Short-Term Consultant Report: USAID/Nepal's Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI)

The project 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. PANI's focus is at the watershed, basin, and national scales, with approximately $5 million in grants and activity procurements. The project has four intermediate results (IRs): IR 1 - Increased knowledge, engagement, and benefits for local water users; IR 2 - Improved river-basin-level resource management; IR 3 - Increased coordination and strengthened enabling environment; and IR 4 - Expanded knowledge base. These IRs are expected to be achieved through the implementation of the project's objectives, which include reducing threats to freshwater biodiversity in the Karnali, Mahakali, and Rapti river basins, and increasing the ability of targeted human and ecological communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change through improved water management. From July 5 to August 9, 2016, Mr. Randall provided short-term technical assistance to help develop PANI's Annual Work Plan, a required contract deliverable. Work planning activities were carried out in Kathmandu from July 25 to August 9. Mr. Randall provided technical support to the long-term project team in establishing the direction and focus of the PANI Project, building from the PANI contract's Scope of Work (Section C), relevant attachments, and team consultations with stakeholders. As part of the development of the AWP, Mr. Randall helped to clarify team member roles, PANI's implementation strategy, and contributed significantly to a framework, process, and formats for the development of the first annual work plan. The Project Team Director will travel to Kathmandu, Nepal for PANI start-up to conduct meetings with the COP, Start-up Team, USAID/Nepal, subcontractors, technical counterparts, and support start-up technical deliverables. The level of effort for this assignment was up to 23 days, including 3 days for travel, from July 5 through August 9, 2016. Approximately 5 days were allocated in early July to pre-travel preparatory desk work and virtual exchanges with team members. The project team conducted a range of activities, including consultations with stakeholders, interviews with team members, and development of a detailed framework for the first annual work plan and contents. Mr. Randall also coordinated with the COP, Chief Technical Specialist, project team, and M&E team to ensure integration of work planning activities with development of the monitoring and evaluation plan, and theories of change.