Evaluation report : resource conservation and utilization project, Nepal (project no. 367-0132)

Joint AID/GON/external evaluation covers the period 1980-10/85 and is based on site visits, document review, and interviews with project, GON, and donor agency personnel. Activities in two of three project areas (i.e., establishing an Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (IRNR) and conducting participant and on-the-job training, and the construction of field facilities) have been successful. The IRNR will serve as an important training center for natural resource management in the future. The construction activity - often carried out under difficult conditions with little or no road access - has completed 174 field buildings, including 12 Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management field centers in 3 districts; this activity also has helped to strengthen private sector construction capacities. Although the project has made many significant contributions in the areas of natural resource conservation and agricultural development, it has failed to develop a model for integrated watershed management. Beginning with project design and continuing to the present, the concept of a watershed as an integrating unit has not been used; rather, line agency programs are being implemented within designated basins with only minimal integration. Another reason integration has not been achieved is that too many (17) diverse and complicated components were tried over too large an area (nearly 5,000 sq. km) too quickly. The project has contributed substantially to increasing popular awareness of and concern for natural resource conservation. A good start has been made in developing a structure for people's participation, but it has not always been used effectively; there is no synthesis of this experience. monitoring system has been established, but monitoring of physical accomplishments is less advanced. Progress has been made in developing GON and local level organizational structures upon which a major follow-on project can be built. Lessons learned are enumerated in the areas of design, implementation, personnel development, and construction. Some recurring themes are the needs to provide increased technical support and coordination and to demonstrate near-term benefits to local populations. Recommendations include to begin integrated management programs in selected very small watersheds and to design separate follow-on projects to support the IRNR and GON watershed capabilities.