Improving Livelihood for Poor Farmers and Disadvantaged Groups in the Eastern Development Region

"Improving Livelihood for Poor Farmers and Disadvantaged Groups in the Eastern Development Region of Nepal - the JFPR Project - 9101-NEP" is ongoing in four districts Dhankuta, Morang, Sunsari and Saptari. The project is jointly funded by ADB/Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction and Government of Nepal andis is being implemented in conjunction with Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) of ADB and Government of Nepal. CADP is ongoing in 11 districts of EDR which also includes four JFPR Districts.  The initially project was proposed for the period of three years (July 20, 2007 - July 15, 2010) and it has been recently extended for additional one year till July 2011. 

The Project include four components are:

                                                   i.      Social Mobilization and Adult Literacy,

                                                 ii.      Strengthening of Income Generation Activities, and

                                                iii.      Support to CapacityBuilding of Stakeholders

                                               iv.      Project Management, Monitoring and Audit.

Development Project Service Center-Nepal (DEPROSC-Nepal) is Implementing Agency and lead national NGO for the JFPR project and responsible for component four i.e. Project Management, Monitoring, reporting and Audit

The Project

The JFPR Project aim to bring benefits for weaker groups such as marginal farmers, the landless, dalits, and ethnic minority populations not covered under ongoing CADP project. The Project activity will bring these underprivileged communities of the project area into development process by creating opportunities for them.

The objectives of the project are to (i) improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in the agriculture sector and (ii) increase their participation in the development process in the Eastern Development Region. The purpose of the Project is :

-         to reach 12,000 very poor people in Dhankuta, Morang, Sunsari and Saptari districts,

-         to increase their incomes, and

-         to enhance skills for effective participation in development efforts:

(i) The social mobilization program and awareness campaign will reach 12,000 poor people and develop 600 self-help groups in the four districts, develop leadership skills, increase confidence and self-esteem, and improve the adult literacy rate for 6,000 people (50% of the target group).

(ii) Income-generating activities for 50% of the target group (6,000 people) will be sustained by access to the income generation fund and links to the commercial agricultural fund being developed by the Commercial Agriculture Development Project. Improved income generation will help 25% of the very poor to move out of poverty on a sustainable basis; 25% of the very poor will be better off.

(iii) The skills of service providers (at least 2 non-government organizations and community-based organizations per district) will be developed for social mobilization; income generation through commercial agriculture and marketing, effective reporting  monitoring, financial management and beneficiary evaluation techniques.

Primary Beneficiaries: The JFPR Project aims to bring benefits for weaker groups and ethnic minority populations not covered under ongoing CADP project. The primary beneficiaries of the project are rural poor subsistence farmers, wage laborers, ethnic minorities and dalit groups active in agriculture for livelihoods, with a particular focus on households headed by women.

Expected Outputs: The expected outputs of the project are:

-         600 new existing self-help groups capacitated and mobilized,

-         6,000 people’s skills on leadership, literacy and numeracy levels and self-esteem level enhanced,

-         6,000 families linked with micro-finance services,

-         At least 3,000 families, which are below the poverty scale at the time of baseline survey, come out of it. 

-         Capacity of at least 8 local NGOs, cooperatives improved

-         Awareness campaign organized for 12,000 poor people.

Implementation Arrangement

The Executing Agency

MOAC is the Executing Agency of the project and is responsible for oversight and policy guidance for the project. The project is being implemented in conjunction with ongoing CADP project of MOAC/DOA. The MOAC ensure proper and overall coordination among all CADP and JFPR stakeholders as well as with CAA branches and the lead implementing NGO.

Implementing Agency

DEPROSC Implementing Agency and the Lead NGO for the Project, is responsible for component four i.e. Project Management, Monitoring, reporting and Audit.

Implementing Partner NGO/CBOs

District based local NGOs/CBOs are working as the implementing partners or service providers at field level.  In four district, twelve local NGOs/CBOs has been recruited and are involved in implementing the social mobilization and income generation components of the Project.

Organizational structure

Activities and Achievement of the Project till July 2010

Information of Self-Help Groups by compositon and by district

Beneficiary (Member HHs) information of Self-Help Groups by District

Summery of Self Help Group Promotion and Management Training

Summery of Vegetable Production and Nursery Management Training

SHG received Livelihood Support Fund