Technical Assistance for Implementation of Component-A Irrigation Infrastructure Development and Improvement, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Project [International Assignment]

Project Description

The IWRMP was implemented by DOI with the support from the World bank with the aim of supporting the national goal of poverty reduction through improving irrigated agriculture productivity and management of selected irrigation schemes, and enhancing institutional capacity for integrated water resources management. The target beneficiary groups of the project are the water users of the selected irrigation schemes. The Component A (Irrigation) of the Project developed 100 irrigation schemes with a combined command area of 18,823 ha and serving 170,373 people from 26,951 households and including 36,143 Janajati and 20,422 Dalit
The total project cost of Component A is about US$ 24 million (1 US$ = 100 NPR).

Assignment Description

Main activity was focused in assisting DOI in quality assurance and quality control at all stages of IWRMP implementation by supporting the planning, design and construction activities of subprojects, providing services to undertake technical studies and the strengthening of the post constructional activities for achieving the project goal. The subprojects under IWRMP-A included around 100 FMIS (90 surface and 10 groundwater) with a combined command area of 15,222 ha (9,336 surface and 5,886 GW) in 40 districts of Western, Mid-western and Far- western region of Nepal, 8 cluster schemes ground water development, which included deep tube well and 25 tube wells of BLGWID. • Assisted Irrigation Division/sub-division office, Groundwater Branch Office (GBO), Regional Directorate and OPD in the Surface irrigation Sub-Projects/Groundwater Cluster Study, design, approval and implementation processes, in accordance with the procedure guidelines steps and with particular reference to technically complex projects; • Assisted and advised the implementing agency’s staff on all engineering aspects of project implementation to improve the quality control of identification and feasibility studies, design, cost estimation, construction supervision, operation and maintenance, and monitoring and evaluation; • Provided inputs as required and agreed with DoI in the institutional reform process, policy and legislative actions, etc.; • Periodically reviewed, improved and updated the surface and groundwater procedural guidelines; • Adopted environmental protection measures required in various FMIS including the on-going participatory environment protection works in hill irrigation, while paying particular attention to the needs of women and other vulnerable people in the irrigated agriculture area in conserving resources; • Devised mechanism for effectively involvement of the potential water users belonging to diverse ethnic groups, different land holdings, tenancy, and gender status in the FMISs, which integrated identified social/gender needs and concerns in the establishment and strengthening of WUAs and irrigated agricultural management system; • Establishing fully functional MIS/GIS: Review/study existing MIS/GIS application in OPD/DOI and Regional Offices; Identification of gaps in MIS/GIS application and prepare full functional operations in OPD/DOI and regional offices; • Basin wise Survey and Inventory of rivers of Nepal: Procure and collect high resolution DEM/DSM, and spatial and non-spatial drainage networks datasets; Processing of DEM/DSM to prepared Basin and sub-basin, drainage networks and verified from drainage data from survey department; To validate/verify and conduct basin wise survey and inventory of rivers through outsourcing; Update spatial data of basin wise and sub-basin inventories of rivers integrated into GIS/MIS spatial database; • Design and Develop MIS/GIS framework for integrated river basin planning: Design and Develop MIS/GIS/ framework for integrated river basin planning; Integrated River Basin Planning Tools and Functionality design and embedded in MIS/GIS application-desktop and web-based through outsources; • Develop training manual and provide training on MIS/GIS to designated IWRMP/DOI personnel. • Prepared technical manuals to support skill development training for Regional and Division/sub-division level Engineers and Technicians, covering subjects such as the use of environmental friendly technology, social concerns of women, indigenous people, dalits and disadvantage groups of society, construction in fragile hills zones, groundwater pump/engine operation and maintenance, construction quality control, water management and economic evaluation; • Assisted the DOI in conducting training seminars and workshops involving Irrigation and Agriculture staff, other government officials and key farmers, to improve DoI’s capabilities in participating in and supporting participatory irrigation development. Oriented and trained trainees in the application of the participatory strategy, and in understanding the basic principles of the irrigation sector program implementation; • Reviewed and refined indicators, in co-ordination with the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Teams, for monitoring and evaluating the impact/performance of sub-projects/groundwater clusters of IWRMP; • Assisted in strengthening the capacity of the Central and Regional offices of the DoI to set up and fully operate a functional Management Information System covering all disciplines within the Department; • Assisted IWRMP implementing units in the preparation of periodic progress reports on IWRMP implementation activities; • Assisted in improving SEMPs guideline prepared by IWRMP and assisted in preparing SEMPs of subprojects.