SECTION 1: ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

The USAID Paani Program – युएसएड पानी प�रयोजना – aims to enhance Nepal’s ability to manage water resources for multiple uses and users through climate change adaptation and the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. Paani employs an integrated, whole-of-basin approach with activities at the watershed, river basin, and national scales, to reduce threats to freshwater biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of targeted human and ecological communities in the Karnali, Mahakali and Rapti river basins through improved water management.

At the community and watershed levels, Paani increases the knowledge, engagement, and benefits of local water users in target river basins to build water management capacity (Intermediate Result 1). At the river basin level, Paani’s activities focus on sustainable hydropower, flood risk reduction, and participatory governance (Intermediate Result 2). At the national level, Paani focuses on policy and the enabling environment and improves coordination among stakeholders at all levels (Intermediate Result 3). Underlying its support across these three levels, Paani expands the knowledge base and Nepal’s capacity for on-going learning in the areas of freshwater biodiversity, climate change and water resources management (Intermediate Result 4).

In June 2017, the program shifted its approach to planning and implementation around 11 strategic approaches (SA). Each approach provides a logical path for understanding Paani’s work under each strategic theme. Result chains were then developed to set forth a pathway for each of the SAs, which are grouped under the four intermediate results as follows:

● Intermediate Result 1: Increased knowledge, engagement and benefits for local water users. To

improve integrated water resource management, sustainable use of resources, and collaboration and

investment on a significant scale, Paani is helping stakeholders build capacity through collaboration

with local government, NGOs and other locally active stakeholders to address problems in their

particular watersheds. Paani is helping stakeholders establish effective collaborative decision-

making (governance) processes across five strategic approaches carried out at the watershed

level:

o SA 1a: Improve management of capture fisheries

o SA 1b: Improve local capacity for water management

o SA 1c: Improve local capacity for regulation and management of local road construction

and (riverbed) aggregate mining

o SA 1d: Improve local capacity for managing invasive species

o SA 2b: Improve local capacity for disaster risk reduction (also applicable at the river

basin level, under IR 2)

The experience and trust developed through collaboration is helping Paani stakeholders work more credibly with the provincial and national levels of government, and other stakeholders, donors, and decision-makers at the river basin (IR 2) and other levels (IRs 3 and 4).

● Intermediate Result 2: Improved basin-level resource management. At the basin level, activities

take into consideration entire catchment areas and the high level of connectivity of freshwater

systems. Paani is building on watershed-level experience to carry out four approaches at the basin-

level:

o SA 2a: Improve basin level planning

o SA 2b: Improve local capacity for disaster risk reduction (also applicable at the

watershed level)

USAID.GOV USAID PAANI PROGRAM 19TH QUARTERLY REPORT | 13

o SA 2c: Support sustainable hydropower (also linked with a strategic approach under

IR3)

o SA 3b: Support CSOs to advocate for transparent and accountable hydropower

decision-making (also cross-cutting at the national level)

● Intermediate Result 3: Strengthened coordination and enabling environment

o SA 3a: Strengthen policy and planning for integrated water resource management

(IWRM)

o SA 3b: Support CSOs to advocate for transparent and accountable hydropower

decision-making (also applicable at the basin level)

● Intermediate Result 4: Expanded knowledge base

o SA 4a: Learn and discover (generate knowledge) through a research agenda that informs

the strategic approaches under IRs 1 and 2

o SA 4b: Support capacity building, learning and knowledge sharing in academic and other

learning spaces over the long term

With the understanding that IRs still provide the broad framework for Paani’s work, the program implements according to the above SAs. Therefore, and in line with the Paani Year 5 (Y5) Annual Work Plan (AWP), this quarterly report documents project activities according to the 11 SAs and the tasks that fall under them. Nonetheless, the SAs are interwoven differently in each river basin or watershed. To ensure that activities under each SA complement each other effectively across areas of implementation. Paani has also identified focused initiatives to increase the program’s impact, as described later in this section.

Paani is complementary to USAID-funded initiatives in hydropower including Nepal Hydropower Development Project (NHDP) and its follow-on project Urja Nepal, and to projects funded by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The program also builds on USAID/Nepal’s experience and on-going projects in terrestrial conservation, extending successful community-based models for reducing threats to key species and for building resilience.

Paani is a part of USAID’s on-going investment in strengthening natural resource management in Nepal. The Task Order was signed on April 11, 2016 and the program will end on June 30, 2021. In mid-July 2016, the Government of Nepal (GON), Ministry of Finance and USAID signed an implementation letter that enabled DAI to formally begin coordination and planning with the GON and other partners to carry out the Paani program. The program is helping the GON achieve results related to several national policies, strategies and action plans, both existing and under formulation. Paani is also making real the provisions in the country’s 2015 Constitution, particularly in integrating improved water governance into the newly established provinces.

Paani believes that by demonstrating the value of freshwater biodiversity, strengthening governance and stakeholder relationships at all levels and strengthening the base and use of evidence, the program can catalyze transformative change in Nepal’s capacity to manage its freshwater resources and enhance resilience to a changing climate - from Nepal’s high mountain slopes to the rich waterways of the Tarai. The overall development hypothesis upon which Paani is based is presented in Figure 1.


IF:

● There is improved scientific information to inform decision making; ● Better capacity to manage freshwater resources; ● Effective governance; ● Local solutions that enhance resilient livelihoods and promote freshwater

conservation; and ● A stronger policy and institutional enabling environment to coordinate the multiple

uses of water,

THEN:

The government and people of Nepal will:

● Conserve freshwater biodiversity, ● Adapt to climate change, and ● Maintain the natural resource base needed for sustainable economic growth.

Figure 1: Paani Development Hypothesis

To translate this theory of change into action, Paani is applying five key principles that are integral to an overall integrated river basin management (IRBM) approach that connects upstream and downstream stakeholders—including women and lower caste members—in taking actions that will strengthen water resources governance, management and protection. Promoting stakeholder engagement and collaboration flows through all five principles:

● Engage Paani stakeholders through user-centered design ● Foster upstream-downstream linkages

● Apply theories of change and adapt activities to reflect evolving political, ecological and

economic circumstances

● Focus on sustainability

● Integration of technical components and modalities to mutually reinforce tasks

By June 2021, Paani will have helped stakeholders accomplish the following:

● Reduced threats to freshwater ecosystems, conserved biodiversity and enhanced human well-being through improved river basin and watershed management in the Rapti, Karnali and Mahakali river basins.

● Increased the knowledge and capacity of communities and water users from local to national levels to deal with climate vulnerabilities through climate smart practices.

● Empowered champions of sustainable water management who have networks and effective relationships with each other and with other stakeholders. Champions at multiple levels will provide insights and perspectives that are respected by decision-makers and contribute to widespread beneficial changes in watershed management and climate change adaptation practices.

● Demonstrated that issues related to integrated and basin-level water management, freshwater biodiversity, gender and social inclusion are essential to national discourse and policy development on water, energy and development.

● Demonstrated through baseline and end-line surveys significantly reduced threats, increased resilience, and other economic or biodiversity value-related benefits through implementation of watershed- and basin-level plans. Key features of the watershed and basin-level plans will include: upstream and downstream linkages, gender and social inclusion (GESI), climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) monitoring by local people and “green” infrastructure.

● Established a long-term funding mechanism for river basin management and innovation.


● Improved the understanding, attitudes, values and behaviors of multiple users of water and freshwater biodiversity relating to the conservation and sustainable use of water and freshwater biodiversity.

● Enhanced livelihood opportunities for those households in rural communities hit hardest by the economic toll from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent GON lockdown.

Paani Year 5 Focused Initiatives

In June 2018, Paani determined it could be more strategic by better aligning resources to leverage

program activities for greater impact where early successes could be scaled, or emerging

opportunities seized. These opportunities, referred to as focus initiatives, included four thematic areas

tied to Paani’s strategic approaches. These focus initiative concepts were further refined in early

February 2019 at a strategy workshop and again during the June 2019 annual work planning retreat.

Although Year 5 activities pivoted to respond to COVID-19, the focus initiatives still provide a

framework to understand Paani’s program strategy for all its basins, watersheds, and strategic

approaches.

Focus Initiatives

River Stretch Co-Management Models

Sustainable Hydropower

Environmentally Friendly Roads

Basin Platforms

SA 1a Fisheries SA 1c Roads and Mining SA 1d Invasives SA 3a Policy SA 4c Research SA 4b Learning

SA 2c Hydropower SA 3b Advocacy SA 3a Policy SA 4b Learning

SA 1a Fisheries SA 1b LWM SA 1c Roads and Mining SA 4b Learning

SA 1a Fisheries SA 2a Basin Management SA 3b Advocacy SA 3a Policy

A. COLLABORATIVE AQUATIC RESOURCES CO-MANAGEMENT MODELS

One of Paani’s most innovative efforts is the work being done by team members, grantees, and local

stakeholders to create a model for river stretch co-management to enhance protection of Nepal’s

high value aquatic biodiversity areas. Paani’s river stretch co-management model is derived from

Nepal’s successful community based natural resources management programs. These include the

community forestry program, leasehold forestry program, conservation area management and farmer

managed irrigation systems, which are GON efforts to reduce forest degradation, promote sustainable

forestry and natural resource practices, and improve community livelihoods. In Y5, Paani’s focus has

been on developing an appropriate operational system for governance and management of the

CAACGs as well as integration of livelihood development.

As of December 31, 2020, 35 rural/municipalities have enacted Aquatic Animal Biodiversity

Conservation Acts (AABCAs) in the Karnali and Rapti River Basins and 4 rural/municipalities have

endorsed Capture Fisheries Management Guidelines (CFMG) in the Lower Mahakali and Rangun

Watersheds. To date, Paani has helped to establish 101 CAACGs, of which 43 CAACGs have been

registered with rural/municipalities. All registered CAACGs have been handed river stretches of

various length and they are implementing or are preparing to implement the provisions of the Act in

the Lower Karnali, Middle Karnali, West Seti, Thuligaad, Bogatan Lagam, Tila, Middle Rapti and

Jhimruk watersheds.

In Y5, Paani’s goal is to complete the entire development process for river co-management in the

Thuligaad, Middle Karnali, Middle Rapti and Jhimruk Khola watersheds in the Karnali and Rapti Basins,

where river groups are the furthest along in the process. These four watersheds serve as models for


all other watersheds implementing fishery activities. See Annex, Exhibit A5 for a complete list of all 12

of Paani’s priority watersheds. Paani is adapting lessons from this experience as it works with the

Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and communities in protected

areas, and as it helps stakeholders integrate livelihood initiatives into these models.

1) Framework for river stretch co-management.

In Y3, Paani refined the approaches taken by grantees to develop CAACGs and created a draft model

(Figure 2) of a step-by-step process to establish authority for the group. The model below is a general

one that rural municipalities and municipalities can customize as per their specific AABCA provisions.

Paani also supports drafting and finalizing the AABCA and CFMG in consultation with local

communities and government. The AABCAs and CFMGs are submitted to the rural

municipalities/municipalities for approval, and then implementation. In Y5, Paani will customize the

appropriate operational system for governance and management of these river groups as well as

integration of livelihoods development.

Figure 2: Institutional River Stretch Co-Management Model

Paani adopted the concept of an apex body to act as a multi-stakeholder platform, the Co-

management Committee (CC), which will link river groups upstream and downstream as well as

create a mechanism for different user groups to discuss trade-offs over their shared water resources.

These platforms are intended to build capacity for watershed representation in future basin level

discussions.

Aquatic Animal and Aquatic Biodiversity Coordination Council in

Watershed (GESI-inclusive)

Aquatic Animal and Aquatic Biodiversity Management

Committee in RM/M (GESI-inclusive)


2) Strengthen co-management frameworks between the Department of National

Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and local communities around

protected lake systems.

The second type of aquatic biodiversity co-management model is focused on protected lakes systems.

Paani is working in Rara National Park to demonstrate how water quality and fisheries protection can

be integrated into national park management and planning in high aquatic biodiversity areas being

negatively impacted by increased tourism. Working with communities within or adjacent to national

parks, Paani will identify how to use governance and policy to direct more benefits to both local

human and ecological communities.

Traditionally, communities and DNPWC have interacted through buffer zone user committees

(BZUCs), based on a forestry conservation model of protected core areas surrounded by buffer

zones that provide livelihood and use opportunities for nearby communities, such as fallen wood

collection, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), livestock grazing, etc. In Rara, this model has been

applied to lake systems in surrounding forests and associated buffer zones, where the collection of

NTFPs are allowed by policy but conflict with goals to protect the health of the watershed to maintain

water quality and aquatic biodiversity.

Meanwhile, communities have complained that they derive few benefits from the lakes’ tourist

attractions as concessions are managed nationally and typically go to concessionaires from outside of

local communities. Paani, working with DNPWC through initiatives to develop Ramsar Site

Management Plans, will explore 1) how communities can be more closely involved in lake management

and derive increased benefits and 2) how buffer zone use models can reflect the differing nature of

lake-centered parks.

In Rara, Paani is supporting DNPWC and Rara National Park to develop a site management plan for

the Ramsar site surrounding Rara Lake. Based on findings from the watershed profiling activity, Paani

identified key issues impacting aquatic health and biodiversity for each area. Accordingly, Paani is

assessing how the management plans can include aquatic biodiversity, livelihood benefits, solid waste

management, concession guidelines, land use planning and/or zoning, and catchment management.

3) Integration of Livelihoods Development to Support Aquatic Biodiversity Co-

Management Models

In the watersheds of the Karnali and Rapti Basins, threats to aquatic biodiversity stem from overfishing

and resource degradation by the local communities who have yet to realize economic benefit from

natural resource protection. While Paani is working to strengthen co-management of aquatic

biodiversity resources in the Karnali and Rapti River Basins in designated river stretches, the efforts

will be unsustainable unless people degrading the system can derive improved or new livelihoods from

enhanced protection. Paani’s Theory of Change (TOC) includes environmentally friendly enterprises

as an intended outcome through best practices for agricultural (SA 1b) and fishery-based livelihoods

(SA 1a). In theory, these enterprises would be enabled through the Environmentally Friendly Local

Governance (EFLG) framework.

However, the EFLG framework has not yet proven a useful framework for Paani. EFLG is not

generally a priority for local governments. Furthermore, aquatic biodiversity and river system health

are not reflected in the EFLG framework. EFLG has only household-level, ward-level, district-level, and

national-level indicators. While the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) has a

draft fisheries policy and the Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads

(DoLIDAR) has road standards, these are not generally applied by local governments. For roads, the


focus is on good engineering practices and not on social/environmental processes. Given limited

technical capacity and growing local demand for more roads, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAs)

may be developed, but they are rarely adopted in practice. In Y5 Q2, Paani’s Senior Freshwater

Fisheries Specialist and DevWorks conducted a Catch Assessment Survey (CAS) to characterize

fisheries and develop three business cases (capture fisheries, aquaculture and fisheries-based

ecotourism) to build sustainable aquatic biodiversity co-management models. Paani identified

livelihood alternatives and supported sustainable fisheries markets in targeted watersheds through

three livelihoods mechanisms: ecotourism development, fisheries cooperatives and integrated fish

farming.

The Eco-tourism Action Plan

Paani has developed the following strategy to integrate ecotourism alternative livelihoods into its

aquatic co-management models.

1) Access expertise to conduct market research analysis on the existing tourism markets,

ecotourism opportunities, and potential benefits to disadvantaged or vulnerable groups in the

following locations in the Karnali River Basin (completed in Y4):

● Rara National Park (lake) and Shey Phoksundo National Park (lake) for guiding, birding, homestay, and handicrafts;

● Middle Karnali for homestays, rafting and sport fishing; ● Lower Karnali for rafting and sport fishing (river section 5: Geruwa); ● Thuligaad rafting and sport fishing (river section 4: Daab to Chisapani); and ● Seti Confluence for guiding, homestay, and sport fishing.

2) In a limited number of communities where viable ecotourism opportunities exist, Paani will build

capacity for ecotourism.

● First, using targeted capacity building directed from private sector hospitality and other

product development experts to grantees who propose to conduct ecotourism training to

ensure consistency and quality.

● Second, directing grantees to provide and deepen capacity building in targeted locations as

identified by the market-research study above.

● Establish an ecotourism promotion center through the Karnali Basin Conservation Foundation

(KBCF).

3) In communities within or adjacent to national parks, Paani will identify how to adapt existing

governance and policy tools, such as buffer zone use policies and concession management

practices, to direct more benefits to local communities.

Expected outcomes for ecotourism integration in Y5 include: identification of ecotourism

opportunities that directly support community livelihoods, in particular those communities affected by

COVID-19, such as migrant returnees and other marginalized populations. Ecotourism opportunities

will also lead to improved aquatic biodiversity in high value conservation areas so that they can be

quantified and disseminated to the private sector, local governments, and communities as investment

opportunities.

Fisheries Cooperatives Action Plan

As part of Paani’s goal to create a comprehensive river co-management process for replication, Paani

will deepen work in Paani’s four targeted watersheds to include integration of fisheries cooperatives.


The strategy for Y5 includes:

1) Engage DevWorks fisheries experts to develop business case of capture fisheries, aquaculture and

fisheries-based ecotourism in the Karnali River Basin from September – November 2020. The

strategy includes:

● Develop methodology for CAS and conduct pilot case study of CAS to inform capture

fisheries business case.

● Conduct scoping study, pilot case studies to develop business cases of capture fisheries,

aquaculture and aquatic resource-based ecotourism.

2) Use grants, STTA, and Paani expertise to:

● Support in the formation of fish cooperative involving the CAACG.

● Facilitate the development of guidelines for cooperative operation.

● Conduct capacity building trainings on implementation of cooperative activities including

business and operations plans, accounting, fish processing, and fisheries markets.

● Establish a fish preservation and processing facility for cooperatives where indicated.

● Conduct consultation with the Cooperative Office and Livestock & Fisheries Office from the

Provincial Government to establish linkages with fish cooperatives for technical and

managerial support.

● Develop joint monitoring mechanisms for cooperative operations and support to CAACG for

conservation activities.

Expected outcomes for fisheries cooperatives formation in Y5 will be:

● Four completely executed river groups formed (i.e. groups with the legal right to implement

AABCA and CFMG provisions).

● One lake site plan developed.

● 35 CAACGs registered and river stretches handed over to them for management in six

watersheds.

● Business cases serve as decision support tools to identify investment opportunities in fisheries

and aquaculture that generate green jobs, increase income opportunities, and strengthen

livelihoods options.

Integrated Fish Farming (IFF)

The GON enforced nationwide lockdown, imposed to minimize COVID-19 spread, threatens fishery

resources due to increased unemployment and thus decreased income and livelihood opportunities

caused by the impacts of COVID-19. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are increased fishing

pressures (due to overfishing) driven by unemployment and congregation of people in rural areas of

Middle Rapti watershed. To ease pressures, in Y5, Paani will promote labor-intensive interventions

that directly contribute to local food security and income and create job opportunities that indirectly

reduce over exploitation of fishery resources, conserve wild habitats and keystone fish species. Paani

will achieve this through:

● Promotion of small-scale Integrated Fish Farming (IFF), post-harvest processing, and

developing and/or connecting markets to fisheries products;

● Promotion of local skills and knowledge, mainly on traditional fishing gear production, and

● Mobilizing members of CAACGs and fish cooperatives and off-farm seasonal migrants in

technically feasible areas, recommended by an aquaculture feasibility study report and based


on site observation in Paani priority watersheds.

The strategy for Y5 includes:

● Conduct detailed technical study to establish IFF and Culture-based Fisheries (CBF) in select

watersheds

● Facilitate and persuade local governments to provide public land to CAACGs for IFF

● Provide hands-on training in collaboration with resource persons in the local government to

the CAACGs on IFF farm design, establishment and production processes and methods

● Provide in-kind support for equipment and production inputs to selected community groups

for IFF operation

● Provide technical support to IFF enterprises in management and operation

● Support in the establishment of fish market center in each major fish catch site in targeted

watersheds

● Develop and produce Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on fish

recipes to raise consumers’ awareness of the nutritional value of fish

● Facilitate linkages with public and private agro-vet service providers

● Support the promotion of traditional fishing gear to the CAACGs

● Support CAACGs through wage labor for patrolling and monitoring of river stretches

Expected outcomes of these interventions in Y5 will be:

● Diversified livelihood opportunities through the promotion of IFF and CBF will provide

increased employment and income for fishers, migrant returnees and marginalized

communities while indirectly reducing pressure on river resources.

● Local skills and knowledge will be promoted through increased marketing of local fishing gear,

which is relatively safe compared to others to protect fishery resources.

● Mobilization of CAACG groups in patrolling and monitoring destructive and illegal fishing

practices in river stretches will have a direct positive impact on the protection of endemic and

threatened fish species and fish population in rivers.

B. NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER STRATEGY

Paani refined its sustainable hydropower strategy in Y4 based on an opportunity to conduct a national

system-scale analysis in partnership with WWF USA, a Paani subcontractor, which will build support

for energy development in Nepal that promotes prosperity and protects high value conservation

areas. This analysis utilizes a methodology pioneered by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) called

Hydropower by Design (HbD). The concept of HbD is that by shifting the scale of hydropower

planning and management – decisions about which projects get built and how they are operated –

away from single dams and towards the system scale, a country can achieve better ecological,

economic, and social outcomes.

WWF is conducting an SSP assessment to inform how hydropower planning and development in

Nepal can be balanced with other energy options and conservation goals. The project is led by WWF

with technical expertise provided by TNC, University of California Berkeley, Stanford University,

McGill University, and additional international independent consultants. The project will inform and

complement Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) river basin management planning and

ultimately support Nepal to make informed decisions about the proper siting and design of

hydropower projects.

By the end of 2020, the work resulted in a final report that includes:


● An Energy Options Assessment (EOA) for Nepal that will quantify the costs and benefits of

alternative development electricity systems, including an option that pursues increased

investment in solar, wind, and pumped storage.

● A report detailing the High Conservation Value Rivers (HCVR) of Nepal, based on

characteristics such as connectivity, sediment, fish habitat and other aquatic biodiversity,

cultural, social and economic values to communities.

● A report and decision support database on SSP for the Karnali Basin. The report will describe

the SSP approach and demonstrate how the decision support database can be used to explore

tradeoffs, make those tradeoffs visually clear and understandable, and to search for a set of

investment options (defined in terms of location, design and operation) that perform well

across a range of economic, social and environmental objectives.

The system scale planning project provides Paani the opportunity to create a more comprehensive

and strategic approach to basin scale sustainable hydropower development that aligns efforts of the

SAs for sustainable hydropower, policy, advocacy, and river basin management.

1) Increase GON potential uptake of system scale planning approaches through

increased stakeholder participation in the sustainable hydropower analysis and

planning project.

Early in Y4, Paani and WWF, in collaboration with WECS and Ministry of Forest and Environment

(MoFE), organized a two-day national consultative workshop on Paani Sustainable Hydropower

Development (SHD) initiatives, which included the initial informative sessions on three studies (EOA,

HCVR and SSP), Paani’s collaboration with IPPAN and International Finance Corporation (IFC) on

capacity building and promotion of standards. The workshop concluded with formation of an advisory

committee for the HCVR assessment, which convened five times in Y4. The group agreed on the

following definition:

A High Conservation Value River is a clean, highly connected or free-flowing river or stretch that acts as

a lifeline, maintaining ecosystem services for present and future generations, providing refuge and habitat

for high levels of aquatic biodiversity, and supporting important socio-cultural values.

In addition, following a joint field trip with WECS and USAID, and WECS-convened meetings with

Paani, USAID, World Bank/Tratebel, and other GON stakeholders, WECS committed to

incorporating aquatic biodiversity conservation in the upcoming National Water Resource Policy and

to use Paani-produced information in its River Basin Master Plans, Strategic Environmental and Social

Assessments (SESA) and Hydropower Master Plan. WECS also encouraged Paani and Tractebel to

work together and exchange data/information to avoid duplication and complement each other's

work. As a result, Tractebel is building on the initial HCVR results shared by Paani in its preparation

of baseline data for the Koshi River Basin Planning. Tractebel shared data for the Hydropower Master

Plan it is developing, which WWF is reviewing for use in the EOA. Paani also held a midterm webinar

with stakeholders in Nepal to update them on the progress of the three studies and to solicit

feedback. In Y5, Paani will continue to engage GON in advisory group meetings, consultations and

webinars to share further results.

2) Align Paani’s advocacy and capacity building activities for sustainable hydropower

with the system scale planning effort.

Nepal has had some limited success with communities advocating for better local outcomes from

hydropower development. However, Nepal lacks a strong national CSO or advocacy base to voice

concerns for how the country develops hydropower at the national scale. In Y4, Paani finalized the


Advocacy Plan for Sustainable Hydropower and an associated training curriculum on advocacy for

CSOs. Paani also finalized the English and Nepali content for the CSO guidelines, which provides an

overview of terminology, legal frameworks and basic advocacy tools related to hydropower, roads and

irrigation. In Y5, Paani will finalize the layout and graphics, publish and roll out the guide to Paani

grantees and other CSOs affected by infrastructure development in their watersheds.

3) Use Paani’s USAID communication strategy to share case studies and learning.

In Y4, Paani finalized its Sustainable Hydropower Advocacy Plan, which provides a comprehensive framework for all of Paani’s SHD work so that the project’s SHD products are viewed as complementary components of an overall national hydropower strategy for Nepal, rather than one off resources. Paani had planned on holding an International Hydropower Seminar in Y5 to share results on its SHD work. However, this activity was canceled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns and travel restrictions. Instead, in Y5, Paani will hold a webinar with GON and other decision makers on the SSP, HCVR and EOA to share, get buy-in and finalize results. The communications team will also further refine a dissemination plan to share outcomes of the SHD products, including:

● 3 analytical reports (HCVR, EOA and SSP)

● 2 tools for HCVR, one tool for SSP

● 2 guides (EFRC and CSO)

● 1 environmental and social monitoring checklist

C. A COMPREHENSIVE CASE STUDY FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ROAD DESIGN

Paani refined its approach to rural roads and mining based on the realization that adopting guidelines

alone does not directly lead to better road practices. It is well known that despite the threats roads

and mining development have on watershed health and public safety, current practices continually fail

to comply with existing rules and guidelines required by the Government of Nepal. Paani identified

three principles, but not necessarily equal, drivers for why best practices are not followed for rural

roads.

1) The GON has yet to establish the institutional oversight and standards at the provincial level to

support local governments with technical infrastructure design.

2) The socio-economic and political pressures for improving quality of life, livelihoods, and

development opportunity at the local, provincial, and national scale is overriding any

environmental or public safety concerns.

3) The lack of knowledge and technical expertise at the local level results in heavy equipment

operators acting as road engineers during construction.

In Y3, Paani developed a new contractual partnership with Scott Wilson Nepal (SWN). They provided

engineering technical assistance for an environmentally friendly road design model demonstration

project on two sites in the Middle Karnali watershed implemented early in Y4. They conducted a

series of awareness campaigns on Environmentally Friendly Road Construction (EFRC) by developing

and disseminating IEC materials. They also supported 15 local governments (in West Seti, Middle

Karnali and Jhimruk watersheds) develop municipal level EFRC guidelines. Eight local governments

endorsed and have allocated funds to apply the guidelines, and Paani has continued to follow up with

them through Y4 Q4.

Paani is working to integrate its different activities to develop a stronger proof of concept


demonstration, not only of the technical feasibility and ecological benefits of environmentally friendly

infrastructure, but also of the social, economic, and political value of higher quality rural roads.

In Year 5, Paani will

1) Support local governments with the adoption of EFRC guidelines.

● Follow up on the endorsement of the EFRC guidelines in the remaining local governments and

ensure all local governments’ road construction matches their fund allocation in year four and

ensure they are following the EFRC guidelines.

2) Build local government and user group understanding of the benefits and feasibility of

sustainable infrastructure.

● Complete the CSO guide for environmentally friendly infrastructure which provides advocates

with knowledge about the technical and environmental benefits of good road design.

● Disseminate IEC materials developed by SWN through grantees.

3) Disseminate a case study on the technical, social, environmental, financial, and

political viability of Environmentally Friendly (EF) roads.

● The Paani team will create an end of project comprehensive case study on the benefits of

environmentally friendly roads based on road demonstration, successful community adoption

of guidelines, and evidence of fiscal and budget benefits.

● The Paani communication team will develop a communication plan to share results at the local

and national level.

By June 2021, Paani’s expected outcomes will be:

● In the Middle Karnali, demonstration sites will be completed.

● 15 local governments will adopt EFRC guideline and at least 3 EF roads will be constructed in

three watersheds.

D. INFORM AND STRENGTHEN A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER VISION AND PLATFORM FOR THE KARNALI.

Paani will build on the lessons learned in Y3 and Y4 developing watershed platforms (8 to date) and

basin level forums, such as the Karnali River Basin Summit, HCVR advisory group and IFC workshop

series, to inform Nepal’s vision and capacity to balance development and conservation in the Karnali

River ecosystem through the following:

● Conduct outcome harvesting on platforms built at the watershed level to determine capacity

and willingness of local governments to carry platforms forward.

● Develop an engagement strategy to involve stakeholders interested in the Karnali River in the

national hydropower strategy, especially the system scale planning project.

● Disseminate key findings to stakeholders interested in the Karnali, including three reports

developed with WWF, i.e.:

o High conservation value rivers (HCVR)

o Energy Options Assessment

o Systems Scale Planning


SECTION 11: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report presents overall accomplishments and detailed reporting for activities during Paani’s

nineteenth quarter from October 1 – December 31, 2020.

The second quarter of program Year Five (Y5 Q2) was marked by a continued emphasis on COVID-19

response for vulnerable river communities and mobilization of Paani’s network of CAACGs in river

stretch co-management. The project supported eight CAACGs in two watersheds, and mobilized 17

CAACG to conduct aquatic resource monitoring, resulting in reduced cases of destructive and

unsustainable fishing practices. As part of Paani’s COVID-19 response activities, CAACG members were

provided wage-based labor in river stretch patrolling, agricultural activities and skills-based fishing gear

production, generating wages for local community households. In parallel, four local

governments leveraged a total of NPR 1,123,100 for aquatic biodiversity conservation and livelihood

activities during the quarter. These activities were complemented by the launch of the IFF program for

marginalized, fishing, indigenous communities, and seasonal migrant workers that capitalizes on

traditional agricultural practices. Paani identified local partners, beneficiaries and potential sites for IFF

intervention, and initiated hands-on training covering soil testing and fishpond construction. Paani will

accelerate IFF project construction and implementation activities in the next quarter.

In building resilience of river-dependent communities to the effects of climate change, Paani also

provided wage-labor opportunities to the local communities in climate smart vegetable farming using

greenhouses and irrigation ponds, generating 1,321 person days of labor for the local

households. Follow up with local governments in Jhimruk and Middle Rapti watersheds showed that

they had leveraged NPR 270,000 for CAACGs to support vegetable farming during the quarter. In

addition, to promote sustainable gravel mining practices, 80 monitoring patrols involving 59 members

of Community-Based Anti-Poaching Units (CBAPUs) were conducted along 33 km of the Karnali and

Mahakali rivers to monitor riverbed mining and the impact on aquatic biodiversity. Eight cases of illegal

mining were reported to the local governments and the activity created 400 person days of labor and

NPR 280,000 for the CBAPU members.

Nepal’s Bhagaraiya Lake and the surrounding communities also experienced significant benefits as a

result of Paani’s wage-based livelihoods assistance this quarter. In coordination with local government

and partners, Paani mobilized local community members in Bardiya District to manually and

mechanically remove invasive plants from the lake, generating 458 person days of wage-based

employment and in income. The community members were also trained in producing

compost and silage from harvested water hyacinth from the lake, which along with restocking of native

fish species, will improve the ecological condition of the lake and provide long-term food security, and

livelihood opportunities. The lake’s rehabilitation and related livelihood activities such as silage and

compost preparation created a total of 1,550 person days of labor and NPR 1.04 million for local

households during the quarter.

Nepal reached a major milestone this quarter with the Government of Nepal (GoN) endorsement of

the National Water Resources Policy in October 2020, following more than two years of Paani support

to WECS. The new policy ushers in effective strategies for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and

watersheds, equitable utilization of water resources, and the need for socio-cultural and environmental

safeguards in the context of multiple water uses, including sustainable hydropower generation. In other

legislative developments, Paani prepared a draft of the Aquatic Animal and Biodiversity Conservation Bill


(AABCB) for three local governments of the Lower Karnali Watershed; the bill will be finalized in the

next quarter in consultation with local governments, fisher folks, NGOs and CAACGs.

At the provincial level, DSV Advisors (DSV) met with a number of key private sector stakeholders,

including WorldLink, to discuss potential collaboration and explore launching investments in the Karnali

River Basin with a focus on conservation through the KBCF, a nonprofit promoting biodiversity

conservation and economic development. As a result of the meeting with WorldLink, KBCF signed a

memorandum of understanding (MoU) with WorldLink focusing on development work in KRB and

envisioning the creation of the “Digital Karnali,” an initiative aimed at expanding internet access in basin

area communities. Moreover, in an effort to capitalize the KRBCF, Paani liaised with USAID’s economic

division during this quarter to help secure funds from DSV, the private sector support wing of USAID.

In another major development, this quarter marked the first time that High Conservation Value Rivers

(HCVRs) have been identified and categorized in Nepal. WWF and Paani worked alongside Nepali

experts from multiple organizations to identify and synthesize data for biodiversity, recreational,

livelihood, and social and cultural values. The resulting national-level HCVR assessment will be a key

source of information for government agencies and other stakeholders. During the quarter, a WWF-

hired vendor produced an interactive web tool to visualize the data and information of the HCVR study.

This platform is currently being hosted under WWF Nepal and after April 2020 will be transferred to

the Fresh Water Center of Excellence (FCOE) to be hosted by the Central Department of

Environmental Studies – Tribhuvan University (CDES-TU) by end of Paani.

In terms of knowledge products, Paani developed reports from surveys on fish catch assessment, fisher

livelihoods, and fish market and aquaculture, which can be used as resources to develop fisheries-based

business cases. The project further developed three model business cases for capture fisheries,

aquaculture and fisheries-based eco-tourism with the aim to attract community, private and public

investments while ensuring conservation of important fish stocks in the Karnali River System. Paani also

completed manuscripts for publication in various journals on the status of springs in the mountain

watershed of western Nepal; the conservation status of freshwater biodiversity in western Nepal, the

status of Masheer in the Karnali River System; diversity and aspects of bionomics, and an inventory of

fish biodiversity and associated threats in the Karnali River Basin. In an effort to reach and influence

more decision makers, WWF developed policy briefs from larger reports on the importance of HCVR

in mitigating development impacts; least-cost energy futures, including hydropower planning; and the use

of system scale planning to guide Nepal in making smarter choices about hydropower generation.

Finally, it is important to note that the COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect Paani’s programs due to

restrictions on gatherings and travel. As a result, Paani utilized virtual, web-based, and/or telephonic

means or the use of local partners to implement a variety of activities, including workshops, surveys,

trainings and orientations.


SECTION 111: ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION

This section covers progress on tasks under each strategic approach (SA). Participation broken down by

gender and caste/ethnicity for events and select activities across the program that are mentioned under

these SAs as seen in Figures 14 and 15.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1A: IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF CAPTURE FISHERIES

The goal of this strategic approach is to reduce threats to freshwater biodiversity and fisher livelihoods

by reducing poaching, destructive and illegal fishing, and overfishing.

The Y5 Q2 highlights under this strategic approach are provided below:

Paani supported the registration of eight CAACGs in two watersheds.

Paani mobilized 17 CAACGs to conduct aquatic resource monitoring, resulting in reduced cases

of destructive and unsustainable fishing practices.

Paani developed four knowledge products from surveys on 1) fish catch assessment, 2) fisher

livelihoods, and 3) fish market and aquaculture, which can be used as resources to characterize

capture fisheries and develop fisheries-based business cases.

Paani developed three model business cases for 1) capture fisheries, 2) aquaculture and 3)

fisheries-based eco-tourism with the aim to attract community, private and public investments

while ensuring conservation of important fish stocks in Karnali River System.

As a result of Paani encouragement, four local governments leveraged NPR 1,123,100 for

aquatic biodiversity conservation and livelihood activities of CAACGs and river resource-

dependent communities.

Paani supported CAACGs through wage-based labor opportunities by engaging them in river

stretch patrolling, eco-agro activities, skills-based fishing gear production, generating more than

NPR 2.206 million for local households.

Specific progress from Y5 Q2 is presented below.

TASK 1.1.1: ASSESS CAPTURE FISHERIES

SUB-TASK C 1.1.1. PREPARE FISHERIES AND BIODIVERSITY INVENTORIES

Biodiversity Assessment

In Y5 Q2, Paani finalized a report of an inventory assessment that catalogued fish biodiversity and

associated threats in the Mahakali, Karnali and West Rapti river basins. The report includes details on

fish biodiversity, including the status of flagship and endemic fish species; distribution of fish breeding

and nursing grounds, implications on the use of different kinds of fishing gear, threats to aquatic

biodiversity, and community perceptions to counter identified threats. The inventory identified ten

flagship species in three river basins that should be prioritized for immediate conservation due to their

economic and ecological value.

Fish Sanctuary Declaration Process

In Y5 Q2, Paani, in collaboration with Resources Himalayan Foundation (RHF) and CDES-TU, identified

biodiversity hotspots in Thuligaad and Middle Karnali watersheds for developing fish sanctuaries (FS) of

warmwater and coldwater fish, respectively. RHF then developed a protocol and proposal to declare a


fish sanctuary and conserve key species. The protocol defines the roles and responsibilities of the key

institutions, the decision-making process, whereas the proposal describes the specific species within the

identified habitats to be conserved. [Linked to task 4.1.3, details in SA 4a]

Catch Assessment Survey

In Y5 Q2, Paani conducted a fish catch assessment survey (CAS)1 and fisher livelihood and market

surveys in the Middle Karnali and Lower Karnali watersheds. Of the 905 fisher households operating in

these watersheds (identified in a frame survey conducted in Y5 Q1), 60 households each for CAS and

livelihood and 60 market champions were sampled for the surveys. Both stratified (for the CAS and

livelihood survey) and purposive (for the market survey) sampling methods were employed. Interviews

were carried out exclusively using mobile phones due to COVID-19 restrictions on movement. The

CAS survey revealed that 46% of respondents’ main occupation was fishing; the majority (81%) of

respondents fished for both cash income and home consumption; and 49% of fishing households in the

Middle Karnali have boats, compared to 25% in the Lower Karnali. The CAS estimated the significantly

higher catch amount (kg/yr) for fishers who possess a boat (mean 754 kg vs. 233 kg without a boat). As

a result of the survey, a total fish catches of 372 metric tons for 2019 was estimated (see report here).

The livelihood survey was conducted with fishers to characterize households, fishing practices and the

contribution of capture fishes in their livelihoods and income as part of a larger objective to develop

business cases on capture fisheries. The survey found that all respondent households have diversified

income sources beyond capture fisheries, with the major sources being agriculture, wage labor, business

and remittances, and their income sources changing across seasons. The survey revealed that over 60%

of respondents catch fish to sell in local markets and the majority of respondents sell over 80% of their

catch. The majority (over 50%) of respondents earn an income from fishing in the lean season, and over

60% of respondents have a seasonal income between USD 200 and USD 300 during the peak season

(see report here).

The market survey aimed to characterize the fish market and trade, including the volume and value of

fish traded in the study river stretches. The survey revealed that wild fish from the Karnali River are in

high demand in the local market, and fetch premium prices compared to other types of fish products.

The largest volume traded by survey respondents appears to be fresh/frozen river fish followed by

processed (dried/smoked) river fish (see Figure 3). The selling price of wild fish varies at different stages

of the value chain, i.e., NPR 500/kg of fish at first sale by the fisher, and traders sell at NPR 800/kg to the

next customer. The main actors of wild fish trading are hoteliers and restaurant owners (66% of

respondents) and fish traders including fishers themselves (30%). The survey showed that tourists pay

significantly more (mean NPR 1,677/kg) for wild fish from the Karnali River than local consumers (mean

NPR 744/kg) (see report here).

1 A CAS is an approach used to enable the characterization of capture fishery, including the total catch, the type of fish in the catch, and the level of fishing effort. A well-designed CAS provides basic data that can be used to estimate the status of fish stocks and the performance of the fishery.


Figure 3: Trade volumes of fish by main product categories in Middle Karnali and Lower Karnali river basins.

SUB-TASK C.1.1.1-2 BUILD CAPACITY OF FISHER COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE IN

ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

Aquaculture Survey

In Y5 Q2, Paani conducted a telephone survey of 15 commercial aquaculture farms in Rupandehi and

Chitwan districts, and eight small-scale farms in Dailekh District to inform the aquaculture business case.

The commercial aquaculture survey showed that mean productivity of carp was 6.9 MT per hectare and

pangasius was 33.4 MT per hectare, with gross revenue of NPR 1.9 million and NPR 8.4 million per

hectare from carp farming and pangasius farming, respectively. Benefit cost ratio for carp farming was

1.4, whereas for pangasius farming it was 1.7 (see report here).

Similarly, the survey of Small-scale Aquaculture (SSA) revealed that the fish yield was 9.1 and 19.4 MT

per hectare per year, respectively, for carp and African catfish. Net profit, which is the net of the

opportunity costs of owned factors of production, was NPR 1.9 million and NPR 5.1 million per hectare

for carp and catfish, respectively. SSA contributed to more than 29% of the total production for

household consumption, which is four times higher than the national per capita consumption (3.4

kg/caput). The survey outlines the advantage of integrating SSA in the cooperative-based capture

fisheries business model in term of meeting local demand of fish, enhancing the wild fish value chain and

reducing pressure on river fisheries (see report here). The information generated from these surveys

was used to prepare the aquaculture business case.

0

5

10

15

20

25

Fresh/frozen

aquaculture

Fresh/frozen river Live fish Other Processed river

* 1

00

0 k

gTrade volumes by main product categories

Fish traders Hotel / restaurant


Development of Business Cases

In Y5 Q2, Paani, in collaboration with DevWorks national and international consultants and building

upon the fisheries conservation framework, developed business cases for capture fisheries, aquaculture

and fisheries-based ecotourism (linked with SA 4a). The business case developed for capture fisheries

was based on the CAS study, which estimated the annual sustainable catch was 376 MT for the Lower

and Middle Karnali watersheds and is backed up by market data and livelihoods data. The business

opportunity envisioned by this assessment is the development of a new and innovative trade of high-

quality wild river fish from the Lower and Middle Karnali River to local and national markets in Nepal,

producing a high level of profit and a high return on investment.

The main focus is placed on developing appropriate systems and facilities to coordinate and operate a

suitable fish value chain, and on the design and implementation of a Fisheries Cooperative that operates

as a standalone fish processing and trading commercial enterprise. The business case envisages attracting

private investors, given the potentially high level of profitability and return on investment; government

(public) investors, which will likely support the initial establishment and operation of the cooperative

(loan/grant) through the creation of a development fund or a public-private partnership arrangement.

Investment options suggested by the business case are 1) small-scale processing operation (annual

capacity of 150 MT), with total investment of NPR 17.55 million (or USD 150,000), targeting the local

market, and 2) large-scale processing operation (annual capacity of 300 MT), with total investment of

NPR 46.8 million (or USD 400,000), targeting the national market. The investment scenario (fishery and

processing) would generate more revenue (70% and 213% for small- and large-scale investments,

respectively), at least more profit (rent) (3% and 57%), giving a fishery valued at over USD 17 million or

USD 27 million (capital value) respectively (Figure 4). The business case study recommended that

potential investors should consider future investments in the production and sale of high-quality wild

river fish products from Nepal, using a producers’ cooperative set-up (see reports here).

-

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000

4,500,000

5,000,000

1 2 3

US

D $

(1) Baseline investment (2) Small-scale (3) Large-scale

Total fleet costs Total fleet profit Total processor costs Total processor profit


Figure 4: Annual returns to investments on capture fisheries business compared to baseline (USD)

Nepal also has important potential to expand aquaculture given the suitable environmental conditions,

input availability and national expertise. Another business case developed in Y5 Q2 has shown the

possibility of combining wild fisheries and aquaculture to enhance each sub-sector. Combination of

capture fisheries and aquaculture represents a potential source of untapped opportunities for both

private investors and beneficiaries (individuals or communities) and/or public investors (government) to

produce, process and trade wild fish and farmed products to meet growing market demand, locally,

nationally and even internationally.

Development of the eco-tourism business case intends to enhance employment for local fishers as an

alternative livelihood option, and to use this as a mechanism to reduce the overall level of fishing from

the Karnali River given that there are concerns about the high level of fisheries exploitation under the

current free and open access conditions. The business case suggests establishing and implementing an

eco-tourism village and program under the umbrella of a fish cooperative, operating as a separate

commercial enterprise. The eco-tourism business case expects to reduce overfishing, through a

commitment to a 50% catch reduction incentivized by the provision of alternative employment and

income from eco-tourism.

These business cases will serve as decision support tools to identify investment opportunities in fisheries

and aquaculture that generate green jobs, increase income opportunities, and strengthen livelihoods

options. Paani will work with the Karnali River Basin Conservation Fund (KRBCF) to present these

business cases to entrepreneurs who will be invited to make investments while ensuring conservation of

natural fishery resources through continuing catch assessments by CAACGs beyond Paani.

Aquaculture Feasibility Study

In Y5 Q2, Paani, with the technical support of the Global Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (GIIS),

developed and prepared a draft report of a feasibility study of aquaculture and CBF in five mountain

districts (Kalikot, Humla, Jumla, Mugu and Dolpa) of Karnali Province. The aim of the study is to inform

the Karnali Provincial Government’s plans to develop aquaculture programs focused on livelihoods of

fisher and marginalized communities that are dependent on capture fisheries, thus reducing pressures

on freshwater biodiversity conservation in situ. The study identified more than 638 hectares of suitable

territory for warmwater aquaculture and 228 hectares for coldwater aquaculture development (see

tables 1 and 2). It also identified 192 km along 68 separate river stretches and several natural lakes as

potential hotspots to promote CBF.

Possible CBF interventions include ranching of indigenous species, habitat restoration and aqua-tourism

promotion activities that engage fisher and marginalized communities. Based on the study’s

recommendations, the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative (MoLMAC) has

made an initial investment to establish a fish seed resource center in Kalikot District and model fish

farms in Kalikot and Jajarkot districts. The study projects that up to 24,268 people residing in Karnali

Province could benefit from CBF interventions. Through a webinar, Paani shared the key findings and

recommendations of the study with MoLMAC, private sector representatives, including the Federation

of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other relevant stakeholders. In Y5 Q3, Paani will

hand over a consolidated report of the feasibility study as a guiding reference to the MoLMAC for the

development of an aquaculture plan and program for Karnali Province.


Table 1: Estimated areas (hectare) for aquaculture of warmwater fish species

District Scenarios of feasible land use for warmwater aquaculture

1% 2% 5%

Mugu 29.5 59.0 147.6

Kalikot 14.6 29.3 73.2

Jumla 79.8 159.5 398.9

Humla 1.5 3.0 7.4

Dolpa 2.2 4.5 11.2

Total 127.6 255.3 638.1

Table 2: Estimated areas (hectare) for aquaculture of coldwater fish species

District Scenarios of feasible land use for coldwater aquaculture

1% 2% 5%

Mugu 8.1 16.2 40.5

Kalikot 9.9 19.8 49.4

Jumla 21.8 43.7 109.2

Humla 0.7 1.5 3.7

Dolpa 5.2 10.4 26.0

Total 45.8 91.5 228.8

Integrated Fish Farming

To improve food security and enhance livelihoods, in Y5 Q2, Paani launched a support an IFF and CBF

support program by engaging marginalized, fishing, and indigenous communities, and seasonal migrant

communities (including migrant returnees) through technical, management, promotional and market

interventions. IFF capitalizes on traditional aspects of rural farming, integrating fishponds, small livestock

such as pigs, goat, duck and poultry; and vegetables and fruits into one highly resilient farming system.

Building on traditional systems, it facilitates energy recycling, with products of one component becoming

the inputs to another. Eight local Paani grantees (Sahara Nepal, MPDS, IDeS, SBS, SAEWCC, HWEPC,

RuDEC and MRDCC) have been identified to undertake IFF field level activities in nine watersheds (Mid

West Seti, Rangun, Lower Mhakali, Thuligaad, Bogatan Lagam, Middle Karnali, Lower Karnali, Jhimruk

and Middle Rapti). Paani also identified a technical vendor (Rupantaran-YAE (R-Y) consortium) through a

competitive bidding process to provide IFF trainings and technical backstopping to the local grantees and

local communities involved in the IFF implementation.


As an initial step, local grantees, in coordination with community groups and local governments,

identified communities that host CAACGs, returnee migrants, COVID-19 impacted households, women

and marginalized groups, as well as potential sites for pond construction and IFF intervention. Paani then

reviewed and finalized the inception report, which contains an implementation strategy and detailed

work plan, submitted by R-Y. In collaboration with the technical vendor, Paani also finalized an IFF

training plan, criteria and norms for pond site selection, and drafted the IFF training manual. Paani, R-Y

and HWEPC then conducted a tripartite field visit and review reflection meeting in the Middle Rapti

Watershed to develop a common understanding on selection of beneficiaries, site selection criteria and

norms for IFF and local water management (LWM), and to harmonize program activities of Paani, the

vendor and grantees across watersheds.

With the training plan and strategy in place, the vendor with support from Paani, conducted a 2-day IFF

training in Gadhawa Rural Municipality. The training was attended by 22 participants (8 women, 14 men)

representing eight CAACGs of the Middle Rapti Watershed, technical staff of HWEPC, and a livestock

technical expert from the local government. The training covered site selection, methods of testing soil

structure and profile, conditions suitable for pond construction; layout and design of ponds,

management of raising fish in ponds, and small livestock and vegetables on pond dikes.

Participants practiced soil-testing, layout and design of ponds at one of the potential sites proposed by

HWEPC. A demonstration was also conducted on methods of liming, manure application and feeding

fish in a nearby fishpond. During the review of training effectiveness, Paani advised the vendor to revise

the pre and post-test questionnaire, simplify technical specifications and amend the amount of time

allocated for some of the sessions for the upcoming trainings in other watersheds. In Y5 Q3, the vendor

will continue to conduct IFF training in the remaining eight watersheds.

Field Level Livelihood Activities

Paani’s continuous refinement of the co-management model focuses on developing an appropriate

operational system for governance and management of CAACGs while integrating livelihood

development. In Y5 Q2, Paani, through its grantees, provided support to CAACGs and farmers groups

Photos 1 and 2: Participants of an IFF training checking the soil profile (left) of a possible IFF site, and participate in a pond layout demonstration (right) in Gadhawa Rural Municipality, Middle Rapti Watershed.


in different forms of alternative livelihoods (see tables 3 and 4). Livelihoods support included provision

of conservation employment opportunities, which created 3,384 person days of work and NPR

2,206,100 in wages for local community members.

Table 3: Paani-supported livelihood activities in Y5 Q2

Livelihood activity Beneficiaries &

results

Grantee

Provided material (thread) and wage employment for weaving

traditional fishing gear

CAACGs, generated

200 person days of

wage-based

employment

Sohaha Bikas

Samaaj (SBS),

Provided wage support to CAACGs for river stretch

patrolling and monitoring of aquatic biodiversity.

Mobilized 22

CAACGs and

generated 313

person days of

employment

SBS, HWEPC

Provided wage support for the construction of recharge

ponds, eyebrow pit construction for micro-catchment and

water source protection

Local community

impacted by COVID-

19, generated 251

person days of

employment

HWEPC, Sahara

Nepal

Provided wage support for bioengineering promotion Local community

impacted by COVID-

19, generated 147

person days of

employment

HWEPC

Provided wage support for establishing irrigation pond and

green houses to support vegetable farming

Local community

impacted by COVID-

19, generated 1190

person days of

employment

KIRDARC, SBS,

IDeS, ECC, Sahara

Nepal, MPDS

Provided wage support for the establishment of water

collection pits

Local community

impacted by COVID-

19, generated 20

person days of

employment

KIRDARC

Provided wage support for the patrolling and monitoring of

mining activities

CBAPU, generated

160 person days of

employment

BAFER


In addition, Paani is also supported the Aathabis Municipality of Middle Karnali Watershed to draft river

rafting guidelines. Paani recommended to incorporate public, private and community models to develop

and implement water-based livelihood programs in the guidelines to support livelihoods of the local

community. Paani will share the draft guidelines with the municipality for feedback and suggestions in Y5

Q3.


TASK 1.1.2 BUILD CAPACITY FOR FISHERIES CO-MANAGEMENT

Formation and Strengthening of Local Institutions

In Y5 Q2, Paani continued to strengthen CAACGs by providing the group’s with registration support

and assisting rural/municipalities to adopt Aquatic Animal and Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Acts

(AABCA). Paani formed one new CAACG in Lower Karnali Watershed and helped register eight

CAACGs in local governments of Jhimruk (6) and Middle Rapti (2). Paani further worked to enhance

the capacity of these groups to monitor aquatic resources. Four CAACGs of Middle Rapti Watershed

have submitted the required documents to their respective rural/municipalities and are awaiting

registration. To date, Paani has helped form 101 CAACGs, of which 43 CAACGs across ten

watersheds are officially registered (see Table 5 ). In Y5 Q3, Paani will continue to support the

registration of other CAACGs with their respective local governments.

Table 5: An updated list of CAACGs

Watershed Status of CAACGs Apex body

of CAACG CAACG

formed in Y5

Q2

Total number

of CAACGs

Registered in

Agriculture

Section of

Palika/local

government

Registered in

LG under

provision of

AABCA

Ragun 6 6

Lower

Mhakali

2 2

Middle Karnali 10 5 1

Thuligaad 27 13 1

Bogatan

Lagam

3 3

Tila 9 2 1

Lower Karnali 1 15 2

Mid West Seti 4 4

Jhimruk 16 10 1

Middle Rapti 9 2 5

Total 1 101 10 43 4

Monthly Meeting of CAACGs

In Y5 Q2, 11 CAACGs in Jhimruk and Middle Rapti watersheds held monthly meetings to discuss their

monthly conservation action plans. The plans include preparation of schedules for monitoring aquatic

resources and biodiversity, patrolling overfishing and destructive fishing, implementing awareness

programs, participating in collaborative activities with local administrations, including local police offices;

and disbursement of CAACG savings as a form of community welfare.


Community Conservation Activities

In Y5 Q2, Paani supported the mobilization of CAACGs to patrol and monitor river stretches and

collect of solid waste from the riverside. Under the guidance of grantees HWEPC and SBS, the

CAACGs conducted 55 conservation river patrolling and solid waste collection events (l9 in Middle

Rapti Watershed and 36 in Lower Karnali Watershed) during the quarter. The respective local

governments played a catalytic role through their active participation during the patrols. The activities

generated a total of 313 person days of employment (including for 162 women) for the members of the

17 CAACGs.

Prior to setting out on the patrols, the grantees oriented the teams on the monitoring checklist, which

the teams used to documents the number of fishers present and the types of fishing gear and mesh size

used. The teams also informed locals who were engaging of illegal and destructive fishing practices about

the AABCA provisions that forbid such practices. In an encouraging development, CAACGs from the

Lower Karnali Watershed reported that the cases of electrofishing along their designated river stretches

had decreased sharply since the patrolling began. Kachali CAACG in the upper stretch of the Lower

Karnali Watershed, has continued to carry out patrols without external support, indicating that

communities are gradually becoming aware of the benefits of conservation of aquatic biodiversity in their

surroundings.

Photos 3 and 4: CAACG members patroll various river stretches and collect solid waste in Jhimruk and Middle Rapti Watersheds.


CAACG involved in enforcement of AABCA

Meanwhile, CAACGs in Jhimruk Watershed

continued to implement the fishing provisions

in the AABCAs and regularly monitor fishery

resources in vulnerable areas (e.g., fishing and

biodiversity hot spots). During one of its

patrols, the Bange Raha CAACG confiscated

unsustainable fishing gear (gill net) employed

for fishing by non-CAACG members, and

later destroyed it. They also informed the

other fishers about the specific provisions

made in the AABCA with regard to fishing

gear and fishing practices. During their

routine aquatic resource monitoring patrols,

CAACGs noticed that most of the

destructive fishing practices (e.g.,

electrofishing and poisoning) were occurring

because of poor awareness about the fishing provisions of the AABCAs. This suggests that

conservation legislation needs to be coupled with effective communication/awareness raising programs.

Continued Strengthening of CAACG Saving and Credit Scheme

In Y5 Q2, 18 CAACGs in Middle Rapti (8) and

Jhimruk (10) watersheds continued to

strengthen their saving and credit schemes to

support their financial needs, saving more than

NPR 374,260 and providing credit to members

at a nominal interest rate (see Annex, Exhibit

A2). Their savings have increased over 298%

within 16 months since the launch of the

scheme (see Figure 5). The growth of

CAACGs’ savings slowed down during the

COVID-19 lockdown period, which prevented

them from holding meetings and collect

savings. These schemes have helped build

strong relationships among the members,

encouraging them to continue to be members

and contribute to group objectives.

Local Government Support for Conservation

In Y5 Q2, Paani focused programs on aquatic resource improvement at the local level have influenced

local governments to leverage significant resources for motivating and mobilizing CAACGs to advance

conservation (see Annex, Exhibit A3). For example:

Airawati and Naubahini rural municipalities allocated NPR 50,000 and NPR 4,100, respectively,

to form and build the capacity of the Deurali CAACG and the Bahane CAACG of Jhimruk

Watershed;

Figure 5: Growth in savings (NPR) of CAACGs in Jhimruk and Middle Rapti watersheds.

Photos 5 and 6: In Jhimruk Watershed, a CAACG confiscates and destroys a gill net, which is a destructive fishing gear made illegal in the AABCA.


Jhimruk Municipality granted NPR 138,000 to the Bankala Raha CAACG for the installation of

hoarding boards and wall paintings with messages about biodiversity conservation in fish

hotspots and vulnerable fishing areas;

Gadhawa, Rapti and Rajpur rural municipalities granted NPR 208,000 to CAACG members to

start agrobusinesses as an of alternative livelihood in the Middle Rapti Watershed; and

Gadhawa Rural Municipality also contributed NPR 500,000 to Rawa CAACG and a women

group to construct a community office building.

These examples indicate that local governments are gradually realizing the value of aquatic biodiversity

conservation and leveraging available resources to strengthen community institutions for the

implementation of AABCAs.

1.1.4 Support extension-type continuing education programs

Paani continued its aquatic biodiversity conservation awareness efforts to enable government line

agencies to engage and collaborate on aquatic biodiversity management issues. Paani provided technical

expertise to 12 fisheries and livestock research and extension personnel from the MoALD, MoLMAC

and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) at various events, including during a results-

sharing webinar on an aquaculture feasibility study of Karnali Province and during IFF trainings. In Y5 Q3,

Paani will continue to engage government line agencies and relevant stakeholders in its technical

activities.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1B: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR WATER MANAGEMENT

The goal of this strategic approach is to reduce Nepal’s vulnerability to climate-aggravated conflicts

resulting from water supply scarcity and/or water quality issues, including infrastructure damage from

disasters, decreased agricultural productivity, food shortages, and health risks.

In this quarter, Paani through its nine local grantees in nine watersheds, implemented field activities in

close coordination with local governments and communities. The main activities included water source

protection and conservation through interventions such as construction of recharge ponds, recharge

pits and installation of bioengineering structures to improve water availability for drinking and irrigation.

Similarly, Paani provided technical support and wage-labor opportunities to the local communities in

climate smart vegetable farming using greenhouses and irrigation ponds. These activities resulted in

1,321 person days of labor, generating for the local communities, particularly COVID-19

affected families, migrant returnees, and marginalized groups. Meanwhile, local governments in Jhimruk

and Middle Rapti watersheds leveraged NPR 270,000 for CAACGs to support vegetable farming.

Similarly, local governments and communities in Jhimruk Watershed took ownership of the Paani

supported water source conservation projects installed earlier by FIRDO and committed to manage the

projects to ensure their sustained use. These water sources benefit over 1,000 households in Jhimruk,

Mallarani and Naubahini rural municipalities and Pyuthan Municipality in Jhimruk Watershed.

In other developments, Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality in Phoksundo Suligad Watershed received

long awaited permission from Shey Phoksundo National Park (SPNP) to install a solar water pump in the

village of Ringmo, with official approval received from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife

Conservation (DNPWC). Paani provided an in-kind grant to the municipality for the installation, which

will be implemented by Nepal Thopa Sinchai (NTS). The installation is expected to take place in April-


May 2021, and up to 60 households, national park staff, a local school, and local health post are expected

to benefit from improved access to water used for drinking and household level vegetable farming.

TASK 1.2.2. TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

ACTIVITIES

This quarter, Paani through its local grantees, implemented spring source conservation activities through

the construction of recharge ponds and recharge pits to improve water availability in three water

sources in the Middle Rapti and West Seti watersheds. In addition, Paani through HWEPC facilitated the

installation of a 180-meter-long bioengineering structure at Chamborla Lake to prevent erosion in the

Middle Rapti Watershed. The structure was installed in a vulnerable area of the lake and composed of

bamboo and sandbags to strengthen the riverbank and minimize water filtration into the soil. The

structures will contribute recharge potential of 409 m3 of water during the rainy season to improve

spring water availability to around 30 households for drinking and irrigation. At Chamborla Lake, 75

households are engaged in fish farming and depend on the lake for irrigating vegetable farms. These

activities generated total of 393 person days (128 women, 265 men) and NPR 201,200 for the local

communities.

Table 6: Field level activities for LWM

Grantee Watershed

Activity/intervention

Details Person days employment

HWEPC Middle Rapti

Water source protection and catchment conservation in Raanibaas Community Forest area

Total 10 recharge ponds: 192 m3 of potential for water recharge

156 (M 130, F 26)

6 recharge ponds: 144 m3 @24 m3/pond

4 recharge ponds: 48 m3 @12 m3/pond

HWEPC Middle Rapti

Bioengineering to support and protect Chamborla lake from bank cutting

Total of 180 m long using Bamboo watling and sandbag

147 (M 60, F 87)

SAHARA Nepal

West Seti Water source protection

Total of 4 recharge ponds: 192 m3 of potential water recharge @ 48 m3/pond

90 (M 75, F 15)

Total of 50 eyebrow pits: 25 m3 @ 0.5 m3/pit

Total

Recharge ponds: 14 393 (M 265, F 128)

Eyebrow pits: 50

Potential water recharge: 409 m3

Bioengineering: 180 m


TASK 1.2.3: DEVELOP AND PROMOTE CLIMATE-SMART BEST MANAGEMENT

PRACTICES

Through its local grantees and IFF vendor in eight watersheds, Paani conducted hands-on training on

climate-smart vegetable farming for a total of 289 participants (157 women, 123 men) from vulnerable

and COVID-19 affected communities, including migrant returnees, the poorest households, women-

headed households and members of CAACGs to support their income and livelihoods (see the table

below for details). The hands-on trainings focused on the use of irrigation ponds, greenhouses, and

water management technologies such as drip irrigation. Paani’s grantees worked closely with the

respective local governments and stakeholders in selecting targeted beneficiaries and maintaining

COVID-19 safety protocols (e.g., physical distancing, use of masks and sanitizers) as stipulated by the

GoN and local governments.

Table 7: Hands-on training on climate smart vegetable farming

Grantee/Vendor Watershed Participants (Total) Female Male

MPDS Rangun 30 11 19

KIRDARC Lower Karnali 29 26 3

KIRDARC Middle Karnali 67 27 40

SBS Lower Karnali 17 8 9

SAHARA Nepal West Seti 12 4 8

HWEPC Middle Rapti 82 62 20

IDES Thuligaad 31 8 23 Rupantaran-YAE (IFF vendor) Middle Rapti 21 11 10

Total 289 157 132

In addition to providing trainings, Paani grantees supported

vulnerable community groups by supporting the

establishment of vegetable farms to improve their

livelihoods. The activity involved wage-based labor to set

up greenhouses and dig irrigation ponds and collection pits.

The work required a total of 928 person days of labor,

generating in wages for the beneficiaries. For

further details of these livelihood activities, see the table 8.

Complementing this activity, Paani’s grantee KIRDARC

installed four notice boards in the Lower Karnali

Watershed (Thakurbaba and Madhuwan municipalities) that

included contact details of agriculture service providers and product marketers to support production

and management of agriculture products for local farmers. This will help connect potential beneficiaries

of climate-smart vegetable farming with agriculture services.

For the last two years, Mr. Sukhlal Sonaha worked in Dubai but he had to return because of the pandemic. With no job, he did not have any source of

income. SBS selected him for the wage-based labor opportunity involving the

construction of a poly house. He worked for three days and earned NPR

2,100. Even though small, he was appreciative of the income given his

vulnerable situation.


Table 8: Paani’s support to vulnerable community groups by supporting the establishment of vegetable farms to improve their livelihoods

Grantee Watershed

Activity/intervention

No

Person days employment

Male Female

SBS Lower Karnali

Setting up greenhouse for vegetable farming

10 100 78

22

KIRDARC

Lower Karnali


4 40 31 9

KIRDARC

Middle Karnali


20 143 99 44

Establishing irrigation pond

8 205 113 92

IDES Thuligaad


8 80 58 22

Establishing irrigation pond

4 100 60 20

MPDS Rangun Setting up greenhouse for vegetable farming

8 120 64 56

SAHARA Nepal

West Seti Setting up greenhouse for vegetable farming

12 120 108 12

KIRDARC

Middle Karnali

Water collection pits for kitchen gardening

10 20 4 16

Total 928 635 293

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1C: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR REGULATION AND

MANAGEMENT OF ROADS AND MINING

The desired outcome of this strategic approach is to reduce watershed degradation resulting from

sedimentation and landslides by reducing the negative impacts of 1) rural roads and 2) unregulated and

unsustainable aggregate mining.

In this quarter, Paani grantee BAFER began its activities (following its approval in September 2020) to

promote sustainable gravel mining practices in the Lower Karnali and Lower Mahakali watersheds.

BAFER worked with six local governments (4 in Lower Karnali, 2 in Lower Mahakali watershed) and

engaged over 60 government officials in discussing the regulation of mining practices. BAFER deployed

59 community monitors (25 women, 34 men) to monitor ongoing mining activities along 33 km of key

river stretches of the Karnali and Mahakali rivers (24.5 km in Karnali, 8.5 km in Mahakali), which

provided a total of 400 person days of local employment as a source of immediate income and

livelihood support. BAFER reported eight cases of illegal mining to the concerned local governments.


TASK 1.2.1: CLIMATE-SMART ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTALLY-

FRIENDLY (EF) GRAVEL MINING

BAFER conducted six coordination meetings with the six participating local governments (Tikapur and

Lamkichuha municipalities, Janaki and Mohanyal rural municipalities in the Lower Karnali Watershed,

and Bhimdatta and Mahakali municipalities in Lower Mahakali Watershed) to discuss issues of

unsustainable mining and seek government support in regulating them.

Based on the checklist for monitoring of unsustainable mining activities, prepared in consultation with

Paani, BAFER trained a total of 63 participants (26 women, 37 men) from Paani’s network of CBAPUs

of the Lower Karnali and the Lower Mahakali watersheds. Following the training, a total of 80 patrols

were launched, involving 59 monitors along different river stretches of Karnali and Mahakali rivers. The

monitors used pre-prepared checklists to document ongoing practices of riverbed mining, the impact of

mining on aquatic biodiversity, and the status and implementation of Initial Environmental Examinations

(IEEs) and Environmental Monitoring Programs (EMPs) and monitoring by the local governments.

Altogether, the events created 400 person days of wage-labor (186 women days, 214 men days),

generating for the participants during this quarter.

Among the key findings, the monitoring groups found that Tikapur Municipality has not yet released a

contract for mining in Karnali as the IEE still in progress. However, without permission, gravel from the

river was being collected and deposited at the riverbank. BAFER coordinated with the Mayor of the

Municipality and informed him about the situation and he has assured that he would look into the

situation, stating that the municipality would not allow anyone to extract gravel without legal

permission. In addition, the monitoring groups observed haphazard collection of river aggregates in

Janaki Rural Municipality and Lamkichuha Municipality, where the local governments have already issued

contracts for mining. There were no markings at the gravel mining sites or for sites with IEEs.

Contractors were excavating river aggregates using excavators at different sites and a number of

tractors and trippers were in use. Mahakali and Bhimdutta municipalities have not released tenders for

mining yet, so they are collecting royalties from the Mahakali river. They have an agreement in place

whereby 68% of the profit will go to Bhimdutta Municipality and 32% profit will be given to Mahakali

Municipality, and the IEE process will be implemented by the Bhimdutta Municipality. Nevertheless,

many people were observed collecting river aggregates and depositing at the various sites of the

Mahakali river for future sale to contractors.

BAFER experienced challenges in monitoring due to many large stretches of Karnali River and hostility

perceived by miners on the monitoring activities. In particular, they found that there was no follow up

on the IEEs; there were no markings for the excavations; and monitoring from the local government is

very weak. Moreover, the miners asked the monitors why and where the monitoring groups are

reporting their mining activities and requested not to report their activities to the local governments.

They also requested not to be photographed.

To achieve greater government buy-in and ownership in the regulation of riverbed mining, BAFER

conducted six one-day orientation sessions on Policy, Environment and Practices of Gravel Mining for 72

local government representatives (21 women, 51 men) of six local governments (listed above). Each

orientation program covered topics on Environment Aspects, Environmental Laws and Regulations,

Roles and Responsibilities of the Local Government in Environmental Studies, Challenges and

Opportunities in River Material Extractions. It further covered relevant areas of the Environment


Protection Act (2019), Environment Protection Rules (2020), Local Government Operation Act (2018),

Far West Province Environment Protection Ordinance (2020), Brief Environmental Study and Initial

Environmental Examination Procedure (2020), Far West Province River Based Material Management

Procedure (2019) and Standards for Extraction, Marketing and Management of Stone, Gravel and Sand

(2020). At the end of the sessions, participants mentioned that they will apply their learnings in

regulating mining activities in their respective rural/municipalities.

As a mechanism for monitoring of mining activities, BAFER formed five joint monitoring committees at

the local government level, one each for five local governments. They were formed on the basis of the

Far West Province River Based Material Management Procedure (2019) with a mandate to monitor and

regulate illegal mining in the respective local governments. (Bhimdutta Municipality had already formed

its joint monitoring committee.) The committees comprise 10-12 members, including a chairperson of

the local governments, deputy mayor, ward chairpersons, forest office, local police, local media, local

engineer, and a member of a local group, such as a buffer zone user committee. Joint monitoring will be

conducted in the next quarter. BAFER continued to hold coordination meetings with the local

governments in both watersheds to engage members and leverage their support for conservation

activities.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1D: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES

The goal of this strategic approach is to minimize watershed degradation and its negative impact on

natural resource-based livelihoods and freshwater biodiversity by reducing the population of non-native

fish species and the total area affected by invasive plant species.

This quarter, Paani tailored its implementation approach to enhance the capacity of the local

community members, promote labor-intensive interventions, present economic incentives for

community involvement in invasive control, and introduce herbivorous fish as biological control agents

that directly contribute to local food security and income. Paani supported local communities through

wage-based labor by engaging them in the preparation of compost and silage from water hyacinth,

manual cleaning of invasive aquatic plants, and restocking of native fish species in local waterbodies,

specifically the Bhagaraiya Lake. These activities generated income worth over NPR 1.04 million for

local households and directly reduced the spread of invasive in aquatic environments. Through these

activities, including the operation of a water mower, approximately eight hectares of water surface area

of Bhagaraiya Lake was cleaned. In Y5 Q3, Paani will continue to engage local communities to

implement activities that improve the productivity and aesthetic value of wetlands.

Specific progress from Y5 Q2 is reported below.

TASK 1.1.3: IMPROVE CAPACITY ON INVASIVE CONTROL

SUB-TASK C1.1.3-10 PROVIDE TRAINING ON PROVEN METHODS

Paani, through its grantee FEDWASUN, provided a one-day hands-on training on the preparation of

water hyacinth-based organic compost to 15 members (7 women, 8 men) of the Bhagaraiya Lake

Management Committee (BLMC) in the Lower Karnali Watershed. The training covered methods of

compost pit preparation, required raw materials, curing and treatments of water hyacinth, inoculum


preparation for silage, examination of compost quality, the use of silage, and the process of constructing

of composting pits. The training was designed based on an analysis, conducted by Paani in the previous

year, that showed aquatic invasive plants such as water hyacinth could be used to prepare nutrient rich

compost, providing an economic incentive to harvest the aquatic plant.

To further demonstrate the process of preparing water hyacinth-based silage, FEDWASUN provided a

separate one-day training to the 15 members (10 women, 5 men) of BLMC. This hands-on training

involved methods of cutting, curing and treatments of water hyacinth, doses of fermentation additives

and silage use. Participants mentioned that the two hands-on trainings were useful in improving soil

fertility and raising livestock at low costs and controlling the spread of invasive aquatic plants in the lake.

SUB-TASK C1.1.3-6 ASSESS POTENTIAL INCENTIVES

Paani supported the local community to pilot the production of water hyacinth-based silage and

compost at the household level in Madhuban Municipality, Lower Karnali Watershed. Fifty-five

households were engaged in the production of silage from water hyacinth collected from Bhagaraiya

Lake and started to feed their livestock. The community found that water hyacinth-based silage is highly

palatable to large ruminants (e.g., cattle and buffalo) and to some extent for small ruminants (e.g.,

goats). Upon undertaking the activity, the community explained to the Paani that they could sell the

silage in nearby markets to replenish the costly concentrate feed for livestock. Thus, use of water

hyacinth-based silage will reduce the cost of livestock feed (for cattle and pigs) and improve the

livelihoods of the rural community. In addition to piloting the use of water hyacinth-based silage, the

community also started to prepare water hyacinth-based organic compost, the performance of which

will be evaluated against soil fertility by the community in the Y5 Q3.

The activities were implemented under the auspices of Paani’s broader COVID-19 response initiative,

which involves the provision of wage-based labor for venerable community members. Silage and

compost preparation created 420 person days of wage-based employment (including 248 women days),

generating for households. In Q3, Paani will further support the community

to make economic use of invasive plants as an incentive for their continuous and sustainable

participation in the removal of invasive aquatic plant from waterbodies.

Photos 7 and 8: Training participants prepare silage (left) and compost (right) from water hyacinth collected from Bhagaraiya Lake, Lower Karnali Watershed.


SUB-TASK C1.1.3-9 FACILITATE SELECTION OF CONTROL MEASURES

Community Mobilized for Rehabilitation of Bhagraiya Lake

As part of Paani’s activities centered on Bhagaraiya Lake this quarter, Paani’s grantee FEDWASUN

mobilized the local community in Bardiya District to rehabilitate the lake and its surrounding areas. The

cleaning effort involved the manual removal of aquatic invasive plant species such as water hyacinth,

pistia, and morning bush glory from the lake, and the mechanical remove of water hyacinth from the

offshore area using a water mower, operated by BLMC with Paani’s support. The removal of invasive

aquatic plants through manual and mechanical means created a total of 458 person days of wage-based

employment (including 215 women days), which provided in income to local households.

Cleaning of invasive plants improved both the productivity and the aesthetic value of the lake. In Q3,

Paani will continue to support the community in controlling invasive plant species from the wetlands of

Middle Karnali Watershed.

Photos 9-10: Bhagaraiya Lake before (left) and after (right) the removal of water hyacinth, Lower Karnali

Watershed

Biological Control Agent Used

In Y5 Q2, FEDWASUN restocked 15,000 fingerlings of native and herbivorous fish species as a

biological control agent in Bhagaraiya Lake. The ward office of Madhuban Municipality contributed an

additional 5,000 fingerlings as well. Native fish species such as Rohu (Labeo rohita) and Mrigal (Cirrhinus

mrigala) were selected for their ability to uproot invasive plants and agitate the bottom soil.

Herbivorous fish species such as Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) directly feed upon tender parts

of water hyacinth. The procured fingerlings are being reared in an enclosed area of the lake. The fish

will be gradually be released into the open area of the lake when they become large enough to evade

predators (e.g., snakes and birds) and are able to uproot and feed upon invasive plants. Restocked fish

will help clean the lake from invasive plants and provide food and income for the local community

upon harvesting. In Q3, Paani will continue to support the restocking of native fish fingerlings in

invasive plant laden wetlands of the Lower Karnali Watershed.


Table 9: Local employment generation and support to livelihoods for community members engaged in aquatic invasive management in Y5 Q2

Activities Watershed Person Days

Women Men Total

Water Hyacinth-based

silage preparation

LK 120 60 180

Water Hyacinth-based

compost preparation

LK 128 112 240

Mobilization of local

community for Lake

rehabilitation and aquatic

plant removal

LK 215 243 458

Restocking of native fish LK 256 416 672

Total 719 831 1550

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2A: IMPROVE RIVER BASIN PLANNING

The goal of this strategic approach is to reduce Nepal’s vulnerability to conflict over water resources

and to protect its freshwater ecosystems through environmentally-appropriate water management,

including basin-level planning, sustainably-sited and designed dams, and minimizing negative impacts of

water diversions.

This quarter’s summary of key achievements includes:

Capitalization of the KBCF with support from World Link Communications, one of Nepal’s

largest telecom companies.

Completion of the HCVR assessment

Detailed progress in Y5 Q2 is reported below.

TASK 2.1.2: EXPLORE DEVELOPMENT OF NEPAL RIVER BASIN CONSERVATION

FUND (NRBCF)

Throughout the quarter, DSV met with a number of key private sector stakeholders to discuss potential

collaboration and explore launching investments in the Karnali River Basin with a focus on conservation.

Meetings were held with Pawan Golyan, chairperson of NMB Bank, Mr. Sunil KC, CEO of NMB Bank,

Mr. Rabi Rayamajhi, country representative of CDC, UK’s development finance institution; Ami Reza,

country director of DevWorks and Swechya Mathema, business development and communications

coordinator of DevWorks.

DSV also met with Mr. Dileep Agrawal and Mr. Keshav Nepal, chairperson and CEO (respectively) of

WorldLink, which is one of Nepal’s largest telecom companies. The aim of the meeting was to capitalize

on WorldLink’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities and establish an environment conducive for

investments for the fund. As a result, KBCF signed an MoU with WorldLink focusing on development

work in KRB and envisioning the creation of the “Digital Karnali,” an initiative aimed at expanding

internet access in basin area communities.


While KBCF works towards funding activities that promote aquatic biodiversity conservation, livelihood

opportunities, healthcare, access to quality education, and eco-tourism, WorldLink is expanding its

services to remote and rural areas in Nepal. Making the internet available to the under-privileged will

help bridge the great divide between those connected to the internet and the non-connected. Both

parties pledged to work together to achieve economic, environmental, and social impact through

employment creation and support to local entrepreneurs and medium and small enterprises. In addition,

both KBCF and WorldLink will support the promotion of local products and sustainable local supply

chains. This strategic partnership will weave opportunities together, ensuring that the people and

communities of the Karnali River Basin are digitally supported and inspired to pursue prosperity.

DSV and WorldLink’s collaboration for Digital Karnali was published in the Nepali Times

(https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/now-a-digital-karnali/). The article highlighted the collaboration with

Nepal’s largest internet service provider with the aim to bridge Nepal’s digital divide and take

information technology to the most remote areas of Nepal.

In addition, KBCF conducted a series of business literacy trainings for recently reintegrated migrants and

marginalized community members. This included one training for returned migrant workers on business

skills and training on customer service for hospitality sector workers and job seekers (9 women, mostly

from marginalized groups). Through the training, the participants learned about customer needs,

competencies, and the issues around customer service. The overall objective was to help beneficiaries to

develop conservation-related ventures for improved livelihoods. In November 2020, DSV also

conducted a financial literacy training (virtual) for a total of 37 local entrepreneurs, and professional and

small business owners (5 women, 32 men) from the Karnali River Basin. The purpose of the training was

to increase participants’ ability to conduct financial planning, develop saving habits and improve their

understanding of financial products leading to effective use of financial resources and services. The

training was prepared and delivered by Sabin Nepal, Financial Inclusion Consultant of ACCESS Advisory

Assn. Inc.

In an effort to capitalize the KRBCF, Paani liaised with USAID’s economic division during this quarter to

help DSV secure USAID DCA funds for the fund. DCA is the private sector support wing of USAID.

TASK 2.3.1: CREATE INTEGRATED RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLATFORMS

(IRBMPS)

In Y4 Q4, Paani reported that it had created five river/watershed management platforms in the Rapti

River Basin at the rural/municipality level in the Jhimruk Watershed and three in the Middle Rapti

Watershed to bring together stakeholders from different sectors including from local government,

federations, water user groups, NGOs, and CAACGs and identify common river basin challenges and

solutions. With the pivot in grants to address COVID-19 impacts and the ban on in-person gatherings

since the lockdown began in late March 2020, Paani decided neither to convene nor create new

platforms for the remainder of the project period. Paani is currently working on assessing outcomes of

this activity to better understand the results, successes (if any), and lessons learned to inform Paani’s

final progress report.

TASK 2.3.2: ORGANIZE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES

On October 7, Paani with WWF support, organized the 6th and final advisory group meeting for SSP

and HCVR to present updates on the progress on the HCVR study. A total of 37 participants (12


women, 25 men) representing the GoN, private sector, financing institutions, and experts attended the

meeting. Updates on the study included refined progress on water quality modeling, river classification

and prioritization, and policy applications covered in the HCV study. The group recommended to make

the contents of the study available on an interactive web platform with analytical GIS layers for use by

decision makers. Paani is currently developing this platform with support from WWF-Nepal and expects

(expected to be operational by Y5 Q3).

TASK 2.3.3: HOLD LOCAL AND BASIN-LEVEL INFORMAL ROUNDTABLE

DISCUSSIONS

As reported last quarter, Paani has ceased holding these roundtable discussions as a result of the pivot

to address the impacts of COVID-19 on local watershed communities. Paani is currently working on

assessing outcomes of this activity to better understand results, successes (if any), and lessons learned to

inform Paani’s final progress report.

TASK 2.3.4: PROVIDE BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION FOR

BASIN LEVEL PLANNING

The quarter marked the first time that HCVRs have been identified and categorized in Nepal. The

datasets and maps provide new insights into the location of high conservation value areas, both for

individual indicators and for summarized levels of value. WWF and Paani worked alongside Nepalese

experts from multiple organizations to identify and synthesize data for biodiversity, recreational,

livelihood, and social and cultural values. The resulting national-level HCVR assessment is the first of its

kind in Nepal and will be a key source of information for government agencies and other stakeholders

for providing biodiversity and climate change related data.

Hydropower development is being proposed on all the major rivers across Nepal and is a significant

threat to the diverse values of river systems. The HCVR maps show where those threats are most

serious. For example, the high values of the main channel of the Karnali and its tributaries would conflict

with several large-scale projects proposed for this basin. If these projects were developed, the impacts

on the river ecosystem and its conservation values would be significant. The Karnali is one of the last

free-flowing rivers in Nepal, with unique values such as providing a home for critically endangered

dolphin and fish species such as Golden Mahseer and snow trout.

In the previous quarter, Paani submitted and received approval for an in-kind grant to CDES-TU for the

establishment of the Freshwater Center for Excellence (FCOE), a publicly accessible online knowledge

hub for freshwater biodiversity research, data, tools and information that aims to inform river basin

planning. Paani held a kick-off meeting with CDES-TU in late September 2020 to review the objectives

and implementation plan on the grant. In Y5 Q2, after conducting a series of consultations with CDES

TU and technical team, Paani released a Request for Proposal (RFQ) for hiring of vendor to design and

develop the online interactive platform. Meanwhile, Paani also released an RFQ for procurement and

installation of IT equipment at TU’s IT and Innovation Center. The team visited the center to confirm

the current specification of the IT system and gather specifications from the technical team to feed into

the RFQ documents. Paani received proposals from potential vendors for both activities and began

evaluating the proposals. In Y5 Q3, Paani will hire vendors and will start developing the portal and start

the procurement process to install the IT equipment in Y5 Q4.


Paani and WWF produced a variety of targeted knowledge products along with final reports, including

concise power points, short policy briefers, interactive web platform, etc., based on the HCVR, EOA

and SSP studies in an effort to reach and influence more decision makers. The team developed policy

briefs on 1) HCVR Assessment Report; 2) Hydropower Planning in Nepal; and 3) SSP Report; and 4)

Decision Making Tool. During the quarter, WWF hired a vendor to produce an interactive web tool to

visualize the data and information of the HCVR study. This platform is currently being hosted under

WWF Nepal and will be housed in the FCOE knowledge portal by end of Paani in June 2021. On

December 11, the developer hired by WWF provided one demonstration (http://paani.wwfnepal.org/)

to Paani and WWF Nepal teams. Paani team is collecting collective feedback on the map tool and

revised content. The developer will work to revise the content and tool in Y5 Q3.

Through the web portal, information at a range of scales, including assessing energy options and river

conservation priorities at the national scale, will be made accessible with a decision support tool,

primarily focused on the scale of the Karnali River Basin. CDES-TU, Paani will store and disseminate

these products through the FCOE in Y5 Q4.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2B: IMPROVE LOCAL CAPACITY FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

The goal of this strategic approach is to develop the capacity of Nepal’s communities to be less

vulnerable to negative impacts resulting from disasters, including the loss of life, injury, infrastructure

damage, and economic hardship, by strengthening the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s

(DHM) hydro-met observation network, Emergency Action Planning (EAPs), and Environment Friendly

Local Governance (EFLG) framework.

In this quarter, Paani drafted four local government level Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans

(DPRPs) through the local grantees KIRDARC (Lower Karnali Watershed) and IDES (Thuligaad

Watershed) which is being reviewed for finalization. Thakurbaba Municipality in the Lower Karnali

Watershed allocated NPR 50,000 (~450 USD) to support the DPRP preparation.

TASK 2.2.3: SUPPORT DHM AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPROVE FLOOD RISK

WARNINGS

Paani supported four local governments (Thakurbaba and Madhuwan municipalities in the Lower Karnali

Watershed and Badikedar and Chure Rural municipalities in the Thuligaad Watershed) in drafting

COVID-19 sensitive DPRPs this quarter. In discussion with USAID TAYAR Nepal, Paani originally

designed these grants for KIRDARC and IDES during June/July 2020 to develop COVID-19 sensitive

Monsoon Preparedness and Response Plans. However, during implementation, both TAYAR Nepal and

Paani learned that the local governments desired broader DPRPs that encompassed most disasters such

as floods, landslides, earthquakes, road accidents, fires, and epidemics rather than only monsoons and

COVID-19. Paani consulted with TAYAR Nepal and received suggestions to prepare the DPRPs

accordingly. KIRDARC prepared one draft DPRP each for Thakurbaba and Madhuwan municipalities and

IDES drafted one DPRP each for Badikedar and Chure rural municipalities.

The DPRPs contain background information of the municipality, analysis of disaster risks, status of

disasters and their economic, social, physical, and environmental impacts, resource and capacity

assessment of the stakeholders and the sector wise disaster management plans. Main sectors include


coordination, search and rescue management; food and livelihood; non-food and temporary shelter

management; information and relief management; health and nutrition; drinking water and sanitation;

education and protection; physical infrastructure development and re-construction and COVID-19. Each

of these sectors have their management sub committees led by respective units of the municipality.

DPRP place an emphasis on those with physical disabilities, and children and women who are more

vulnerable to disasters.

Paani provided feedback and suggestions on the draft DPRPs to the grantees. The plans are expected to

be finalized in the next quarter. Paani will also review the revised versions of these DPRPs and provide

suggestions as necessary. Thakurbaba Municipality allocated NPR 50,000 for covering the additional cost

of the activity, and Madhuwan Municipality also signed a letter of commitment to cover any additional

costs during the preparation of DPRP.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2C: SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER

The goal of this strategic approach is to reduce Nepal’s vulnerability to climate-induced conflict over

water resources and conserve its freshwater ecosystem through environmentally appropriate water

management, including sustainably sited and designed dams, and minimizing negative impacts of water

diversions.

This quarter, Paani completed three WWF-led studies and made progress on a number of activities

under this SA, including:

Successfully completed a technical orientation webinar on how to ensure environmental and

social safeguards through monitoring of hydropower project development and operation in

Karnali Province.

Conducted an interdisciplinary monitoring webinar demonstration entitled, “Framework for

Demonstration of Monitoring Water Quality, Disaster Risks, Freshwater Biodiversity and

Community Impacts.”

Conducted interactive webinar and wider stakeholder consultation for sharing the near-final

draft results on “System-scale Planning to Support Sustainable Energy Systems and

Conservation of Freshwater Resources for People and Nature.”

Conducted WWF-led studies’ results sharing meetings and consultations with MoFE and Urja

Developers.

Developed an interactive web tool on the SSP, HCVR and EOA studies.

Paani continued to face challenges due to COVID-19 and related travel/gathering restrictions imposed

by GoN. Based on guidance from GoN and USAID, Paani used virtual rather than in-person platforms

to continue a number of activities.

Progress from Y5 Q2 is reported below.

TASK 2.1.1 SYSTEM-SCALE PLANNING TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

SYSTEMS AND CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND

NATURE

Although, the planned international seminar on sustainable hydropower development was cancelled in

Y5 due to COVID-19, Paani successfully conducted a wider stakeholder sharing webinar of three


important studies related to hydropower. On November 10, Paani and WWF Nepal organized an

interactive webinar for sharing the near-final draft results on “System-Scale Planning to Support

Sustainable Energy Systems and Conservation of Freshwater Resources for People and Nature.” The

WWF team presented updates on the HCVR, energy planning, and system-scale planning components,

and then synthesized the sections together for policy implications. A total of 108 people attended the

webinar from various sectors, including USAID, academia, the private sector, the WECS and related

federal, provincial, and local representatives of the GON. During the Q&A session, participants

remarked that the Paani/WWF work complemented ongoing efforts in integrated water resources

management in Nepal, and further suggested to include disaster risk and watershed management factors

within HCVR assessments. The final report on the three studies, a presentation slide deck, and four

policy briefs are uploaded here.

Webinar Summary Despite recent gains, approximately 20-25% percent of Nepali households remain off-grid. At roughly

267 kilowatt hours per year, Nepal’s per capita electricity consumption has increased significantly in

recent years, but remains among the lowest in the world, constraining growth and productivity. The

National Water Resources Policy of Nepal indicates that the country is only using 1.75% of its potential

hydropower generation. At the same time, supplying the 1,332 MW load of electricity has led to rapid

environmental degradation and reduced availability of water for other uses, especially for groups in

extreme poverty.

To address the push-pull dynamic between water use, including for hydropower generation, and

environmental sustainability, Nepal’s cabinet approved the National Water Resources Policy 2020

developed with technical assistance from Paani. The new policy ushered in effective strategies for the

conservation of aquatic biodiversity and watersheds, equitable utilization of water resources, and the

need for socio-cultural and environmental safeguards in the context of multiple water uses. The policy’s

Figure 6: A screen shot of WWF’s SSP-HCVR-EOA results sharing webinar on November 10, which was attened by more than 100 participants representingdiverse sectors of biodiversity, conservation, hydropower and government agencies.


approval represents an important achievement for USAID/Nepal’s IPS NRSS framework Outcome 1 for

implementing natural resource safeguard laws, policies, regulatory frameworks and standards. Future

hydropower projects will now be held to a higher standard that will not only ensure environmental

safeguards are in place, but also ensure international best practices for modern hydropower production

to maximize electricity production.

OTHER KEY UPDATES ON TASK 2.1.1 SYSTEM-SCALE PLANNING TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE

ENERGY SYSTEMS AND CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE

HCVR sharing meeting with MoFE

On October 14, Paani and WWF Nepal team, with assistance from WWF US, held a HCVR Assessment

virtual meeting with the MoFE and the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation (DoFSC) in

Kathmandu. The team briefed the government on the introduction and value of the HCVR study, shared

results from the study, and discussed its policy implications. The MoFE/DoFSC team offered several

suggestions to enhance the report, including 1) to include ephemeral rivers in the assessment of HCVRs;

2) to define the concept of a river system; and 3) to integrate feedback from local and provincial levels

regarding small rivers. All organizations suggested having a longer technical meeting in the future (date

yet to be determined).

SSP sharing meeting with USAID Urja team

Paani and the WWF assessment team presented an update on the SSP studies to the USAID Urja Nepal

Project team on October 8. The teams exchanged ideas on two key energy aspects: Nepal’s internal

energy consumption and export scenarios (for Bangladesh and India), and possible pathways for selecting

and building dams that are licensed out. Rob Tylor, CoP for the Urja Project, shared that Urja will work

with the Nepal Electricity Authority to establish a new power trade company in Nepal. The teams also

indicated that licensed hydropower projects that have secured Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) will

move forward, but smaller projects are having difficulties obtaining loans. The teams agreed that PPA-

signed projects can be categorized as “under construction” and the Urja team shared a list of PPA-

signed projects and their observations. It is likely that the GON, through the Viduyt Utpadan Company

Limited (VUCL), will continue developing projects, so Urja suggested these projects also be categorized

as “under construction.” With this information, the SSP study team will revise the dam’s database in its

report and continue discussions with Urja.

HCVR final Advisory Group meeting

Paani and WWF organized a sixth and final High Conservation Value Rivers advisory group meeting to

update the progress on the HCVR study on October 7. The updates included refined progress on water

quality modeling, river classification and prioritization, and policy applications covered in the HCVR

study. The team decided to make study information available in a format with analytical GIS layers that

will be uploaded to an interactive web platform for decision-makers to use. WWF has begun the vendor

hiring process for building an interactive web platform for uploading content related to the studies on

HCVR, SSP, and EOA.

Read the meeting minutes here.

Interactive web tool developed

In December 2020, WWF vendor Pathways Technologies Private Limited developed an interactive web

tool demonstrating GIS data layers, maps, and basic information of the three WWF-led studies (SSP,

HCVR and EOA). The web tool is designed as a basic information platform as well as an interactive


interface to navigate through different data and map layers that the study has generated. A demo session

of the draft tool was conducted internally between Paani and WWF team members on December 17.

Based on the feedback from this demo, the web tool is being updated and is expected to be finalized by

the end of January 2021. The web tool will be initially hosted through the WWF server until April 2021

and will be uploaded/transferred to the FCOE portal before the end of June 2021.

A beta version of the tool can be visited on following link: http://paani.wwfnepal.org/

TASK 2.1.4 DEVELOP MONITORING PROCEDURES AND TRACK COMPLIANCE WITH

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS

On November 12, Paani and Nepal Environmental and Scientific Services (NESS) organized a technical

orientation webinar on ensuring environmental and social safeguards through monitoring of hydropower

project development and operation in Karnali Province. The webinar was attended by approximately 30

people, including representatives of the Karnali Province Planning Commission, mayors from

hydropower-affected municipalities, and the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment

(MoITFE). As part of the webinar, Paani disseminated a compendium that includes an EIA manual,

monitoring tools, and good practices in environmental and social aspects of sustainable hydropower

development. Several people from the Planning Commission and Mr. Sher Bahadur Shrestha, the

secretary of MoITFE, further requested the design of a program to examine the social and

environmental monitoring statuses of hydropower projects that are completed and/or under

construction.

At the local level, Paani supported NESS to conduct one interdisciplinary monitoring demonstration to

evaluate water quality, ecosystem health, community impacts, disaster risk, and fisheries in Jhimruk

Watershed in the Rapti River Basin. Paani and NESS organized a virtual orientation workshop entitled,

“Framework for Demonstration of Monitoring Water Quality, Disaster Risks, Freshwater Biodiversity

Figure 7: A screen shot of the beta version of interactive web tool. The web tool is an information portal as well as an interactive platform providing a closer touch and feel of data generated from the three studies.


and Community Impacts" for 25 people in the Jhimruk Watershed on November 13. Participants

included representatives from local governments, citizen scientists, natural resource user groups and

CAACGs. During the webinar, the Paani and NESS teams demonstrated and provided instructions on

how to monitor indicators relevant to water quality, disaster risk, and biodiversity using monitoring

tools and techniques. Participants expressed interest in the tools and suggested that rural municipalities

purchase the equipment/tools and mobilize local conservation and user groups to monitor the

indicators. NESS experts pledged additional support (free of cost) to any persons interested in learning

more about using the tools. The monitoring tools and data will be uploaded to the FCOE portal.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 3A: STRENGTHEN POLICY AND PLANNING FOR

INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (IWRM)

The goal of this strategic approach is to increase the capacity of the GON and sub-watershed/basin level

actors to integrate climate change and biodiversity into policy and basin-level planning.

A summary of key achievements during the quarter is provided below:

GON endorsed the Water Resources Policy;

Development of AABCB for three local governments in the Lower Karnali Watershed

Development of the Environment Protection Bill and draft Environment Protection Regulations

for the three local governments of West Seti Watershed and five local governments of Middle

Karnali Watershed;

Revised and updated the Karnali Province's AABCB based on suggestions and feedback received

from the former Acting Secretary of Karnali Province’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law;

Paani, through its partner IUCN, continued to develop the Rara Lake Ramsar Site Management

Plan (RLRSMP);

Paani developed a list of issues that need to be included in the draft Guideline for patrolling of

river stretches for CAACGs;

Paani finalized the technical summaries for the following key Paani studies: 1) Political Economy

Analysis to Identify Champions for Freshwater Policy Change and Conservation of Aquatic

Biodiversity and 2) Strategic Consideration for River Conservation Legislation in Nepal (See the

summaries).


TASK 3.1.3: SUPPORT WECS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT BODIES TO REVISE,

UPDATE, AND DRAFT NATIONAL POLICIES

GON endorses Water Resources Policy

Following years of Paani technical assistance, Nepal reached an important milestone this quarter with

the GON endorsement of the National Water Resources Policy in October 2020. Paani supported the

WECS in organizing a basin-level consultation workshop on the draft National Water Resources Policy

in Nepalgunj in 2017. Altogether, 52 people, including local development officers and chief wardens,

members of federations, and CSOs from the 24 districts of the Far Western, Karnali and Lumbini

provinces participated in the workshop. Paani compiled and consolidated feedback on the policy from

participants and submitted to WECS in May 2017. The new policy ushers in effective strategies for the

conservation of aquatic biodiversity and watersheds, equitable utilization of water resources, and the

need for socio-cultural and environmental safeguards in the context of multiple water uses, including

sustainable hydropower generation.


Technical Support to Far West Province

Due to delays caused by frequent changes in the Far West Province’s MoITFE Secretary, the lack of a

clear response and commitment from the Minster, and the impact of COVID-19, Paani was compelled

to drop this activity. Even if the new Secretary is willing and supportive of a River Conservation Bill or

Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Bill, it would not be possible to develop it in a consultative and

participatory manner with the engagement of local stakeholders of the Far Western Province’s different

districts. Further, due to time constraints, it would not be possible to complete this by June 2021 when

Paani is scheduled to end.

Support local governments to develop Environment Protection Bill and Regulations In Y5 Q1, Paani developed and revised the draft of the Environment Protection Bill (EPB). Based on the

provisions of the EPB, Paani developed a draft of the Environment Protection Regulations in Y5 Q2. The

different Schedules of the Regulations, especially Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 relating to proposals

requiring preparation of a brief environment study and proposals requiring preparation of initial

environmental examination, respectively, will be drafted in Y5 Q3. Paani will develop these two

schedules, revise and update the regulations, and organize community consultation meetings and

consultation workshops on the Bill and regulations in the West Seti Watershed and/or the Middle

Karnali Watershed in Y5 Q3.

Technical support to local governments on developing new AABCB This quarter, Paani prepared a draft AABCB for the three local governments of the Lower Karnali

Watershed. Paani originally intended to organize community consultations and watershed level

consultation workshops to solicit feedback and suggestions with local stakeholders in June 2020, but the

activity was delayed by the constraints imposed by COVID-19. In Y5 Q3 or Q4, Paani plans to engage

community members on elements of the bill by organizing community consultation meetings in different

parts of the watershed. Once the suggestions are incorporated and the bill is revised, Paani will organize

a consultation workshop with representatives of the local governments, fisher folks, members of

CAACGs and NGOs.

Work with local governments to amend/revise the AABCA Paani plans to amend the AABCA, which was enacted by local government units in the Middle Karnali,

Middle Rapti and Jhimruk Khola watersheds. The Aathabis, Chamundabindrasaini, Dullu and Kamal Bazar

municipalities were the local governments that pioneered the AABCA development in June and July

2018. Since then, more than 30 additional local governments have developed and enacted the AABCA

with Paani’s support. The content and quality of the act have also dramatically improved and expanded

with input from more than 300 members of the community, fishers, CSOs, and representatives of local

government over the past two years. For example, the AABCAs enacted by the local governments in

the Middle Karnali and Middle Rapti watersheds have only 43 and 45 sections, respectively, whereas the

AABCA passed recently by other local governments in June 2020 contains 60 sections. Paani will help

amend the AABCA for five local governments in the Middle Karnali Watershed, two in the Middle Rapti

Watershed and three in the Jhimruk Khola Watershed in Y5 Q3 or Q4.

While amending the AABCA, the following provisions, among others, will be included:

Prohibition to have significant impact on aquatic animals and aquatic biodiversity.

Conduct IEEs to identify potential impacts on aquatic animal and aquatic biodiversity.


Formation of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Biodiversity Management Committee at the local

government level.

Establishment and powers and functions of the Aquatic Animal and Biodiversity Coordination

Council at the watershed level with representation of all the local governments of the respective

watersheds.

Formulation and implementation of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Biodiversity Management Plan.

Designation of aquatic animal conservation area or zone by the local governments.

These provisions have already been included in the AABCAs which the local governments of different

watersheds such West Seti and Tila Karnali have enacted.

Assist DNPWC and Rara National Park to Formulate a Wetland Management Plan for Rara Lake - A Ramsar Site This quarter, Paani grantee IUCN Nepal completed its IEE task with support from Lumbini Environment

Services Pvt. Ltd to conduct the IEE of the Rara Lake Ramsar Site Management Plan (RLRSMP), as

recommended by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and required

by Rule 3, Schedule 2 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2020. The IEE study team prepared the

IEE report, held all the consultations and conducted a public hearing on the IEE report in the RNP

Headquarters in October. After revising the IEE report by incorporating the comments received from

the stakeholders during the public hearing, the IEE report was submitted to DNPWC.

In addition, the IEE study team presented the IEE report at DNPWC on November 4, 2020. The

Director General, Planning Officer, Conservation and Education Officer, Ecologist of the DNPWC,

Conservation Officer of RNP, staff of IUCN and Paani participated in the program. The participants

provided general feedback to the study team to revise and finalize the IEE report.

On December 8, IUCN Nepal organized a virtual workshop to present and discuss the draft RLRSMP.

The Acting DG of the DNPWC chaired the workshop. Paani grantee IUCN delivered a presentation on

different aspects of the RLRSMP to the participants, who included DNPWC, Bird Conservation Nepal,

Rara National Park, WWF Nepal and the National Trust for Nature Conservation. During the

discussion, participants suggested various conversation measures, such as to conduct regular seasonal

monitoring of water quality; implement activities to curb the threat of solid waste generated from

infrastructure around the park; update Rara Lake health status regularly for the effective management

and conservation of the Rara Lake Ramsar site; and gradually remove infrastructure from inside the core

area of the park to the buffer zone area. Paani suggested developing a legal instrument for co-

management of the site and an action plan to implement the site management plan.

The Ecologist of the DNPWC, who is also the Chairperson of the Project Technical Committee

constituted to guide the development of the RLRSMP, said that this site management plan was the first

management plan developed for a Ramsar site in Nepal using the Ramsar Site Management Effectiveness

Tracking Tool, Rapid Assessment of Wetlands Ecosystem Services, and Rapid Capacity Building Needs

Assessment, which was recognized by the Ramsar Secretariat. Speaking from the Chair, Bed Kumar

Dhakal, acting Director General of DNPWC, expressed gratitude for the Paani program and IUCN

Nepal for their financial and technical support. He explained that DNPWC is planning to conduct an

assessment to manage sewage stemming from infrastructure around the park. He reaffirmed DNPWC’s

commitment to initiate the RLRSMP approval process in order to commence implementation, and

DNPWC has conditionally already approved the RLRSMP to conduct its IEE. Based on feedback


provided by the participants, IUCN will finalize the RLRSMP, coordinate with the stakeholders and

submit the final version of the management plan to DNPWC in Y5 Q3.

Develop Guidelines for Patrolling of River Stretches Handed Over to CAACGs by their Members During the quarter, Paani identified the issues that need to be covered by the guidelines for patrolling

river stretches. These issues included safety of participants during river patrolling; timing of patrolling

during the day; documentation and dissemination of the outcomes of patrolling; approach to be applied

while dealing with adult and minor offenders; reporting to ward office/local government office and

police; responsibility of local government and police to assist the patrolling team and implement their

findings; and compliance with AABCAs and other prevailing laws of Nepal, among others. Paani will

develop a draft of the guidelines/procedures based on these issues in Y5 Q3. It will revise the guidelines

by collecting suggestions from CAACG members on the draft of the guidelines. After incorporating

CAACG members’ suggestions, Paani will then organize a watershed level consultation workshop in Q4

to finalize the guidelines.

Karnali Province Aquatic Animal Conservation Bill The Paani team continued to follow up with Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative

(MoLMAC) officials and the Under Secretary (Law) in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law (MoIAL)

to make arrangements to consider the passing of the Aquatic Animal Conservation Bill (AACB) in the

State Assembly. As suggested by the former MoIAL Under Secretary, Paani further revised the Bill by

removing nine sections to ensure brevity. In December, while addressing in a webinar that was

organized to present the results of phase II of an aquaculture feasibility study of Karnali Province, the

Minister for the MoLMAC thanked Paani for its technical support to develop the AACB in a very

participatory manner and expressed her commitment to arrange the consideration of the AACB in the

State Assembly in the near future. Paani will continue to pursue MoLMAC officials and the MoIAL to

arrange to finalize the Bill and to consider it in the winter session of the State Assembly.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 3B: SUPPORT CSOs TO ADVOCATE FOR TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE HYDROPOWER DECISION-MAKING

Most of the tasks under this SA are linked to those under SA 2A and 2C. Results under the advocacy

strategic approach will contribute to Paani’s priority focus initiative on sustainable hydropower

development.

Main achievements during the quarter include the development of a river basin decision support tool

through an SSP exercise conducted for the Karnali River Basin that assessed the cumulative impacts and

benefits of multiple projects at a system level, rather than at the scale of single projects. The SSP is a

quantitative, multi-criteria and multi-project framework. Its purpose is to support decision makers in

making proactive decisions on the management of river basins, with an informed perspective of the

tradeoffs between different development options.



TASK 3.2.1: CARRY OUT ANALYSES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COSTS

AND BENEFITS OF HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT

In Y5 Q2 Paani, with WWF, finalized a river basin decision support tool through an SSP exercise

conducted for Karnali River Basin that assessed the cumulative impacts and benefits of multiple projects

at a system level, rather than at the scale of single projects. The SSP is a quantitative, multi-criteria and

multi-project framework. Its purpose is to support decision makers in making proactive decisions on the

management of river basins, with an informed perspective of the tradeoffs between different

development options. The SSP process does this by combining the outputs from the HCVR analysis,

which indicates rivers with high levels of biodiversity, recreation, fisheries, or other socio-cultural values

with the lowest-cost electricity-development options that are an output of the SWITCH power system

model.

SSP is run at a scale that is relevant for decision making, whether it be the river basin, electrical grid, or

national scale. The data used in the modelling correspond with the scale of the analysis and do not

require detailed site-specific information. SSP is not a replacement for site-specific studies but can

inform such studies, as well as investment and regulatory decisions, by making project options

comparable. One of the primary benefits of carrying out SSP at an early stage of national power

development planning is the ability to select from a full suite of potential options. SSP is likely to result in

better results compared to a development process in which individual projects are picked without full

knowledge of how they compare to others, how they interact with others, and what their combined

impacts and benefits are.

The intent of SSP, however, is not to provide one single answer that identifies the “best” hydropower

development solution. A single best solution rarely exists: most options (combinations of projects) will

have advantages but also disadvantages, compared to other options. SSP supports decision-making by

quantifying these inevitable tradeoffs. One way to visualize tradeoffs is to compare different options and

how they perform across several criteria, on so-called “parallel axis plots” (see reference scenario in

Figure 8 below). Each axis represents one criterion (e.g., total added capacity or km of river where

livelihoods are impacted), with the most desirable outcome at the top. Hundreds of options, each

represented by a line, can be compared based on where each line crosses the various axes. In the two

charts below, two different options resulting from different SWITCH scenarios are highlighted by dark

blue lines. Each scenario represents different projects (shown using red dots in the map) that are

developed in the Karnali River Basin. For instance, in the SWITCH Reference Scenario (Figure 8), there

are almost 1,000 km of river where livelihoods are impacted. In the Karnali-Secondary Scenario (Figure

9), the Karnali mainstem remains free-flowing, and there are less livelihoods impacted (e.g., the line is

much closer to the top for the Livelihood axis, fifth from the left, compared to the Reference Scenario).


Figure 8: Parallel plots for SWITCH Reference scenario demonstrating least cost combination for hydropower construction in Karnali Basin with combination of impact over different variables related to biodiversity, livelihood, socio-cultural, sediment capture etc.

Figure 9: Parallel plots for SWITCH Karnali-secondary scenario demonstrating a combination of impacts for no new dam construction in main stem Karnali over different variables related to biodiversity, livelihood, socio-cultural, sediment capture and others.

Outputs of the SSP analysis can help decision-makers, including government agencies, developers, and

financiers to identify combinations of projects that satisfy overall power demand at low costs and with

low environmental and social impacts. Users can filter, identify, and explore combinations that meet

their objectives (which could be quite different for a developer, an energy planner, a fishery official, or

other stakeholders). The SSP process makes the tradeoffs visually clear and understandable. Knowing

which combinations of projects are attractive in terms of costs and impacts can help the GON in

prioritizing their power generation decisions. As a more detailed process, SSP also works well at the

provincial and basin level. Specifically, the outputs of SSP can support the prioritization of future


hydropower investments. The most immediate opportunity is to contribute to ongoing WECS planning

processes, including SESAs.

Understanding least-cost energy options for Nepal can support future power system planning The EOA component of the project quantifies the costs of a range of scenarios that are designed to

satisfy Nepal’s future power demand. These scenarios are characterized by different technologies

(including new technologies such as solar PV, wind, and battery storage), demand forecasts, assumptions

on cost projections, and policy prescriptions and targets. The SWITCH model can be tasked with finding

optimal investment portfolios, based on existing infrastructure, future costs and demand, hydrology, and

available technologies (including all possible hydropower projects). The model simulates expansion of

the power system in four stages (2025, 2030, 2035, and 2040). As a least-cost model, outputs from

SWITCH always satisfy both the policy interest of keeping power costs low for consumers, and the

private investor’s interest in selecting competitive projects. By calculating the cost differences between

alternative generation and transmission investments, Nepal can carry out improved power system

forecasting and planning.

The three distinct components of the Paani project “System-scale Planning to Support Sustainable

Energy in Nepal” support specific planning processes in Nepal, each other, and can inform the positions

of stakeholders or decisions of government leaders. However, the utility of these components is

greatest when they are integrated. For instance, while the HCVR assessment provides crucial

information on priority rivers for conservation, combining HCVR with SSP and the SWITCH EOA can

provide decision makers with a range of options for how conservation can be consistent with cost-

competitive energy development. By incorporating and integrating the outputs from this project,

Nepalese stakeholders and decision makers will have a more complete understanding of future options

for energy development and conservation.

TASK 3.2.2: DEVELOP BILINGUAL CIVIL SOCIETY GUIDE TO HEALTHY RIVERS, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER AND STRENGTHEN

CIVIL SOCIETY VOICES

Working closely with the Communications Team, Paani’s STTA Illustrator completed the layout of the

English and Nepali versions of the Civil Society Guide to Health Rivers, with unique illustrations of the

guide. These were approved internally after a review by the communications and technical teams in

December. However, due to some inconsistencies on the fundamental structures of each chapter (road,

irrigation and hydro), the technical team decided to revise those chapters and add additional content on

stakeholder engagement and benefit sharing on infrastructure building. Technical editor, Christopher

Butler, re-worked the contents and submitted to Paani for finalization before his contract ended in

December. He has handed over the task to Paani’s new Communication Specialist, Ian Carver. In Y5

Q3, Paani will re-engage the Illustrator to design an additional illustration of an irrigation project and add

a revised/translated text to integrate into final design and layout for both the English and the Nepali

versions. In the next quarter, Paani will disseminate the Guide.

TASK 3.2.3: DEVELOP NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR SUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER

DEVELOPMENT

At the beginning of Y5, planned activities to develop Nepal’s Environmental and Social Risk Management

Guidelines and conduct a training on the same topic for financial institutions were cancelled due to


lockdown restrictions, which prevented in-person gatherings and national/international travel, both of

which were required for this activity. Additionally, this activity was deemed non-responsive to COVID-

19 and was removed from the Paani NCE proposal.

TASK 3.2.4: USE GRANTS TO BUILD CSO TECHNICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND

ADVOCACY CAPACITY

As reported last quarter, activities under the Advocacy Plan for Sustainable Hydropower and IPPAN

grant were cancelled when the project pivoted to COVID-19 response. No further activities are

planned under this task for the remainder of the project.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4A: LEARN AND DISCOVER (GENERATE KNOWLEDGE)

THROUGH A RESEARCH AGENDA THAT INFORMS SAS UNDER IRS 1 AND 2

The goal of this strategic approach is to fill knowledge gaps to implement i) river stretch co-management

initiatives; ii) document freshwater biodiversity and associated knowledge; iii) develop various capacity

building packages (SA 4B); iv) carry out System-scale Planning for the Karnali River; v) identify high

conservation value rivers nationwide (SA 2C, SA 2A); vi) provide input on national fishery policies,

fishery conservation framework, and market development strategies (SA 1A, SA 3A); vii) develop

business cases on capture fisheries; viii) generate required knowledge and documents to lay the

foundation for declaring fish sanctuary (4.1.3); and ix) develop and disseminate knowledge products

through the creation of a center of excellence (4.1.9). This approach underpins other Paani strategic

approaches that lay the foundation for a priority schedule for grants and generate evidence to inform

plans and policies.

Figure 10: Paani Research Implementation Areas


During Y5 Q2, Paani finalized and submitted five manuscripts/articles to peer-reviewed journals for

publication. Detailed reports, especially watershed profiles, published journal articles, IEC materials,

documents for fish sanctuary declaration, and hazard mapping will be publicly accessible once the FCOE

is established at CDES-TU (for more details on the FCOE, see SA 2A). A description of these is

presented in the table below (Table 9):

Table 10: Status of Manuscripts Submitted to Peer Reviewed Journals in Y5 Q2

Title of the Manuscript/Article

Target Journal & status of manuscripts

Abstract after review

Status of Springs in Mountain Watersheds of Western Nepal

Article published in Journal of Water Policy (December 2020)

The study, conducted in Nepal's western hilly areas, inventoried and mapped 4,222 springs from five different watersheds. The study showed that more than 50% of the spring sources were found under natural conditions, i.e., open spring, whereas 15% were of the/a pond type. Another15% of springs were recorded as a concrete structure or tank, while 1% were determined to be a well. Attempts were made to identify if a change in water discharge from springs relates to rainfall patterns. The inter-annual variability analysis shows a significant fluctuation, suggesting variation in water discharge across spring sources. The lowest amount of yearly rainfall received in the river basin is governed by decreasing water flow from the springs in Nepal's upper and mid-hills. Besides, the intra-annual variation (i.e., the seasonal and concentrative nature of rainfall only during monsoon) leads to a shortage of drinking water and other domestic purposes (e.g., cooking, cleaning) during the dry months of the year. This study, based on the estimation of discharge flow in these springs, revealed that about 70% were decreasing and, in particular, the flow over the last ten years decreased significantly.

Wetland Biodiversity Inventory and Assessment of Ramaroshan Lake Complex: A Need for Conservation

Manuscript Submitted to the Journal of Threatened Taxa (October 2020)

Lake Ramaroshan, situated in the Middle Mountain of Western Nepal, provides habitats for diversity and breeding ground for migratory birds and possesses socio-cultural values. Kathmandu University (KU) and FAN studies conducted during the winter and summer seasons (2018 and 2019) recorded 45 families of macro-invertebrates; 26 macrophytes; two unique fish species; 79 birds, and 12 herpetofauna species. The terrestrial biodiversity in its catchment assessed 193 plant species. The study concludes that the Ramaroshan complex that provides an alternative habitat for freshwater species, socio-religious value, and ecosystem services to both human and ecological communities should be conserved and linked with eco-tourism.

Review on Conservation Status of Freshwater

Nepalese Journal of Ecology. Submitted in

Nepal is rich in freshwater resources that support diverse flora and fauna. These freshwater ecosystems provide countless goods and services to humankind but are under pressure due to human activities-overexploitation, water


TASK 4.1.3 RESEARCH TO INFORM THE FISH SANCTUARY DECLARATION PROCESS

Paani worked with RHF and CDES-TU to locate suitable fish biodiversity hotspots to develop FS to

preserve freshwater biodiversity in situ. RHF has created the FS protocol and the FS declaration

proposal based on a literature review and stakeholders' consultation across local, provincial, and federal

levels. The research team has consolidated information from various sources, including the WWF

studies (HCVR, SSP), DevWorks’ CAS, and Paani-led assessments. Based on stakeholder's and experts'

recommendations, the grantee has finalized the FS protocol and identified two fish hotspots, targeting

flagship species adapted to cold and warm water. Rakam Karnali and Thuligaad are the proposed sites to

Biodiversity in Western Nepal

November 2020. Resubmitting end of January 2021 after revision.

pollution, habitat destruction, and invasive species. As a result, there has been a sharp decline of economic and ecological functions, goods, and services from wetlands. This review explored the geographical distribution patterns, biodiversity, existing threats, goods, and environmental benefits provided by Nepal's freshwater ecosystem. The study also discusses the conservation history of wetlands, identifies gaps, suggests priority hotspots, and calls for conservation.

Status of Masheer in Karnali River system, Nepal: Diversity, Habitats and Aspects of Bionomics

Manuscript submitted to the Journal of Applied Ichthyology in October 2020. Resubmitting in January 2021 after revision

Fish diversity assessed in major tributaries and the main stem Karnali River from 120 to 2,400 m showed 224 specimens from 16 sample points during pre- and post-monsoon seasons. Their distribution ranged from 120 to 1300 m, which varied by season and tributaries versus main stem Karnali. Three unique fish species identified are Tor putitora, Tor, and Naziritor chelynoides. Tor putitora indicated negative allometric growth in the main stem and tributaries for both seasons. In branches, Tor showed a positive allometric increase while it was negative in the main stem of the river.

Inventory of Fish

Biodiversity and

Associated Threats

and Conservation

Challages in Karnali

River Basin

Nepalese Journal of Fisheries; Manuscript, submitted in November 2020 and awaiting response

This article describes fish diversity, flagship fish species, and conservation status of fishes, along with the associated threats, locating fishing, foraging, and spawning hotspots in Karnali River Basin. The assessment through multi-stakeholder consultations, literature reviews and field studies recorded 197 fish species, including 189 native and 8 exotic species that belong to 92 genera and 32 families in the Karnali River Basin. The assessment also identified and recorded 49 species as migratory, 24 species needing conservation attention, and five endemic fish species in the basin. Stakeholder consultation identified 70 spawning and 72 nursing sites in stretches of Karnali Basin that overlap with 116 fishing hotspots. Significant threats identified include overfishing, destructive fishing, water pollution, and over-extraction of gravels across the river basin. The findings highlight the need for further research, inform policy to ensure sustainable capture fisheries, and protect flagship species that remain at the higher trophic level through the fish sanctuary declaration.


declare FS. The following maps depict the value associated with different sections of the Karnali River

and Paani, through its grant with RHF/CDES, has been working to delineate river reaches to propose for

a FS that local government can manage under its jurisdiction.

Figure 11: The map shows potential FS river stretch areas for coldwater fish (Asla) along the Karnali River in the Middle Karnali Watershed.

The potential river stretches identified incorporates five CAACGs formed by Paani and aligns with the

wild and scenic stretch earlier identified by the Paani-NRCT study and is a HCVR identified by WWF’s

HCVR study.


Figure 12: This map shows potential FS river stretch areas for warm water fish (Mahseer) along the Thuligaad and Karnali rivers in the Thulihgaad Watershed.

The potential river stretches identified incorporate ten CAACGs formed by Paani and aligns with the

wild and scenic stretch earlier identified by the Paani-NRCT study and is a HCVR identified by the

WWF-led HCVR study.

Governance of declared FS requires more comprehensive consultation to reach an agreement among

agencies because different government agencies are mandated to manage rivers, freshwater fish species,

and conservation. Unlike parks and protected areas whose conservation mandates rely on DNPWC of

the MoFE and which are well protected, in sanctuary-declared areas, harvesting of wild fishes should be

sustainable. Therefore, the difference between protected areas and FS lies in the governance structure

and operational mechanism. The protocol defines the roles and responsibilities of the key actors as

follows:


Table 11: Protocol that defines roles and responsibility of key actors for managing rivers, freshwater fish species and conservation

Actors Major roles

Federal government Policy, guideline, resource, facilitation, and advise for program

implementation

State government Policy, guidelines, resource, Steering program implementation

and facilitation within state, coordination and monitoring of

program implementation

Local government bodies Coordination, partnership development, financial support,

creating enabling policy, joint planning, supervision, monitoring

Conservation/Development

Partners

Financial assistance, advisory, capacity building and knowledge

dissemination

Academic Institutions Research, knowledge generation, and technology

Private Sectors Collaboration, support for fund, entrepreneurship development

Organizations and local

NGOs

Implementation, partnership, resource leverage and advocacy,

awareness for conservation and capacity building

Community Implement conservation program, adapt resources sustainable

practices, feedback

Source: MoFE (2018a), Paani (2020)

TASK 4.1.6 AND 4.1.8 RESEARCH TO INFORM LOCAL WATER MANAGEMENT

In Y5 Q1, based on the recommendations of the GESI Consultant Assessment Report of 2018, and

mapping statuses of spring sources, Paani, through Women Act, conducted a training to enhance the

capacity of CAACGs, traditional fisher groups, women’s groups, and socially-excluded communities of

five watersheds. In Y5 Q2, Women Act developed a high-quality training manual for a wide range of

stakeholders that are actively engaged in women’s empowerment, leadership development, and

freshwater biodiversity conservation. With this capacity, Women Act has developed an MoU with the

Association of Municipalities. In addition, GESI specialists were heavily engaged in reviewing and

providing feedback to Paani’s SA leads to ensure GESI was mainstreamed in their project activities,

especially IFF and LWM components (see the GESI section for more detail).

An article developed by Sanot Adhikari, Anup Gurung, Raju Chauhan and others based on spring source

mapping studies conducted across five watersheds (Jhimruk, Middle Karnali, Thuligaad, Bagatan Lagam,

and Rangun) was published in a Journal of Water Policy. The article is available on-line and at

ResearchGate. As of now, 32 people have read the article though the record shows no referrals.

TASK 4.1.9 CONDUCT OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES

To date, Paani has produced 58 individual knowledge products and plans to finalize 5 more in Y5 Q3 and

another 4 by the end of Y5 (see Exhibit A4). These knowledge products will reach a wide range of end-

users during Y5 once they are available on the FCOE (see SA 2A).

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4B: SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING, LEARNING, AND

KNOWLEDGE SHARING IN ACADEMIC AND OTHER LEARNING SPACES


The goal of this strategic approach is to build local capacity for watershed and basin management by

building the capacity of Nepal’s educational institutions (schools and universities), government agencies,

non-governmental organizations, community groups, and research institutions to integrate

academic/non-academic curricula and programming. The aim is to develop future career professionals

and community advocates in the Karnali, Mahakali, and Rapti River Basins who are committed to

protecting Nepal’s water resources, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Major accomplishments in Y5 Q2 under SA 4B include:

● At the national level, Paani supported Hydro Lab Pvt. Ltd. to develop a draft academic syllabus on

Fish Passage in the Himalayan River System (4 credit hours) to be integrated into a MSc-level

course in the Hydropower Engineering/Water Resource Program at the Institute of Engineering,

TU and other interested universities. Hydro Lab also submitted four case studies on the

performance of different fish passages in Nepal to be incorporated as teaching/learning material

for the university.

● Paani produced process documentation on river stretch co-management, which will be used as a

guideline for communities and local governments to scale out Paani’s river stretch co-management

model in areas with high aquatic biodiversity value.

Detailed progress from Y5 Q2 is reported below. TASK 4.2.4: FACILITATE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION BETWEEN NEPALI AND

INTERNATIONAL SPECIALISTS AND STUDENTS REGARDING AQUATIC ANIMAL

PASSAGE ISSUES AT DAMS AND OTHER WATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE

C4.2.4-4: Publish Nepal-focused engineering guide for designing hydropower projects that allow fish passage On October 10, Hydro Lab Pvt. Ltd. conducted a virtual academic expert consultation workshop with

26 participants representing different universities including Mid-Western University, Purbanchal

University, Pokhara University, Kathmandu University, Madan Bhandari Technical, Agriculture and

Forestry College, Lumbini International Academy of Science and Technology, TU, TU-Central

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and TU-Institute of Engineering (IOE) to discuss and

receive feedback on the first draft of the MSc level fish passage engineering syllabus. A number of

suggestions were made by the experts, such as making the syllabus more flexible considering the credit

differences and exam evaluation systems at different universities. Based on their comments, Hydro Lab

revised the first draft of the syllabus and on November 30, submitted the final draft academic syllabus.

The 4-credit Fish Passage in the Himalayan River System course will be integrated into Hydropower

Engineering/Water Resource Program at IOE, TU and other interested universities.

The first chapter of the syllabus covers an introduction to connectivity issues in freshwater ecosystems

due to damming of rivers, methods of restoring connectivity, the history of fish passage and an

introduction to fish passage engineering. Similarly, the syllabus includes environmental and policy aspects

(Chapter 2), socio-economic aspects (Chapter 3), and fish ecology (Chapter 4). Planning, design,

operation and maintenance of fish passage are covered under (Chapter 5). Chapter 6 focuses on

experimental practices and modeling concepts in fish passage. The final chapter is a tutorial and field

work/project work that carries 15 credit hours. Chapters 2 and 4, which deal with environmental and

policy aspects, and fish ecology respectively, have more significance in relation to Paani’s work in


conserving biodiversity. Hydro Lab has also developed and submitted lecture notes on fish passage

engineering.

In addition, Hydro Lab Pvt. Ltd. submitted four case studies on fish passage structures and mitigation

approaches of dam construction for the 1) Kali Gandaki-A Hydropower Project, 2) Andhikhola

Hydropower Project, 3) Jhimrukh Hydropower Project and 3) Sikta Irrigation Project. These case

studies provide examples of the performance of different existing fish passages in Nepal and will be

incorporated as teaching/learning material for the university in the upcoming academic year (See syllabus

and case studies here).

TASK 4.2.5: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

RELATED TO FRESHWATER BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE

RESILIENCE

During Paani’s pivot to COVID-19 response activities, local grant partners continued to implement their

hands-on trainings in line with the government’s safety protocols by gathering fewer than ten individuals

per training group and maintained at least six feet of distance between the participants. All the participants

used face masks and sanitized frequently to protect from COVID-19.

A list of trainings conducted in different watersheds is provided below. All training data was uploaded to

the USAID Training & Exchanges Automated Management System.

Table 12: Training conducted in different watersheds

Date Watershed Grantee Training Participants Learning objectives Oct. 1-4

Rangun MPDS Hands-on training on climate-smart vegetable farming

30 participants (17 female and 13 male) of returning migrants and people affected by COVID-19 in Alital Rural Municipality

Knowledge and skill transfer for off-season vegetable farming, drip irrigation preparation, and poly-house preparation, as well as creation additional employment opportunities for community members.

Oct. 4 Thuligaad ECC Hands-on training on climate-smart vegetable farming

14 participants of the Kamalanadi Thuligaad and Sivanarayan CAACGs in Chure Rural Municipality

Knowledge and skill transfer for climate smart vegetable farming as well as creation of additional employment opportunities for CAACG members

Oct. 5-6

Middle Rapti HWEPC Home-based training on climate-smart vegetable farming

30 participants of Baam, Baikha, Mangra, Sahar, Kalmuda and Rohu CAACGs

Knowledge and skill transfer for making traditional fishing gear such as jal, helka, and taapi as well as create additional employment opportunities for CAACG members.


Date Watershed Grantee Training Participants Learning objectives Oct. 9, Oct 12

Lower Karnali

SBS Hands-on training on climate-smart vegetable farming

17 participants of Rajapur Municipality

Knowledge and skill transfer for off-seasonal vegetable farming, drip irrigation preparation, and poly-house preparation as well as create additional employment opportunities for community members.

Oct. 10-11

Lower Karnali

FEDWASUN

Hands-on training on preparation of water hyacinth-based compost and silage

30 participants from Madhuwan-3

Knowledge and skill transfer for making compost and silage harvested from water hyacinth from Bhagraiya Lake. The community will use compost on their farms and use as feed for their livestock.

Oct. 15-16

ECC Thuligaad Hands-on training on climate-smart vegetable farming

39 participants of Solta-Kumala, Mohanyal, Kedar and Khaniyatal CAACGs in Mohanyal Rural Municipality

Knowledge and skill transfer for off-season vegetable farming, drip irrigation preparation, and poly-house preparation as well as create additional employment opportunities for community members.

Nov. 5-6

SAHARA West Seti Hands-on training on climate-smart vegetable farming

12 participants from CAACGs in Jayprithvi Municipality and Talkot Rural Municipality.

Knowledge and skill transfer for off-season vegetable farming, drip irrigation preparation, and poly-house preparation as well as create additional employment opportunities for community members.

Nov. 6-7

KIRDARC Lower Karnali

Hands-on training on climate-smart vegetable farming

20 participants from Thakurbaba Municipality and Madhuwan Municipality

Knowledge and skill transfer for off-seasonal vegetable farming, drip irrigation preparation, and poly-house preparation as well as create additional employment opportunities for community members.

Dec. 28-29

Rupantaran and YAE consortium

Middle Rapti

Hands-on training on IFF

21 participants from 8 different IFF sites of

Knowledge and skill transfer on concept of IFF, on-site selection


Date Watershed Grantee Training Participants Learning objectives Middle Rapti Watershed.

criteria, pond construction and management of IFF.

In addition to the above activities, Paani prepared process documentation on river stretch co-

management. Over the past two and a half years, Paani piloted and implemented its co-management

model in a variety of contexts, locations and institutional arrangements with varying degrees of success.

As part of Paani’s efforts to enhance aquatic resource management, river stretch co-management

provided a foundation for communities to self-determine limited access and use of certain river

stretches to enhance sustainability and conservation of aquatic biodiversity and other freshwater

resources. This process documentation on river stretch co-management has tried to outline a number

of solutions to the current and future challenges: understanding river stretch delineation; empowering

local communities; realigning traditional views on hierarchy and power; enabling legal framework; and

developing the capacity of local communities and authorities. This effort will contribute towards a

greater and more cohesive understanding of co-management, with the exchange of experiences and

lessons enabling practitioners to address current and future challenges and enhance applications of the

approach. This process documentation on river stretch co-management can be used as a guideline for

communities and local governments to scale out Paani’s river stretch co-management model in areas

with high aquatic biodiversity value.

PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATION, KNOWLEDGE SHARING

The following table represents Paani’s coordination activities with USAID/Nepal and other USAID activities for Y5 Q1:

Table 13: Meetings with USAID/Nepal and Other USAID Programs

PARTNER/PROJECT NAME DATE OF MEETING OUTCOME OF COLLABORATION

USAID TAYAR Nepal Nov. 11 IWRMS had a meeting with the Field Team Director of TAYAR Nepal on COVID-19 sensitive monsoon preparedness and response plans. Based on TAYAR Nepal’s experience and the interest of local governments (for both TAYAR and Paani) it was decided to prepare broader DPRPs that cover other key disasters such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, fires, road accidents, and epidemics, including COVID-19.

USAID Nepal, DSV Nov. 8 Paani COR Kashmira Kakati arranged DSV’s

meeting with USAID Mission’s Economist

Jacinto Fabiosa and Anita Mahat from USAID

DCA. The objective of the meeting was to

support DSV to secure USAID DCA funds

to capitalize the KRBCF.

USAID Dec. 10 Paani team (COP, DCOP, CTS, SFFS)

attended a meeting with the USAID team

and SNV consultant to debrief the business

case of capture fisheries, aquaculture and

fisheries-based eco-tourism. SNV lead


consultant Dr. Neiland Arthur presented the

outcome of the business case study.

USAID Urja Oct. 8 Paani’s COP, DCOP and Sustainable

Hydropower Specialist (SHS) along with the

WWF team met with USAID – Urja Nepal

and exchanged ideas on two key energy

aspects: Nepal’s internal energy

consumption and export scenarios (for

Bangladesh and India); and possible pathways

for selecting and building dams that are

licensed out. The teams agreed that PPA-

signed projects can be categorized as “under

construction” and the Urja team shared a

list of PPA-signed projects and their

observations. It is likely that the GON,

through the Viduyt Utpadan Company

Limited (VUCL), will continue developing

projects, so Urja suggested these projects

also be categorized “under construction.”

With this information, the SSP study team

will revise the dam’s database in its report

and continue discussions with Urja.

Table 14: Meetings with Stakeholders

PARTNER/PROJECT NAME DATE OF MEETING OUTCOME OF COLLABORATION

Nepal Fisheries Society (NEFIS) Nov. 09 SFFS participated in a NEFIS-organized webinar

to discuss issues related to the import and trade

of an invasive fish (African catfish). The meeting

participants agreed to ban aquaculture of

African catfish. The meeting also concentrated

on how to deal with the ongoing market

mechanism and aquaculture of African catfish

and decided to form a team comprised of three

experts to collect information and data to

provide status scenario of African catfish in

Nepal. Based on the expert report, NEFIS will

make recommendations to MoALD for

regulating trade, introduction and translocation

of this invasive fish.

CFD-ICAR Dec. 16 SFFS attended an international webinar on

Mahseer organized by Coldwater Fisheries

Directorate of Indian Council for Agricultural

Research (CFD-ICAR). Webinar presentations

concentrated on strategies and approaches

needed for rehabilitation and conservation of

Mahseer in its distribution range. The webinar

concluded that multiple approaches of species


Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC)

Oct. 20 Paani team (COP, Sr. EPLE and IWRMS) met Dr. Pem Kandel, Director General (DG) of the Department to discuss the solar lift pump in-kind grant made to Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, (Phoksundo Watershed), which was pending approval. The Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) had sent the file to DNPWC, which needed to grant permission for the project. DG assured Paani that he would approve the project after speaking with the warden of the Shey Phoksundo National Park and DNPWC official Nurendra Aryal. DG also appointed Haribhadra Acharya, Under Secretary, to represent DNPWC on Paani's Project Technical Committee since Bhupendra Yadav (former representative) has been transferred to another department.

Nepal Thopa Sinchai Pvt. Ltd. (NTS)

Dec. 18 IWRMS and PM met with NTS, a vendor for the solar pump installation in Phoksundo Suligad Watershed. Meeting participants discussed the work plan to install the pump and site-specific background for preparation. NTS will be arranging all the equipment and accessories during this winter season and will move to the field during April for installation.

Balchaur Forest & Environment Resource Development Centre (BAFER)

Oct. 5 Paani team had a virtual kick-off meeting with BAFER. BAFER delivered a detailed presentation of the grant and Paani team provided necessary guidance on the grant mechanism, technical, MEL and GESI considerations.

MoFE, DoFSC Oct. 14 Paani and the WWF Nepal team – with assistance from WWF US – organized a HCVR Assessment virtual meeting with MoFE and the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation (DoFSC). The team briefed the government on the introduction and value of the identification of HCVR study, shared results from the study, and discussed its policy implications. The MoFE/DoFSC team offered several suggestions to enhance the report,

characterization, habitat improvement, research

and education, mass awareness, livelihood

support program and policy support are needed

to conserve Mahseer in situ.

DSV Dec. 21 Paani team (DCOP, SFFS, Grants Manager)

attended a meeting with DSV Advisors and SNV

to discuss the capture fisheries business case.

SNV lead consultant Dr. Arthur explained the

scope and methodological limitation of the

Paani-developed business case in response to

queries raised by DSV Advisors’ representatives.


including 1) to include ephemeral rivers in the assessment of HCVRs; 2) to define the concept of a river system; and 3) to integrate feedback from the local and provincial levels regarding small rivers. All organizations suggested having a longer technical meeting on a future date to be determined.

TU IT and Innovation Center Nov. 25 Paani’s Communications Manager and IT/Data Base Manager met with TU’s IT and

Innovation Center to conduct the second phase of IT assessment for the installation of

IT equipment and server at the center to support FCOE. The team acquired the right

specifications and briefed on the system requirements to the potential vendor at the

site.

CDES-TU, TU-IT and Innovation Center, vendors

Nov. 19 Paani and FCOE coordination committee

members met virtually with vendors interested in working on design, development

and installation of the FCOE portal and procurement of IT equipment of FCOE. Paani

and FCOE coordination committee members briefed vendors on the technical requirements

and scope and also answered their queries. Vendors prepared proposals based on the briefings.

Nepal Water Conservation Foundation

Nov. 7 Paani’s DCOP delivered a presentation at the virtual Rights of Rivers Conference organized by the Nepal Water Conservation Foundation. He highlighted citizens’ rights to a clean and healthy environment as guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal and said this right should be extended to ensure and protect rights to a healthy and living river system. Paani team member also argued that deterioration of rivers due to anthropogenic impacts amounts to violations of these fundamental rights. Paani suggested to the audience (most of whom were public interest lawyers) to use this approach when discussing these issues with the government and the Supreme Court of Nepal to help establish Rights of Rivers as part of the rights to a clean and healthy environment.

Northwestern University Dec. 1 DCOP, WMS (Lower Karnali) and Associate Professor of Tribhuvan University participated in a virtual meeting with students of Northwestern University (NWU) School of Law to discuss river protection policy in Nepal. NWU presented the laws they have reviewed in relation to national river protection provisions. Paani suggested that the students also review the AABCA, Forest Act, Local Government Operations Act, as well as the construction and operation of infrastructure inside protected area strategy, 2008. To assist NWU students, a Paani team


member summarized the relevant provisions of the AABCA and offered to develop a summary of these laws and the policy to provide to NWU students. They provided the write-ups on the AABCA, Forest Act, Local Government Operations Act, and the strategy in mid-December.

WWF October 15 SHS met with the WWF Nepal team to provide inputs on the Development Scenarios for Karnali and Nepal for SSP/SWITCH. In addition, the team discussed the free flowing Karnali, tributaries of Karnali, which were selected for scenarios, including Tila, West Seti, Thuigad, and Bheri. For Nepal’s scenario, major rivers such as Bheri and West Rapti were selected and included in a database of candidate rivers, which was shared with the modelling team (for the EOA and SSP analyses).

WWF US and WWF Nepal November 18 SHS attended the WWF SSP team meeting and discussed its deliverables, including issues related to whether the reports developed during the SSP will be public and the final deadline for submitting the deliverables. The meeting participants decided to upload web GIS tool temporality on WWF’s domain and upload it permanently on the FCOE portal once it is ready. They also set December 18 as the deadline for submitting all the final products.

RHF, Karnali Province's stakeholders

November 18 CTS along with other Paani members participated in a webinar organized by the Resource Himalaya Foundation (RHF) with stakeholders of the Karnali Pradesh to brief them on fish sanctuary related work and gather feedback on a fish sanctuary protocol that Paani has been developing with its grantees RHF and CDES-TU. The Acting Secretary of the MoITFE, Karnali Province, Sher Bahadur Shrestha, participated in the webinar and provided comments on the protocol. Paani reviewed and provided comments on the Fish Sanctuary Delineation Protocol: Riverscape Level Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal to RHF and CDES-TU on November 19. The grantees consolidated feedback from the consultation workshop and incorporated the comments into a revised version of the protocol.

Federal level stakeholders, CDES-TU, RHF

November 23 Paani COP and CTS attended a national-level stakeholder’s consultation organized by Paani grantee RHF to obtain feedback on the Draft Fish Sanctuary Protocol. A total of 18 professionals and experts from federal level line agencies, academia, civil society


organizations, conservation groups and the private sector attended the event and contributed to the discussion, which focused on the governance and scale of the Karnali river stretch, including the naming of the fish sanctuary based on the hotspots of particular species. Paani representatives highlighted the roles and responsibilities of different levels of government, and how learnings from Nepal’s conservation initiatives and achievements can be applied to fish sanctuary development efforts while ensuring compliance with existing legislation.

CROSS CUTTING ISSUES

GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION (GESI)

Major GESI Accomplishments in Y5 Q2 are described below:

As part of Paani’s livelihoods support for COVID-19 impacted communities of the Karnali, Rapti and

Mahakali river basins, Paani continued to mainstream GESI in all its grant interventions, including IFF,

IWRM and Environmentally Friendly Enterprise creation. Women’s participation in community-level

project activities reached 49% and within CAACGs, women held half of all leadership roles. Meanwhile,

participation of marginalized communities, including fisher communities and Adivasi Janajati, Dalits,

Newar Janajati, and other ethnic minorities in Paani activities stood at 70%, and BCTS representation

was 30%.

Paani created wage-based labor opportunities by directly engaging COVID-19 impacted communities

and migrant returnees in projects activities related to IFF, IWRM, aquatic animal and biodiversity

conservation, and climate-smart best agriculture practices. This employment amounted to 3,424 person

days, of which women contributed to 41% of these person days. As a result, community members

earned more than NPR 2.2 million during the quarter (41% for women, 59% for men). Dalits accounted

for 14.2% of these earnings, while Adivasi Janajati and BCTS wages were 58.3% and 27.5%, respectively.

PARTICIPATION:

During the quarter, women represented half of all those participating in Paani project activities (49%),

exceeding the project target of at least 33%. Similarly, participation of fisher groups and Adivasi Janajatis,

Dalits and other minorities totaled 70%, which exceeds the target for the project by 50%. However,

focusing on aquatic biodiversity conservation activities such as river stretch patrolling, bioengineering

activities, invasive plant control/removal activities, construction of irrigation pond and poly house

installation activities, and monitoring of illegal riverbed mining, women continued to play a significant

role. For example, Paani recorded that women made up 67% of those engaged in patrolling activities for

river stretch and mining (189 women in total). In these conservation activities, among fisher

communities, Adivasi Janajati represented the highest share, reaching 95% or 270 out of 283 people.

Such levels of participation indicate that local grantees/CSOs, river dependent communities and

stakeholders are becoming more responsible and empowered to mainstream GESI in local conservation.

It further suggests a change in behavior among women and marginalized groups towards aquatic


biodiversity conservation activities. Participation in Paani program activities by gender and ethnicity is

presented below:

Figure 13: Participation in Paani events by sex Figure 14: Participation in Paani events by ethnicity

GENDER IN LEADERSHIP LEVEL:

During this quarter, eight CAACGs were registered in the municipalities of Jhimruk and Middle Rapti, and

one new CAACG was established in Lower Karnali this quarter. Of the four leadership positions, two

(50%) were occupied by the women and representatives of marginalized communities.

Figure 15: Leadership of women and marginalized people in CAACG

GESI IN EQUITABLE ECONOMIC BENEFIT LEVEL: Through the IFF, IWRM and climate

smart best practices-based project activities, as well as support to environment friendly agriculture

technologies, Paani generated much-needed cash-for-work opportunities for COVID-19 impacted

households. Engagement in such opportunities amounted to 3,424 person days of local employment this

quarter, generating . The tables below present the person days of labor and income

received by gender and ethnicity. The data indicates that the project has supported women and

marginalized communities, including COVID-19 impacted households and migrant returnee households,

for their immediate livelihoods and food security support.

51%

49%

Participation in Paani events by sex

Male Female

58.6

29.8

11.0

0.5 0.1

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

Janajati BCTS Dalit Newar Others

Participation in Paani events by ethnicity

50%

50%

% of women and marginalized group in

leadership position

Yes No


Table 15: GESI disaggregated data of local employment generation

GESI ON THE LEVEL OF EMPOWERMENT

Ms. Kamala Gurung is chairperson leading the Rakasha Raha CAACG from Airawati RM, Jhimruk

Watershed. Twenty-three members of the CAACG have earned a total of NPR 200,000 from

fish entrepreneurship activities during this quarter. In addition, they are controlling destructive

fishing practices and raising awareness for aquatic animal conservation and river resource

management.

The Rapti Tharu Community Homestay was registered by a fisher community group in the

Middle Rapti Watershed. The homestay fosters aquatic biodiversity conservation through its

promotion of ecotourism services and provision of alternative livelihoods for river dependent

communities.

Following advocacy work by the Bankala Raha CAACG in Jhimurk Watershed, the Gaumukhi

RM has allocated NPR 68,000 to the local budget for aquatic biodiversity conservation IEC

material support.

CAACGs of the Middle Rapti Watershed succeeded in leveraging NPR 112,310 from local

governments to raise awareness on aquatic biodiversity conservation through wall paintings,

hoarding board installation; to conduct income generating activities and for office management.

Suniseti CAACG of West Seti Watershed received a total of NPR 50,000 from the Talkot RM

to support its ongoing institutionalization.

CAACGs of Middle Rapti and Jhimruk watersheds have been conducting regular group meetings

and savings and credit activities. Their collective savings now amounts to NPR 374,260. Such

activities foster cohesion among members and support stronger collective decisions about

aquatic biodiversity conservation. CAACGs’ savings this quarter are presented below:

Sex/Ethnicity Person days % of total % of total

Sex

Male 2004 58.5 58.9

Female 1420 41.5 41.1

Ethnicity

BCTS 946 27.6 27.5

Janajati 2012 58.8 58.3

Dalit 466 13.6 14.2

Total 3424 100 100


Figure 16: Watershed level saving increasing trend

COMMUNICATIONS

During this quarter, Paani saw continued positive coverage of its work in a variety of local and national

news outlets. For example:

Halokhabar covered Trout Farming is Appropriate in the Himalayan Region and Carp is

Appropriate in the Mountainous Region of Karnali Province;

Nepali Times covered DSV and World Link Communications Collaborate for a Digital Karnali;

Bikalpa Daily covered River Aggregate Mining Support Program Incepted in Bhimdutta and

Mahakali Municipality;

Hakahaki.com covered Local Government Formulated Law to Protect West Seti Watershed;

and

Pyuthan Samachar covered An Exemplary Work of Paani Project: Handing Over Responsibility

of Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity to the Community.

In other external communications work, Paani continued to develop the CSO Advocacy Guide for

Healthy Rivers by revising a sub-section of chapters on roads, irrigation and hydropower, and adding a

new section on “Stakeholder Engagement and Benefit Sharing” following a final review by the team’s

technical experts. Under Paani’s guidance, the STTA Illustrator is expected to finalize the Guide in Y5

Q3 (see SA 3b for further details).

In this quarter, Paani initiated the vendor hiring process for the design and development of the FCOE at

CDES-TU. With the primary aim to support decision makers in river basin planning, the FCOE will serve

as a publicly-accessible online knowledge hub that will house all water resources management

learning/knowledge products, including primary contributions from Paani on aquatic biodiversity

conservation. It will also host the SSP web-based GIS tool developed by WWF. Similarly, TU will begin

to develop an inventory of agencies working on freshwater to collect and include additional knowledge

products. Paani will provide IT and server equipment to the center for hosting the portal and database

to ensure that information supporting conservation of aquatic biodiversity will remain accessible to the

public long after the Paani program ends in June 2021.

42497

85160

123190

214110

5150090950

118950

160150

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

Watershed Level Saving increasing trend (amount in

NPR)

Jhimruk Watershed Middle Rapti Watershed


In addition, Paani developed the following knowledge products, technical reports, and report summaries

this quarter:

Birds of Rara: An Updated Checklist

Inventory of Fish Biodiversity and Associated Threats in the Karnali, Rapti and Mahakali Rivers;

Tracking Compliance with Environmental and Social Safeguards: A Debrief Compendium on

Framework for Environmental and Social Safeguard Compliance and Monitoring for Hydro-

electricity Projects in Karnali Province;

Framework for Demonstration of Monitoring the Condition of Ecosystem Health Using Proxy

Indicators: Water Quality, Disaster, Risks, Freshwater Biodiversity and Community Impacts;

Summary of Political Economy Analysis to Identify Champions for Freshwater Policy Change and

Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity; and

Summary of NRCT’s Strategic Consideration for River Conservation Legislation in Nepal.

Paani will distribute the products electronically to various stakeholders in Y5 Q3, as well as upload the

products to USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse and the FCOE.

As part of its regular outreach, Paani generated two social media posts and one success story during the

quarter and shared them with USAID and DAI HO. The social media posts are described below:

1. A summary of Paani’s work in responding to COVID-19 impacts and the related GoN lockdown

through its pivot to livelihood improvement activities for migrant returnees and marginalized

communities, was posted on USAID’s Facebook page on December 18 on the occasion of

International Migration Day 2020

2. Paani’s work for alerting downstream communities to flood risk through hydro-meteorological

stations set up in Rangun Watershed and a flood early warning system installed in Lower Karnali

Watershed, was featured on DAI’s Facebook page on International Disaster Reduction Day on

October 13.

The success story focused on South Asia’s first national scale High Conservation Value Rivers

Assessment (see here).


SECTION IV: ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Administration and management of Paani is based on five main modalities of Paani’s technical and financial resources, which mutually reinforce each other:

● Research, ● Training, ● Technical Assistance (well-targeted, through a mix of Nepali and international long-term and

short-term specialists), ● Events (workshops, conferences, public education events, and working groups), and ● Grants.

As with the previous quarter, Paani staff continued to work from home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As per DAI’s Risk Assessment Tool (RAT) and DAI HO approval, Paani's Nepalgunj Field Office team and Kathmandu Office team mobilized and worked to close down the WMS offices and Nepalgunj Field Office. Specific closeout and ongoing operational activities during the quarter are listed below:

1) Finalized the project implementation and closedown plan as per the No Cost Extension (NCE).

2) According to the project’s human resource exit plan, employment agreements were modified

and 27 employees, including subcontractor staff, were phased out in different tiers between

October and the end of December 2020, leaving a team of 21 local LTTA staff.

3) Closed the Nepalgunj Field Office and three of the watershed management offices at Tila

Karnali, Kalikot and Middle Karnali watersheds; Rakam and Phoksundo Shuligad, Dolpa as per

the closedown plan, leaving only the Kathmandu Paani office and two of Watershed

Management offices in operation.

4) Finalized NXP asset disposition plan and completed the disposition of assets of the Nepalgunj

Field Office and WMS offices following USAID approval.

5) Operations team, in consultation with management, continued to finalize the vehicle disposition

plan for submission to USAID.

Table 16: Request submitted to USAID

Requests Submitted to USAID

REQUEST DATE

Request for Grantee Costed Extension, IDES, G-KAT-064 October 4, 2020

Request for extension of Period of Performance for three STTAs of our subcontractor NESS - Ramu Subedi, Salil Devkota, Naresh Rimal October 7, 2020

Request for the increment of LOE days for STTA, Prabhu Raj Pandey engaged through the subcontractor SILT October 8, 2020

Request for Hari Krishna Dhonju, WWF STTA, Geospatial System Specialist October 13, 2020

Request for Leave Monetization for Amy Conlee, Director of Operations October 15, 2020

Request for the extension of Period of Performance for the STTA, Anju Pandit October 15, 2020

Request for Grantee Costed Extension, MPDS, G-KAT-059 October 18, 2020

Request for Grantee Costed Extension, SAEWCC, G-KAT-034 October 18, 2020


Request for hiring and promotion of Narayan Belbase as Deputy Chief of Party

October 22, 2020

Request for Grantee Costed Extension, Sahara Nepal, G-KAT-057 October 29, 2020

Request for Grantee Costed Extension, HWEPC, G-KAT-048 October 31, 2020

Request for approval Slobodan Zivkovic as STTA, IT Closedown Specialist

November 02, 2020

Request for Grantee Costed Extension, SBS, G-KAT-054 November 03, 2020

Request for Grantee Costed Extension, KIRDARC, G-KAT-056 November 06, 2020

Request for approval of property disposition plan of NXP items November 09, 2020

Request for approval Priscila Powell as STTA, Closedown Associate November 10, 2020

Request for hiring Ian Carver as LTTA, Communications Specialist

November 13, 2020

Request for Grantee No Cost Extension, SPRM, G-KAT-072 November 16, 2020

Request for the extension of Period of Performance for the STTA, Bidhan Rajbhandari

November 17, 2020

Request for the extension of Period of Performance for the STTA, Sworup Nhasiju

November 17, 2020

Request for Contract Modification to remove the Key Personnel position of Chief Technical Specialist

November 19, 2020

Request for Robin Young and Jonathan Randall, STTA, POP Extension December 01, 2020

Request for Allen Turner, Senior Technical Advisor, STTA December 01, 2020

Request for Christopher Butler, Technical Specialist - STTA - POP Extension December 02, 2020

Request for Retention Incentive Payments December 09, 2020

Request for hiring Alain Denis as LTTA, Senior Operations and Closeout Manager

December 10. 2020

Request to reconsider Sick Leave Monetization for CCN Staff December 15, 2020

Request for hiring Sajina Thapa as STTA, Operation Officer December 23, 2020

Request for Market Rate Adjustment December 28, 2020

Request for Paani Close-out Plan December 29, 2020


Table 17: Key administrative and management task completed during Y5Q2

Y5 Q2 Key Administrative & Management Events

TASKS COMPLETED BY

Watershed management offices for Tila Karnali Watershed, Kalikot closed and XP items handed over to local grantee Rural Situation Nepal (RSN) Jumla

October 7, 2020

Watershed management offices for Middle Karnali Watershed, Rakam closed and XP items handed over to local grantee SAEWCC, Dailekh

October 8, 2020

Watershed management offices for Phuksundo Suligaad, Dolpa closed and XP items handed over to local grantees

October 21, 2020

IT Security Awareness Course completed by all Paani staff November 30, 2020

NESS and SILT subcontracts/agreements ended November 30, 2020

Nepalgunj Office Bank closed November 30, 2020

Disposition and distribution of assets to beneficiaries relating to Nepalgunj field office completed as per approval of USAID's property disposition plan

December 15, 2020

Nepalgunj field office closed December 16, 2020

DevWorks and WWF subcontracts/agreements ended December 16, 2020

Audit firm, CSC & CO, conducted a joint audit for Paani and TAYAR July to December 2020

All Paani staff continue to work from home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but staff movement for essential field works and office closing activities as per closeout plan was approved

October -December 2020


PROCUREMENT

The Operations team facilitated the implementation of the following major procurements this quarter:

● Audit Services for Annual Financial Audit and Corporate Income Tax Filing Services for the DAI

Nepal Branch Office for 2020 in coordination with DAI/TAYAR program (ongoing).

● Development of Rara Lake Ramsar Site Management Plan: IUCN is working on the final

deliverables and the Period of Performance is extended until February 15, 2021.

● Feasibility study for aquaculture and CBF in mountain areas of Karnali Province – waiting for

final deliverables from GIIS.

● Solar water pump- for She Phoskando RM: Received permission Letter for Solar Water Pump -

from SPNP and DNPWC. A PO has been issued to Nepal Thopa Sinchai for solar water uplifting

pump and has started equipment collection work.

● Establish and mobilize a KRBCF - DSV Advisors Private Limited is working on deliverables.

● Syllabus design for the Integration of “Fish Passage Engineering in the Himalayan River System”

course for the master’s degree program, has been drafted by Hydro Lab Pvt Ltd. This syllabus

can be used under the program’s Water Engineering and other programs related to water

damming structures. This has been shared with the academics from different universities in

Nepal and hopefully will be implemented in the relevant MSc programs of different universities

in the upcoming semesters. This course is now available as an elective-II subject at Institute of

Engineering, Tribhuvan University.

● IFF and LWM - Rupantaran Nepal and YAE consortium is delivering IFF and Climate Smart

Vegetable Farming in Paani’s targeted watersheds.

● TU in-kind grants procurement is under process and is in the stage of vendor selection for

Online Platform and Server Item Procurement.

PERSONNEL UPDATES Table 18: Paani personnel updates Y5 Q2

PAANI PERSONNEL UPDATES

NAME ROLE

LTTA

Recruitment of Suresh Wagle, he joined DAI directly as an LTTA staff with a promotion effective from November 1, 2020

Senior Freshwater Fisheries Specialist

Promotion of Narayan Belbase as Deputy Chief of Party effective November 6, 2020

Deputy Chief of Party

Resignation of Sarah Gray effective October 30, 2020 Acting Deputy Chief of Party

Resignation of Amy Conlee effective November 02, 2020 Director of Operation

Resignation of Prativa Tamang based in the Kathmandu office effective December 13, 2020

Administrative and Logistics Officer

LTTA Agreement of Roshan Bhatta ended in October 2020 Watershed Management Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Basant Pratap Singh ended in October 2020 Watershed Management Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Ang Bahadur Lama ended in October 2020 Watershed Management Specialist

LTTA Agreement of S Sudeep Acharya ended in October 2020 Watershed Management Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Min Mahatara ended in October 2020 Watershed Management Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Gajendra Singh ended in October 2020 Watershed Management Specialist


LTTA Agreement of Bhola Dhakal ended in October 2020 Watershed Management Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Kamleshwari (Komal) Kumari Bhatta based in Nepalgunj ended in October 2020

Field Grant Officer

LTTA Agreement of Gul Ram Chaudhary based in Nepalgunj ended in October 2020

Office Support Staff

LTTA Agreement of Preeti Pandey based in Nepalgunj ended on November 15, 2020

Front Office Associate

LTTA Agreement of Siddhakala Rawat based in Nepalgunj ended on November 15, 2020


LTTA Agreement of Matuk Lal Chaudhary based in Nepalgunj ended on November 15, 2020

Driver

LTTA Agreement of Dipak Raj Bhatta based in Nepalgunj ended on November 30, 2020

Field Finance and Administration Manager

LTTA Agreement of Ashok Poudyal based in Nepalgunj ended on November 30, 2020

Monitoring & Evaluation/Stakeholder Support Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Bhaskar Bhattarai based in Nepalgunj ended on November 30, 2020

Field Team Director

LTTA Agreement of Manoj Kumar Chaudhary based in Nepalgunj ended on November 30, 2020

Field Team Leader, Rapti River Basin

LTTA Agreement of Anjana Shakya based in Kathmandu ended on November 30, 2020

Capacity Building & Higher Education Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Deepa Shrestha based in Kathmandu ended on November 30, 2020

Grants Manager

LTTA Agreement of Deepak Rijal based in Kathmandu ended on December 16, 2020

Chief Technical Specialist

LTTA Agreement of Mohammad Mumtaj Alam, based in Nepalgunj ended on December 16, 2020

Field Office Manager

LTTA Agreement of Lok Bahadur Khadka based in Nepalgunj ended on December 16, 2020

Field Procurement Officer

LTTA Agreement of Saili Tamang, based in Kathmandu ended on December 16, 2020


LTTA Agreement of Krishna Kumari Bhandari Lama, based in Kathmandu ended on December 16, 2020


LTTA agreements of Pradeep Gautam (subcontractor staff) based in Kathmandu ended in November 2020

Sustainable Hydropower Specialist (SILT)

LTTA agreements of Indira Rai (subcontractor staff) based in Kathmandu ended in November, 2020

GESI and Livelihood Specialist (SNV)

LTTA agreements of Ganesh Bishwokarma (subcontractor staff) based in Nepalgunj ended on December 16, 2020

Field Team Leader, Mahakali River Basin (SNV)

LTTA agreements of Sangita Chhetri (subcontractor staff) based in Nepalgunj ended on December 16, 2020

GESI Officer (SNV) ended

Hiring of Ian Carver as Communication Officer effective December 7, 2020

Communications Specialist

ONGOING, COMPLETED AND CANCELLED GRANTS

This section summarizes grants that are ongoing, completed/closed and cancelled during the reporting

period. Last quarter, 16 grants were pivoted to respond to COVID-19. Of these, nine were extended

until May 2021 for IFF and IWRM activities and seven were closed (see tables 19-21 below).

Paani designed IFF and IWRM grants using USAID-approved environmentally friendly materials, and

started implementation following the RAT, which was approved during the previous quarter.


Ongoing Grant Program Activities: Paani currently has 12 active grants. Paani extended nine

ongoing grant activities to ensure direct livelihood support to COVID-19 affected families and migrant

returnee families in targeted watersheds. Paani gave priority to those activities that generated

local employment and addressed food security issues. The ongoing grants focus on conserving and

promoting sustainable capture fisheries, managing invasive species, integrated water resources

management, and disaster risk reduction. The main areas of interventions are:

● Capture fisheries: Paani will continue to promote fish aquaculture by supporting construction of

fishponds in the nine watersheds of Karnali (four), Mahakali (three) and Rapti (two).

● IWRM: Paani will respond to COVID-19 by promoting climate-smart vegetable farming by

supporting construction of irrigation ponds and drip/sprinkle irrigation systems in the nine

watersheds of Karnali (five), Mahakali (two) and Rapti (two) river basin.

● DRR: Paani will assist communities in integrating COVID-19 precautions into LCDRCPs and

Risk Sensitive Land Use Plans (RSLUPs).

GRANTS - COMPLETED, ONGOING, CANCELED AND MODIFICATION

Table 19: Closed and completed Paani grants as of the end of Y5 Q2

CLOSED AND COMPLETED GRANTS

GRANT

NO/ TYPE GRANTEE GRANT TITLE STATUS

G-KAT-001 Fixed Amount Award (FAA)

Dali NGO Federation (DNF)

Strengthening Capacity of Nepal's Water Users to Adapt to Climate Change at the Central and Grassroots Levels - Dalit Members Watershed: Tila

CLOSED

G-KAT-002 Fixed Amount Award (FAA)

Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN)

Strengthening Capacity of Nepal's Water Users to Adapt to Climate Change at the Central and Grassroots Levels - Forest Users Watersheds: Middle Karnali and Phoksundo Suligaad

CLOSED

G-KAT-003 Standard Grant

Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resource Management Association (HIMAWANTI)

Strengthening Capacity of Nepal's Water Users to Adapt to Climate Change at the Central and Grassroots Levels - Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resource Management Association (HIMAWANTI) Nepal Watershed: West Seti

CLOSED

G-KAT-004 FAA

Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Nepal (FEDWASUN)

Strengthening Capacity of Nepal's Water Users to Adapt to Climate Change at the Central and Grassroots Levels - Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Watersheds: Lower Karnali, Jhimruk, Mugu Karnali

CLOSED

G-KAT-005 FAA

National Federation of Irrigation Water Users Association

Strengthening Capacity of Nepal's Water Users to Adapt to Climate Change at the Central and Grassroots Levels - Irrigation Water Users

CLOSED



GRANT

NO/ TYPE GRANTEE GRANT TITLE AMT

(USD) DISBURSED

(USD) STATUS

Nepal (NFIWUAN)

Watersheds: Seti Nadi, Thuli Gaad, Rangun Khola

G-KAT-006 FAA

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN)

Strengthening Capacity of Nepal's Water Users to Adapt to Climate Change at the Central and Grassroots Levels - Indigenous Nationalities Watersheds: Lower Mahakali, Middle Rapti,

CLOSED


Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ)

Strengthening knowledge and partnerships on healthy watersheds

CLOSED


Midwestern University (MWU) Surkhet

Advancing Freshwater Biodiversity, Climate Change Adaption and integrated Water Resources Management through Community Based and Advance Academic Education at Mid-Western University

CLOSED

G.KAT-009 In-Kind Grant

WECS Strengthening Institutional Capacity of Nepal's WECS

CLOSED

G-KAT-010 In-Kind Grant


Strengthening Knowledge of Nepal’s Citizens on Healthy Watersheds and Healthy River Basins Through Media Channels, Technologies and Platforms

CLOSED


Nepal National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (NENCID)

Strengthening Institutional Capacity- Support Nepal National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (NENCID) Nepal in organizing 8th Asian Regional Conference (ARC) on Irrigation in Support of an Evergreen Revolution (May 2-4, 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal).

CLOSED

G-KAT-012

Center for Molecular Dynamics-Nepal (CMDN)

A Multi-Disciplinary Assessment of Biodiversity and Socio-Economic Status of the Karnali River of Nepal

CLOSED

G-KAT-013

Kathmandu University (KU)

River Health and Biodiversity Profiling in the Karnali and West Rapti Watersheds: Implications to Basin Planning and Sustainable Water Resource Management in the Western Nepal

CLOSED

G-KAT-014 FAA

Youth Alliance for Environment (YAE)

Mapping and Assessing Pollution Stresses on Water Resources in four Watershed (Jhimruk, Middle Karnali, Thuligaad and Rangun) of Midwestern and Far western, Nepal

CLOSED

G-KAT-015 FAA

Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-Nepal (ISET-Nepal)

Political Economy Analysis to Identify Champions for Freshwater Policy Change and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity

CLOSED



GRANT


(USD) DISBURSED

(USD) STATUS

G-KAT-016 FAA

Balchaur Forest and Environment Resource Development Center, Nepal (BAFER-Nepal)

Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation Project (ABC)

CLOSED

G-KAT-017 FAA

Center of Research for Environment Energy and Water (CREEW)

Climate Smart Watershed Management at the Selected Sub-Watersheds of Thuligaad Watershed

CLOSED

G-KAT-018 FAA

Eco Agro DRM Development/update of DRR Harmonized Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA) in Thuligaad Watershed, Doti

CLOSED

G-KAT-019 FAA

Federation of community Forestry Users' Nepal (FECOFUN)

Promoting Environment Friendly Roads and Climate Smart Watershed Management Practices to Increase the Climate Resilience of Community through Grassroots Capacity Building.

CLOSED


Human Welfare and Environment Protection Center (HWEPC)

Sustainable Economic Growth through Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation in Rapti River.

CLOSED

G-KAT-021 FAA

Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center (KIRDARC)

JAL KACHAHARI: A Multi-Stakeholder Process for Resilient Water Resources Management in Karnali Basin

CLOSED


Mallarani Rural Development Concern Center (MRDCC)

Jhimruk Watershed Management Project

CLOSED

G-KAT-023 FAA

National Environment and Equity Development Society (NEEDS)

Community Based Watershed Management Initiatives of the Lower Mahakali Watershed

CLOSED

G-KAT-024 FAA

Nepal National Social Welfare Association (NNSWA)

Strengthening Community Resilience in Rangun Khola and Lower Mahakali Watersheds

CLOSED

G-KAT-025 FAA

Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT)

Karnali River Corridor Management Project

CLOSED



GRANT


(USD) DISBURSED

(USD) STATUS

G-KAT-026 FAA

People’s Help Group (PHG)

Effective and Efficient Water Use Techniques to Combat Climate Change

CLOSED

G-KAT-027 In-Kind Grant - Gov

Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC)

Strengthening Institutional Capacity of Nepal Agriculture Research Council on Molecular Biology Studies

CLOSED

G-KAT-028 FAA

Research and Development Center Nepal (RDC Nepal)

Increasing Adaptive Capacity of Communities in Upper Rangun-Khola Sub-watershed through Improved Water Resources Management

CLOSED

G-KAT-029 FAA

Resources Himalaya Foundation (RHF)

FISH (Fostering Indigenous Sustainable Harvest) for Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Middle Karnali Watershed of Karnali River Basin

CLOSED

G-KAT-031 FAA

Samudayik Sarathi

Increasing Community Resilience and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation in Lower Karnali River basin, Nepal

CLOSED

G-KAT-035 FAA

Multi-Dimensional Resource Center (MRC)

Strengthening Actions for Fostering Community Resilience through Integrated Water Management and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Gadhawa Rural Municipality of Middle West-Rapti Watershed (SAFoR)

CLOSED

G-KAT-036 FAA

Federation of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Nepal (FEDWASUN)

Actions for capacity enhancement of local users aligning with aquatic biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation practices (ACACA) in Jhimruk and Lower Karnali watershed

COMPLETED

G-KAT-037 FAA

Kalika Development Center Nepal (KDCN)

Reducing vulnerability through local water management and livelihood improvements

CLOSED

G-KAT-038 FAA

Creation of Innovative Society (CIS)

Increasing Community Capacity for Climate Adaptation and Fisheries Co-Management

COMPLETED

G-KAT-039 FAA

Fulvari Integrated Rural Development Organization (FIRDO)

Community mobilization for sustainable management of Middle Rapti and Jhimruk watershed

COMPLETED


Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM)

Strengthening DHM Hydro-Met Stations and Flood Risk Warning in Paani Watersheds

COMPLETED

G-KAT-041 FAA

Forest Action Nepal

Assessment of the conservation status of aquatic biodiversity in Karnali and Mahakali River Basins

CLOSED

G-KAT-042 FAA

Environment Coordination Committee (ECC)

Support local governments and fishing communities to reduce threats to aquatic biodiversity in Thuligaad watershed

COMPLETED



GRANT


(USD) DISBURSED

(USD) STATUS


Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN)

Sustainable Hydropower Development

COMPLETED



Strengthening Knowledge on Healthy Watersheds

CLOSED



Strengthening Knowledge on Healthy Watersheds

CLOSED

G-KAT-049 FAA

Resources Himalaya Foundation (RHF)

SuChaK: Surface Water Change and Knowledge Enhancement: An Indicator Assessment of Aquatic Biodiversity, Habitat Disturbances and Conservation Options in West Seti River Watershed, Nepal

COMPLETED

G-KAT-055 FAA

Sundar Nepal Sanstha

Promoting community based aquatic biodiversity conservation initiatives in the Lower Karnali watershed

COMPLETED

G-KAT-061 FAA

Karnali Community Development Centre (KCDC)

Action to support capacity building of local institutions towards biodiversity conservation and solid waste management in Rara Khatyad Watershed

COMPLETED

G-KAT-062 FAA

Rural Situation Nepal (RSN)

Freshwater Biodiversity Improvement Thorough Co-Management Practices in Tila Karnali Watershed

COMPLETED

G-KAT-067 FAA

Research and Development Center Nepal (RDC Nepal)

Increasing Adaptive Capacity of Communities through Improved Water Resources Management (Second Grant)

COMPLETED


Federation of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Nepal (FEDWASUN)

Actions for capacity enhancement of local users aligning with aquatic biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation practices (ACACA) in Jhimruk and Lower Karnali watershed

COMPLETED

TOTAL

Table 20: On-going Paani grants as of Y5Q2

ONGOING GRANTS

GRANT


(USD) DISBURSED

(USD) STATUS

G-KAT-033

Rural Development

Improve dry water resources in Badikedar, Boktan and Chaukune

ON GOING


ONGOING GRANTS

GRANT


(USD) DISBURSED

(USD) STATUS

FAA Center (RUDEC)

Rural Municipality, in Bogatan Lagam Karnali watershed

G-KAT-034

FAA

Sustainable Agriculture or Environment & Water Source Conservation Center (SAEWCC)

Action to support aquatic biodiversity conservation through promoting river stretch co-management practices in Middle Karnali Watershed.

ON GOING

G-KAT-047

FAA

Mallarani Rural Development Concern Center (MRDCC)

Jhimruk Khola Watershed Management Project II

ON GOING

G-KAT-048

FAA

Human Welfare and Environment Protection Center (HWEPC)

Sustainable economic growth through freshwater biodiversity conservation in the Rapti river.

ON GOING

G-KAT-054

FAA

Sonaha Bikash Samaj (SBS)

Strengthening community capacity for river stretch co-management

ON GOING

G-KAT-056

FAA

Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center (KIRDARC)

JAL KACHAHARI: Dialogue for Water and Life

ON GOING

G-KAT-057

FAA

Sahara Nepal Raising awareness and capacity building of local communities for conservation and sustainable use of aquatic biodiversity in West Seti Watershed

ON GOING

G-KAT-059

FAA

Multipurpose Development Society (MPDS)

Building Community Resilience for the Management of Rangun Watershed in Alital Rural Municipality of Dadeldhura District

ON GOING

G-KAT-064

FAA

Integrated Development Society (IDeS)

Enhancing community capacity for collaborative management of Thuligaad watershed

ON GOING

G-KAT-072

Shey Phoksundo RM

Strengthen Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality on Climate Smart

ON GOING


ONGOING GRANTS

GRANT


(USD) DISBURSED

(USD) STATUS

In-Kind Grant

Watershed Management Practices to Increase the Community Resilience to Climate Change through Increasing

G-KAT-074

BAFER-Nepal Support Local Governments in Promoting Sustainable Mining Practices in the Lower Karnali and Lower Mahakali

ON GOING

G-KAT-075

CDES-TU Development of FCOE ON GOING

TOTAL

Table 21: Paani grants cancelled as of Y5Q2

CANCELED GRANTS

NO ORGANIZATION PROPOSAL TITLE ESTIMATED/ AMT

(USD)

TO BE

DISBURSED

(USD)

DESCRIPTION

G-KAT-032

FAA

Dolphin Conservation Center (DCC)

Action to Establish Dolphin Science Through Institutional Development and Community Learning in the Lower Karnali Watershed

CANCELLED

G-KAT-043

FAA

Conservation Development Foundation (CODEFUND)

Enhancing community ability to manage watersheds for reducing threats to freshwater ecosystem in West Rapti River Basin, Nepal

CANCELLED

G-KAT-050

FAA

Women Act Empowering Women and Marginalized Groups in Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation and River Resources Management

CANCELLED

G-KAT-051

FAA

National Federation of Irrigation Water Users Association

Enhancing local capacity of Water User Associations (WUAS) to improve

CANCELLED


CANCELED GRANTS

NO ORGANIZATION PROPOSAL TITLE DESCRIPTION

Nepal (NFIWUAN)

irrigation systems and water source protections through community engagement

G-KAT-058

FAA

Rural Community Development Centre (RCDC)

Resilience through Ecological Restoration of Sub-Watersheds through Community Engagement

CANCELLED

G-KAT-063

FAA

Western upland development association Nepal (WUDAN)

Promoting native fish farming and increasing park/people coordination, Community resilience to climate change through increasing capacity and established good governance

CANCELLED

G-KAT-069

FAA

Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN)

Promoting Climate Smart Watershed Management Practices to Increase the Community Resilience to Climate Change through Increasing Capacity, Livelihood Promotion and Establish Good Governance

CANCELLED

G-KAT-070

FAA

Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN)

Ornithological Survey to Understand Migratory Behavior and Threats to Birds in Phoksundo and Rara Lake

CANCELLED

TOTAL

GRAND TOTAL


CONSTRAINTS AND PROPOSED REMEDIES

ISSUE 1: PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS DUE TO COVID-19 VIRUS

The COVID-19 global pandemic has continued to heavily affect Paani’s programs. Paani continued to

follow restrictions on in-person gatherings and travel put in place by GoN beginning in March 2020.

During Y5 Q2, Paani continued to follow USAID’s suggestion to telework and operate according to

their approved Risk Management Plan (RMP). Paani’s RAT, required by DAI, which outlines the COVID-

19 situation in Nepal and provides a detailed plan for re-opening, was partially approved in Y5 Q1 to

support close down of some of the watershed management offices. In Y5 Q2, all staff continued to

telework but were allowed to visit the office to support close down, use the car for pressing

administrative matters, or to attend a very limited number of meetings (e.g., with GoN) only after

receiving permission from the CoP.

Paani grantees are still operating according to their RATs, which outline their re-opening plans and

follow local governments’ COVID-19 regulations. Out of a total of 16 grantees that were pivoted to

COVID-19 response under Paani, nine IFF and IWRM grantees began implementing their activities this

quarter and are following the original RAT. The table below outlines constraints posed by COVID-19

and the lockdowns, and the “Plan Bs” or remedies they put in place to accomplish activities.

Table 22: COVID-19 Impacts and Responses in Paani Watersheds

Watershed Grantee COVID-19/ lockdown related constraints

Activities implemented through Plan B/Remedy

Thuligaad IDES, Education Concern Center (ECC)

Delays in implementation of grant activities.

Due to COVID-19, ECC grant was extended till 14 Oct 2020 from the initial end date 14 Aug 2020. ECC completed all the planned pivoted grant activities within the extended grant period following the RAT which Paani approved last quarter. IDES held virtual meetings with Paani and started planning and implementation of IFF and IWRM activities in small groups following the RAT, which Paani approved last quarter. In this period, IDES completed all grant-pivoted activities, selected beneficiaries and sites for IFF and IWRM interventions. IDES also virtually collaborated with Rupantaran Nepal for IFF and CSVF training.

Jhimruk MRDCC Delays in implementation of grant activities.

MRDCC held virtual meetings and started planning and implementation of IFF and IWRM activities in small groups following the RAT which Paani approved last quarter. In this period, MRDCC completed all pivoted activities, selected beneficiary and sites for IFF and IWRM interventions. MRDCC also virtually collaborated with Rupantaran Nepal for IFF and CSVF training.

Lower Karnali

SBS Delays in implementation of grant activities.

SBS held virtual meetings with Paani and started planning and implementation of IFF and IWRM activities in small groups following the RAT. In this quarter, SBS completed all the pivoted activities, and selected beneficiaries and sites for IFF and IWRM interventions. SBS also virtually collaborated with Rupantaran Nepal for IFF and CSVF training.

Rangun MPDS Delays in implementation of grant activities.

MPDS held virtual meetings and started planning and implementation of IFF and IWRM activities in small groups following the RAT. In this quarter, MPDS completed all grant




pivoted activities, and selected beneficiaries and sites for IFF and IWRM interventions. MPDS also virtually collaborated with Rupantaran Nepal for IFF and CSVF training.

Rangun RDC Nepal RDC was not able to work for most of the grant period because of the lockdown. They were only approved to work by the RAT with three months left on the grant; however, travel restrictions were still in place and they were unable to move to the field. Once the restriction was lifted, RDC moved to the field for implementation

RDC was able to design and establish water conservation structures/spring shed improvement structures. RDC coordinated with local governments on site identification and selection by phone and implemented the possible activities within the grant period. The activities, which could not be completed within grant period were cancelled.

Rara Khatyad

KCDC Delay of grant activities and nature guide training and garbage management cancelled.

Due to COVID-19, the KCDC grant was extended until October 31, 2020 from the initial end date August 31, 2020. KCDC completed most of the planned pivoted grant activities within the extended grant period following the RAT. However, KCDC was unable to complete the nature guide training and garbage management, which were cancelled.

Middle Karnali

SAEWCC Delays in implementation of grant activities.

SAEWCC held virtual meetings and started planning and implementation of IFF and IWRM activities in small groups following the RAT. In this period, SAEWCC completed all grant pivoted activities, and selected beneficiaries and sites for IFF and IWRM interventions. SAEWCC also virtually collaborated with Rupantaran Nepal for IFF and CSVF training.

Middle Karnali

KIRDARC Delays in implementation of grant activities.

KIRDARC continued to coordinate with local governments and worked on implementation plans. In this quarter, KIRDARC completed all grant pivoted activities, selected beneficiaries and sites for IWRM interventions and also virtually collaborated with Rupantaran Nepal for CSVF training.

Middle Rapti HWEPC Delays in implementation of grant activities.

HWEPC held virtual meetings and started planning and implementation of the IFF and IWRM concept in small groups following the RAT. In this period HWEPC completed most of the grant pivoted activities, and selected beneficiaries and sites for IFF and IWRM interventions. HWEPC also virtually collaborated with Rupantaran Nepal for IFF and CSVF training.

Lower Mahakali

CIS Kanchanpur

Delays in implementation of grant activities

Due to COVID-19, CIS grant was extended until October 31, 2020 from the initial end date of June 30, 2020. CIS completed all the planned pivoted grant activities within the extended grant period following the RAT.




West Seti Sahara Nepal

Delays in implementation of grant activities.

Sahara held virtual meetings and started planning and implementation of IFF and IWRM concept in small groups following the RAT. In this period Sahara completed all grant pivoted activities, and selected beneficiaries and sites for IFF and IWRM interventions. Sahara also virtually collaborate with Rupantaran for IFF and CSVF training.

ISSUE 2: MOVE TO VIRTUAL/DISTANCE IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES AND DIRECT IMPACT OF COVID-19 MAY AFFECT QUALITY

The postponement of the IFF trainings as two subcontractors contracted COVID-19. Paani

responded by directly facilitating the trainings to ensure the schedule was not affected. In

Y5 Q2, Paani through its technical vendor for IFF/IWRM (Rupantaran Nepal), conducted trainings on IFF

and IWRM, which was to be completed by the mid-January 2021. During the training period, two

resource staff from the vendor contracted COVID-19, despite taking safety measures. One of them was

a fisheries expert, and because of his illness, two trainings on IFF (in Middle Karnali and West Seti

watersheds) had to be postponed. Waiting for the expert to return to the field would have set the

training series back a month which would have significantly threatened the successful completion of the

activity. Considering the projects' short timeline, seasonality and the urgency of these IFF trainings to

initiate fishpond construction and fish farming in the field, Paani made a contingency plan to complete

these two trainings directly through Paani’s fisheries specialist with support of the vendor and the field

team by the end of January 2021.

Selection of bioengineering sites was weak by one grantee and it was difficult to verify the

process. Paani remedied this by working with the local community and the grantee to

provide video recordings and verification remotely. Paani found that the bioengineering activities

conducted by its grantee MRC in the Middle Rapti Watershed was technically weak. Bioengineering

measures such as bamboo structures and check dams were damaged by heavy monsoon rainfall,

resulting in sedimentation in the recharge ponds. The activities were implemented during the monsoon

season and a time of restricted movement for Paani’s WMS due to COVID-19. Upon learning of the

situation, Paani took measures to verify the issue remotely, because travel continued to be restricted,

through photographs, videos, cross communication and field visits through the local

communities/beneficiaries. Once restrictions eased, Paani conducted in-field audits in coordination with

its grantees and field team before closing each grant.

ISSUE 3: UNABLE TO MEET VARIOUS TARGETS DUE TO LOCKDOWN

RESTRICTIONS

Paani was unable to collect data in the field for those indicators which required field-level assessments.

These indicators were: number of hectares of biologically significant areas showing improved biophysical

conditions as a result of USG assistance (EG 10.2-1); number of hectares of biologically significant areas

under improved natural resource management as a result of USG assistance (EG 10.2-2): number of

people with increased economic benefits derived from sustainable NRM and conservation as a result of


U.S. assistance (EG 10.2-3); and number of institutions with improved capacity to assess or address

climate change risks supported by USG assistance (EG 11-2).

Remedy: Paani updated the tools to collect the data based on the data quality analysis

recommendations and collected virtual data in several sites during the quarter. For example, virtual data

for the number of hectares with improved biophysical condition and improved management was

collected from representatives of the Bhagraiya Lake Management Committee. Data for increased

capacity for climate change was collected virtually from the board and staff members of MRDCC using

the GCC tool, and data for increased economic benefits was generated from the provision of local

wage-based labor. This virtual data has provided indicative findings. Building on this, Paani plans to

conduct field level assessments to collect data for these indicators in Y5 Q3.

The below table presents the indicators that Paani was unable to measure during the quarter, along with

how the project plans to approach measuring these indicators in Y5 Q3:

Table 23: Indicators that Paani was unable to measure during the quarter

Indicator Year 5 target

Remedy

Number of hectares of biologically significant areas showing improved biophysical conditions as a result of USG assistance (EG 10.2-1)

90,000 This indicator could not be assessed in Y5 Q2. Virtual data collection was conducted with the Bhagraiya Lake Management Committee. Plans are underway to verify this and assess this indicator in other sites in Y5 Q3.

Number of hectares of biologically significant areas under improved natural resource management as a result of USG assistance (EG 10.2-2)

167,178 This indicator could not be assessed in Y5 Q2. Virtual data collection was conducted with the Bhagraiya Lake Management Committee. Plans are underway to verify this and assess this indicator in other sites in Y5 Q3.

Number of people with increased economic benefits derived from sustainable NRM and conservation as a result of U.S. assistance (EG 10.2-3).

25,000 This indicator could not be assessed in Y5 Q2 in the field. However, the project is tacking the wage earned through the generation of local labor/employment. Plans are underway to collect data in the field in the current quarter.

Number of institutions with improved capacity to assess or address climate change risks supported by USG assistance (EG 11-2)

4 GCC assessment of MRDCC was conducted on November 30. The total score was 2.38 against 1.27 which was conducted in March 2019. Paani will collect more data in the current quarter.


ISSUE 4: STAFF RESIGNATIONS AND TERMINATIONS AS PROJECT ENTERS FINAL

YEAR

Paani staff, including key international staff, continued to resign and look for other employment as Paani

entered its final year. The acting deputy chief of party/senior communications specialist resigned

effective October 30, 2020 and the director of operations resigned on November 02, 2020. The

administrative and logistics officer based in Kathmandu also resigned. With these resignations of key

operational staff during the close down period, it has been challenging to manage the increased

operational workload, especially during the closing of the Nepalgunj Field Office and the annual tax

closing. It is also difficult and challenging to replace and train new operational staff for the short period,

especially when the project is on the verge of ending. It is difficult to replace staff when Paani can only

offer contracts of less than one year through the end of the project in June 2021. In the future, this

trend may increase as staff will be looking for secure and long-term opportunities.

Moreover, as per the HR close down plan, the employment contracts of all field team and subcontractor

staff along with several key Kathmandu staff, including the chief technical specialist ended, which has

resulted in difficulty in managing reporting during the transition phase.

Remedy: Despite the resignation of key operational and management staff, Paani did manage a smooth

closing of the watershed management offices and the Nepalgunj Field Office along with the disposition of

inventories to assigned beneficiaries on time and without any hindrances during the transition process.

Paani also recruited two new operations staff in anticipation of the increased workload moving forward.


SECTION V: LEARNING

RESULTS OF ANALYTIC WORK, ASSESSMENTS AND EVALUATIONS

Catch Assessment Survey (November 2020)

In October 2020, Paani piloted a catch assessment survey (CAS) in the Middle and Lower Karnali

watersheds with the aim to develop a business case on Karnali River fishery. The survey aimed to

characterize the volume and value of the catch, and general characteristics of the fish in the study river

stretches. A total of 60 respondents were selected following a purposive sampling approach targeting

individuals known to be involved in the Karnali fish trade from a frame survey covering 905 households

involved in the sector. Interviews were carried out exclusively using mobile phones. The Paani team,

which included researchers, watershed management specialists (WMSs) and a river basin team leader,

interviewed the identified fishing households using a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of 12

composite questions related to volume and value of the catch, seasonality of the catch, catch

composition and related fishing effort and gear characteristics. Key findings of the survey included:

• 46% of the 60 respondents had fishing as a main occupation last year (2019);

• Most respondents (63%) fished for 6 or 9 months per year;

• Most respondents (81%) fished both for cash income and home consumption;

• There are two fishing ‘peak seasons’ per year (February – April and October – December), with

70% of catch volume caught during the first peak season, and 25% during the second peak

season;

• Full time fishers (whose main occupation is fishing) and fishers with boats put in a significantly

higher level of effort and time compared to those who are part-time fishers and those who do

not possess boats;

• Most fishers (84%) in the Middle Karnali identify as ‘full-time’ fishers compared to 43% in the

Lower Karnali;

• 49% of fishing households in the Middle Karnali have a boat compared to 25% in the Lower

Karnali;

• Significantly higher catch (kg/yr) by full-time fishers and those having a boat (mean 754 kg vs. 233

kg without a boat);

• The total catch in the survey area was estimated at 372 mt last year;

• The average price at first sale, received by fishers was around NPR 500/kg;

• A wide variety of non-selective gear in use; fingerlings of valuable species caught particularly in

the lean season.

Livelihood Survey Report: Middle Karnali and Lower Karnali River Stretches

(November 2020)

The livelihood survey was conducted with fishers with a view to characterize households, fishing

practices and contribution of river fish in their livelihoods and income for the development of business

cases on capture fisheries. An intensive survey was carried out in two major river stretches of the

Karnali River, i.e. Middle and Lower Karnali watersheds in Karnali and Sudur-pachhim provinces,

respectively.


A total of 60 fisher households out of 390 households were selected following the Stratified Random

Sampling based on their engagement in fishing full-time or part-time, number of fishers in a river stretch,

household size and fishing practices in Middle and Lower Karnali watersheds. Mobile phone interviews

were carried out from September 30 to October 14, 2020. Although the characteristics of the

respondents differ between the two river stretches i.e., Middle and Lower Karnali, some general

characteristics can be described, as follows:

The majority of fisher households are dominated by adults of working age;

Household size of respondents is approximately 5-7 family members;

None of the interviewed households have disabled people in the family;

Almost all respondents have household assets, mobile phones and number of phones varied from

2-5 in the survey household;

All respondent households have diversified their income sources beyond capture fisheries, the

major sources being agriculture, wage labor, business and remittance, and their income sources

change across seasons;

Over 60% of respondents catch fish for sale in the local market. The majority of respondents sell

over 80% of their catch;

Composition, size and volume of fish change over seasons;

The majority (over 50%) of respondents have income from fishing in lean seasons of the year;

The majority (over 60%) have a seasonal income between $200 and $300 in peak season;

Respondents spend between 40-60% of their annual income on food and beverages; and

The average saving of the fisher respondents ranged from 5-30% of their annual income and saving

was not often practiced among fishers of Middle Karnali.

This study finds that fisher communities are mostly dependent on capture fisheries for their livelihoods

in the Middle Karnali and Lower Karnali but for most of the fishers, fishing is a seasonal occupation as

they lack fish processing mechanisms. Almost all respondent fishers are involved in non-fisheries

activities during the lean seasons (7-8 months) of the year, which provide additional sources of income.

There is a huge need for imparting training and skill development to alternative livelihood options.

Therefore, it is suggested that training to fishers, particularly the young and womenfolk on fisheries

management, including marketing and diversified enterprises, would potentially decrease their

dependency on capture fishery and contribute to the sustainable management of capture fisheries.

Report on Fish Market Survey (November 2020)

In October 2020, Paani conducted a comprehensive fish market and trade survey in the Middle and

Lower Karnali watersheds with the aim to develop a business case on the Karnali River fishery. The

survey aimed to characterize the fish market and trade, including the volume and value of fish traded in

the study river stretches. A total of 60 respondents were selected following a purposive sampling

approach targeting individuals known to be involved in the Karnali fish trade from a frame survey

covering 904 households involved in the sector. Interviews were carried out exclusively using mobile

phones. The Paani team, which included researchers, WMSs and a river basin team leader, interviewed

the identified fish traders using a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of 14 questions related to the

volume and value of the fish trade, seasonality of the trade and demand and supply characteristics,

including fresh river fish, processed river fish and farmed fish. Respondents were also asked about their

perceptions on factors that influenced supply and demand the previous year, and their expectations


about factors affecting the continuity of their fish trade and its prospects for the foreseeable future. The

main findings are summarized below:

River fish are in high demand in the market, and fetch premium prices;

Karnali River fish is predominantly sold locally;

Trade volumes are generally low (≤50 kg/ month/ trader);

The main actors in the Karnali River fish trade are i) hoteliers and restaurant holders (66% of

respondents) and ii) fish traders, including fishers themselves (30%);

76% of respondents buy from fishermen directly. Fishers deliver their catch directly to hotels,

particularly in Middle Karnali Watershed;

Fishers generally sell all species at the same price; prices do not vary by volume purchased.

Average price at first sale, received by fishers, is about NPR 500/ kg;

Traders sell the fish on to the next customer at about NPR 800/ kg;

Dried and/or smoked fish fetch consistently higher prices (NPR 2000 – 4500/ kg) than fresh

river fish and farmed fish; and

Hoteliers secure higher profit margins from cooked fish based on plates and fresh fish or

processed fish. Customers buy beverages and other snacks apart from fish, which adds further

revenue to the hotel business.

High Conservation Value Rivers Survey

WWF in collaboration with many stakeholders decided to undertake an HCVR assessment in Nepal, to

highlight the increasing degradation of rivers in Nepal, and slow the loss of ecological, livelihood, cultural

and other values; respond to the increasing calls to maintain portions of Nepal’s river systems in a

natural state; select baseline rivers for comparison against rivers which are being developed; identify

rivers or river stretches that are still relatively intact and that are providing critical ecosystem services

to nature and people; and conserve the integrity of these rivers and river stretches for current and

future generations. This is the first time that HCVRs have been identified and categorized in Nepal. As

presented in the policy brief, a summary of main takeaways of the assessment are below:

Hydropower development is being proposed on all the major rivers across Nepal and is a

significant threat to the diverse values of river systems.

Identification of HCVRs provides critical information for planning at different levels through

quantitative evaluation and spatial mapping of the values that rivers provide to society.

Identification and ranking of Nepal’s HCVRs can also help the country in meeting its national and

international commitments.

HCVR maps can provide insights into opportunities for mitigation of development impacts.

Avoidance, minimization, restoration, and offsetting are options to mitigate the potential

negative impacts of hydropower on river biodiversity and other values.

Energy Options Assessment

During the quarter, WWF evaluated the country’s options for power generation. Nepal currently has an

installed capacity of 1,303 MW, almost all (97%) of which is from hydropower, and an electricity deficit

which is partly met through imports from India. Large future increases in power demand are projected.


The EOA component of the project quantifies the costs of a range of scenarios that are designed to

satisfy Nepal’s future power demand. These scenarios are characterized by different technologies

(including new technologies such as solar PV, wind, and battery storage), demand forecasts, assumptions

on cost projections, and policy prescriptions and targets. The SWITCH model can be tasked with finding

optimal investment portfolios, based on existing infrastructure, future costs and demand, hydrology, and

available technologies (including all possible hydropower projects). The model simulates expansion of

the power system in four stages (2025, 2030, 2035, and 2040). As a least-cost model, outputs from

SWITCH always satisfy both the policy interest of keeping power costs low for consumers, and the

private investor’s interest in selecting competitive projects. By calculating the cost differences between

alternative generation and transmission investments, Nepal can carry out improved power system

forecasting and planning. The evaluation’s main findings are listed below:

Decisions about future hydropower development must ensure that Nepal can meet its energy

needs reliably, sustainably, and affordably.

Hydropower development has suffered from extensive delays, and generation is dependent on

the seasonality and variability of rainfall.

Other power technologies including wind, solar and batteries have become technically viable and

cost-effective, and are growing globally at much faster rates than hydropower.

Because today’s investment decisions will determine the future mix of sources over decades, it

is beneficial for countries to plan far ahead to ensure viable, least-cost, and low-impact

combinations of technologies over time.

Several power system expansion models are available to identify least-cost strategies for

generation and transmission investment that meets future demand.

Expansion in an unconstrained base case or reference scenario is mostly based on peaking run-

of-river (PROR) plants.

SWITCH can be used to compare many other scenarios and their combinations, and to test

specific portfolios of projects that look promising.

System-scale Planning

In Y5 Q2 Paani, with WWF, finalized a river basin decision support tool through an SSP exercise

conducted for the Karnali River Basin that assessed the cumulative impacts and benefits of multiple

projects at a system level, rather than at the scale of single projects. The SSP is a quantitative, multi-

criteria and multi-project framework. Its purpose is to support decision makers in making proactive

decisions on the management of river basins, with an informed perspective of the tradeoffs between

different development options. The SSP process does this by combining the outputs from the HCVR

analysis, which indicates rivers with high levels of biodiversity, recreation, fisheries, or other socio-

cultural values together with the lowest cost electricity development options that are an output of the

SWITCH power system model. The following are the main findings of the SSP exercise:

Nepal has abundant hydropower resources, only a small share of which will be needed over the

coming decades.

One of the major strategic advances that Nepal can use is the ability to assess the cumulative

impacts and benefits of multiple projects at a system level, rather than at the scale of single

projects.


SSP is run at a scale that is relevant for decision making, whether the river basin, electrical grid,

or national scale.

The intent of SSP, however, is not to provide one single answer that identifies the “best”

hydropower development solution.

Outputs of the SSP analysis can help decision-makers including government agencies, developers,

and financiers to identify combinations of projects that satisfy overall power demand at low

costs and with low (environmental and social) impacts.

Lessons from WWF’s three studies (SSP, EOA and HCVR)

An obvious data/information gap exists at the national level on different themes and values related to

HCVR, biodiversity, species distributions, recreation, river system classification, water quality and other

themes. To cope with the data gap, the team had to assign additional resources to collect, compile and

prepare national level spatial datasets on the above themes. It is a good lesson for the entire team that

data preparation is one of the crucial parts of the work and hence needs initial planning, and sufficient

time and budget for similar program designs in the future. Similarly, free spatial datasets (globally

available satellite imagery or vector data and national scale data etc.) can be a very helpful source of

secondary information to cope up with the data/information gap.

A process of continuous engagement and sharing with key stakeholders and advisory groups is crucial at

different stages of the work (from the very start, to draft sharing, to monthly advisory group meetings)

to ensure the validity of information generated during the work. This approach is also very important in

the ownership and uptake of the information after the completion of the work. Being first of its kind in

Nepal, the HCVR study approach to stakeholder consultation has successfully demonstrated that sharing

and discussions with key stakeholders is one of the successes and a good lesson that has helped to find a

common ground on conservation value status of rivers in Nepal.

Although field verifications, visits and stakeholder sharing with the physical presence of experts was not

possible due to the impact of COVID-19, especially at the later phase of the work, digital sharing and

information collection largely helped to refine the information generated through online stakeholder

engagement.

Considering the technicality of information generated in the three studies and requirement for further

sharing at the national, provincial and local levels, a training of trainers (ToT) is anticipated for the team

in Nepal at the national level.


SECTION V: MAJOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR NEXT QUARTER

Table 24 presents the major activities planned for the period of January 1 – March 31, 2021. For

consistency with Paani’s Y5 AWP, the activities are prepared according to strategic approaches.

Table 24: Major activities planned for next quarter

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1A: Improve local management for capture fisheries

SA Lead: Freshwater Fisheries Specialist (Suresh Wagle)

OUTCOME TASK SUBTASK Y5/Q2ACTION PLAN LOCATION OUTPUTS TIMELINE

Jan Feb Mar Y5

Q4

Incentive for

community-

CAACG

available to

engage in

conservation

activities (IFF-

Paani NCE

Activities)

1.1.1:

Assess

capture

fisheries

C.1.1.1-2 Build capacity of

fisher community to

engage in alternative

business enterprises

(Support for employment,

income generation and

enhanced livelihood)

Conduct detail technical study to establish

IFF and wetland to CBF (vendor service),

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

Technical study report X

Select community groups (CAACGs),

cooperatives and out-migrate returnees to

start IFF and CBF (selected grantees)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

Selection Report for each

watershed (8)

X

Prepare integrated aquaculture hand-booklet

(vendor service received) National 1 hand-booklet produced

X





Jan Feb Mar Y5

Q4

Provide hands-on training to the grantees

and CAACGs in IFF farm design,

construction and renovation of ponds and

production processes and methods (vendor

service received)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

160 persons trained X

Support wage labor and material for the

establishment of new fishpond, small

livestock shed, renovation of natural wetland

(grantee in collaboration with vender)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

61 ponds with small sheds for

livestock established, 9000-

person day employment

created

X X

Provide in kind support for equipment and

production inputs material for integrated fish

farming to the selected community groups

for IFF operation (local grantees)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

Material and supplies report X X X X

Support community scale fish seed for

nursery establishment (grantees) Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

8 fish nurseries established X X

Provide technical supports to IFF enterprise

in the management of water quality, fish

feeding and fish health during the grow out

period (vendor service received)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

Technical support report X X X X





Jan Feb Mar Y5

Q4

Support the linkage with public and private

agro-vet service providers (vendor service

received)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

Linkage support report X X X

Strengthen market and

marketing network for

improved supply chain

Support the establishment of fish collection

center in each major fish catch site (selected

local grantees)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

9 fish collection centers

established

X X X

Provide hands-on training on fish

preservation and processing to the grantees,

fish vendor local hoteliers (vendor service

received)

Karnali,

Mahakali,

Rapti

50 fish vendor/persons trained X X

Develop field guide (manual on fish

preservation and processing (vendor service

received)

National 1 manual developed X X


STRATEGIC APPROACH 1B: Improve local capacity for water management SA Lead: Integrated Water Management Specialist (Bhawani Dongol)

OUTCOME TASK SUBTASK Y5/Q3 ACTION PLAN LOCATION OUTPUTS TIMELINE

Jan Feb Mar Y5 Q4

Better (GESI aware) local level land and water management practices implemented

1.2.3 Develop and promote climate-smart best management practices

C1.2.3-2 Promote best practices through existing mechanisms (NGOs, etc.)

MRDCC will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming MPDS will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming RuDeC will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming SAEWCC will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming Sahara Nepal will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming IDeS will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming KIRDARC will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming SBS will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming HWEPC will support local level livelihood through climate smart vegetable farming

Jhimruk Watershed Rangun/Lower Mahakali Watershed Bogatan Lagam Watershed Middle Karnali Watershed West Seti Watershed Thuligaad Watershed Tila Watershed Lower Karnali Watershed Middle Rapti Watershed

2500 man days of labor work

1000 households benefitted

X X X X


STRATEGIC APPROACH 1B: Improve local capacity for water management SA Lead: Integrated Water Management Specialist (Bhawani Dongol)


Jan Feb Mar Y5 Q4

Communities have equitable access to skills and resources to implement appropriate climate smart and watershed management activities. (5) (implementation)

1.2.2 Training and support for watershed management activities (implementation)

C1.2.2-4 Provide grants for implementation activities.

IDES will implement bioengineering and water source conservation activities KIRDARC will implement bioengineering and water source conservation activities MPDS will implement bioengineering and water source conservation activities SAEWCC will implement bioengineering and water source conservation activities Sahara Nepal will implement water source conservation activities

Thuligaad Watershed Tila Watershed Rangun Watershed Middle Karnali Watershed West Seti Watershed

1000 man days of labor work

100 Ha area under improvement

X X X

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1C: Improve local capacity for regulation and management of roads and mining SA Lead: IWRM Specialist (Bhawani Dongol)


Jan Feb Mar Y5 Q4

Communities advocate for local bodies and municipality to better regulate aggregate mining

1.2.1 Climate-smart road construction and environmentally-friendly (EF) gravel mining

C 1.2.1-10 Provide TA to miners (individuals and companies) on better practices C 1.2.1-11 Raise awareness of communities of impacts of gravel mining and regulations (linked 4.1.9: outreach)

Mobilize community groups in monitoring of illegal mining Collaborate with local government in reviewing and revising existing IEEs

Conduct joint monitoring of IEEs

Lower Karnali and Lower Mahakali watersheds

10 community groups monitoring mining activities 600 man days of monitoring by community groups 2 IEEs reviewed/revised 10 joint monitoring

X X X X


STRATEGIC APPROACH 1C: Improve local capacity for regulation and management of roads and mining SA Lead: IWRM Specialist (Bhawani Dongol)


Jan Feb Mar Y5 Q4

C 1.2.1-12 Provide TA to rural municipalities on monitoring activities in compliance with IEEs

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1D: Improve local capacity for managing invasive species SA Lead: Freshwater Fisheries Specialist (Suresh Wagle)


Jan Feb Mar Y5 Q4

Community groups understand and select the aquatic invasive plant control measures

1.1.3. Support local efforts to combat invasive species

C 1.1.3-6 Asses potential incentives

Support in preparation of water hyacinth-based organic compost by involving BLMC members [APS grant]

Lower Karnali Watershed

10 pilot sites of composting X X X

Support in preparation of water hyacinth-based silage involving BLMC members [APS grant]


10 pilot sites of silage preparation

X X X

Facilitate BMLC’s operation of a water mower for cleaning invasive plants from the Bhagaraiya Lake in Middle Karnali Watershed [APS grant]


Report on water mower operation.

X X X X

C1.1.3-9. Facilitate selection of control measures

Support BMLC to remove invasive aquatic plant from Bhagaraiya Lake manually through local wage labor [APS Grant]


15 ha lake area cleaned from invasive plant

X X X X

Support the restocking of native and herbivorous fish species as biological control agents in Bhagraiya and Anarhawa lakes for invasive plant control and production of fish


20000 fish fingerlings restocked

X X

Access impact of control methods implemented on invasive aquatic plant management [Paani]


Report on impact X X


STRATEGIC APPROACH 2B: Improve local capacity for disaster risk reduction SA Lead: IWMR Specialist (Bhawani S Dongol)

OUTCOME TASK SUBTASK Y5/ Q3 ACTION PLAN

LOCATION OUTPUTS TIMELINE Jan

Feb

Mar

Y5Q4

Communities and other stakeholders are able to respond to floods and other climate risks

2.2.3 Support DHM and local stakeholders to disseminate information on flood risks and warnings linked to local and community-based response plans

2.2.3.1 Support DHM and local stakeholders to disseminate information on flood risks and warnings linked to local and community-based response plans.

Review and

finalize

DPRPs for

Madhuwan

and

Thakurbaba

municipalities

and

Badikedar

and Chure

Rural

Municipalities

(through

grantees

KIRDARC

and IDeS)

Handover

the FEWS to

the

respective

local

governments

linking with

Sustainable

Eco

Engineering

(SEE)

Thuligaad and Lower Karnali watersheds Lower Karnali and Thuligaad watersheds Lower Karnali, Lower Mahakali, Rangun, Middle Rapti watersheds

4 plans prepared 2 FEWS formally handed over 20 local governments receive flood hazard maps


STRATEGIC APPROACH 3A: Strengthen Policy and Planning for IWRM SA Lead: Sr. Environmental Policy and Law Expert (Narayan Belbase)


Jan Feb Mar Y5 Q4

Local, Provincial and Federal government supported to develop GESI smart laws/policies

3.1.3 Provide support to WECs, national, provincial, and local governments on policies, laws, and plans.

C 3.1.3 -1 Provide support to WECs, national, provincial, and local governments on policies, laws, and plans

Provide technical support to Far West Province's MoITFE to develop river conservation bill or aquatic biodiversity conservation bill.

Dropped

Support local governments to develop Environment Protection Bill and Regulations

Draft Bill X X X X

- Draft the Regulations based on the revised outline

X X

- Organize community consultation meeting and consultation workshop on the Bill and Regulations

X X X

- Revise the draft incorporating suggestions and comments from the members of local governments and local communities and submit to the concerned RMs and MPs

X X X

Work together with local governments to amend or revise the AABCA

Draft of Revised version of the Bill

X X X

- Develop Bill for amending the AABCA

X

- Organize consultation meeting with CAACGs and consultation workshop on the Bill to revise the AABCA

X

- Revise the Bill based on the feedbacks from CAACG members and consultation workshop and submit to local governments for enactment

X

Disseminate

flood hazard

maps


STRATEGIC APPROACH 3A: Strengthen Policy and Planning for IWRM SA Lead: Sr. Environmental Policy and Law Expert (Narayan Belbase)


Jan Feb Mar Y5 Q4

Rajapur Municipality, Geruwa Municipality, Panchapuri Municipality and other local governments to develop the AABC Bill

Lower Karnali watershed

Penultimate draft of the statues

X X

- Organize community consultation meeting and consultation workshop on the Bill

X X

- Revise and finalize the Bill incorporating the suggestions from community and local government stakeholders and submit it to the concerned local governments

X X

Assist DNPWC and Rara National Park to formulate Wetland Management Plan of Rara Lake - a Ramsar site

National Draft of the Ramsar Site Management Plan

X X

- Revise the Management Plan as per the findings of the IEE report and submit to DNPWC for approval

X

3.1.3.-2 Develop Guidelines for Patrolling of river stretches by members of CAACGs

Develop guidelines/procedures for patrolling of river stretches handed over to CAACGs by their members

X

- Prepare the first draft and revise it based on the input from WMSs and RBTLs

X

- Interaction with members CBAPUs to learn from their experiences and practices

X X

- Collect suggestions from CAACG members on the draft of the Patrolling Guidelines and revise the draft incorporating their suggestions

X X

- Organize consultation workshop on the draft of the guidelines for the local members of CAACGs and local governments

X

- Revise the guidelines, addressing the comments and suggestion of the workshop and submit to local governments for endorsement

X


ANNEXES

EXHIBIT A1: INDICATOR PERFORMANCE TRACKING FOR Y5 Q2

Below is Paani’s overall performance against targets for Y5 Q2. For consistency with Paani’s Y5 AWP,

the indicators are presented by Paani’s Strategic Approaches, the program’s guiding management and

implementation framework.

Indicators Targets / Actuals Notes Year 5 Quarter 2 (Oct – Dec 2020)

Year 5 (July 2020 – June 2021)

Target Actual Target Actual Standard indicators Number of hectares of biologically significant areas showing improved biophysical conditions as a result of USG assistance (EG 10.2-1)

90,000

- This indicator could not be assessed in the 2nd quarter. Plans are underway to assess this indicator in the current quarter.

Number of hectares of biologically significant areas under improved natural resource management as a result of USG assistance (EG 10.2-2)

167,178

- This indicator could not be assessed in the 2nd quarter. Plans are underway to assess this indicator in the current quarter.

Number of people using climate information or implementing risk-reducing actions to improve resilience to climate change as supported by USG assistance (EG 11-6)

700

472 Male: 355, Female:117 BCTS: 135, Dalit: 87, Janajati: 241, Others: 9

Number of people with increased economic benefits derived from sustainable NRM and conservation as a result of U.S. assistance (EG 10.2-3).

25000 - This indicator could not be assessed in the 2nd quarter. Plans are underway to assess this indicator in the current quarter.

Number of institutions with improved capacity to assess or address climate change risks supported by USG assistance (EG 11-2)

1 1 4 1 GCC assessment of MRDCC was done in Nov 30, 2020. Total score was 2.38 as against 1.27 which was done in March 2019.

Percentage of participants reporting increased agreement with the concept that men and women should have equal access to social, economic, and political resources and opportunities (GNDR 4)

Achieved (LoP target: 65%, achievement till year 4: 69%). This indicator is assessed based on responses of training participants. There will be fewer trainings in Y5, but Paani will assess the indicator if/when trainings are held.

Number of (national level) policies/regulations/administrative procedures in each of the following stages of development as a result of U.S. assistance in each case: Stage 1: Analyzed; Stage 2: Drafted and presented for public/stakeholder

19 6 This indicator combines the ones below on EG 10.2.5 and EG 11-3.




consultation; Stage 3: Presented for legislation/decree; Stage 4: Passed/ approved; Stage 5: Passed for which implementation has begun (1.4.1-2,)

EG.10.2-5 Number of laws, policies, or regulations that address biodiversity conservation and/or other environmental themes officially proposed, adopted, or implemented as a result of USG assistance

14 6 Two EFRC guidelines in Turmakhand RM and Bhairabi RM were endorsed. One AABCA in Mahawai RM of Tila Karnali and two AABCAs in Barahatal RM and Panchapuri M in Lower Karnal were endorsed. National Water Resources Policy was approved in August.

EG.11-3 Number of laws, policies, regulations, or standards addressing climate change adaptation formally proposed, adopted, or implemented as supported by USG assistance

5 - In year 5, two Environment Protection Act and two Environment Protection Regulations will be Endorsed in Middle Karnali (Aathbis and Dullu), along with one electricity bill enactment.

Number of people trained in climate change adaptation supported by USG assistance (EG 11-1)

347 261 967 339 Quarter 2 Male: 115, Female:146 BCTS:75, Dalit:30, Janajati: 143, Newar:0, Others:0

% of leadership positions in USG supported community management entities that are filled by women or member of a vulnerable group (1.3.2-1).

85% 50% 85% Achievement until year 4 :

70%

This indicator will be assessed based on new group formation or renewal of groups.

Number of people trained in sustainable natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation as a result of USG assistance (EG 10.2-4)

160 121 360 203 Quarter 2: Male:63, Female:58 BCTS: 57, Dalit:13, Janajati: 51

Number of innovations supported through USG assistance (STIR-10) 4 -- Number of peer-reviewed scientific publications resulting from USG support to research and implementation programs (STR-12)

1 1 4 1 3 achieved through Y4. These are: Water crises in a water-rich country: Case studies from rural watersheds of Nepal's mid-hills; Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities in the Rivers of Western Himalaya, Nepal, and Assessment of Spring Water Quality in the Rural Watersheds of Western Nepal. In year 5 Q 2, Status of Springs in Mountains Watershed of Western Nepal was published in Water Policy.

Number of person days of local labor/employment created 3424 32870 7088 Quarter 2: Total 3424 Male: 2004




Female: 1420

No. of kilometers of river stretch co-managed 340 Km This is cumulative as of year 5/Q2 and are managed by 43 legally registered CAACGs.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1 a: Improve Management of Capture Fisheries # of fishing groups to which municipalities have given exclusive access rights and the legal authority to manage their river fisheries under agreed guidelines

8 8 53 21 In Q2, eight CAACGS were registered in Rapti and Jhimruk watersheds, totaling 21 in year 5.

P/A of guidelines developed through participatory process 2 - # of municipalities/rural municipalities that have endorsed sustainable fisheries guidelines

2 - 4 endorsed in Rangun and Lower Mahakali watersheds as of year 4.

% of observed fishing effort by fishing group members for each fishing group that includes only sustainable fishing practices*, Defined according to the Guidelines for each fishing group

90% - This indicator could not be assessed in the 2nd quarter. Paani will collect data for this indicator in the current quarter.

P/A of sustainable economic opportunities identified with partnership formed for each selected economic opportunity

3 - Study is ongoing for 3 business case of capture fisheries, aquaculture and fisheries-based ecotourism.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1 b : Increase Local Knowledge, Engagement and Benefits for Local Water Management

# of communities and municipalities/rural municipalities in targeted watersheds that have developed and endorsed the local plan (CAPAs, LAPAs, LDCRP, sub watershed management plan)

- 0 2 -

# of target municipalities/rural municipalities that have taken initiative or received funding from a source other than Paani for implementation of an adaptation activity

- 7 8 10 Gadhwa, Rajpur and Talkot RMs provided funding support for different adaptation activities in Q 1. Seven municipalities/R municipalities provided finding supports for different adaptation activities in Q 2.

# of target communities and settlements implementing climate smart watershed management activities (tied to LAPA and CAPA)

- - 9 1 Naraharinath RM prioritized activities stated in LAPA in municipal annual action plan with budget and are implementing adaptation activities in current fiscal year.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1c : Improve Local Capacity for Regulation and Management of Roads and Mining # of user groups that advocate for environment-friendly road designs 2 - Two were achieved through Y4. No progress in

Y5 Q1 and Q2. # of municipalities/rural municipalities that prioritize funds for projects with environment-friendly road designs

LoP target 5

Total actual: 9

8 Municipalities (two in Jhimruk, four in West Seti and 2 in Middle Karnali). All together NRs. 58,100,000 allocated in Y4.




In Y5 Q1, Bhairabi RM endorsed the EFRC guidelines and allocated budget for construction as per the guidelines.

# of user groups aware of national guidelines and impact of gravel mining 2 -

# of user groups that advocate for better regulated gravel mining 2 - STRATEGIC APPROACH 1d : Improve Local Capacity for Managing Invasive Species # of CFOPs, sub watershed management plans, and buffer zone management plans with invasive control section [with removal targets] in place for affected waterbodies

2

-

% (#) of community groups meeting removal targets for affected waterbodies 1 1 1 1 The lake management committee in Bhagraiya used the water mower to remove invasive plants from the lake. Lake cleaning is being routinely conducted. No new committee, groups added in Q1 Y5.

P/A of regulations in place and enforcement of fish farms in targeted affected waterbodies in selected watersheds

- Paani will do follow-up and lobby for fishery development policy endorsement in year 5. As such, Paani will not have a target for this indicator due to the program’s pivot towards COVID-19 and livelihood support in Year 5.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2a: Improved Basin Level Resource Management # of platforms established

6 1 68 1 One CAACG formed in year 5/Q2.

# of platforms engaged in advocacy activities

3 -

# of platforms that have developed plans of action and demonstrate ongoing activities against those plans

25 - Reporting tools for local plan development has been developed. Assessments will be done with the registered CAACGs.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2b: Improve Local Capacity for Disaster Risk Reduction # of communities that are warned in sufficient time to respond to flooding and other climate hazards

LoP target=15.

43

Achieved. 1,300 households (11,750 people) from 43 villages now receive flood risk warnings, allowing them to respond more quickly and ultimately minimize loss of life and property.




# of IWRMP, LAPAs, CAPAs with disaster response sections that use flood maps developed from hydromet data

1 - Flood hazard maps from 10 watersheds have been developed and will be shared with local government and stakeholders in Y5 Q2.

# of hydropower operators that have EAPs in place 7 1

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2c: Support Sustainable Hydropower # of smaller hydropower projects that have hydro-met data and tools (DHM has hydro-met database)

9 11 Achieved. Paani through IPPAN organized training on Hydro-met data and River Basin Planning in Y4. Of the 25 participants, 11 hydropower companies participated with Hydro-met Data and learned the techniques and methods of using data in their respective project design and operations

# of hydropower developers and operators that have e-flow information 2 - Task related to this indicator is cancelled. STRATEGIC APPROACH 3a: Improve Policy and Planning For IWRM Presence or Absence of ‘white paper’ containing recommendations with champion’s inputs.

This indicator was dropped, as the institutional arrangements required by the federal governance system are lagging behind. Moreover, the PEA study carried out in 12 watersheds provided similar information that would likely have come from the white paper.

Number of IRBMPs established To capture various groups/platforms at different levels, this indicator was changed to ‘Number of platforms established’ and the definition broadened. Please see SA 2a: River Basin Planning above.

P/A of effective National Water Resources policy 1 1 Water resource policy is approved in Q1. STRATEGIC APPROACH 3b : Support CSOs to Advocate for Transparent and Accountable Hydropower Decision Making Number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) receiving USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions (EG 2.4.1-9)

4 - Will be assessed once CSO guidelines are rolled out.

# of CSOs that understand sustainable hydropower and have improved capacity for constructive engagement

25 - Will be assessed once CSO guidelines are rolled out.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4a: Knowledge Number of peer-reviewed scientific publications resulting from USG support to research and implementation programs (STR-12)

4 -1 3 achieved through Y4. These are: Water crises in a water-rich country: Case studies from rural




watersheds of Nepal's mid-hills; Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities in the Rivers of Western Himalaya, Nepal, and Assessment of Spring Water Quality in the Rural Watersheds of Western Nepal. In year 5 Q 2, Status of Springs in Mountains Watershed of Western Nepal was published in Water Policy.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4b: Learning Spaces : COMPLETED % of scholarship recipients who are women or from disadvantaged groups # of courses developed in the areas of freshwater biodiversity and sustainable water management

-

# of non-academic courses developed in the areas of freshwater biodiversity and sustainable water management.


EXHIBIT A2: Status of Savings of CAACGs of Jhimruk and Middle Rapti Watershed

SN Watershed Name of CAACG Sep-19 Dec-19 Mar-20 Dec, 20

1 Jhimruk Amilya Raha CAACG 6677 10400 10905 12925

2 Jhimruk Damti Dovan CAACG 15400 27530 35714 46200

3 Jhimruk Raksha Raha CAACG 14040 14570 18685 26580

4 Jhimruk Bange Raha CAACG 6380 10230 16535 24765

5 Jhimruk Tribeni CAACG 0 4000 7811 20310

6 Jhimruk Nayaraha CAACG 0 5000 8120 21200

7 Jhimruk Airwati Dovan CAACG 0 920 1880 7515

8 Jhimruk Makre CAACG 0 2550 3800 15900

9 Jhimruk Bnkala CAACG 0 2000 7660 15300

10 Jhimruk Gudgude CAACG 0 7960 12080 23415

Sub Total 42497 85160 123190 214110

1 Middle Rapti Baikha CAACG 10500 11000 22800 21000

2 Middle Rapti Baam CAACG 11000 18000 14800 26200

3 Middle Rapti Rawa CAACG 13000 24200 26600 36500

4 Middle Rapti Raini CAACG 6000 7750 10750 13750

5 Middle Rapti Sahar CAACG 4000 9000 9000 28700

6 Middle Rapti Rohu CAACG 4000 10000 16000 15000

7 Middle Rapti Mangra CAACG 3000 9000 14000 13000

8 Middle Rapti Kalmuda CAACG 0 2000 5000 6000

Sub Total 51500 90950 118950 160150

Grand Total 93997 176110 242140 374260


EXHIBIT A3: RESOURCES LEVERAGED BY DIFFERENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO CAACGS FOR AQUATIC

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT.

Watershed RM/M CAACG Funds

leveraged

(NPR)

Purpose/Activity

Jhimruk Airawati RM Deurali CAACG 50000 CAACG formation and

capacity building

Jhimruk Naubahini

RM

Bahane CAACG 4100 CAACG formation

Jhimruk Pyuthan

Municipality

Amilya Raha

CAACG

90000 Construction of two irrigation

ponds

Jhimruk Jhimruk

Municipality

Bankala Raha

CAACG

68000 Hoarding board installation

and wall painting

Middle

Rapti

Rapti RM Mangra CAACG 3000 Procurement of lemon

sapling

Middle

Rapti

Rapti RM Kalmuda CAACG 8000 Goat farming

Middle

Rapti

Gadhawa

RM

Sahar CAACG 60000 Beekeeping & vegetable

farming

Middle

Rapti

Rajpur RM Raini CAACG 20000 Pig farming

Middle

Rapti

Gadhawa

RM

Rawa CAACG 120000 Vegetable farming

Middle

Rapti

Gadhawa

RM

Rawa CAACG 500000 CAACG and mother's group

community building

Middle

Rapti

Rapti RM Baikha CAACG,

Bam CAACG,

Mangra CAACG

200000 CAACG office management

and hoarding board for

biodiversity conservation

awareness

Total 1,123,100


EXHIBIT A4: Status of Paani knowledge products and plans for year 5.

SN

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCT

Link TYPE AUDIENCE STATUS

1. Watershed Health Reports (12 Paani Watersheds)

English Version https://bit.ly/2IOgifC Nepali Version https://bit.ly/2Hdie0J

Watershed Study

Local government, CSOs and line agencies, USAID and INGOs

Ready for distribution (including via

FCOE

2. Watershed Health Profiles (12 Paani Watersheds)

English Version https://bit.ly/35HpQSp

Watershed Study



FCOE

3 Watershed Briefers

English Version https://bit.ly/3nyC3z1 Nepali Version https://bit.ly/2K9FvSb

Watershed Study



FCOE

4 Watershed Posters

Nepali Version https://bit.ly/3pzuE4p

Watershed Study

NGO, CSO, govt line agencies, , users’ group, local govt


FCOE

5 Watershed Prioritization Report

https://bit.ly/3nI9X4w Watershed

Study

NGO, CSO, govt line agencies, , users’ group, local govt


FCOE

6 Poster on mapping of Spring Sources for 5 Watersheds

https://bit.ly/3lMZpjW

Knowledge product

NGO, CSO, govt line agencies, , users group, local govt


FCOE

7 Poster: Bio assessment using Macro-invertebrates (foldable pocket map format)

Nepali Version https://bit.ly/35Hu4tu

Knowledge product

Local government, CSOs and line agencies


FCOE

8 Pictorial guide on spring source mapping

English Version https://bit.ly/32WqYzV Nepali Version https://bit.ly/2ITyK6H

Knowledge product

Local government, CSOs and line agencies


FCOE

9 Field guide on bio-assessment and micro invertebrates for Citizen Scientists

https://bit.ly/36Wh3LO Knowledge

product Citizen Scientist in training


FCOE

10 Poster: Recommendation for basin level plan based on Karnali basin expedition and Paani learning discussions at basin level

Knowledge product

River basin offices, watershed management offices, WECS, MOEWRI, Planning commission at province level


FCOE

11 Poster and Briefer/ Presentation/ video: Framework for river stretch co-management (Paani study)

Knowledge product

Local and Provincial government, Planning commission at province level, CSOs


FCOE

12 Briefer: Fisheries market and conservation governance model

Primary Research

MOFE, MoALD, Planning commission at province level


FCOE

13 Protocol/ Requirement for declaration of fish sanctuary (Report and Briefer)

Primary Research

MOFE, MoALD, Planning commission at province level

Under development as

of end of Q2

14 Paani Success Stories

https://bit.ly/3nFYQJo Paani

Internal Product

Paani team, government counterparts, sub-partners, USAID, DAI home office


of end of Q2


SN

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCT


15 Paani Impact Video

https://bit.ly/3fdK49I Paani

Internal Product

Paani team, government counterparts, sub-partners, USAID, DAI home office


FCOE

16 Paani Learning video

https://bit.ly/2WwYsT4

Paani Internal Product

CAACG members, local government, communities, grantees


FCOE

17 NEFEJ Paani television episodes

https://www.youtube.com /c/PaaniProgram/videos?view=0&sort=dd&flow=grid

Paani media product

CAACG members, local government, communities, grantees

Ready for distribution (including via FCOE

18 Poster monograph: Karnali Iconic Fish Species

https://bit.ly/38VQjOh Paani

Fishery Product

Local government, provincial gov, AACG, CSOs and line agencies, USAID and INGO


FCOE

19 Poster monograph: Karnali Endemic and Threatened fish species

https://bit.ly/38VQjOh Paani

Fishery Product

Local government, provincial gov, AACG, CSOs and line agencies, USAID and INGO


FCOE

20 Inventory of fish species from three different river basins

https://bit.ly/3fewC5t Paani

Fishery Product

CAACG, local government, procincial government, grantees


FCOE

21 Stock taking report on the impacts of non-native fish species on native fish species (Invasive Report)

https://bit.ly/396VdrA Paani

Fishery Product

CAACG, local government, procincial and federal government


FCOE

22 EFRC IEC materials (posters, brochure and flip chart and tutorial video

https://bit.ly/2UJoDns

Knowledge product

Road Users Group, local government, contactors, provincial government, communities


FCOE

23 Strategic consideration for river conservation legislation in Nepal

https://bit.ly/3nKlOyL

Research Briefer

Local government, provincial Gov, CAACG, CSOs and line agencies, USAID and INGO


FCOE

24 Preparation of sub-watershed management plans engaging key stakeholders (CREEEW)

https://bit.ly/3kNQT2L

Research Briefer



FCOE

25 River Health and Biodiversity Profiling in the Karnali and West Rapti Watersheds: (KU)

https://bit.ly/39cNnx1

Research Briefer



FCOE

26

Increasing Adaptive Capacity of Communities in Upper Rangun-Khola Sub-watershed through Improved Water Resources Management (RDC)

https://bit.ly/331te8Y

Research Briefer



FCOE

27

A Multi-Disciplinary Assessment of Biodiversity and Socio- Economic Status of the Karnali River of Nepal (CMDN)

https://bit.ly/3lRtS0f

Research Briefer



FCOE


SN

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCT


28 Political Economy Analysis to Identify Champions for Freshwater Policy Change and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity

https://bit.ly/36T1VyJ

Research Briefer



FCOE

29 Mapping and Assessing Pollution Stresses on Spring Sources in Five Watersheds of Mid and Far-Western Nepal

https://bit.ly/392R9su

Research Briefer



FCOE

30 Flood Hazard map watershed posters for dissemination in 4 Watersheds

https://bit.ly/30Epd9y

Posters Local government, civic society organization


FCOE

31 Energy Option Assessment Report for Nepal

https://bit.ly/3osTQrm Priority Study Report


FCOE

32 An assessment report on high conservation value rivers of Nepal

https://bit.ly/3osTQrm Priority Study Report


FCOE

33

System scale planning for Karnali River

https://bit.ly/3osTQrm

Priority Study Report

Government, Academia, planning commission, private sectors, biodiversity conservation


FCOE

34 Karnali River Conservation legislation framework (Summary)

https://bit.ly/2YoJdvd


Agencies engaged with river basin planning, water resources, freshwater biodiversity, academia and researchers


FCOE

35

Political Economy Analysis to Identify Champions for Freshwater Policy Change and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity Report

https://bit.ly/2IVaGA0 Priority

Study Report

Local government and provincial government agencies, CSOs


FCOE

36 Environment Friendly Road Construction Guidelines

https://bit.ly/2Hj3jSJ Priority

Study Report

local government, technical person, contractors, champions


FCOE

37 Fish Value chain study report


GON, Private Sectors, Planning


FCOE

38 Fishery conservation Framework and market development strategy

https://bit.ly/332Gkmy Priority

Study Report

Government and donor agencies, Civic Society Organizations


FCOE

39 Birds of Rara Updated Checklist Ornithology Training Manual Rara Nationnal Park Leaflet

https://bit.ly/35P4oLA Priority

Study Report

Local government, CSO and research institutions


FCOE

40 Flood Hazard mapping report

https://bit.ly/3nH4ZFe


Local and provincial Governments, CSO, Government line agencies, donor and International agencies


FCOE


SN

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCT


41 Bilingual Civil Society Guide Priority

Study Report

Champions, local NGOs, grantees, Federations


of end of Q2

42 Aquatic Animal Conservation Bill of Jorayal Rural Municipality (ENG)

English https://bit.ly/2ISFeTw Nepali https://bit.ly/2ISgT05


Donor, international agencies and experts


FCOE

43 Impacts of Gravel Mining on Aquatic Species in Lower Karnali and Lower Mahakali Watersheds

https://bit.ly/2Hj4Sjr


local government, planning, environment and biodiversity


FCOE

44 Policy brief for conservation of wetland biodiversity


Government, private sectors and community


of end of Q2

45 Aqua Culture Feasibility Study (First Phase)

English https://bit.ly/391iqLN Nepali https://bit.ly/3kPePCQ


Local and provincial government, private sector, entrepreneurs.


FCOE

46 Assessment of nature based tourism in karnali basin (eco-tourism)

https://bit.ly/3907i20


Government, private sectors and community


FCOE

47 Fish Assessment reports and threats of western river basin


Local and provincial Governments, CSO, Government line agencies, communities, grantees


FCOE

48 Report: Catch assessment survey




FCOE

49 Report: Business case for capture fisheries, aquaculture and fisheries based ecotourism




FCOE

50 An introduction of unique biodiversity Ramsar site of Rara Lake

Research Briefer



FCOE

51 Migratory Behavior of Wetland Birds in Rara Lake, Nepal

Research Briefer

Government, academia, research and biodiversity community,


FCOE

52 Structure of Benthic Macro Invertebrate communities in the rivers of western Himalaya

https://bit.ly/2IRfYwM Scientific

Journal Publication

Academia, researcher scholars, planning and conservation biology


FCOE

53 Assessment of Spring Water Quality in the Rural Watersheds of Western Nepal

https://bit.ly/36RPLq7

Scientific Journal Publication

Academia, researcher scholars, planning, environment and conservation biology


FCOE

54 Water crises in a water-rich country: case studies from rural watersheds of Nepal’s mid-hills

https://bit.ly/2IRUTC8 Scientific

Journal Publication

Local government, academia, policy and planning


FCOE

55 Extent and distribution wetland biodiversity in protected and non-protected lakes in far-western Nepal


Academia, researcher scholars,

To be developed in Q3


SN

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCT


government, planning

56 Status of Mahseer (Tor spp.) in the Karnali River Basin, Nepal: Diversity, Habitats, and Aspects of Bionomics


Government, private sectors, academia, researchers, biodiversity


57 Status of freshwater biodiversity and habitat condition in Ramaroshan wetland complex of Achham District, Nepal


Government, biodiversity and environment, environment, ecotourism


58 Mapping and measurement of water discharge from spring sources of western Nepal




FCOE

59

Fishery conservation Framework for Nepal

https://bit.ly/2IRqPXt Technical

Briefer



FCOE

60 Impacts of Aggregate Mining on Aquatic Biodiversity

https://bit.ly/3lOZHa2 Technical

Briefer



FCOE

61 Management of Invasive Aquatic Plants and Animals in Nepal

https://bit.ly/38ZjOyF Technical

Briefer



FCOE

62 Assessment of nature based tourism potential in karnali basin

https://bit.ly/35LsGFZ Technical

Briefer



FCOE

63 Political Economy Analysis Technical Brief

https://bit.ly/36O6oTs Technical

Briefer



FCOE

64 Strategic Consideration for River Conservation Legislation in Nepal Summary

https://bit.ly/2IYYbDu Technical

Briefer



FCOE

65 Political Economy Analysis Summary report

https://bit.ly/3r2tPkp

Policy Brief



FCOE

Status Summary:

Paani Knowledge Products

Ready for distribution (including via FCOE)

58

To be developed in Q3 3

Under development as of end of Q2

4


EXHIBIT A5: MAP OF PAANI WATERSHEDS

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