Project Description
The overall objective of Component B was to improve irrigation service performance and service delivery to the entire Kankai Irrigation System, Ramgunj and Sitagunj Branch of Sunsari Morang Irrigation System, Block 2 & 8 of Narayani Irrigation System and Stage I & II of Mahakali Irrigation System through the completion and consolidation of Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) to the relevant WAs.
Kankai Irrigation System (KIS)
KIS 7,000 ha
Sunsari Morang Irrigation System (SMIS)
SMIS - Sitagunj: 8,000 ha and Ramgunj: 7,000 ha.
Narayani Irrigation System (NIS) and Mahakali Irrigation System (MIS).
NIS - Block 8: 3,000 ha and Block 2: 3,000 ha
MIS - Stage I: 5,100 ha and Stage II: 6,200 ha.
Services
Institutional Development Tasks:
Periodically review, improve and update the institutional development procedural guidelines of IWRMP and also document the lessons learnt and best institutional practices and WUA success stories
Develop WUA institution development plans, capacity development plans and WUA performance evaluation guidelines and provide resource persons to carry out these activities.
Assist the WUAs and Department of Irrigation in building capacity in conducting training seminars and workshops involving Irrigation and Agriculture staff, other government officials and key farmers, to improve DoI’s capabilities in planning and managing them.
Orient and train SMU staff and WUAs in the application of the participatory strategic program planning and monitoring the indicators on financial resource generation (including Irrigation Service Fee Collection)
Devise mechanism to effectively involve the potential water users belonging to diverse ethnic groups, different land holdings, tenancy, and gender status in the system. Integrate identified social/gender needs and concerns in the establishment and strengthening of WUAs and irrigated agricultural management system
Prepare and assist orienting appropriate manuals to support knowledge development trainings for Regional and Division level Engineers and Technicians, covering subjects such as social concerns of women, indigenous people, dalits and disadvantage and marginalized groups of society in irrigation developments.
Assist OPD in preparing SEMP reports and its implementation in the field.
Irrigation Physical System Performance Improvement Tasks:
Prepare Manuals and guidelines on Irrigation System Performance Improvement Rehabilitation Approach, and the selection of use-friendly water control structures and with their operational instructions.
Assist SMU to carry-out design of irrigation infrastructures identified under ESI.
Assist SMU to carry-out construction supervision of irrigation infrastructures under ESI, ensuring that the construction works followed standard engineering practices
Assist the SMU Irrigation field staff to prepare progress and work completion reports in accordance with the IWRMP needs.
Assist and advise SMU and other field staff on all engineering aspects of project implementation to improve the quality control of design, cost estimation, construction supervision, operation and maintenance, and monitoring and evaluation of the system improvement works
Review and refine indicators, in co-ordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation Teams, for monitoring and evaluating the performance of completed civil works.
Assist the IWRMP implementing units for the preparation of periodic progress reports on IWRMP implementation activities.
Water Management Tasks:
Develop a holistic strategic water management plan to deliver irrigation service efficiently and equitably right from the main canal to farmers’ field with defined standards and indicators as specification of the services.
Assist WUA and SMU in branch canal selection in the system for complete testing of developed Water Management Plans(WMP) with already prepared BC level Parcel map or user’s inventory.
Assist SMU and WUA in applying step-wise water management activities. Document process, results and measure farmers’response and assist SMU in using these sites as learning schools.
Calibrate the irrigation structures at necessary location of main canal branch off-takes for bulk Water delivery by DOI.
Train the WUAs and gate operators about the prepared canal operation and maintenance plan.
Regularly monitor and evaluate water management activities of DOI part and that of WUA and produce reports to SMU periodically in each season.
Accomplish main canal structures calibration and demonstration works involving WUAs and SMU/Division staffs.
Monitoring and Evaluation Tasks:
Develop useful M&E manual guideline based on monitoring frameworks of the component.
Improve the existing M&E tracker and generate the relevant data against the monitoring and evaluation indicators of the component.
Assist the DOI in institutionalizing the monitoring and evaluation practices for future.
Financial Management Task:
Maintain financial records and provide financial information for the Office of the Project Director (OPD), IWRMP
Prepare financial documents as per the regulations of Government of Nepal and requirements of the World Ban
TA support project
Outputs Achieved:
Crafting and drafting IMT Agreements, signed between DOI and concerned WUAs.
Capacity development of WUA and Government Staff on IMT sub-components including ESI works, water management, organizational functions of WUAs through formal classroom and on-the-job trainings.
Preparation of Irrigation Rehabilitation Procedural Guideline.
Prioritization of Essential Structure Improvements (ESI) and continued irrigation system improvement works. The TA support for ESI for system improvement included supporting the respective SMU/DOI planning, design, estimate, contract management, construction supervision and quality control of ESI works including rehabilitating works that included reshaping and lining of main & secondary canals, repair & maintenance of head works, cross-drainage structures, bridge/culverts, division boxes, off-takes, canal and command area protection works from river erosion, service roads and other command area improvement works.
Calibration of main canal off take structures in all the seven subprojects for scientific flow measurement and equitable & transparent water delivery by the government agency.
In collaboration with both WUAs and the SMU: (a) develop and test Canal Operation Plans (COP) for the main and branch canals with reference to previously prepared BC level Parcel map or user’s inventory, and (b) prepare Asset Management Plans (AMP) to define activities and responsibilities for maintaining main and branch canal functionality.
COPs account for summer, winter, and spring seasons crop water needs to ensure timely water delivery from the main canal by the government staff and from the branch canals downwards by the branch level WUAs.
AMPs ensure timely and regular maintenance of the canal network (Canal Maintenance Plan) and all other assets for sustenance and effective canal performance.
A regular support for results-based monitoring and evaluation of the project activities was provided to the Office of Project
Director in accordance with the results framework provided by the World Bank.
Development of guidelines, manuals and advisory supports. The TA team has developed M&E Guidelines, Construction Supervision and Quality Control Manual, WUA Rules and Regulations, Code of Conduct, COP and AMP Manuals and ‘Exit Plans’ of the all seven sub-systems together with developing TORs for out sourcing research and study works implemented by OPD as well provided support for developing the concept paper towards the follow up IMT projects with World Bank assistance.
Reporting and presentation support: In addition to the mandatory reporting requirements as per the contract namely Quarterly Reports, Terminal Report and Project Completion Reports, the TA supported the OPD in delivering project progress reports, status reports and the presentation materials for the use of the World Bank Mission as and when required.
