Quarterly Bulletin
of
Sustainable Community
Development Programme
(SCDP)
and
Global Environment Facility
Small Grants Programme
(GEF-SGP) Nepal
Year 5
Volume 1
January - March
2003
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TECHNICAL
ADVISOR |
EDITOR
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WITH
CONTRIBUTION OF |
E D I T O R I A L
Six-year's Journey
towards Sustainable Development
Sustainable Community Development Programme (SCDP) has been operating in six districts of the country. Three districts of the Mid and Far-Western Development Regions of the country were initially selected as demonstration programmes in Phase I. The programme was first implemented in Surkhet and Kailali in 1997 and later in Dang in 1998. The success of that pilot-phase secured further support for the programme, and in Phase II, the programme was extended to three other districts: Humla (Mid-West), Myagdi (West), and Okhaldhunga (East) in 2000. Though the Programme duration was until December 2002, it has been extended until June 2003 for consolidation of SCDP activities in the districts. In this grace period, it is also expected that the Programme will be able to document its experience, which it is hoped will, among other things, be very valuable for future adaptation of the programme in other parts of the country.
In the community level, SCDP formed Community-based Organisations (CBOs) and developed them as self-governing institutions. Currently there are 1353 CBOs in operation in the programme implementing districts. They have been actively working to realise the goal of sustainable development in the community level by focusing on various environmental management, economic development and social development works using participatory approaches.
SCDP is concerned about their sustainability, especially after the programme phases out. It wants these CBOs to continue the innovative works they have been doing and has been looking at various options. It is in this light that SCDP organised a workshop on "Institutionalisation of Community-based Organisations" by involving participants from programme implemented districts.
SCDP is working in collaboration with District Development Committees (DDCs) and Support Organisations/Non-governmental Organisations (SOs/NGOs) to institutionalise CBOs. An action plan has been formulated. In the coming months, there will be sensitisation/motivation workshops, cooperatives formation and consolidation of CBOs’ accounts. Account supervisory committee workshop and training on business planning, among other things, will also be provided for the sustainability and effective operation of the CBOs. It is the intention of the Programme to assist them to develop their capabilities.
In this quarter, the Sustainable Development Agenda for Nepal (SDAN)has been submitted to the government for its approval. SDAN, draws upon and is in conformity with the longer term goals envisaged in Tenth Plan (2002- 2007), Millennium Development Goals and commitments made by the country in various international forums, aims to guide and influence national-level planning and policies up to 2017.